Modal Shift is Key Issue for West Midlands

Whilst some of us await that tectonic shift (preferably metaphysical !) invoked by former Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, and others look forward to a social paradigm shift, it’s a modal shift (ie transference of journeys from private car to other, more environmentally sustainable, modes) that I really want.

This “step change” should, I suggest, be the key issue for the current West Midlands Spatial Strategy Proposed Phase 2 Revision Examination, which started last month and is due to continue until the end of June 2009.

However, such a change will require the rail transport authorities – planning, infrastructure and operational – in particular, to focus on improving existing lines and services, rather that large “prestige” projects, which often seem to create more problems than the solve.

On the Subject of Social Housing For Rent

I recently received the following comment (thank you) from Mr Colin Ross in response to an April 2007 post entitled ” The West Midlands – How Not To Plan” which deals with the proposed Phase 2 Revisions to the Regional Spatial Strategy :

“I am not familiar with the plan – never having worked in the West Midlands. I am however familiar with the scale of the tasks they have to address.

I would agree that spatial policy should concentrate on densification of existing urban settlements, however, does that mean that we have to implement a policy of managed decline in peripheral areas? Its an interesting topic and one I have had to consider in relation to failed Local Authority housing estates. The human dimension (those who live there) has to be the primary focus of any approach to do this”.

First of let me refer Mr Ross and other readers to my blogs which also deal with planning in the West Midlands and which provide updates on the West Midlands and South Worcestershire spatial strategy proposals :

• Crookbarrow –  http://crookbarrow.wordpress.com  (Website – www.crookbarrow.com)
• Smart Limits to Growth – http://smartlimits2growth.wordpress.com

However, here I want to focus on the issues of “peripheral areas” and “failed Local Authority housing estates”, and the so-called “managed decline” – and, indeed, demolition ! – of these which has has provided a major focus of New Labour policy and expenditure programmes in the work, for instance, of the former national “regeneration” (?)  agency English Partnerships, now part of the Communities and Housing Agency (CHA).

This has led to large swathes of older urban areas  – and in some cases former “New Towns” – in the Midlands and North of England being re-developed, or, in some cases, simply left derelict.  What it has not done, by and large, is tackle the very real shortage of social housing for rent in places like Birmingham, where local residents recently camped out (in extremely cold weather !) to draw attention to the City Council’s failure to build family units.

The fact is that there are tens of thousands of people across the West Midlands in need of housing at afforable (ie social) rents, as distinct from affordable housing to buy (whom the market is now starting to help). The primary role of the new CHA should be to help local authorities and other agencies provide this, thereby also providing much needed work for the construction sector. If this means re-inventing the “Council House”, then so be it !