Community, ethnicity and neighbourhood

The empirical focus is two small adjacent estates in West Newcastle; one wi th a mostly Bangladeshi population, the other white. The contrasts between them form the basis for a discussion of low housing demand and high turnove r; forms of social exclusion; community and ethnicity. The Bangladeshi popu lation experience exclusion from housing. Their estate has high demand and low turnover. Their housing options are highly constrained by a combination of low income and fear of crime and harassment. On the other hand they are comparatively well integrated into the local economy and a strong communit y structure. In contrast, the white population has more housing choice as a result of low demand, but exhibit greater exclusion from the labour market and from 'civil society'. Recent proposals to restructure the housing of t he West End could increase housing opportunities for the Bangladeshis, but their impact on the white estate is more uncertain.