URBAN HOUSING RESEARCH

Location: Edinburgh

Client: Communities Scotland and CEC

Programme: Completed 2005

This Developing Urban Housing study investigated ways in which the density of development can contribute to high quality housing neighbourhoods. It involved a review of existing research, analysis of case studies and a series of householder workshops.

This resulted in the identification of ten development principles, which were then applied to a housing model for a typical urban block to show how they might work in practice.

The study was the basis of a CEC Making Places Work Initiative and SSM were involved in the workshops, challenging and clarifying the possible ramifications of implementing the recommendations.

Successful high density housing involves a range of complex issues, some of which are technical but many are concerned with human issues and lifestyle choices. The development principles cover a range of topics from encouraging mix and diversity, to storage levels. The requirements for alterations to existing policy reflect this situation.

The complexity of these tasks will be a serious challenge to clients, planners, architects and developers, but developing these themes and producing successful results is a critical element in achieving attractive and vibrant cities.