3 ms·

Build more housing?

by bishnu 13y ago

Build more housing?

tehwalrus 13y ago
In the UK, and it sounds like San Fran too, there are lots of special-interest-inspired laws making building new housing difficult. In Singapore, unlike many other countries where people think they're out of space (including the UK), they may well be really running out of space - I believe there are similar problems in Hong Kong.
- gaius 13y ago
  You mean like the green belt? Once various plans to rebalance the economy away from London come to fruition (e.g. HS2) things will return to normal.
  - tehwalrus 13y ago
    LOL. Train lines connecting places to the capital just cause the capital to grow further[1]. New high speed lines between Manchester and Sheffield, and up from each to Glasgow and Edinburgh would help rebalance the economy as you suggest. But they're not planned for decades. [1] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/no-stone-unturned-in-pursuit-of-growth https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/no-stone-unturned... and/or http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-20142837 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-20142837 - "The Heseltine Review" isn't a primary source of evidence for this assertion, but it's through this coverage that I learned of these ideas.
visakanv 13y ago
I think we're working on it, but the island is highly land-scarce, and if I understand correctly, prices are being driven up faster than new housing can adequately correct.
michaelt 13y ago
In many countries we place control of local planning/zoning issues in the hands of local residents - the very people who benefit most from the supply being restricted. I would love for there to be more houses in the place I want to live but can't. But I don't get a vote because I'm not a resident.
Pxtl 13y ago
That. The lack of intensification in some of the most valuable real-estate in the world is absurd. Build up! Also, while it stinks for people who are already tied into careers, having money flood into your community isn't exactly a bad thing for somebody entrepreneurial. I mean, if the new wealthy folks want to blow that cash locally, there's a lot of money to be made. It's demeaning in a "trickle-down" services sense, but it's cash to be had.
- umsm 13y ago
  Will this increased building activities cost less than the current housing market rate? If a new property costs $500k to build, as a builder you would need to at least cover that cost. I can't imagine that this helps the poor unless it's government sponsored.
  - saosebastiao 13y ago
    The housing market rate will be lower with new housing than without it.

Build more housing?

by bishnu 13y ago

Build more housing?

In the UK, and it sounds like San Fran too, there are lots of special-interest-inspired laws making building new housing difficult. In Singapore, unlike many other countries where people think they're out of space (including the UK), they may well be really running out of space - I believe there are similar problems in Hong Kong.

gaius 13y ago
You mean like the green belt? Once various plans to rebalance the economy away from London come to fruition (e.g. HS2) things will return to normal.
- tehwalrus 13y ago
  LOL. Train lines connecting places to the capital just cause the capital to grow further[1]. New high speed lines between Manchester and Sheffield, and up from each to Glasgow and Edinburgh would help rebalance the economy as you suggest. But they're not planned for decades. [1] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/no-stone-unturned-in-pursuit-of-growth https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/no-stone-unturned... and/or http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-20142837 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-20142837 - "The Heseltine Review" isn't a primary source of evidence for this assertion, but it's through this coverage that I learned of these ideas.

visakanv 13y ago

I think we're working on it, but the island is highly land-scarce, and if I understand correctly, prices are being driven up faster than new housing can adequately correct.

michaelt 13y ago

In many countries we place control of local planning/zoning issues in the hands of local residents - the very people who benefit most from the supply being restricted. I would love for there to be more houses in the place I want to live but can't. But I don't get a vote because I'm not a resident.

Pxtl 13y ago

That. The lack of intensification in some of the most valuable real-estate in the world is absurd. Build up! Also, while it stinks for people who are already tied into careers, having money flood into your community isn't exactly a bad thing for somebody entrepreneurial. I mean, if the new wealthy folks want to blow that cash locally, there's a lot of money to be made. It's demeaning in a "trickle-down" services sense, but it's cash to be had.

umsm 13y ago
Will this increased building activities cost less than the current housing market rate? If a new property costs $500k to build, as a builder you would need to at least cover that cost. I can't imagine that this helps the poor unless it's government sponsored.
- saosebastiao 13y ago
  The housing market rate will be lower with new housing than without it.