Background to the Research

• This paper is based on analysis of large scale survey data held by the NIHE. These relate mainly to the inter-census timed Greater Belfast Household Survey and the NI House Condition Survey.
• The analysis is located theoretically in the debate about social re-stratification and empirically on the challenge of spatial deprivation for local policy makers.

Main Findings

• The research suggests that theories arguing that British society is undergoing re-stratification based on the control and ownership of individual consumption of health, education, transport and crucially housing have relevance to NI.
• Developing these contentions, the author shows how the correlation between public sector housing and conditions of social malaise are strong and increasing in strength.
• The implication is that spatially based strategies should examine more closely the estate level as a basis for building a more suitably targeted planning response.