Paul Smith
@housingpaul.bsky.social
“Housing expert and social historian”
Reposted by Paul Smith
My second book, A History of Council Housing in 100 Estates, is a full colour hardback so not cheap but it's currently discounted and obviously worth every penny. It would make a wonderful Christmas present for someone special in your life. 😊
www.ribabooks.com/a-history-of...
www.ribabooks.com/a-history-of...
A History of Council Housing in 100 Estates
Buy A History of Council Housing in 100 Estates by Boughton, John from the RIBA online Bookshop. ISBN 9781914124631
www.ribabooks.com
November 19, 2025 at 1:46 PM
My second book, A History of Council Housing in 100 Estates, is a full colour hardback so not cheap but it's currently discounted and obviously worth every penny. It would make a wonderful Christmas present for someone special in your life. 😊
www.ribabooks.com/a-history-of...
www.ribabooks.com/a-history-of...
Reposted by Paul Smith
Coming up 22 November: I’m introducing @swsilents.bsky.social events on The Battle of the Somme and Paths of Glory. Here’s my latest piece on the anti-war cinema of the First World War. Details of events are in the article. Sign up for more essays there, too.
Festival of Ideas 2: Anti-War Cinema and the First World War
Andrew Kelly
festivalofideas.substack.com
November 19, 2025 at 6:02 AM
Coming up 22 November: I’m introducing @swsilents.bsky.social events on The Battle of the Somme and Paths of Glory. Here’s my latest piece on the anti-war cinema of the First World War. Details of events are in the article. Sign up for more essays there, too.
Reposted by Paul Smith
Born on this day, 1897, Nye Bevan, Minister of Health and Housing when Labour built 805,000 council homes between 1945-51. He believed high-quality council housing should reflect 'the living tapestry of a mixed community'.
November 15, 2025 at 8:28 AM
Born on this day, 1897, Nye Bevan, Minister of Health and Housing when Labour built 805,000 council homes between 1945-51. He believed high-quality council housing should reflect 'the living tapestry of a mixed community'.
Reposted by Paul Smith
Some background reading as my new book includes a section on the council estate pub ban (1922-1933) first over turned in Knowle West
November 7, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Some background reading as my new book includes a section on the council estate pub ban (1922-1933) first over turned in Knowle West
Some background reading as my new book includes a section on the council estate pub ban (1922-1933) first over turned in Knowle West
November 7, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Some background reading as my new book includes a section on the council estate pub ban (1922-1933) first over turned in Knowle West
Enjoying this story of the short lived Labour government of 1924. In particular the chapter on John Wheatley and his Housing Act
October 5, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Enjoying this story of the short lived Labour government of 1924. In particular the chapter on John Wheatley and his Housing Act
A couple of books to add to my collection
September 22, 2025 at 8:34 PM
A couple of books to add to my collection
I’ve just read Dr Christopher Addisons resignation from the Government speech - absolutely brutal and incisive
July 1921
July 1921
September 6, 2025 at 5:46 PM
I’ve just read Dr Christopher Addisons resignation from the Government speech - absolutely brutal and incisive
July 1921
July 1921
Still waiting for homes for Heroes
July 7, 2025 at 12:39 PM
Still waiting for homes for Heroes
Reposted by Paul Smith
This week's Substack post looks at Bath's earliest council housing built before the First World War and its last, a controversial inner-city scheme. Contrary to its genteel image, Bath had an exceptional council housing record.
municipaldreams.substack.com/p/the-first-...
municipaldreams.substack.com/p/the-first-...
July 5, 2025 at 7:54 AM
This week's Substack post looks at Bath's earliest council housing built before the First World War and its last, a controversial inner-city scheme. Contrary to its genteel image, Bath had an exceptional council housing record.
municipaldreams.substack.com/p/the-first-...
municipaldreams.substack.com/p/the-first-...
Reposted by Paul Smith
In other obvious news, “A recent study shows that encampment bans & other policies that criminalize homelessness don’t keep people from living on the street. The analysis did not find any reduction in homelessness in any cities studied as a result of such ordinances.”
Homes and supports. Obviously.
Homes and supports. Obviously.
A New Study Proves Criminalizing Homelessness Doesn’t Reduce Homelessness
"The deterrence logic doesn’t hold": A recent analysis finds that encampments bans and other local ordinances aimed at unhoused populations don't actually lead to decreased homelessness.
nextcity.org
June 30, 2025 at 3:52 PM
In other obvious news, “A recent study shows that encampment bans & other policies that criminalize homelessness don’t keep people from living on the street. The analysis did not find any reduction in homelessness in any cities studied as a result of such ordinances.”
Homes and supports. Obviously.
Homes and supports. Obviously.
More historical research, these documents are the council inspection report of my grandparents house in 1935. Not long after they were moved to a new council estate and the properties were demolished.
June 26, 2025 at 7:56 AM
More historical research, these documents are the council inspection report of my grandparents house in 1935. Not long after they were moved to a new council estate and the properties were demolished.
Reposted by Paul Smith
The CIH Awarding Organisation is launching new top-up units to help housing professionals prepare for the Competence and Conduct Standard.
