Dates: 8-9 September 2016
Location: Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK
Website: Liverpool 2016
Deadline for abstract submissions: 30 May 2016
Context
In the political economies of the West the provision of social and affordable housing has been subject to major change in recent decades. Nowhere is this more evident than in local and regional government. Today, local authority architects are mostly a thing of the past; house construction by regional administrators is increasingly rare; and local government management of housing is in decline. In place of these models are a plethora of policies, approaches and players. In the UK context these include ALMOs, stock transfers, Section 106 Agreements, right-to-buy, and the growth of Housing Associations etc. In other parts of Europe and across the developed world, the names of such initiatives and groups differ, but the issues in play remain the same.
Charged with the responsibility of running cities and city regions in this context, the role of local authorities in ensuring social and affordable housing is complex. With more regional governance, budget cuts, and shifts in political priorities on the way, it will only get more so in the coming years. What governments of places like Liverpool – the host city of this event – require at this point are new approaches. The success of their innovations in housing provision will vary. Some will be seen as contradictions, some will be polemic, others welcomed. Some will fail, others will be fought… but survive. One thing is clear however, there is little choice but to innovate.
Approach
Despite recent and forthcoming changes to housing provision across the UK and further afield there remains an important role for local authorities to play. However, there is also an acknowledgement that they will not act alone. Reflecting the need to collaborate in the current context, this conference will function as a platform for the exchange of diverse ideas. It will harness the expertise that exists in academia, housing associations, the private sector, non-government organisations, charities and think tanks, as well as local government. In a context in which a Liverpool housing project has won the Turner Prize, it highlights a role for creatives. It will offer Local Authorities, housing and building professionals the chance to learn and debate ideas applicable now, and in the future.
Themes
To achieve its aims, this conference proposes four open strands of enquiry and expertise:
The questions it seeks to ask through these strands are various: What models of best practice housing provision do we have? What role do new design approaches have? Are there ideas from different nations that can be shared and developed? Are there alternate economic models that can be reasonably employed? What innovative models for community participation can we promote? What is current research in construction revealing?
It is open to academics and non-academics.
See the website for further information.
Location: Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK
Website: Liverpool 2016
Deadline for abstract submissions: 30 May 2016
In the political economies of the West the provision of social and affordable housing has been subject to major change in recent decades. Nowhere is this more evident than in local and regional government. Today, local authority architects are mostly a thing of the past; house construction by regional administrators is increasingly rare; and local government management of housing is in decline. In place of these models are a plethora of policies, approaches and players. In the UK context these include ALMOs, stock transfers, Section 106 Agreements, right-to-buy, and the growth of Housing Associations etc. In other parts of Europe and across the developed world, the names of such initiatives and groups differ, but the issues in play remain the same.
Charged with the responsibility of running cities and city regions in this context, the role of local authorities in ensuring social and affordable housing is complex. With more regional governance, budget cuts, and shifts in political priorities on the way, it will only get more so in the coming years. What governments of places like Liverpool – the host city of this event – require at this point are new approaches. The success of their innovations in housing provision will vary. Some will be seen as contradictions, some will be polemic, others welcomed. Some will fail, others will be fought… but survive. One thing is clear however, there is little choice but to innovate.
Approach
Despite recent and forthcoming changes to housing provision across the UK and further afield there remains an important role for local authorities to play. However, there is also an acknowledgement that they will not act alone. Reflecting the need to collaborate in the current context, this conference will function as a platform for the exchange of diverse ideas. It will harness the expertise that exists in academia, housing associations, the private sector, non-government organisations, charities and think tanks, as well as local government. In a context in which a Liverpool housing project has won the Turner Prize, it highlights a role for creatives. It will offer Local Authorities, housing and building professionals the chance to learn and debate ideas applicable now, and in the future.
Themes
To achieve its aims, this conference proposes four open strands of enquiry and expertise:
- Local Authorities, Government and Policy – planning ideas for housing the future
- Building and Housing Professionals – ideas from inside (and about) the profession
- Community Projects, Artists and Resident Engagement – the experience of users
- Research, Academia, Innovation, Design and Case Studies – proposed and implemented models of housing
The questions it seeks to ask through these strands are various: What models of best practice housing provision do we have? What role do new design approaches have? Are there ideas from different nations that can be shared and developed? Are there alternate economic models that can be reasonably employed? What innovative models for community participation can we promote? What is current research in construction revealing?
It is open to academics and non-academics.
See the website for further information.
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