House in the Country Where Our Suburbs and Garden Cities Came From and Why it’s Time to Leave Them Behind

by Matthews, Simon

• ISBN13: 9780857304957
• ISBN10: 085730495X
• eBook ISBN(s): 9780857305367
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2022-09-29
• Publisher: Oldcastle Books
• More Book Details

Summary

A critical look at suburban ideals and their impact on UK housing policy.

For nearly 150 years, living in a house in the country has been a widespread aspiration. House in the Country explores how this idea, imported from the US by Ebenezer Howard, shaped the garden city movement and UK housing policy.

Simon Matthews presents a detailed narrative, examining the social and cultural implications alongside interviews with key figures like Lord Heseltine. Discover:

• The origins of suburban and garden city planning.
• The impact of government policies on housing affordability.
• Why a shift away from this approach is essential for a sustainable future.

Will subsequent generations hold us to account for the inadequacy of their inheritance?

Author Biography

Simon Matthews has had a varied career including a spell running the British Transport Films documentary film library and several years singing in semi-professional rock groups. He has contributed articles on music, film and cultural history to Record Collector, Shindig! and Lobster magazines. Psychedelic Celluloid, his illustrated history of UK music, film and TV between 1965 and 1974 was published by Oldcastle Books in 2016.