Cause area report: Housing affordability in England

Abstract

This research was conducted in response to member demand for high-impact donation opportunities in high-income countries. We were prompted to look into housing affordability and land-use reform by similar research from the Open Philanthropy Project1 and experts who claim that inefficient land use is likely one of England’s most significant socioeconomic problems.2 We focus on England rather than the UK because the Town and Country Planning Act, the country’s foundational land-use legislation, is specific to England and Wales. We use data for England wherever possible but use UK data where necessary.