Many Major Cities Are Facing A Housing Crisis As They Cannot Provide Enough Land For New Buildings
Band 9 IELTS essay sample
One of the main problems that urban residents face is the lack of adequate housing options. Cities are highly crowded and as such there is not enough land for building new homes. Consequently, many people have to live in highly cramped spaces in unhygienic surroundings. Some urban planners opine that this problem can be tackled by replacing parkland by residential spaces. I fully disagree with this view.
Parks are a lot more than recreational spaces. They make cities more livable by improving air quality. Air pollution is a major problem in most cities. Trees help to purify the air by absorbing carbon dioxide. Thus they keep the temperatures low. Trees also release the much needed oxygen. Needless to say, parks are often called the lungs of cities. If they are replaced by residential structures, the quality of urban life will further deteriorate. In addition to improving air quality, parks make a convenient place for urbanites to meet and interact with one another. They also play a major role in helping people lead a physically active lifestyle.
A better solution to the housing crisis in urban areas is to encourage the construction of tall residential buildings. By going vertical, we can build more homes in less space. Many cities have already adopted this measure and thus managed to preserve a lot of open spaces for their residents. Another solution is to demolish old buildings and construct new homes in their place. In many cities, we can find several centuries-old dilapidated small structures occupying prime real estate. Of course, they do have some historical value and many people may oppose the decision to demolish them. However, in my opinion, providing housing to the masses is more important than conserving some old buildings that serve no real purpose. The government should also encourage industries to move to the suburbs. When jobs are available in the peripheral areas of the cities, few people will want to live or work in the city centre. Thus, the demand for housing will also subside.
In short, building homes on parkland is never the right solution to housing shortage in urban areas. Instead of destroying the green spaces by building homes there, municipal authorities should explore other options such as going vertical.
Analysis
This is a band 9 essay. It clearly answers the given question with valid points. The writer’s arguments are convincing, grammar is flawless and vocabulary adequate.
What if you agree with the given argument?
If you believe that there is no harm in reassigning parks for residential purpose, here are the points you can mention.
Providing adequate housing is essential. If not enough homes are available, people will have to live in slums where they do not even have basic facilities. Due to the unhygienic condition of these slums, they are likely to be the breeding ground for many epidemics.
Urban residents contribute to national economy in so many ways. Affordable housing is their right.
In many cities, building skyscrapers is not possible because the land is not hard enough.
Trees are certainly important. In cities where adequate open spaces are not available, authorities should consider planting trees in every space they can find. For example, trees can be planted along the roads. They not only add greenery to the urban space, but also purify the air contaminated by vehicular pollution.
Regardless of whether you agree or disagree with the given statement, make sure that your arguments support your opinion. So, for example, if you fully agree with the given proposition, the whole of your essay should explain why you agree.
