Responding to unpopular social housing in Vaulz en Velin, Greater Lyon: an English perspective

In recent years, in many parts of England and France a mismatch between housing supply and demand has resulted in an increasing number of neighbourhoods experiencing problems of empty properties, depressed house prices and high stock turnover. This paper looks at the response of policy makers and social housing landlords in one area in France – Vaulx En Velin, Greater Lyon – to this phenomenon. It does so with reference to four key themes that have been a recurring feature of attempts to tackle the problem of unpopular (or low demand) housing in England: partnership working; community participation; neighbourhood management and demolition. The paper draws on a range of data sources including an in-depth case study, which encompassed a number of interviews with key local actors and documentary data analysis. The paper concludes by offering some initial insights into how policy and practice appear to differ between England and France and relates these to their specific national contexts.