If you can, please read a sensible analysis of the cost imposed by opposition to new English infrastructure for example roads or railways, by John Burn-Murdoch in the FT 25 August 2023 (The Nimby tax on Britain and America). For example HS2 looks likely to cost £396 million per mile. The French equivalent is £46 … Continue reading Cost of saying no. Price of NIMBY opposition

Interesting that Taylor Wimpey have lodged an appeal for consent to build 1700+ new homes in the isolated depths of Surrey’s countryside. Very near the Royal Horticulture Society’s HQ and following Guildford Borough Council failure to decide. They bought the site in 2020. Their roots in the area are transitory. Creating popular places, following the … Continue reading Lessons from Wisley and Welbourne

Within the context of the prevailing political debate why does the serious media so often fail to look at underlying causes of house excessive house prices and rents? After all extortionate accommodation costs are destroying the financial prospects for the post boomer generation. In the run-up to the general election this omission reflects poorly. Perhaps … Continue reading Is lack of homes No.1 political election issue?

The idea aired last year of paying local residents to agree to locate on-shore wind turbines near them has re-emerged with the suggestion that residents be paid to accept new electricity pylons near them. These are essential the government says to meet its goals for electricity to be fossil free by 2035. Demand for electricity … Continue reading Pay residents to say ‘yes’?

SEC Newgate, a consultancy recently published a report based on the attitudes (February and March 2023) of local councillors towards new homes in their areas. The data base is small, 311 responses out of 4882 councillors, but it is useful too, on one point in particular. To quote “If there is a disconnect between councillors … Continue reading Local disconnect