Tackling social exclusion or ensuring gentrification? Social housing and the management of mixed income communities

This paper examines the management of mixed-income communities; an issue which has become central to UK housing practice. Based on five case study neighbourhoods, in England and Scotland, the paper examines management initiatives designed to generate sustainable mixed-income communities. The paper pays particular attention to allocation policies, resident involvement, partnership and anti-social behaviour strategies within the context of neighbourhood management approaches. The first part of the paper considers the main justifications for the development of mixed-income communities, understood as tackling social exclusion through: limiting neighbourhood effects, developing social capital and engendering respect. The second section considers the practical application of these ideas, using the case study material. The main argument is that the central objective (that of tackling social exclusion) may be undermined by a policy of ‘state-sponsored gentrification’ evident in exclusionary and individualistic management strategies towards mixed-income communities