A briefing paper examined all relevant systematic reviews, syntheses, meta-analyses and review-level papers on public health interventions relating to housing. It then highlighted housing-related interventions that promoted health for all population groups, but with particular reference to disadvantaged and vulnerable groups.
Source: Nichole Taske, Lorraine Taylor, Caroline Mulvihill and Nick Doyle, Housing and Public Health: A review of reviews of interventions for improving health - Evidence briefing, National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (0870 121 4194)
Links: Briefing Note
Date: 2005-Dec
A study examined how local authorities were implementing new powers to encourage private sector home improvement. In order to meet its commitment to improve the housing conditions of vulnerable households in non-decent homes in the private sector, the government needed to demonstrate a firmer commitment to private sector housing renewal.
Source: Rick Groves and Sian Sankey, Implementing New Powers for Private Sector Housing Renewal, York Publishing Services for Joseph Rowntree Foundation, available from York Publishing Services Ltd (01904 430033)
Links: Report | JRF Findings
Date: 2005-Dec
A report said that maintaining council housing up to the decent homes standard and improving services to tenants were at risk because arm's-length management organizations (ALMOs) did not have the guarantee of a long-term future.
Source: ALMOs - A New Future for Council Housing, Chartered Institute of Housing (024 7685 1700), National Federation of ALMOs, and HouseMark
Links: Report | CIH press release
Date: 2005-Nov
A report presented the findings of research into the views of residents (living in a mix of new private housing developments across England) about the design, character, environment, and sense of community in the place where they lived.
Source: What It s Like to Live There: The views of residents on the design of new housing, Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (020 7960 2400)
Links: Report
Date: 2005-Nov
Two reports provided results from The Living in Wales Survey, a new continuous household survey for Wales. The first examined the level of unfitness and state of repair of the housing stock in Wales in 2004. The second looked at the financial issues for households that related to their housing situation.
Source: Living in Wales 2004 Report on Unfitness and Repairs, Welsh Assembly Government (029 2082 5111) | Living in Wales 2004 Report on Housing Finance, Welsh Assembly Government
Links: Links removed
Date: 2005-Nov
The government announced amendments to building regulations on energy efficiency, and the implementation of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, from April 2006 - the new measures would save 1 million tonnes of carbon per year by 2010.
Source: Press release 13 September 2005, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (020 7944 3000)
Links: ODPM press release
Date: 2005-Sep
A report highlighted the importance of the arts in housing developments.
Source: Creative Neighbourhoods: The role of the arts in building sustainable communities, Aston Housing Consultancy (020 8960 1632)
Links: Summary
Date: 2005-May
The government announced that all publicly funded new homes would subscribe to the 'code for sustainable buildings' from April 2006.
Source: Press release 31 March 2005, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (020 7944 3000)
Links: ODPM press release | EST press release
Date: 2005-Mar
Key findings from the English House Condition Survey for 2003 showed that the number of dwellings failing to provide a decent standard of accommodation had fallen by 370,000 since 2001 - from 7.1 million (33 per cent of the total) in 2001 to 6.7 million (31 per cent) in 2003. The most vulnerable and disadvantaged households, and those living in the most deprived areas, had gained the most from this improvement.
Source: English House Condition Survey: Key Findings for 2003, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (0870 1226 236)
Links: Report (pdf) | ODPM press release
Date: 2005-Mar
A report examined the benefits of higher density housing. It said that higher densities could contribute to vibrant, successful neighbourhoods where people wanted to live.
Source: Better Neighbourhoods: Making higher densities work, Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (020 7960 2400)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2005-Mar
