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Over The Last Few Years Sutton's Housing Strategy Has Been Monitored Through ...


Over the last few years Sutton's housing strategy has been monitored through a series of reports - the last being in 2002. The action plan for 2002 included energy efficiency. However, since then significant action in the social sector has involved anti-social behaviour; regeneration; and sheltered housing, with an emphasis on achieving affordable housing with fairer rents. Home energy efficiency and fuel poverty rated 7 out of 10 on the ranking of Local Importance and it seems that targets for home energy efficiency are being set for 2010, which is the government's target for the Decent Homes Standard. It is clear that Sutton's housing strategy is set within the context of government policy. For instance, it is mentioned that work has been put into achieving the guidelines set by the government's ‘Sustainable Communities: building for the future' programme, which sets about improving living conditions, and promoting regeneration, while working towards sustainable and affordable living. However, this means that environmental issues, although being place on the agenda, are taking more of a backseat behind the more pressing social issues such as crime and homelessness.
Sutton, perhaps more than any other Local Authority under discussion this paper, is suffering from a lack of financial resources and investment. There is a 76 million pound backlog of repairs to Council homes , with £47M needed for works over the next 10 years. (http://www.sutton.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/6C626265-1438-4D07-B28A-086836D29CC3/0/HousingStrategy200405to200809Draft9final.PDF). It is thus difficult for this borough to pursue any extravagant or radical means of reform for energy efficiency - instead, they are relying on the work of voluntary agencies, and re-launching the energy efficiency scheme which began in 2000.
However, it is precisely these criteria which interested the charity Peabody (for London's less well-off citizens) to invest in a multi million pound sustainable development. Bedzed, in Beddington, is an independent mix of high-density housing and low environmental impact. 82 homes have been provided, with 15 designated for social housing. A low proportion, but a proportion nevertheless.3.5 Natural Resources/ Recycling

Fig 1. Source: http://www.restats.org.uk/Regional_-_Chart_2.html
Fig 1 uses results from statistics gathered in 2005, and shows London as having the least number of sites from which to generate renewable energy. This, to a certain extent is to be expected due to the lack of suitable sites - such as open land exposed to the wind. However, the amount of other biofuels generated is proportionate to that of other regions in the country, as illustrated in figure 6.


Fig 2. Amount of energy generated by region: 2005. Source: http://www.restats.org.uk/Regional_-_Chart_6.

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