The SHARP study: a quantitative and qualitative evaluation of the short-term outcomes of housing and neighbourhood renewal

Mark Petticrew,Caroline Hoy,Phil Mason,Ade Kearns

doi:10.1186/1471-2458-9-415

Abstract

BackgroundThe SHARP study was set up to evaluate the short (1 year) and longer-term (2 year) effects on health and wellbeing of providing new social housing to tenants. This paper presents the study background, the design and methods, and the findings at one year.MethodsData were collected from social tenants who were rehoused into a new, general-purpose socially-rented home developed and let by a Scottish Registered Social Landlord (the "Intervention" group). These data were collected at three points in time: before moving (Wave 1), one year after moving (Wave 2) and two years after moving (Wave 3). Data were collected from a Comparison group using the same methods at Baseline (Wave 1) and after two years of follow-up (Wave 3). Qualitative data were also collected by means of individual interviews. This paper presents the quantitative and qualitative findings at 1 year (after Wave 2).Results339 Intervention group interviews and 392 Comparison group interviews were completed. One year after moving to a new home there was a significant reduction in the proportion of Intervention group respondents reporting problems with the home, such as damp and noise. There was also a significant increase in neighbourhood satisfaction compared with Baseline (χ2 = 35.51, p < 0.0001). Many aspects of the neighbourhood improved significantly, including antisocial behaviour. In terms of environmental aspects and services the greatest improvements were in the general appearance of the area, the reputation of the area, litter and rubbish, and speeding traffic. However, lack of facilities for children/young people and lack of safe children's play areas remained a concern for tenants.ConclusionThis study found that self-reported health changed little in the first year after moving. Nonetheless, the quantitative and qualitative data point to improvements in the quality of housing and of the local environment, as well as in tenant satisfaction and other related outcomes. Further analyses will explore whether these effects are sustained, and whether differences in health outcomes emerge at 2 years compared with the Comparison group.

Highlights

The SHARP study was set up to evaluate the short (1 year) and longer-term (2 year) effects on health and wellbeing of providing new social housing to tenants
The most recent study in this field, a large randomised controlled trial from New Zealand, suggested that improving the indoor environment by insulating older houses increased indoor temperatures and improved occupants' health and wellbeing[3] Few studies have examined housing improvement in the context of area regeneration, and where the effects of urban regeneration have been investigated, health outcomes have rarely been examined[4] It was against this background that SHARP (Scottish Housing Health and Regeneration Project) was conducted, with the aim of assessing the effects of new social housing and area regeneration on the health and wellbeing of tenants in the social-rented sector in Scotland
Locations in and around Glasgow accounted for 49.1% and 51.9% of the total number of Intervention and Comparison group interviews respectively, though this distribution reflects the relative concentration of Resident Social Landlord (RSL) in Scotland

Summary

Introduction

The SHARP study was set up to evaluate the short (1 year) and longer-term (2 year) effects on health and wellbeing of providing new social housing to tenants. The most recent study in this field, a large randomised controlled trial from New Zealand, suggested that improving the indoor environment by insulating older houses increased indoor temperatures and improved occupants' health and wellbeing[3] Few studies have examined housing improvement in the context of area regeneration, and where the effects of urban regeneration have been investigated, health outcomes have rarely been examined[4] It was against this background that SHARP (Scottish Housing Health and Regeneration Project) was conducted, with the aim of assessing the effects of new social housing and area regeneration on the health and wellbeing of tenants in the social-rented sector in Scotland. At the time of the SHARP study, most public housing investment in Scotland related to the provision of new, general-needs housing, rather than the rehabilitation or improvement of older stock, as had been the case in earlier periods.

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion