Housing experts believe England needs many more houses to be built than current plans envisage (Report, February 21). Debate, however, needs to go beyond the numbers. More homes are needed — but no one ever seems to talk about the changing uses of homes as we approach the mid-21st century. We need homes that have sufficient space and good design for working, running various kinds of businesses, caring or needing care and for periods of home-based learning and developing new skills and interests.
We urgently need serious conversations and new policy about what homes are for, and how they can support not only the basics of having a roof over one’s head, but also support both local economic activity and flexible uses over longer lives.
Unless we do this, we will just be pouring money into the pockets of developers to deliver ever-smaller housing units, building homes for yesterday, rather than the homes we need for today and tomorrow.
Andy Lake
Author, ‘Beyond Hybrid Working’
Lincoln, Lincolnshire, UK
