The last blog, Barriers to building (27 October 2025) has set me thinking afresh. The political climate needed to build lots of locally liked and welcomed new homes looks so bad I am coming to the view that the taxation system must be used to switch the incentives around. Put bluntly existing local residents must be paid if new homes are built near them. This can be done through reductions in their rates. Tenants who do not directly pay rates should also benefit. It is not obvious whether or not at an equivalent level, recalling Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher’s toxic troubles with the poll tax/community charge.
There are all sorts of variations that can be used, which are not my speciality. But the principle ought to be that all local communities must meet their local housing needs. Those that do not should be financially penalised. Those that do meet their local needs and accept overspill from reluctant neighbours should be rewarded personally and their local councils rewarded in addition. Seems fair to me? It may be highly contentious. But what not to like? Is it done anywhere else?
Of course the Chancellor in her budget at the end of next month may be ahead of me. I hope so.
Ian Campbell
29 October 2025
