Housing
No more radical reforms, please, we’ve pushed our MPs too far
Nick Clegg is frustrated. He told callers on LBC this morning that ‘one of the most frustrating dilemmas that we have face in government is that we have thrown a… Continue reading
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Was today’s conservatory revolt really necessary?
Eric Pickles did manage to avert a defeat in the Commons on plans to let homeowners build extensions and conservatories without planning permission, but it’s worth asking how on earth… Continue reading
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Planning ‘love-in’ fails to rouse good feelings
So it doesn’t look as though last night’s ‘love-in’ that I reported went particularly well. Cheryl Gillan described planning minister Nick Boles last night as ‘completely unmoveable’. Meanwhile, Zac Goldsmith,… Continue reading
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MPs invited to planning ‘love-in’
Parliament’s only just back from Easter recess and already there’s a threat of rebellion in the Commons. The Growth and Infrastructure Bill returns to the Commons tomorrow afternoon for ‘ping-pong’,… Continue reading
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Nimbyism? That’s not even the half of it.
Pity the poor Nimbys. Not only has the government’s horrible new planning regime come into force, but last week we heard the pro-HS2 lobbyists describing them as ‘posh people standing… Continue reading
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‘No such thing as society’: what it means for today’s welfare debate
Any Tories who might be asking ‘What Would Thatcher Do?’ about some of the political rows bubbling away today would surely wonder what her response to the current benefits debate… Continue reading
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Sir Andrew Motion, there’s much more to rural life than housing
Five years of living in squalid parts of London has made me appreciate my rural upbringing. I grew up on a small farm on the borders of West Sussex, Surrey… Continue reading
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David Cameron’s immigration speech fails to capture the imagination
This morning’s papers have followed the lead of yesterday’s TV news bulletins: the prime minister’s immigration speech was not the success it might have been. The Times is lukewarm (£).… Continue reading
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Budget 2013: New ‘Help to Buy’ plan is a boost for Eric Pickles
One of the big measures in today’s Budget was the Help to Buy scheme. It answers two demands: the first for the Tories to continue to support home ownership as… Continue reading
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Why no conservative should support a mansion tax
The Government is expected to raise around £550 billion in tax revenue this financial year. The Centre for Policy Studies estimates that a mansion tax (of £20,000 on properties of… Continue reading
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Eastleigh by-election parties fight over policy they both support
Alarming news reaches this blog from the Eastleigh by-election, where the battle has descended into a catfight about a policy the two main parties support at national level. How unusual… Continue reading
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The private rented sector is blocking aspiration and isolating families
The private rented sector is no longer fit for the people it now serves. Almost half of those renting are over 35, and the proportion of privately rented homes has… Continue reading
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Former housing minister calls for review of benefit rises bill
The Welfare Benefits Uprating Bill returns to the Commons this afternoon for committee and remaining stages. As I reported last week, rebel backbench Lib Dems, the Labour front bench team… Continue reading
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Grill the Housing Minister: Mark Prisk answers Coffee House readers’ questions
Housing Minister Mark Prisk’s brave request for a grilling from Coffee House readers generated a very enthusiastic response. Here are the minister’s answers to your questions. House Prices Q: What will… Continue reading
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Housing: the south's difficulty is the north's opportunity - Spectator Blogs
Three cheers for Isabel’s post on the difficulties Nick Boles faces in pushing through his plans to make is slightly easier to build houses in Britain. I would add only… Continue reading
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Nick Boles is ballsy, but his planning push faces some big blockages
Nick Boles is to be applauded and rewarded for being so ballsy on housing need. It is heartening to read the minister describing current housing shortage as ‘immoral’ and a… Continue reading
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A coalition of the complacent
I don’t like to think that I am rich. In theory, I know that in comparison to the vast majority of the world’s population, I am. But perhaps because of… Continue reading
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Nick Boles attempts to soothe planning critics
Planning Minister Nick Boles admitted yesterday that he did not believe his controversial suggestion for Britain to build homes on two million acres of countryside should be put into practice.… Continue reading
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Grill the minister: Mark Prisk
Mark Prisk took over as housing minister in September’s reshuffle, and has quite a task on his hands to get housebuilding figures looking healthy again. The Conservative MP was previously… Continue reading
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What will the coalition do next?
We are now closer to the 2015 election than the 2010 one. We also expected by now to have the coalition’s mid-term review, the document that will set out its… Continue reading
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