Another day in London. This time with Homes England contributing to a podcast promoting supported, specialist supported (and Gypsy, Roma, Traveller) housing as part of the new affordable homes programme. The sections which survive the edit will be broadcast in about a month’s time.

The trends of and reasons for housing association mergers cratus.co.uk/why-do-housi...

www.brh.org.uk/.../bristol-... SATURDAY 25 APRIL @ M SHED SUNDAY 26 APRIL @ THE CUBE MICROPLEX 8th annual Bristol Radical History Festival: talks, stalls, films, history walks & exhibitions. This year’s event's 4 main themes: Propaganda, Utopias & Dystopias, Welsh history & the 1926 General Strike.

I’m 50,000 words into my book on inter-war housing policy and the mass building of council housing with a focus on the Knowle West estate in South Bristol. Scarily totting up sources so far, over 30 books, 650 newspaper articles and 150 council documents.

My second book, A History of Council Housing in 100 Estates, is a full colour hardback so not cheap but it's currently discounted and obviously worth every penny. It would make a wonderful Christmas present for someone special in your life. 😊 www.ribabooks.com/a-history-of...

Coming up 22 November: I’m introducing @swsilents.bsky.social events on The Battle of the Somme and Paths of Glory. Here’s my latest piece on the anti-war cinema of the First World War. Details of events are in the article. Sign up for more essays there, too.

Born on this day, 1897, Nye Bevan, Minister of Health and Housing when Labour built 805,000 council homes between 1945-51. He believed high-quality council housing should reflect 'the living tapestry of a mixed community'.

Some background reading as my new book includes a section on the council estate pub ban (1922-1933) first over turned in Knowle West

Some background reading as my new book includes a section on the council estate pub ban (1922-1933) first over turned in Knowle West

Will abolishing private landlords solve the housing crisis cratus.co.uk/abolish-priv...

Enjoying this story of the short lived Labour government of 1924. In particular the chapter on John Wheatley and his Housing Act

A couple of books to add to my collection

I’ve just read Dr Christopher Addisons resignation from the Government speech - absolutely brutal and incisive July 1921

Labours housing achievements - my view of the first year cratus.co.uk/assured-tena...

Still waiting for homes for Heroes

This week's Substack post looks at Bath's earliest council housing built before the First World War and its last, a controversial inner-city scheme. Contrary to its genteel image, Bath had an exceptional council housing record. municipaldreams.substack.com/p/the-first-...

In other obvious news, “A recent study shows that encampment bans & other policies that criminalize homelessness don’t keep people from living on the street. The analysis did not find any reduction in homelessness in any cities studied as a result of such ordinances.” Homes and supports. Obviously.

More historical research, these documents are the council inspection report of my grandparents house in 1935. Not long after they were moved to a new council estate and the properties were demolished.

The CIH Awarding Organisation is launching new top-up units to help housing professionals prepare for the Competence and Conduct Standard. Find out all the detail on our website ➡️ buff.ly/UglekY3

Twisted

✨ Voting for our 2025 vice president election is open. This year, your candidates are: Evie Copland CIHCM Katrina Henshaw Hony Premlal MBA CIHCM MIoL 🔥🌟👑 MBA CIHCM Paul Smith Thomas Sutton (CIHCM) Further info can be found here ⤵️ www.linkedin.com/posts/charte...

I'm very sad to learn of the recent death of Nick Hedges (b 1943) - a superb documentary photographer of housing and much else and a generous man. His photographs for Shelter of appalling housing conditions in the UK in the late 60s and 70s did much to persuade public opinion of the need for change.

Phew

Government has proposed a range of measures to help SME housebuilders. This will be warmly welcomed across the sector, including social landlords and councils who want to get building again. www.gov.uk/government/n...

Why housing needs to engage with Reform (like it or not) cratus.co.uk/making-plans...

🚨 New on Substack: The Lillington Gardens Estate, Westminster: ‘civilizing, elegant and exciting’ open.substack.com/pub/municipa...

🏘️ In April, as we continued the search for our next vice president, we got together with our past presidents, current president, and vice president to reflect on the role, and what it means. ⏰ Time is running out to get your nomination as applications close at 5pm tomorrow➡️ buff.ly/t7uVZgD

My latest addition to my little Library. I used to Love the HMSO bookshop on Wine Street. It was full of treasures, wiped out by the internet.

It goes without saying

61 years of being adopted - I’ve not changed much but I do wear more clothes

Thank you for your interest and enthusiasm

Working through this book by Dr Addison for my work on slum clearance and the building of knowle west. I am also chatting my own families move from the slums to the estate

“A book is proof that humans are capable of working magic.” ~ Carl Sagan

🚨 New on Substack: Bristol’s Interwar Council Housing: John Betjeman described 'a surprising beauty showing off in the evening sunlight; and vistas of trees and fields and pleasant cottages' in the Sea Mills estate. municipaldreams.substack.com/p/bristols-i...

Long live libraries

What did the Prince of Wales see when he visited Knowle West in 1934, how long was it and what did it weigh?

Spare a thought for these heroes Early photographs of the English Heritage team in Stonehenge repositioning the stones at the start of British Summertime ⏰ And one of them putting the clocks forward an hour tomorrow morning #BritishSummerTime

South Bristol's own Paul Holbrook smashing it again. Read the full story here: www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol...

Near the toilets in the British Library

Heading to that London for my first in person @cihhousing.bsky.social board meeting - fully decaffed up

Interesting talk tonight from Peter Malpass on who ran the council in the 1900s - the short answer is the Tories although it’s more complicated than that

Spoke at Merchants Academy withywood assembly today reminding students that they have a history too

I’m an old housing bore - when I see Tottenham Court Road I think - Housing Corporation

Elim Housing CEO Paul Smith begins to explain why the CPI+1 settlement "embeds inequity and unfairness" in the rental system: "The social rent formula is completely bonkers - why do I care what the average earnings were in 1999?" #CIHSW25

Fascinating talk tonight at the Bristol History Association covering how governments have used the BBC to project ‘soft power’

🔑 The UK housing crisis is holding back economic growth, undermining life chances, and increasing pressure on the NHS. To meet its ambitious milestones, govt must invest in social and affordable housing. Read our full submission ➡️https://buff.ly/43cq4iC #SpendingReview2025 #UKHousing

Another reason why the number of social homes is falling cratus.co.uk/the-unintend...

Paul Smith, CEO at Elim at NHF webinar on working in partnership to deliver supported housing - it's much better for people to move into independent living than into hospital! We more need #supported housing to make sure people can live independently and take pressure off #NHS hospital services.

CIH's @meganhinch.bsky.social opens up a session exploring the future of rents with Savills' Steve Partridge, Poplar HARCA's Reverend James Olanipekun, and Elim Housing's Paul Smith #CIHSW25