Britain’s growth slumps and the Business Secretary scratches his head Politics Having spent another day wading through the Epstein-Mandelson email traffic I was going to write another column about how unbelievably grubby the revelations are, but it’s too depressing. So, I thought I’d focus on something more cheerful; the latest downgrades to the UK’s economic growth forecasts. On his visit to China alongside the PM, the [...]
High Court showdown over alleged ‘procedural irrationality’ in Gatwick runway £2.2bn approval Legal The Secretary of State has been accused of reaching “inherently contradictory and irrational” conclusions by finding Gatwick’s second runway would have a “significant adverse effect” on the climate, the High Court heard this morning. The transport secretary, Heidi Alexander, greenlit plans for Gatwick Airport’s second runway, the Northern Runway, in September. This was “the largest [...]
Labour talked big, but London housing starts are worst since WW2 Opinion Labour may have talked big on housing and planning reform, but the figures don't lie, writes Emma Revell.
James Cameron-backed Marlow Film Studios approved November 26, 2025 Plans for a £750m film studio in Buckinghamshire, which are backed by the likes of James Cameron, have been given the green light by the government. The proposals for Marlow Film Studios were initially turned down by Buckinghamshire County Council last year citing concerns about the project’s impact on the green belt, particularly its potential [...]
Councils face exodus of planners in threat to housebuilding goals November 18, 2025 One in five UK planners intends to leave the field or retire by 2028, in another significant threat to the government’s housebuilding target, according to new data. Nearly two-thirds of planners said their teams lacked the capacity to meet demand, according to the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI). The RTPI has warned that the exodus [...]
London office starts lowest in 15 years November 6, 2025 New starts on London office developments have fallen to their lowest level since 2010, City AM can reveal, as stubbornly high interest rates and thorny planning laws continue to blight construction in the capital. In the 12 months to October, construction got under way on just 2.5m square feet (sq/ft) of London office space, less [...]
Four in 10 Londoners ‘ready to quit capital’ over housing costs November 5, 2025 Nearly half of the capital’s 25-45 year olds are ready to leave over unsustainably expensive housing, according to a new study. In fact, two in three are regularly borrowing money to pay housing costs, most commonly turning to credit cards, payday loans and family support, according to a new report from Pocket Living. “The pressures [...]
Will the new Planning Bill get Britain building? October 28, 2025 The Planning and Infrastructure Bill promises faster decisions and greener outcomes. But will it actually deliver, asks James Clark.
Cutting affordable housing quotas is a slap in the face for Labour voters October 20, 2025 If Labour is no longer in favour of building affordable housing, what exactly is the party for, asks James Ford.
Economists ask Labour to prioritise planning reform and cut tax to boost growth October 6, 2025 A survey of economists and policy experts has put pressure on Labour to “spend political capital” on planning reform to encourage more home building and on reforming the welfare system, reflecting the urgency of the government’s mission to grow the economy. A centre-left think tank focused on growth policy, the Centre for British Progress, has [...]