If existing residents want the new houses in their home area, they will happen. But how? In England, is it possible? Our new King has produced compelling evidence that it is possible.
Hugh Graham (Sunday Times, 6 November 2022; Was Charles streets ahead) says new houses in Poundbury carry a 29% premium over new build homes in nearby areas. Poundbury, near Dorchester is King Charles’ brainchild and reflects his policy priorities at the Crown Estate for the many years he was Prince of Wales. In Poundbury the market has spoken. It calls the shots, despite years of criticism of the pastiche based architectural design principles. The article is interesting and well worth the read. The guidelines are worth full attention. It is the guidelines which are creating added value. Achieving added value sounds trite. On the contrary adding value, creating premium values, creating lovable places with appeal over many generations is an enlightened skill. With sufficient time, and local backing these skills can become the framework that delivers the reconciliation that Lewis Silkin MP (see yesterday’s post) had in mind.
Adopting a curatorial approach to the delivery of future housing needs a revolution in local council’s thinking. Adversarial politics will be replaced with consensual policy making. The long term will replace the short term. Control of land ownership will block haphazard housing projects. A ten to twenty year transition to local building land control will let local communities retain the added land value consent to build releases. The Treasury’s role will be reduced. They, and local councils, will need to learn again the lessons of financial success achieved at the Commission for New Towns by working with the market, not blocking it.
Ian Campbell
9 November 2022
