Planning
Government caution makes Help to Buy warning all the more worrying
The introduction of the Help to Buy scheme was the only very small bone of contention in this year’s successful Budget (successful politically, that is, in that no-one talks about… Continue reading
135 Comments
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
52 Comments
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
34 Comments
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
29 Comments 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
24 Comments
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
27 Comments
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
11 Comments
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
58 Comments
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
29 Comments
Why are Conservative MPs so intent on wrecking our countryside?
Last week we had Nick Boles extolling the virtues of concreting over what green space we still have in order to tackle an alleged housing shortage. And now, in today’s… Continue reading
31 Comments
Bold Boles’ planning push is a key example of ‘spreading privilege’
Nick Boles has just put in a fierce performance on Newsnight over his controversial remarks on planning. Amusingly, the minister’s remarks aren’t a million miles away from Nick Clegg’s slightly… Continue reading
103 Comments
The gap between what David Cameron says and what he does
David Cameron (and a host of other politicians, including Ed Miliband, Vince Cable and Boris Johnson) will address the CBI’s annual conference this morning. Cameron’s widely trailed speech is a… Continue reading
41 Comments
Exclusive: No 10 advised to punish land hoarders
Though the government’s planning reforms will make it easier for developments supported by local communities to gain planning permission, one of the big blockages in the system is made up… Continue reading
17 Comments
Conservative conference: Nick Boles says Labour’s immigration policy contributed to housing failure
Nick Boles started his first fringe as a minister this evening by saying that after years of trying to make controversial points at party conference events, he wasn’t going to… Continue reading
19 Comments
How the Cameron project caught up with economic reality
The modernising, Cameron agenda was conceived in times of plenty. It was underpinned by a belief that there would be healthy growth, the proceeds of which could be shared. Since… Continue reading
61 Comments
‘Muscular’ Pickles pleases MPs on green belt
Eric Pickles delivered his statement on housebuilding with the adoring gaze of new planning minister Nick Boles fixed on him throughout. Boles was leaning forward eagerly, drinking in every word… Continue reading
15 Comments
Tensions over housebuilding plans
This morning’s big housebuilding announcement was aimed at unblocking obstacles in the planning system to get development of new homes and extensions going. But it hasn’t unblocked tensions within the… Continue reading
12 Comments
David Cameron is right to challenge NIMBYism
The planning debate has reared its head again, and this time it’s personal. David Cameron is now calling on people to stop their ‘familiar cry’ of opposition to new housing… Continue reading
30 Comments
The planning war of words starts again
Autumn is nearly here, so it must be time for another good row about planning, mustn’t it? Given the number of recent reports that ministers are considering relaxing green belt… Continue reading
33 Comments