SA4F9      Half Unit
Housing, Neighbourhoods and Communities

This information is for the 2017/18 session.

Teacher responsible

Prof Anne Power OLD.2.57

Availability

This course is available on the MSc in City Design and Social Science, MSc in Regional And Urban Planning Studies, MSc in Social Policy (European and Comparative Social Policy), MSc in Social Policy (Research), MSc in Social Policy (Social Policy and Planning) and MSc in Urban Policy (LSE and Sciences Po). This course is available as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit.

This is a capped course.  If it is oversubscribed priority will be given to Social Policy Students with remaining places being allocated by random ballot.  The first ballot will take place on Tuesday of MT week 1.

Course content

The course introduces MSc students to the links between housing, neighbourhoods and social policy, in urban areas of developed countries. It analyses how existing urban areas came to be developed and run. It explores housing systems in the UK, across Europe and North America, including home ownership, private renting and social renting, the role of government, housing providers and communities. In particular, the gap between neighbourhoods, the problems of housing costs and affordability, homelessness, and social exclusion. The course covers the management and maintenance of housing and neighbourhood services in cities, the impact of housing on social problems, on community relations, and on the environment. Case studies are used to examine how people relate to their neighbourhoods and to each other, particularly in low income, urban areas. How new communities are being developed, how existing areas can be adapted and how housing needs can be met are the big challenges this course addresses, using live case studies to illustrate the main themes.

Teaching

15 hours of lectures and 15 hours of seminars in the MT. 1 hour and 30 minutes of lectures and 2 hours of seminars in the ST.

In addition there is one lecture/seminar in the ST. There are also organised site/project visits in MT. The course provides many case study examples for students to draw on.

Formative coursework

Students participate actively in seminars, present their case studies and complete two formative essays drawing on case study evidence.

Students are invited to join site visits which illustrate key housing themes.

Indicative reading

A. Power. City Survivors. 2007. A. Power. From Hovels to High Rise. 1993. R. Lupton. Poverty Street, 2003. R. Tunstall and A. Coulter. Turning the Tide? 25 Years on 20 Estates. Hanley (2004) Estates: a personal history. J Hills Ends And Means: The Future Roles Of Social Housing In England, 2007. Peter Somerville, Understanding Community, 2011. A Power et al. Jigsaw Cities 2007. J. Hills T. Sefton & K. Stewart. A more equal society? 2009. A. Power, J. Ploger, A. Winkler. Phoenix Cities. 2010.

Assessment

Exam (75%, duration: 2 hours) in the main exam period.
Essay (25%, 2000 words) in the LT.

Essay based on a housing case study

Student performance results

(2013/14 - 2015/16 combined)

Classification % of students
Distinction 19
Merit 69.8
Pass 9.5
Fail 1.6

Key facts

Department: Social Policy

Total students 2016/17: 22

Average class size 2016/17: 12

Controlled access 2016/17: Yes

Value: Half Unit

Guidelines for interpreting course guide information

Personal development skills

  • Leadership
  • Self-management
  • Team working
  • Problem solving
  • Application of information skills
  • Communication
  • Application of numeracy skills
  • Commercial awareness
  • Specialist skills

Course survey results

(2013/14 - 2015/16 combined)

1 = "best" score, 5 = "worst" score

The scores below are average responses.

Response rate: 100%

Question

Average
response

Reading list (Q2.1)

2.4

Materials (Q2.3)

2.3

Course satisfied (Q2.4)

2.1

Lectures (Q2.5)

2.1

Integration (Q2.6)

2.1

Contact (Q2.7)

1.9

Feedback (Q2.8)

1.7

Recommend (Q2.9)

Yes

57%

Maybe

39%

No

4%