Low Rise Council

Members of this group live in the areas of Local Authority and Housing Association housing in Suffolk. For one reason or another, they have not exercised their right to buy their housing. The most common reasons are that their wages are too low to service a mortgage, they may be retired and living on a State Pension, or they may be considered as high risk by mortgage lenders.

 

Most of the estates were built in the 1930s and 1950s to high standards. They are typically of two to three bedroom houses, built over two storeys, and with a garden. There is a low population density within these areas as the properties generally have reasonably generous gardens.

 

The members of the group tend to be older than average, as the younger members of the group have tended to move into owner occupied housing when leaving the parental home. Incomes are generally low, partly reflecting the higher rates of unemployment in these areas and partly reflecting the decreasing importance of unskilled labour in the economy.

 

There are four distinct sub-groups to this Tribe in Suffolk - the Problem Families (who tend to be older families living in poorer areas), the Low Rise Pensioners (who tend to be older couples on a low income - usually a State Pension), the Better Off Council Houses (who tend to be blue collar families living in a small town setting), and the Low Rise Subsistence (who tend to be urban families working in low income blue collar and service industry jobs). The common thread to each of these sub-groups is the tenure of housing they occupy.

 

As a group, the Tribe shares a number of common interests and likes. For example F1 Racing appeals to both the Problem Families and the Better Off Council Houses. Again, the Low Rise Pensioners and the Low Rise Subsistence sub-groups both share an interest in Bargain Shopping, perhaps out of financial necessity. Again, the Problem Families and the Better Off Council House sub-groups share an interest in televised sport shown over the Satellite Channels. Finally, all four of the sub-groups show an above average incidence of those who smoke.

 

Whilst there is a common thread to the likes and interests of this Tribe, by way of contrast, there is no common pattern to their dislikes. For example, the Better Off Council Houses sub-group shows a disliking for the radio, the BBC, and Foreign Travel. The Low Rise Subsistence sub-group, on the other hand, shows an antipathy to credit cards, craft activities, and outdoor pursuits.

 

As a group, this Tribe has been in decline over the period 1980 to 2000. The decline can be related to the growth in owner occupation, combined with former Council tenants exercising their right to buy. However, this is only part of the story. There has been a reduction in traditional blue collar jobs in Suffolk, from a lower than average base level. With the migration of the traditional blue collar work, so this Tribe has fallen numerically. We have no reason to suppose that this trend will be reversed in the years out to 2020.

 

The demise of this Tribe could herald some acute political changes in the coming years. The old, traditional, Council Estates form the basis of support for the Labour Party in Suffolk. If they should decline, and if the rising middle class abandon New Labour for the Lib-Dems, then the decline of this Tribe will give rise to a relatively turbulent political environment in the future. The uncertainty facing us is the extent to which these changes may come to pass?

 

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LOCATION

 

In Suffolk, the Low Rise Council Tribe are the primary Tribe in the following Post Code Sectors:

CB0908, IP0200, IP0300, IP0309, IP2403, IP2807, IP3206, NR3204.

In Suffolk, the Low Rise Council Tribe are the secondary Tribe in the following Post Code Sectors:

CB0900, CO1000, IP0106, IP3303, NR3309.

 

Click Here to link to a map that shows the locations of the Tribe in Suffolk. The area shaded in Purple is where the Low Rise Council Tribe are the primary Tribe, and the area shaded in Orange is where the Low Rise Council Tribe are the secondary Tribe.