No hope?

Another week has passed. No housing insights from either Conservative party candidate. The cost of living crisis is registering. Good. BOE base rate increases will hit the cost of home loans hard. Not good. Unnecessary debt which measures the price of political failure. This housing stuff is corrosive. Best to ignore it seems to be … Continue reading No hope?

Why can’t English politicians face housing reality?

For Conservative politicians housing is nasty disease, best avoided. Labour and Liberal Democrats catch bouts too. In 2014 Reading’s Labour politicians rejected a housing solution for the town, to win some seats in the local elections. Last year we all saw the opportunistic Liberal Democrats activities in the Chesham by-election. For Truss and Sunak housing … Continue reading Why can’t English politicians face housing reality?

Juvenile attitudes will not mend housing policy

Creating popular places, making house prices and rents affordable needs adults able to work together over long periods, think one, two, three generations. Look at the policy timeframes of the landed estates who successful create premium urban values by making their estates places with popular appeal. Would you like to live next door to Belgravia, … Continue reading Juvenile attitudes will not mend housing policy

Planning reform is not achievable: Official Conclusion

Theresa May, when Prime Minister said the planning system is broken. A new government report commissioned by the Cabinet Office and the Treasury says the DLUHC planning reform intentions seem to be unachievable, questions if the problems can be resolved, and says it needs to be reassessed. This conclusion is damming. But it is correct … Continue reading Planning reform is not achievable: Official Conclusion

15,000 new homes in Grazeley

On the 26th February 2020 in Grazeley village hall there is an important meeting. Wokingham council’s latest Local Plan update advocates a new town on top of the village. But is this the right place? For three decades and more, Wokingham’s popularity as a location has drip fed new housing suburbs here and there with … Continue reading 15,000 new homes in Grazeley