Many respected planners assume that whatever changes the new government introduces to expedite new homes, infrastructure and economic growth must be delivered through the local plan system. But it is also possible local plans are the problem and not part of the solution. For example Catriona Riddell, who is an expert on local plans and … Continue reading Time to put local plans on death row?

6 parish councils in South Oxfordshire (Kidmore End, Eye & Dunsden, Binfield Heath, Stoke Row, Sonning Common, and Highmoor Parish) have devised a joint petition calling for the proposed new 3rd bridge over the River Thames at Reading to be removed from Reading Borough Council’s new 2040 transport strategy. Reading Council have refused. Talk and … Continue reading Infrastructure opponents too!

Perhaps I am wrong when it comes to housing policy. There is an elephant in the room, but it receives no attention. Why? No one, not even the Treasury seems to put a cost on buying the building land we need and the financial consequences of these costs, so essential if the government is to … Continue reading Elephant is Hidden? Cost of land for new homes

Or, as the Lindsay Richards, president of the RTPI says, it is not broken and instead planning is ‘not a blocker, we are an enabler’, (Planning, Alex King, 25 September). It is a question I have pondered many times in recent years as the number of planning consultancies seems to grow and grow whilst many … Continue reading Is the planning system broken?

The New Towns Taskforce is fully manned, fired-up and away. The chair and members look promising. Reading its Terms of Reference, the NTT looks like the government’s best hope so far for boosting economic growth, the supply of new homes and above all putting the national interest first when making spatial decisions about development. For … Continue reading New Towns Taskforce: thundering off

Promising article in the Guardian, (Sunday, 16 September 2016, Kiran Stacey) about local support for more new homes. If true, it is the best planning news since the general election. According to YouGov polling fewer than one in five voters are “hard nimbys”, essentially those who oppose local house building under almost any circumstances. Jack … Continue reading Local support? Yes, no or…..?

Building lots of new homes in a hurry carries risks. Taking advice from the wrong ‘experts’ increases the risks. Building 1.5 million attractive, sustainable new homes in one parliament is not possible. Which matters more? Lots of new boxes built in the suburbs regardless of location, quality and local support …. but fast? Or getting … Continue reading Wrong friends?

Institute report good analysis of system defects. But solution is wishful thinking The regarded think tank, the Institute for Government has published (30 August 2024) a thorough analysis of the the reasons why successive governments have found it difficult to deliver on housebuilding pledges. How the government can build more homes, written by the Institute … Continue reading Where power lies. Reality or illusion?

The King’s Speech today sets out the new government’s legislative programme. I welcome the high profile given to new housing supply. Two decades ago, Tony.Blair’s second administration scarcely paid housing any attention, either in the Labour Party manifesto or in Parliament. But. twenty years ago is a long time. My fervent hope is that it … Continue reading Who decides?

If you want a fine example of our broken planning system read the letter published by the leader of East Hampshire District Council (Cllr. Richard Millard) on 11 July 2024 and addressed to Angela Rayner MP, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government. He is upset. You will get why. Having employed a … Continue reading Nonsense v. commercial sense!