One of the new Labour Government’s manifesto pledges is the construction of 1.5 million new homes between now and the end of this new parliament.
“We will ensure local communities continue to shape housebuilding in their area, but where necessary Labour will not be afraid to make full use of intervention powers to build the houses we need”, the manifesto states, which strikes a markedly different tone to the emphatically localist one adopted by the Conservatives upon entering office back in 2010.
So different in fact that according to the Daily Express recently “campaigners have demanded an apology from Sir Keir Starmer for treating nature and communities with “disdain” through his approach to housing policies and energy infrastructure.”
Now seemed like a good time then for Sam Stafford to publish a conversation between old friends of the podcast Andrew Taylor, Catriona Riddell and Paul Miner, and new friends of the podcast Jonathan Werran, Andy von Bradsky and Anna Clarke. This conversation, which is lead by Andrew and recorded online in April 2024 is about an essay collection compiled by Localis called ‘Building by consent – housing by popular demand’.
Localis, of which Jonathan is Chief Executive, asked a wide range of policy experts, local government leaders and industry bodies, to sketch their plan for what a successful planning system that generates community support for development might look like. Andrew, Catriona, Paul, Andy and Anna all provided contributions..
Some accompanying reading.
Labour’s planning proposals
http://samuelstafford.blogspot.com/2024/04/labours-planning-proposals.html
A new dawn has broken, has it not?
https://lichfields.uk/blog/2024/july/05/a-new-dawn-has-broken-has-it-not
Sir Keir Starmer accused of 'making enemies' of voters as campaigners demand apology
https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/1912206/keir-starmer-housing-nature-communities
Building Communities
https://www.localis.org.uk/research/building-communities/
Building Consent
https://localis.org.uk/research/building-consent/
Long-Term National Housing Strategy
Neighbourhood Planning Design Coding Guidance
Independent review of build out: final report
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/independent-review-of-build-out-final-report
Start to Finish 3
https://lichfields.uk/content/insights/start-to-finish-3
Streamlining planning to build more homes
https://housingforum.org.uk/reports/key-publications/streamlining-planning-to-build-more-homes/
Some accompanying listening.
Wind of Change - Scorpions
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4RjJKxsamQ
50 Shades T-Shirts & Newsletter
If you have listened to Episode 45 of 50 Shades of Planning you will have heard Clive Betts say that...
'In the Netherlands planning is seen as part of the solution. In the UK, too often, planning is seen as part of the problem'.
Sam said in reply that that would look good on a t-shirt and it does. Further details can be found here and you can also sign up for the 50 Shades Newsletter via the 50 Shaded Blog.
Any other business.
Sam is on Bluesky (@samuelstafford.bsky.social) and Instagram (@samuel__stafford). His blog contains a link to his newsletter.
50 Shades of Planning
50 Shades of Planning was Sam Stafford’s attempt between April 2019 and October 2024 to explore the foibles of the English planning system and it's aim was to cover the breadth of the sector both in terms of topics of conversation and in terms of guests with different experiences and perspectives.
50 Shades episodes include 'Hitting The High Notes', which are a series of conversations with leading planning and property figures. The conversations take in the six milestone planning permissions or projects within a contributor’s career and for every project guests are invited to choose a piece of music that they were listening to at that time. Think Desert Island Discs, but for planners.
Sam is on Bluesky (@samuelstafford.bsky.social) and Instagram (@samuel__stafford), and his blogs can be found here: http://samuelstafford.blogspot.com (from where you can also sign up for his newsletter).
The 50 Shades platforms were expressions of Sam's personal opinions, which may or may not represent the opinions of his past, present or future employers.
The 50 Shades of Planning Podcast and YouTube channels were produced in partnership with Cratus Group.
Why Fifty Shades? Well, planning is not a black and white endeavour. There are at least fifty shades in between....
