Policy

Nine radical ways to reform the land market

News, Policy /

The Progressive Policy Think Tank has called for an urgent reform of the land market, citing figures which suggest a plot of land now accounts for 70% of a property’s value. Land is an essential factor in all economic activity but, if it is not properly managed and regulated, it can play a destabilising role in the housing market and the wider economy, the left-leaning think tank said in a recent report. The UK’s dysfunctional land market and soaring land values have helped drive growing wealth inequality, create the conditions for a broken housing market, and are a root cause of an unproductive and unstable economy, it claimed. If that isn’t enough to convince you, it even quotes Winston Churchill, who once […]

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Ministry of Housing plans more garden towns

News, Policy /

Communities Secretary Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP has called for an increase in garden towns in England, as he announces the new garden communities programme. The programme aims to see more high-quality homes built and green spaces created, expanding on government’s plans for more locally-led developments. Councils across England and private developers who have secured support from local authorities will be able to apply for a place on the programme. The winning bidders will receive tailored advice and potential grant funding for help with staffing or environmental assessments; part of the planning process for new garden towns. Communities Secretary Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP said, “This plan is about the government working with councils and developers to get great homes in keeping

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Mayor launches new scheme to speed up housebuilding on public land

News, Planning, Policy /

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has announced his new London Development Panel (LDP), made up of developers, housing associations and contractors, who public bodies can work with to accelerate housing delivery on sites that they own. Through the LDP, TfL will soon bring forward three car park sites in the London Borough of Harrow (Canons Park, Rayners Lane & Stanmore), and will deliver 100% affordable housing within these developments, according to a statement. City Hall has also purchased a large part of the site of St Ann’s Hospital in Haringey from the NHS. Plans for the site are being developed with the local council and local community, and this site is expected to be put through the LDP for residential development

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Social Housing Green Paper is a small step in the right direction

News, Policy /

The Social Housing Green Paper aims to rebalance the relationship between residents and landlords, tackle stigma and ensure that social housing can be both a stable base that supports people when they need it and support social mobility. Residents across the country were asked for their views on social housing; almost 1,000 tenants shared their views with ministers at 14 events across the country, with over 7,000 submitting their opinions, issues and concerns online.The consultation launched with the green paper gives everyone the opportunity to submit views on proposals for the future of social housing and will run until 6 November 2018. The green paper sets out 5 core themes: Tackling stigma and celebrating thriving communities; Expanding supply and supporting home ownership; Effective

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MPs warn that climate change will prompt need to build cooler homes

Policy /

A warning by MPs that climate change could cause heat-related deaths to treble by 2050 has prompted insulation specialist Actis to reiterate its call for architects and specifiers to create homes which stay cool in summer as well as warm in winter. The Environmental Audit Committee published a report into ‘Heatwaves: adapting to climate change’. The Committee found that failing to address the danger of heatwaves will threaten the wellbeing of an increasing number of vulnerable people. The committee urged the government to take action to mitigate the effects of the extreme heat – and among measures suggested are ensuring that homes are built to remain at lower temperatures in the hot weather. Experts say prolonged increased temperatures combined with an ageing

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