How much tenure mix is there in England, how has this changed 1981-2001 and what are the policy implications?

Policy has encouraged ‘mixed tenure’ neighbourhoods in many countries for several decades, but there is little evidence on how much tenure mix has existed at any point, partly due to the lack of agreement on definitions or measures. Here 11 measures are developed and applied. The proportion of ‘mixed tenure’ neighbourhoods in England in 2001 varied from 9% - neighbourhoods not dominated by one tenure - to 100% - at least some diversity. Indices of segregation showed that in 2001 owner occupiers were the most isolated group, and the more dissimilar from and least exposed to other tenures. 1981-2001 mix increased in terms of neighbourhoods with social renting under threshold levels, the index of dissimilarity for owner occupiers and social renters, and the index of exposure for all major tenure groups, but declined according to other measures. Trends are mainly to changes in the overall tenure system rather than to mixed tenure neighbourhood policy.