On Radio 4's PM programme Stuart Timiss, Planning Officer for Gateshead Council gushed. He claimed that residents had been consulted and what they wanted was 2, 3 and 4 bedroomed homes a garden and a place to park their car.
Yes, yes, yes that what residents want. It is also the dream of millions in Britain. Unfortunately even the 2 bedroomed houses built recently in Gateshead cost £99,000 or 4 times the average salary for the area. It is also questionable as to whether a 2 bedroomed house is a "family home" unless you have a one child family.
However let's take apart his statement. If you asked the man in the street if he would like a 4 bedroomed family home instead of a small rented flat he is going to say yes. Of course Gateshead Council didn't even ask this loaded question in a vacuum. At the time they surveyed people they gave the impression that residents renting in the area would be magically swapped into this new vision of urban living and placed in a 4 bedroomed council house available for rent at a reasonable amount. Whereas the truth is around 20% may be affordable rented houses as an absolute maximum.
Gateshead have their dream already on Sunderland Road. It is a half built development with few houses sold to people who can pay 10 times the tyneside average salary for a 4 bedroomed family home. That is 4 reasonably small bedrooms!
Gateshead Council sold hard working families the dream home they couldn't afford when surveying their opinion. They equated forthcoming demolition with a lifestyle they knew people couldn't afford.
Everyone wants the kind of image of a home that Gateshead Council promote. Everyone wants to win the lottery. In the real world most people don't win the lottery and most people would benefit from renovating the home they can afford rather than having it demolished.
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