Is this possible? To solve the housing supply shortfall, to make new homes affordable, to meet the demand that is blocked? To permit economic growth, whether it is employment space, new infrastructure or new energy distribution structures like pylons and power turbines? Indeed, there is a capitalist argument we should also seek to meet the … Continue reading Blocking The Future

The aims of the Housing Minister, Michael Gove which he honestly explained in his historic speech at the RIBA, 19th December 2023 directly conflict with his other towering aim,: to remove the Tory back bench revolt led by Theresa Villiers MP against mandatory housing numbers. He wants local councils to willingly accept the housing and … Continue reading Conflicting aims

Michael Gove’s speech on 19 December 2023 is laced with good intent. But fails two life or death tests: They are the delivery test and the politics test. Delivery polices built on sand, lacking foundations, ignoring market custom and powerful vested interests, or the indispensable role of time in creating premium values will result in … Continue reading Can Gove deliver new homes?

The Times did not publish a letter I sent them following Michael Gove’s speech. It is below. But the paper kindly did publish an earlier one on 15 December 2023 (page 26), issued before he spoke. Here it is “Sir. Something seems wrong here.. Michael Gove intends to say that councils will no longer be … Continue reading Responding to Gove’s speech

By next weekend Michael Gove, Housing Minister is due to publish his solution to 13 years of housing policy failure. White papers, green papers and over-subscribed consultations have spelt out the spatial, territorial, tenurial, generational, unaffordable, fluid time frames and Machiavellian facts of life that direct the housing market. . So at last we ought … Continue reading Government policy confusion

Policy Exchange has produced a heartening new report (The Property Owning Democracy,; James Vitali) which seeks to understand and then explain current housing policy failure. It is endorsed by several Conservative MP’s, including Ministers, which matters. . As as step towards educating open market , dyed-in-wool ideological MP’s who still cannot understand why four decades … Continue reading Good try; muddled understanding

The National Infrastrutture Commission (nic.org.uk) have published their Second National Infrastructure Assessment, a 30 year plan for the UK’s infrastructure needs to 2055 and beyond. Called NIA2 it contains a lot of good sense. Thank goodness this rare species is not yet extinct. Wish we had the same sense for England’s housing needs for the … Continue reading Dose of sense

On further reflection yesterday’s King’s Speech looks like the dreams of a well intentioned teenager who simply does not understand local politics. Why? Well, come and look here. ’….my Government’s priority is to make the difficult but necessary long-term decisions to change this country for the better.’ As an aspiration, this objective has my total … Continue reading Verdict: nice but naive

The King’s Speech yesterday prompted an unnamed minster (Times, 8 November, Aubrey Allegretti) to say ‘it is time for the chancellor to be bold and decisive. He’s got to announce more measures that will stimulate growth’. The speech was silent on housing supply and silent on power distribution, two drivers, currently barriers, of domestic growth … Continue reading No houses=no growth?

The EA has told Cambridge council to reject the 1000 new homes at Darwin Green proposal by Barrett developers. The agency says the proposal poses a significant risk to the sustainability of Cambridge water supplies. Very odd reversal of normal thinking. Long term national water supplies ought to be the responsibility of a specialist agency, … Continue reading Environment Agency is misguided?