Covid-19 has fuelled the online ecommerce market to the point that many high street shops no longer require a physical presence. Early evidence suggests that this trend is here to stay. In light of this, I purpose that brownfield shopping sites are repurposed to make space for much-needed social housing. Social housing projects of this scale require large government funding and can create thousands of jobs as well as meet social housing needs.
Ultimately, it could significantly reduce homelessness and rapidly reduce poverty amongst families currently living in the private rented sector. It would deliver substantial economic benefits across the country, and unlock productivity improvements across the homebuilding sector. Given the pressures facing the housing market, it is also the only route to reaching the government’s target of building 300,000 homes per year.
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