FROM THE EDITOR: Do shrinking homes reflect a lack of caring for each other?

Lockdown taught us to be grateful for many things and lots of those were shared in this column during the months when we were confined to our homes.
By Nancy Fielder
Published 28th Aug 2020, 10:30 BST
As buildings get taller, homes are getting smaller, but when is enough enough?As buildings get taller, homes are getting smaller, but when is enough enough?
As buildings get taller, homes are getting smaller, but when is enough enough?

Every time the sun came out, and it seemed to visit far more often in those spring months than it is doing in August, we gave thanks for whatever outdoor space we could access.

When playgrounds were shut, sports halls abandoned and visits completely out of the question, we relied on our gardens more than ever. They brought us joy and, if we had the skills, even things to eat as well as beautiful blooms. What they gave us without fail was space and fresh air.

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Whenever I took time to consider the implications on Sheffielders who were in a far worse situation than myself, the people I worried about most were those completely alone or large families living in small apartments.

Just watching young children who are constantly on the move is enough to wear out those of older generations, myself included. I don’t know how those parents managed in such confinement and we can see from issues that are only just being to emerge that many seriously struggled.

Yet, here we know are in a city which is considering plans to build flats which are smaller than even what is recommended. Yes, homes so small that the experts don’t think a human can reasonably be expected to live there. You might think this is acceptable considering we are in a housing crisis, young families can’t afford to buy a home and there are homeless folk in every neighbourhood. But we need to do better than this.

I have nothing against apartments and I understand how important it is to have people living in the city centre if we want it to thrive. Yet I can’t help thinking back to when thousands of council homes were being built in this city and still have considerably more space and bigger gardens than what we build in 2020. Even upmarket houses no longer compare in size. Did we care more then? Have we given up thinking that there is possibility for everyone to have a decent life no matter which neighbourhood they live and what their background? I hope not and I hope nobody in the town hall thinks that homes too small to live happily in should ever be built in our city.

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