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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.

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?

Is there a politically acceptable solution? Can the houses needed be provided? Local resistance to change is strongest in Tory held areas, but Labour councillors find the threat of losing their seats to angry local residents just as worrying. Perhaps this is why an official government report ( see July 2022 blog below: Planning reform … Continue reading No hope of solution? Or……?

Ex-PM Gordon Brown’s recent report (Renewing our Democracy and Rebuilding our Economy) proposes some important and promising planning changes. And a mechanism for resolving policy conflict between the centre and local areas. These are sensible steps towards a grown up planning system which balances local wishes and national priorities. The Executive Summary of Recommendations sensibly … Continue reading Labour back strategic planning?

As the government has no housing policy, growing media frustration is welcome if as a result a chronic, vitally importance domestic policy problem receives earnest scrutiny rather than flippant or slipshod thought. These four sound examples capture the point. Radio 4; Week in Westminster (26 November 2022). Rachel Wolf ( founding partner at Public First, … Continue reading Frustrations grow

You can see why the PM Rishi Sunac has decided to buy off Theresa Villiers MP 50+ rebels. The price to pay is binning the manifesto promise to build 300,000 new homes each year. He made this bargain despite the offer by Sir Keir Starmer , Labour leader this week to offer ‘Labour votes’ to … Continue reading Manifesto trust?

Several days ago the government announced measures to strengthen (I think they mean ‘their’) ) commitment to building enough of the right homes in the right places with the right infrastructure. Good and welcome words. Whether this rallying cry will be heard and also acted on by those who control delivery-local councils, local land owners, … Continue reading Will they? Won’t they?

The lack of government policy on housing supply does need more consideration. It is good to see in today’s edition of the The Times (House-building Blight, leading article) support for an agenda ‘to meet its future housing need that crosses party lines and carries over between parliaments’. Proceeding along these lines is a radical step … Continue reading Spatial Matters too

Michael Gove has dropped mandatory housing targets. Does this mean the houses needed will not emerge? Not necessarily if local councils take their housing responsibility with complete commitment. To do this they must face the conflict most council areas face, the need for enough new houses sufficient to make them affordable. Will councils step up … Continue reading Has Gove turned tail?