This log is long. I apologise. These two, planning and politics, are in conflict. Not one of the main political parties acknowledges this fact. For example, economically the nation needs policies to accelerate growth and improve productivity. Short term policy fixes, a confrontational mind-set in Westminster, policy U-turns at elections and slavish party loyalty, at … Continue reading Sensible planning & politics + objective

Some useful insights in the last few days into Labour and Conservative housing policies in the run-up to yesterday’s local elections. These need thought. Until the voting results are clearer, (I write today early on Friday) responding is premature. Moving on, for sometime I have wondered about logic of the push, with both political and … Continue reading Modular housing supply

How can I put this? Your idea of local democracy? Q. You don’t want houses near you? A. No. They need to go somewhere more appropriate, more sustainable. Q. Fine. I agree. Snag is the residents in the host location you suggest reckon their house prices will fall 10%. They want you to pay them … Continue reading Local Support? That means ‘You pay me’.

Berkshire will be the first real-time example of housing policy failure. Put plainly, what happens when long term spatial thinking, to identify actual locations for new homes can no longer be ignored by local leaders? Here is the answer. Stantec, planning consultants appointed to advise Slough, South Buckinghamshire and the Windsor and Maidenhead councils where … Continue reading Reality arrives

Is this leadership? PM Sunak dumped the housing targets due to pressure from Tory members, back benchers and councillors. A consistent story of , un Conservative nationally imposed targets he said, in his ConservativeHome interview yesterday. But ‘Let’s talk about home ownership’ he says. It is all about striking the right balance he adds. It … Continue reading Pious PM Fails

Introduction In England we have a housing problem. Prices and rents are too high for young people. Halving them and mortgage debt over a generation (by 2050/2060) will boost their future prosperity. But worry today’s generation of home owners. Will their equity, for example dry up if supply matches demand? Conflicting priorities blocks progress. Locally … Continue reading New homes with Local Support

My last post was 8 March, in which I said I will post my solution soon. This is taking time. Please be patient. So here is a version of the key concern, being a recent comment by me attached to an FT article. It captures the political dilemma. You must stop believing what the political … Continue reading Stop press

Yesterday’s ConservativeHome had an interesting piece by someone who should know the truth. Bartek Staniszewski is a researcher at Bright Blue. He correctly points out that Labour are no more ambitious than the Conservatives in policy terms intended to build more houses. He concludes “Unless this failed consensus is broken, the housing crisis is here … Continue reading Housing policy failure; a consensus?

The Centre for Cities think tank has released a report, The Housebuilding Crisis. It contains interesting, in fact thought provoking numbers. First up, saying that if the UK had built houses at same rate of the average West European country in the period 1955-2015 we would now have an additional 4.3 million homes, a 15% … Continue reading Homes deficit-4.3m?

Popular wisdom says, when you in a hole, stop digging deeper. The Conservatives remain in denial. They want more new homes and a more balanced economy, but remain prisoners of their Party’s activists, who are opposed to new housing near them and any government interference in the spatial market. For them, levelling up is a … Continue reading Facing facts