Social Housing Provision in Rural Areas: Lessons learned from a Historic Analysis of Council House Building in a Small Town in Rural England

Abstract History shows that one successful method of addressing poverty and inequality is by providing social housing. In England during its post war peak, local authorities, such as borough, urban rural district councils, built thousands “council” houses. The common perception the estate huge developments in Beacontree London County Council, but construction took place on a smaller scale districts much can be learned from studying how housing was provided these areas. Princes Risborough Buckinghamshire an excellent example council provision before after WW2. Archival data used to analyze evaluate house-building program 1919 1953. Beginning with 10 workers cottages under powers Housing Town Planning Act ending 1953 erection 164 “Wimpey” no-fines concrete houses, Wycombe Rural District Council 790 dwellings. By time 1961 Census WRDC postwar building effectively ended houses accoutned for about 40% homes town population doubled since 1921. Records show dwellings helped develop thriving economy fueled procurement builders, constructing few two units. Only toward end period were contracts let large quantities when non-traditional methods adopted.