The Debate: Should we build on the green belt? Opinion As Sadiq Khan commits to releasing parts of the green belt, we get two experts to make the case for and against in this week's Debate.
If we want our economy to grow, our skyline must go up, up, up Opinion The City's skyline is always changing, but if we want our economy to grow bigger, it must go higher, writes Chris Hayward.
Fine words from Reeves – now let’s get Britain building Opinion Rachel Reeves is right to make reforming our sclerotic planning system the centrepiece of her economic strategy. But if she’s going to succeed she must consign the bat tunnels and fish discos that too often block development to the dustbin of history, says Sam Richards In 2014 winter sports fans were getting ready for the [...]
Lack of bids keeps 17,000 homes stuck in development purgatory December 17, 2024 Around 17,000 affordable homes are stuck in development purgatory due to a lack of demand from housing providers, according to new research. Under the English planning system, housing developments must set aside a proportion of the site for affordable housing via a Section 106 deal. These Section 106 houses have become an increasingly important mechanism [...]
Will Labour’s planning bill actually get Britain building again? November 19, 2024 The UK's planning system is in need of a radical overhaul. Will Labour's Planning and Infrastructure bill deliver? Sam Richards takes a look.
Can the government tax its way to a building boom? October 26, 2024 Labour have big plans for house building and infrastructure so what can we expect on property taxes in the Budget? Tim Sarson has the answers Cut through the post-election chatter about black holes and freebies and there is one theme that keeps coming up as a top political priority. Building things. I can’t remember a [...]
The Debate: Should London’s suburbs be spikier? October 17, 2024 A housing crisis and London’s relatively flat skyline have prompted calls for building taller (or ‘spikier’) in the suburbs. Growth bros on Twitter are desperate for London to “densify”, i.e. cram more buildings into a smaller space by building taller structures or extending current buildings upwards. Yet London’s outer regions are typically flat with parks, [...]
Housing is an opportunity, not a problem September 28, 2024 Operating in a sector so often labelled as ‘in crisis’, it’s easy to forget that housing is a safer investment than many realise, says Chris Benn City grandee Sir Nigel Wilson published a report this month that outlined how Britain will need to invest £1tn over the next decade to realise its growth potential. It’s [...]
We need more new towns like Brent Cross – but we need them in the right places September 25, 2024 Brent Cross is London's newest park town. Its proximity to London has been crucial to making it a success, writes Tom Goodall
Right to Buy isn’t to blame for depleted social housing stock September 10, 2024 Right to Buy created a generation of homeowners and enabled mass transfer of capital wealth from the state to the people. No wonder Labour want to abolish it, says Emma Revell Imagine you could introduce a policy which could create more than 2m new homeowners over the next 40 years. Would you do it? Or [...]