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Infrastructure isn't perfect, but we talk about housing shortages because people earning double the national average wage rent rooms with other professionals in

Infrastructure isn't perfect, but we talk about housing shortages because people earning double the national average wage rent rooms with other professionals in houses designed for a single family whilst trying to save up double their annual wage for a deposit on a >25 year mortgage on a flat. Whereas for all the UK's infrastructure problems, power brownouts due to lack of generation capability or lack of a local police station aren't really things people suffer from. Hard to pretend the real problem is the rail network when we have more miles of rail network and fewer houses per person than most of the rest of the world. And the UK talks about its healthcare issues non-stop, but not in the context of housing because it isn't the same problem.

bluescrn 3y ago
This comment shows up the other issue, the London-centric nature of UK politics. If you think the UK transport network is OK, but pick the most extreme examples of housing costs, you're probably a Londoner. The housing situation is awful elsewhere, but still a long way from London's extremes. But if you live elsewhere, try getting anywhere by road or by rail, and it's usually a grim experience.
- notahacker 3y ago
  I don't live in London any more. Probably won't again, for reasons of housing cost. But I also live in a real world where most developed countries have significantly cheaper housing but nowhere near as many rail lines as the UK as a whole, and where it's a lot easier to build more affordable homes than to ensure there are enough roads for nobody to ever experience a traffic queue.
- skippyboxedhero 3y ago
  These two issues are related everywhere outside London. The reason why transport infrastructure is "so bad" is because in every city apart from London, you cannot build outside the city so developers often have to get planning permission on sites in rural areas and they can't connect transport to nearby cities. It is quite maddening because building is often actually blocked in some of these cities because of infrastructure concerns too...even though, the problem would be solved at a higher level by building closer to cities. The whole thing is bad intention arguments the whole way down.

bluescrn 3y ago

This comment shows up the other issue, the London-centric nature of UK politics. If you think the UK transport network is OK, but pick the most extreme examples of housing costs, you're probably a Londoner. The housing situation is awful elsewhere, but still a long way from London's extremes. But if you live elsewhere, try getting anywhere by road or by rail, and it's usually a grim experience.

notahacker 3y ago
I don't live in London any more. Probably won't again, for reasons of housing cost. But I also live in a real world where most developed countries have significantly cheaper housing but nowhere near as many rail lines as the UK as a whole, and where it's a lot easier to build more affordable homes than to ensure there are enough roads for nobody to ever experience a traffic queue.
skippyboxedhero 3y ago
These two issues are related everywhere outside London. The reason why transport infrastructure is "so bad" is because in every city apart from London, you cannot build outside the city so developers often have to get planning permission on sites in rural areas and they can't connect transport to nearby cities. It is quite maddening because building is often actually blocked in some of these cities because of infrastructure concerns too...even though, the problem would be solved at a higher level by building closer to cities. The whole thing is bad intention arguments the whole way down.