With the local elections coming in a month political parties views on housing has jumped up the news agenda. Which is welcome. I will look at that issue below. But first a word of warning. Unfortunately heightened media attention has also led to more trivialisation of a punishing domestic policy issue. Trivialisation of an impenetrable … Continue reading The politics of housing supply

Laughing at myself this morning. One of my children landed a classic on me an hour ago. Message said government will introduce petrol rationing. Asked for the source and told the wife. Deluge of family WhatsApp’s and broad hints! Suddenly woke up. What a wally! Am I too trusting? Does old age and seeing the … Continue reading April Fool ?

First, political posturing in local planning stops civic thinking. Two, short-term local horizons stops civic policy making. Three, vociferous local residents selfish demands act like cuckoos-in-the nest: they chuck out fairness, balance and civic dignity. There is a fine example going the rounds which vividly illustrates why our homes are twice the price they need … Continue reading No new homes. Here is why.

A few days ago, last Wednesday actually (11 March 2026) I wrote a short blog about the scale of opposition to big new projects in London; called Objections and objectors. Examples mentioned were the opposition to projects at Elephant and Castle, Paddington and Liverpool Street, from nimbies and architectural conservationists. My point was that objectors … Continue reading Rationing number of new homes

The scale of local opposition to big London schemes like Paddington, Elephant and Castle and Liverpool Street make me think. I believe it is thousands in each case? Can we learn by doing some research into the reasons for these objections? And having done so, tailor future planning policies? It might help stop the rot: … Continue reading Objections and objectors

This is the ugly truth. Political parties in Westminster do not want to admit it. In the high demand fast growth areas, and in the high demand dormitory areas of the Home Counties and Southern England, local councils do not want, and do not intend to provide the homes needed in the future. Both main … Continue reading Face facts: councils cannot deliver the homes

A report in Planning Resource by Alex King (13 February 2026) quotes the Conservative chair of the District Councils Network, responding to the new government consultation on the geographical areas that the spatial development strategies will cover, saying “It defies common sense to exclude planning authorities, with their long standing local expertise and knowledge from … Continue reading ’Defies common sense’ claim is misplaced

The BBC NEWS story (5/02/26) reports that the team responsible for renovating the Palace of Westminster say the revamp could take 61 years and cost £40 billion.( FACT.CHECK : yes these are the two numbers in the report). Running costs are £1.5 million a week.These figures are spectacular evidence that something has gone wrong. It … Continue reading Are buildings assets or liabilities?

On Tuesday, 27 January 2026 the MHCLG issued a press release headed Housing Secretary rallies sector at housing and infrastructure roundtables making plain the Housing Secretary’s concern, saying “….the Housing sec stressed that while recovery is underway, government and industry alike cannot afford to let a generation down and must rise to the challenge together. … Continue reading Rallying support for change

Labour Together is a left leaning think tank, which has just published a proposal with lots of merit, which in time is doable and thank the lord has plenty of market potential. Right place and right time. So it is naive that it contains two fatal errors. Why is Labour and its activist and intellectual … Continue reading Elementary errors