Pitching in

Home grown

With rising food prices and a rapidly growing population, it’s time we all became self-sufficient. And social landlords can lead the way, says Bill Randall

Back to the land?

Manion on a mission

Kicking off our north special is a man whose controversial approach to housing has earned him a reputation as a maverick. After 14 years as chief executive of Irwell Valley Housing Association, Stuart Macdonald finds livewire Liverpudlian Tom Manion as fired up as ever.

A chilling legacy

The UK’s drafty Victorian housing stock contributes to fuel poverty and the ill health of the nation but it could be insulated using local government pension funds, says Bill Randall

Cash boost for contaminated land homes

A council has been awarded £1.4 million to replace soil in two estates after potentially harmful chemicals were found in the ground.

Doing it themselves

Help is at hand for low-income tenants keen to follow the Highland tradition of self-building. Clare Harris reports

The other side of the story

Dale Farm has dominated the headlines in recent months. But as Alex Turner finds, there are plenty of examples of landlords and Travellers working together successfully

Dressed for success

Birmingham’s Forgotten Vintage is much more than just a second-hand fashion store. Laura Jane Johnson reveals how it is helping the city’s homeless

Ageing sustainably

By 2020 China will have more than 260 million people over the age of 65. Here, Jess McCabe gets a glimpse at how the country plans to house some of them in a giant, retirement eco-city

Ready for lift off

House builders must be ready to react if government initiatives deliver a boost to the sector, says property expert Rebecca Kibby