Meeting housing needs within planetary boundaries: A UK case study

This paper addresses a neglected aspect of the UK housing crisis: how to rapidly but fairly decarbonise the housing stock to meet tough net zero targets while meeting housing needs of the entire population. To do so the authors adopt a radical approach based on sufficiency. The sufficiency approach is based on determining both a housing floor – a decent minimum standard for all – and a housing ceiling - above which lies unsustainable excess. The authors define these thresholds in terms of bedrooms and floorspace and analyse the distribution of housing in England. They find that excess housing is widespread, concentrated in home ownership, particularly outright ownership, and characterised by above average emissions per square metre. They conclude that current policies based solely on energy efficiency and increasing housing supply cannot achieve agreed decarbonisation goals while securing decent accommodation for those who are housing deprived. To do this will require policies that distinguish between sufficient and excess housing to make more effective use of the housing stock to meet housing needs within planetary boundaries. • Applies a needs-sufficiency approach to evaluate the housing stock. • Defines ‘floors’ and ‘ceilings’ to assess minimal and excess housing. • English data demonstrates excess housing plentiful and high-carbon. • Situates efficiency measures in a broader sufficiency context. • Advocates policies to meet housing needs within ecological limits.