1. Gateway People Jim Bennett Senior Research Fellow Institute for Public Policy Research

2. Growth areas project Focus on socio-economic challenges in housing growth Review of the New Towns Demographic analysis Qualitative research Economic analysis

3. Growth areas communities Who is going to live in the growth areas? Local latent demand In-migration Rise of single households… … but traditional migration flows within greater SE are driven by young families.

4. Why do focus groups? In migration driven by: Housing offer Employment Infrastructure Housing policy What are the housing aspirations of potential residents?

5. Study segments Focus on the Thames Gateway Prospective residents People in housing need Key workers and equivalents Households with £40-£80K incomes Existing residents People living on low incomes in deprived areas of TG

6. Existing residents Deprived areas of Thames Gateway Low awareness of proposed growth Concerns about infrastructure and services deficit Sceptical about benefits of growth Potential for significant racial tensions

7. Key messages – prospective residents Affordability attractive to low & mid incomes Higher earners want transport and cultural heritage All groups very concerned about quality of new housing Mixed tenure issues Community and security Access to services

8. Prospective residents Rochester is nice – it’s got a bit of character. I’m paranoid about new-build houses – a lot of them are lifeless… We don’t want to feel like we are living as just one more in a series. We want our home to be a bit different.

9. Key Messages – Existing Residents Low awareness of proposed growth Concerns about infrastructure and services deficit Concerns about impact on green space Sceptical about benefits of growth Potential for significant racial tensions

10. Existing residents There should’ve at least been an opinion poll so we could say what we thought. A lot of people from London and other places come here because it’s cheaper, but we’re left in the same position because there aren’t any jobs which mean we can’t get on and better our lives They’ll open shops for them, like hairdressers for black women, we don’t need that. Londoners are snobs.

11. Key challenges For strategic planning understanding demographics and aspirations infrastructure and public services For local planning – housing quality and neighbourhood layout For local agencies – community engagement and development

12. www.ippr.org www.ippr.org j.bennett@ippr.org