Kate Barker – författare

He needs a wife—temporarily.But will love find them on their journey? For Charlotte Carpenter, a job out West as a child’s caretaker represents freedom and independence. But when she arrives, circumstances dictate that she must marry the child’s father for propriety’s sake. Charlotte has always seen marriage as a trap, an opinion that’s shared by her groom, Paul Harrison. He assures her their match is temporary—to sell his herd of horses, with an annulment at the journey’s end. But as they travel on the trail together, will their temporary marriage turn into lasting love?

Housing matters a great deal. The present housing market has worked well for many of us (who have enjoyed the steeply rising values of our homes) which is why change, especially new building, is resisted. But for increasing numbers it now works less well as home ownership is out of reach, and for many years it has been commonly felt that there is a 'housing crisis' in Britain. Reforms are urgently needed to avoid a growing human cost. With so many conflicting views in evidence and a balance to be struck between growth and conservation, what housing market outcomes might be regarded as a success for policymakers? This short book attempts to give at least some answers, concluding with a list of criteria by which success might be judged along with a list of policy recommendations. Along the way a number of 'myths' are identified - either ideas about the UK housing market or possible solutions to the housing issue - that the author argues are mistaken. She argues that we need to be realistic, and not simplistic, about what mix of outcomes can be achieved.There are many national policy aims, including decent homes for all, protection of the green belt, better design of buildings and places, the avoidance of house price volatility, and intergenerational fairness.At the local level, planning provokes conflict and strong feelings. We also have an existing housing stock that is arguably, at least in part, wrongly located, and some of the housing we do have is of poor quality. For anyone with an interest in housing, this is an authoritative, accessible and constructive contribution to a debate that is likely to rumble on until the cows come home.

Housing is a fundamental necessity, and yet it is generally acknowledged that we have a‘housing crisis’ in the UK. The housing market has worked well for many people (who haveenjoyed the steeply rising values of their homes), which is why change, especially new building,is resisted. But for increasing numbers it now works less well, as home ownership is out of reach.Government finds it easier to introduce short-term policies that are not really effective, meaningthat the long-term issues are never really resolved. Reforms are urgently needed.There are many national policy aims, including decent homes for all, protection of the greenbelt, better design of buildings and places, avoidance of price volatility, and intergenerationalfairness. We also have an existing housing stock that is wrongly located, and some of thehousing we do have is of poor quality. With so many conflicting views, strong local feelingsand a balance to be struck between growth and conservation, what housing market outcomesmight be regarded as a success for policymakers? This book dispels some common myths, andprovides answers in the form of policy recommendations.

Housing is a fundamental necessity, and yet it is generally acknowledged that we have a‘housing crisis’ in the UK. The housing market has worked well for many people (who haveenjoyed the steeply rising values of their homes), which is why change, especially new building,is resisted. But for increasing numbers it now works less well, as home ownership is out of reach.Government finds it easier to introduce short-term policies that are not really effective, meaningthat the long-term issues are never really resolved. Reforms are urgently needed.There are many national policy aims, including decent homes for all, protection of the greenbelt, better design of buildings and places, avoidance of price volatility, and intergenerationalfairness. We also have an existing housing stock that is wrongly located, and some of thehousing we do have is of poor quality. With so many conflicting views, strong local feelingsand a balance to be struck between growth and conservation, what housing market outcomesmight be regarded as a success for policymakers? This book dispels some common myths, andprovides answers in the form of policy recommendations.