Earlier this week an influential figure in British housing passed away. Sir Lawrie Barratt established Barratt Developments in 1958 as a response to his own problems in becoming a homeowner with his company becoming on of the UK's leading housing developers.
Barratt is a well known yet controversial name in Bristish housing. On one hand Barratt Developments were pioneers, with many of the methods invented now common practice in housing. Along with (the now industry standard) fitted kitchen, other schemes included the concept of part-exchange and other principles of maximising space, alongside a broader legacy of making home ownership a reality to many who were previously priced out of the housing market.
However the cost cutting methods came at a price and the delivery of cheap housing had its flaws; schemes have been condemned as 'rabbit-hutch' development lacking space, imagination and aesthetics. It will be interesting to see how the legacy and concept of 'affordable housing' will evolved over the next 100 years, and how the Barratt Developments (if still standing) will fit into this landscape.
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