Writing the earlier blog today ‘Young people are being abandoned’ prompted me to read the CPRE November 2021 report Recycling our land: state of brownfield 2021 as it is the justification of the government’s policy to rely on brownfield land. My reaction was shock. A housing policy where the foundations are built on sand, will … Continue reading Solution: brownfield land?
‘Younger people are being abandoned’
According to the authors of a new Centre for Policy Studies report The Case for Housebuilding the intention of the government, first announced by the Prime Minister in November, to adopt a ‘brownfield first’ housing policy will “signal a major retreat on housebuilding (which) suggest that younger people are being abandoned and that home ownership … Continue reading ‘Younger people are being abandoned’
Housing market conflicts.
Yesterday’s Sunday Telegraph (15 January 2023) contains an in-depth analysis by Szu Ping Chan of the threats and opportunities housing policy failure presents to the political parties. His analysis of the splits in the market between renters, mortgage-holders and outright owners, particularly their differing reactions to changes in mortgage interest rates (depending upon their, or … Continue reading Housing market conflicts.
Is poor design the problem?
The Housing Secretary Michael Give has endorsed a proposal from Policy Exchange (A School of Place) to set up a new professional training centre to boost architectural and urban design skills. Remembering the 40,000+ responses to Boris Johnson’s two white papers in 2020 it could be well subscribed. He reflects the deep, widespread disappointment with … Continue reading Is poor design the problem?
Breakthrough?
Yesterday the 1922 (Conservative) BEIS Backbench Committee published a remarkable recommendation in their report Energy Market Reform: tackling the energy trilemma. It is to pay up to 100% of domestic household energy bills to those most affected by new renewables or fracking projects near them. Three miles is mentioned. Former Energy Minister Andrea Leadsom’s committee, … Continue reading Breakthrough?
New homes. And delivery.
The statements this week by the Prime Minister, and a day later by leader of the Labour Party suggest both favour more local control. Which is good. On Wednesday Sir Keir Starmer put his finger on it, saying devolution is an opportunity to move past the short term mindset and the sticking plaster politics of … Continue reading New homes. And delivery.
Has hope died?
In run up to Christmas Michal Gove made a written ministerial statement and wrote to MPs with some reassurances, intended to keep the 50+ rebels on board. By way of clarification in his DLUHC statement he added these important words ”If we are to deliver the new homes this country needs, new development must have … Continue reading Has hope died?
Contents; blog title & date
Date Blog Title
Way out. Public control.
Yesterday blogs concluded that in urban areas like London, Michael Gove has locked himself into a room and cannot get out because he has lost the room key. If there is no land, and you cannot increase densities where do the new homes go? Must they all go on brown land in a London? Well, … Continue reading Way out. Public control.
Building upwards: a fantasy?
The councillors in Barnet (see previous blog) have Michael Gove on their side. In a letter to MP’s (8 December 2022) the Secretary of State for levelling Up Housing and Communities said ‘local authorities will not be expected to build at densities that would be out of character with existing areas’ such as high rise … Continue reading Building upwards: a fantasy?