Bricking It: The UK Housing Crisis and the Failure of Policy

by Charlie Winstanley

Overview

With ever-decreasing affordability and availability of homes, the UK has a longstanding and complex housing crisis.

Rather than laying the blame on a particular group or cause, this book explains the root causes of our current housing situation and proposes useful ways forward. The author uses his experience of delivering housing policy in Greater Manchester to analyse the interlocking issues of demographic and social policy change, the financial and planning systems, the construction industry and the UK’s recent change of government.

Key reading for housing researchers and policy makers, this book analyses recent reform plans and the feasibility of achieving an effective and accessible UK housing landscape.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781447377054
Publisher:	Bristol University Press
Publication date:	10/21/2025
Edition description:	First Edition
Pages:	192
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x 0.00(d)

About the Author

Charlie Winstanley is Programme Manager, Metro Mayor’s Programme at the Refugee, Asylum and Migration Policy (RAMP) Project. He is a former political advisor and public and social policy specialist with a background in local government.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Part 1: Defining the Housing Crisis

1. Housing Supply and the Shrinking Stock

2. Affordability

3. Quality

4. Community and Gentrification

Conclusion to Part 1

Part 2: Why Policy Is Failing

5. Delivery

6. Regional and Political Iniquities in Policymaking

7. Existing Stock Condition

8. Homelessness

9. Delivering Council and Social Housing

10. Home Ownership and House Price Inflation

11. A Failed Growth Model

Conclusion to Part 2

Part 3: How Do We Fix It?

12. Council & Social Housing

13. Controlling House Price Inflation

14. Regulate the Private Rented Sector

15. Housing Standards

Conclusion

Editorial Reviews

'Bricking It is a clear, well argued and thoroughly researched account of the UK housing crisis and how we can escape it. Winstanley convincingly traces the roots of the current crisis back to the neoliberal dogma of the 1980s, showing that the only way to fix the mess we're in is to reverse Thatcher's reforms and make housing a human right rather than a financialized commodity.' Grace Blakeley, journalist and author of Vulture Capitalism

'In this timely, meticulously researched book Charlie Winstanley sets out clearly the failures in housing policy of the last forty years while offering thoughtful solutions to the many problems identified. Placing the crisis in historical and international context, it is a comprehensive guide to the state of housing in the UK today. It is clear Charlie has thought carefully about the subject and has a great passion for fixing it.' Daniel Hewitt, journalist and presenter

From the Publisher