[Economist] Can high-rise buildings solve London’s housing problems?

Summary

- Britain needs more houses due to population growth, especially in cities, but the supply of new housing is "not keeping up". (strict planning rules: green-belt around cities)

- One way to accommodate more homes in a restricted area to construct is building residential skyscrapers (as New York and Hong Kong do) However, there are set of hurdles.
  1) Tall buildings are expensive to construct, maintain, and require extra cost to have an additional safety requirement.
  2) Most new towers are "filled with luxury flats, and boast gyms", etc...
  3) People prefer house with lower flowers ("three or four stories high") have negative impression toward residential infrastructure; because of concern about "lack of privacy and a presumed unsuitability for children"
  4) Infrastructure, especially for transportation, is not ready - not at the appropriate level. High-rise buildings will put "enormous strain on infrastructure."
  5) New building in London should not obstruct "certain views" of landmarks, which hampers to build higher stories of buildings

- For these reasons, High-rise buildings are not the best way to solve this housing problem.

 

vocab (definition from Merriam-Webster):

- cladding: something that covers or overlays

- weary: tolerance, patience

- maisonette: 1) a small house 2) an apartment often on two floors

- gloom: to look, feel, or act sullen or despondent

- get off the ground: to begin to operate or proceed in a successful way