Find out all the detail on our website ➡️ buff.ly/UglekY3
Find out all the detail on our website ➡️ buff.ly/UglekY3
June 24, 2025 at 10:53 AM
The CIH Awarding Organisation is launching new top-up units to help housing professionals prepare for the Competence and Conduct Standard.
Find out all the detail on our website ➡️ buff.ly/UglekY3
Find out all the detail on our website ➡️ buff.ly/UglekY3
Reposted by Paul Smith
✨ Voting for our 2025 vice president election is open. This year, your candidates are:
Evie Copland CIHCM
Katrina Henshaw
Hony Premlal MBA CIHCM MIoL 🔥🌟👑 MBA CIHCM
Paul Smith
Thomas Sutton (CIHCM)
Further info can be found here ⤵️
www.linkedin.com/posts/charte...
Evie Copland CIHCM
Katrina Henshaw
Hony Premlal MBA CIHCM MIoL 🔥🌟👑 MBA CIHCM
Paul Smith
Thomas Sutton (CIHCM)
Further info can be found here ⤵️
www.linkedin.com/posts/charte...
✨ Members, we have some exciting news! | Chartered Institute of Housing
✨ Members, we have some exciting news! ✨
On Monday we opened voting for our 2025 vice president election. This year, your candidates are:
Evie Copland CIHCM
Katrina Henshaw
Hony Premlal MBA CIHC...
www.linkedin.com
June 12, 2025 at 2:40 PM
✨ Voting for our 2025 vice president election is open. This year, your candidates are:
Evie Copland CIHCM
Katrina Henshaw
Hony Premlal MBA CIHCM MIoL 🔥🌟👑 MBA CIHCM
Paul Smith
Thomas Sutton (CIHCM)
Further info can be found here ⤵️
www.linkedin.com/posts/charte...
Evie Copland CIHCM
Katrina Henshaw
Hony Premlal MBA CIHCM MIoL 🔥🌟👑 MBA CIHCM
Paul Smith
Thomas Sutton (CIHCM)
Further info can be found here ⤵️
www.linkedin.com/posts/charte...
Reposted by Paul Smith
I'm very sad to learn of the recent death of Nick Hedges (b 1943) - a superb documentary photographer of housing and much else and a generous man. His photographs for Shelter of appalling housing conditions in the UK in the late 60s and 70s did much to persuade public opinion of the need for change.
June 10, 2025 at 3:23 PM
I'm very sad to learn of the recent death of Nick Hedges (b 1943) - a superb documentary photographer of housing and much else and a generous man. His photographs for Shelter of appalling housing conditions in the UK in the late 60s and 70s did much to persuade public opinion of the need for change.
Reposted by Paul Smith
Government has proposed a range of measures to help SME housebuilders. This will be warmly welcomed across the sector, including social landlords and councils who want to get building again. www.gov.uk/government/n...
Government backs SME builders to get Britain building
Smaller housebuilders to benefit simpler rules with new reforms across land, regulation and finance.
www.gov.uk
May 28, 2025 at 7:02 AM
Government has proposed a range of measures to help SME housebuilders. This will be warmly welcomed across the sector, including social landlords and councils who want to get building again. www.gov.uk/government/n...
Reposted by Paul Smith
🚨 New on Substack: The Lillington Gardens Estate, Westminster: ‘civilizing, elegant and exciting’
open.substack.com/pub/municipa...
open.substack.com/pub/municipa...
May 9, 2025 at 7:37 AM
🚨 New on Substack: The Lillington Gardens Estate, Westminster: ‘civilizing, elegant and exciting’
open.substack.com/pub/municipa...
open.substack.com/pub/municipa...
Reposted by Paul Smith
🏘️ In April, as we continued the search for our next vice president, we got together with our past presidents, current president, and vice president to reflect on the role, and what it means.
⏰ Time is running out to get your nomination as applications close at 5pm tomorrow➡️ buff.ly/t7uVZgD
⏰ Time is running out to get your nomination as applications close at 5pm tomorrow➡️ buff.ly/t7uVZgD
May 8, 2025 at 9:02 PM
🏘️ In April, as we continued the search for our next vice president, we got together with our past presidents, current president, and vice president to reflect on the role, and what it means.
⏰ Time is running out to get your nomination as applications close at 5pm tomorrow➡️ buff.ly/t7uVZgD
⏰ Time is running out to get your nomination as applications close at 5pm tomorrow➡️ buff.ly/t7uVZgD
My latest addition to my little
Library. I used to Love the HMSO bookshop on Wine Street. It was full of treasures, wiped out by the internet.
Library. I used to Love the HMSO bookshop on Wine Street. It was full of treasures, wiped out by the internet.
May 5, 2025 at 9:42 AM
My latest addition to my little
Library. I used to Love the HMSO bookshop on Wine Street. It was full of treasures, wiped out by the internet.
Library. I used to Love the HMSO bookshop on Wine Street. It was full of treasures, wiped out by the internet.
It goes without saying
May 4, 2025 at 12:18 PM
It goes without saying