Perhaps it is forty years ago that I learnt a vital lesson. One never to be forgotten. Because it seems to defy common sense. The lesson is a vital and obvious insight into the financial priorities of developers, builders and land speculators who control new homes supply when it is understood. But until it is … Continue reading Overlooked but vital

According to the December 2024 English Devolution White Paper spatial development strategies are to be introduced to all of England. Typically the strategic areas will contain populations of about 1.5 million. It looks like a return to strategic planning. This is a welcome change of direction and overdue since David Cameron’s coalition government abolished strategic … Continue reading Devolution: spatial development strategies

Friday’s Financial Times has a serious piece (George Parker, et al , 24 January 2025; Reeves to go further and faster for growth after recent turmoil) examining the chances of the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuing a more aggressive growth agenda. She plans to accelerate flagship investment projects; re-direct regulators to prioritise growth; and attract … Continue reading Can Reeves deliver growth

Local councils want more autonomy, more devolution but some seem unaware that with it goes local responsibility, or civic duty. Government inspectors have found that Shropshire Council’s draft local plan is unsound, despite raising their concerns with the council. The council are not providing the sites for overspill housing needed by their neighbours in the … Continue reading Are they blind?

On 13 December 2024, the Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner sent a letter to Housing Industry Stakeholders. It is she says, all about building the homes we need. She makes telling points. Her immediate objective is to set out the principal changes in the new National Planning Policy Framework. I support the spirit of her … Continue reading Plan-led housing supply

Surrey Heath Borough Council has proved that England has lost all sense of its direction, and now lives in Alice in Wonderland. For those who don’t know where Surrey Heath is located, its capital is Camberley. A location I rarely visited despite living in Surrey Heath for over thirty years. Why? Well go yourselves and … Continue reading Lunacy has arrived

Until local political leaders place the civic loyalties of their local areas beyond tribal ideologies of their party housing in their areas will remain unaffordable. You might expect lobbying to preserve the status quo from change from Conservative councillors who represent those already owning homes who fear change. Misguided but understandable. But this reactionary mind-set … Continue reading Local politics destroys

Amongst serious planning observators there seems to be a consensus that provided the perceived failures of the local plan led system are removed all will be well. In other words the housing deficit will, in the long term, be removed as councils are compelled to build the housing numbers dished out by government. This prospect … Continue reading Has the ‘plan led’ system failed?

Today’s Sky News (28 December 2025) has a story by their City Editor, Mark Kleinman saying that Sir Keir Starmer has has ordered Britain’s key watchdogs to remove barriers to growth, in an attempt to kickstart Britain’s sluggish economy. He has written to more than ten regulators demanding they submit details of pro-growth initiatives by … Continue reading Growth v. local opposition

Happy Christmas to us all, if not original, it is sincere. Being asked what you want for Christmas when you have reached a certain age makes me think. Here is my answer. One wish is private and enduring. The other is this. To quickly build on the insights and visions of England’s long term future. … Continue reading Two wishes today