We follow up on our earlier report on The Big Think’s first debate last Monday with details of the second debate on residential (watchMishcon de Reya’s short video).

The topic of the day was, inevitably, ‘generation rent’. It was discussed that affordability and the quality of experience are the two main problems. A way must be found to enhance the experience of living by allowing the tenant to contribute to the property in order to improve their experience and create rental properties that allow the tenants to have a better relationship with their home.

Nevertheless the challenge for the property industry is to provide both quality private and rental properties. Contributors felt that a new model is needed where people can stay as long as they want in their flats,with green spaces nearby and gym access provided. The idea is that these attractive rental properties would reduce the desire for home ownership and thus create a private rented sector with a range of price points and properties.

Creating housing for the ‘active elderly’ is another important product. Amanda Reynolds commented that people are looking to come back to the city after their children leave home and no longer want a house with a garden to manage, but want to be near to amenities that give them access to a range of shared and active amenities. That need requires new housing types. A mixed community is the insurmountable challenge.

CEO David Barnett added that Londonewcastle is developing homes for, “The kind of creative who flits between cities and owns a flat in each.” See our Developments to find out more.