More helpful, encouraging, yet worrying details of Labour’s thinking is emerging. Some commentary is necessary. Labour must keep their eye on the paramount objective, providing the large number of new homes needed but only with local support. There will be a transition period ahead. This means being extremely careful not to be sided-lined by short-term, … Continue reading Labour planning policy: 2nd ps!

Before turning to the problems of housing supply in Windsor, Slough and Maidenhead as mentioned in my last blog, new public comments by Sir Keir Starmer and from Labour’s shadow housing and planning minister, Matthew Pennycock, need context, if the dangers of housing stasis by a Labour government are to be avoided. Sir Keir says … Continue reading Labour policy: a ps

Local elections two weeks ago have fired up the planning debate. This is good news. For too long both main parties turned their back on housing policy. And the Liberal Democrats propensity to jump into the void created by local frustration explains why. Let’s just get into power, is their motto. Best not to ask … Continue reading Get real + local support

The Prime Minister, responding to Sir Keir Starmer’s promise to be on the side of the builders not blockers, says the Tories will not build houses on green spaces. His colleague Michael Gove, Levelling Up Secretary says he is not opposed to all building on green belt land, if the new places are beautiful. This … Continue reading Tory housing policy split

Sir Keir Starmer, in his interview with the Times Political Editor Steven Swinford, vowed to be tough enough to take on vested interests, accusing developers and landowners of building too little housing in order to drive up prices. This is a hostile, poorly informed accusation which will antagonise an important and powerful section of the … Continue reading Tackling vested interests

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer is paying attention to the housing deficit and its consequences, and this is welcome news. Whilst it is a start, for Labour to becomes the catalyst of housing change they too, like the Conservatives have fierce ideologies defects to remedy. To progress, as Starmer intends, these must be faced and … Continue reading Labour & Housing supply

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