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 [...]
England ‘particularly bad’ at building houses where they are needed, research shows August 1, 2024 Nationwide the total number of properties grew 21 per cent between 1996 and 2021, according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS).
Move to cut London’s housebuilding target raises eyebrows July 30, 2024 Angela Rayner’s decision to cut London’s housing target has raised some eyebrows given the severe housing crisis facing Londoners. In a speech in the House of Commons this afternoon, the deputy Prime Minister confirmed that mandatory housing targets would be reinstated for local authorities among a swathe of other planning changes. But the new target [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
King’s Speech: Planning Bill unveiled to lift ‘brake’ on economic growth July 17, 2024 A new Planning Bill unveiled in the King’s Speech is intended to lift the “major brake” on the UK’s economic growth, by unlocking national housing and infrastructure projects.
Keir Starmer to take the ‘brakes off Britain’ with growth-focused King’s Speech July 17, 2024 Sir Keir Starmer has pledged to take the “brakes off Britain” with a growth-focused King’s Speech.
Savills: ‘Maturing’ build-to-rent market needs staggering £300bn to meet demand July 9, 2024 The build-to-rent sector needs a total of £300bn of investment if it is to meet future levels of demand even after the sector has begun to emerge as "a mainstream investment in the UK", Savills has warned.
How realistic is Labour’s plan to reform the planning system? July 9, 2024 Labour has promised to move fast and break things to get Britain building again, but will their plan actually work?
Reeves makes a positive start on planning reform – but there’s plenty more to do July 8, 2024 Believe it when you see it was the attitude of many City economists to Labour's promised overhaul of the planning regime.