The governance of affordable housing through public-private partnerships: Critical entanglements

The debates about Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) in planning and housing are characterised by varying perspectives, with some considering PPPs efficient and others viewing them as inherently problematic. These differing views often revolve around the perceived dichotomy between public and private sector objectives and timelines. While dichotomies can provide initial clarity, they often oversimplify the nuances and complexities of real-world issues, including in PPPs. This paper draws on the literature on governance, planning and housing with a focus on teasing out public-private sector relationships in land and property. Using a case study approach of a PPP programme for affordable housing led by Lisbon Municipality, the three main goals of the paper are to, first, determine whether and how partnerships can contribute to social infrastructure provision, including affordable housing; second, determine the multiple objectives of the various stakeholders involved in a public-private partnership; and third, determine the timelines for those objectives. Our findings suggest that there is a tendency for PPP participants and observers to rely on overly simplistic interpretations of the public interest, and on dichotomies or simplistic viewpoints on the objectives and timelines of the various stakeholders. By avoiding these oversimplifications, we can better understand the growing complexity of urban governance in the development of social infrastructure, particularly in affordable housing.