The influence of local authorities on the growth of owner occupation: Edinburgh and Glasgow 1914-1939

Abstract

The article examines the question of why British cities exhibit substantial variation in tenure development. It indicates that differences between two cities, Edinburgh and Glasgow, became established in the inter-war period, which was a critical one for the growth of home ownership in Britain. Although Edinburgh had smaller numbers of white collar workers it also had a substantially higher level of building for owner occupation than Glasgow. This suggests that the most important factor in the growth of home ownership at this time was not class-associated demand. The article goes on to relate the differential tenure development of these cities to the policies of their local authorities between the wars.