Morning Briefing: anger over ‘segregated’ housing developments continues

In the news

Following the storm over the housing development where children in the social housing properties were not given access to the estate’s playground, The Guardian has widened its coverage of so-called segregation in new build developments.

It speaks to shared owners who also feel they are missing out on features of the developments enjoyed by owner-occupiers, such as roof gardens and car parking spots. More playgrounds which social tenants are not allowed to access have emerged, as detailed here.

The paper also interviews the mothers from the original site, who are reacting to their victory after being given access – but also coming to terms with some of the abuse thrown their way on social media after they hit the limelight.

Finally, it publishes a comment piece from The Observer’s architecture correspondent who says there is “no excuse” for the segregated playground.

Segregation in mixed-tenure developments is justified by its defenders on the grounds that some residents do not pay the service charges which fund the amenities – a practice which has always been controversial, with stories about ‘poor doors’, separate access for residents in affordable housing, bubbling up in the media every couple of years.