Blackstone chief Steve Schwarzman’s NIMBY problem: Newts in My Backyard August 7, 2024 In his day job as Blackstone’s chief executive, Stephen Schwarzman is used to dealing with slimy adversaries conspiring to prevent him from getting his way. But now the private equity boss is facing a similar problem in a more personal capacity, after the potential presence of an endangered species of newt has prevented him from [...]
Lifting the ban on onshore wind was step one. Now Britain must move faster August 6, 2024 Labour’s reversal of the de facto ban on onshore wind is encouraging, but Britain must do more to get building again, writes John Caudwell One of Labour’s first acts in government was to lift the de facto ban on onshore wind. This change in planning policy means that onshore wind projects no longer need to [...]
Labour’s mutant algorithm will put houses in places that need them least August 5, 2024 Why has Labour reduced building targets in areas where the housing crisis is most acute – like London – while blanketing more affordable places, like Burnley, with new development? It all comes down to the algorithm, explains Josh Coupland On Tuesday, newly crowned yimby queen, Angela Rayner announced a raft of measures to get Britain [...]
Rayner must defy her own backbenchers and build, baby, build July 31, 2024 Angela Rayner has clearly been reading City A.M.. In a statement to the House of Commons yesterday the housing secretary outlined plans to build 370,000 homes a year, in a clear victory for our Build, Baby, Build campaign. The challenge now is to realise that ambition in bricks and mortar. It is encouraging, then, that [...]
UK restores housebuilding targets and sets out green belt review in planning push July 30, 2024 Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves’ Labour government has unveiled a series of reforms to the planning system, including a review of the green belt, to help address “the most acute housing crisis in living memory.” Under new policies confirmed today, local authorities will again be given mandatory housing targets to help “pave the way” to [...]
Foxtons: London estate agent hikes dividend as turnaround plan gathers steam July 30, 2024 London estate agent Foxtons has bucked a pallid property market to report healthy rise in revenue and profit, and raise its dividend, in yet another sign of the turnaround being navigated by its new chief executive.
Lloyds housing fund snaps up £300m Watkin Jones scheme in London’s Stratford July 29, 2024 A housing impact investment fund run out of Lloyds Banking Group has snapped up a new 397 bed purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) development in Stratford in a deal worth nearly £300m.
Will Labour’s move to hire 300 planning officers be enough to get Britain building again? July 24, 2024 Since entering office, planning reforms have been central to the new government’s attempts to stimulate higher economic growth. Chancellor Rachel Reeves has already announced a number of important changes to the planning regime with more changes expected before the end of the month. Alongside these reforms, the government has committed to hire 300 extra planners [...]
Build, Baby, Build: Heathrow needs a third runway July 24, 2024 London’s lack of air capacity is an international embarrassment. A can-do Labour government should push through where the Tories failed and build a third runaway at Heathrow, says James Price As I downed a peculiar American concoction that promised to help me sleep (no, not Jack Daniel’s) for an overnight flight back to Blighty recently, [...]
Build, Baby, Build: If you want growth, you need social housing July 24, 2024 Key workers are being priced out of renting in London, placing huge human and economic costs on the capital. By recognising the value of social housing to people and to the economy, we can make the case to build more much-needed social housing in London and create a more affordable, more inclusive city for all [...]