New research examines neighbourhood segregation and its effects on housing and communities

New research from the ippr, A Tale of Two Cities: Neighbourhood segregation by income in two urban case studies, focuses on the processes that work to divide neighbourhoods at the local level. In particular, it explores the relationship between a neighbourhood’s income profile, and the housing market.

Improving infrastructure and public services in deprived areas, and not directing new investment in social housing towards deprived areas, are ways to support greater spatial equity and avoid increased segregation in the future.

It is now well understood that people living in deprived areas have poorer access to goods and services, frequently experience lower quality goods and services, and often have to pay more for these goods and services than those in better off areas. There is also evidence that living in an area of concentrated deprivation tends to exacerbate residents’ problems, compromising health, educational outcomes and employment.

Different national, regional and local processes can lead to income segregation at the neighbourhood level. Policy and economic drivers interact with the processes of income segregation at different spatial scales.