The final report of a two year study on density and urban neighbourhoods in London, carried out by the Minerva LSE Research Group and Enterprise LSE Cities was published three years ago but provides observations which are very valuable today.

Density and Urban Neighbourhoods in London was an in depth analysis of five wards in inner and outer London - Brixton, Hammersmith, Hackney, Croydon and Newham - that identifies how different communities respond to living in higher density urban environments. Through on-site investigation, analysis of recent census data, interviews with local stakeholders and an extensive MORI survey of residents, the report provides a comprehensive account of the trade-offs that different groups of urban residents make when making choices about where they life at different stages of their lives.

The researchers found that:

• Density does not, of itself, account for positive or negative attributes of particular urban areas. Other factors are crucial in determining how such places are judged.
• Higher levels of satisfaction are determined by access to public transport, proximity to large and safe open spaces, and also good access to shops and social facilities.
• There is greater dissatisfaction in relatively densely populated wards where high levels of deprivation coincide with concentrations of ethnic minority groups and relatively high crowded living conditions within properties.
• Lack of car parking is considered a major problem, especially in more affluent areas.
• The presence of large clusters of social housing that do not link to local surroundings exacerbate negative associations linked to higher density.
• Most residents are ambivalent or have mixed opinions about density.
• Vibrancy, social mix and other social attributes are amongst the most valued characteristics of densely populated areas.
• Higher density areas are capable of sustaining very different social and community dynamics: places with significantly different demographic features can operate effectively and in a way that suggests they will continue to do so.

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Forum Questions:

Do you think diversity is an important factor for those in high density neighbourhoods?

Which of these findings are the most important?

Is it true that there is no such thing as optimum density and density alone is not the key to successful housing?

Do you have anything to say about this?

Email: housing@tspltd.co.uk

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