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

https://hansard.parliament.uk/Lords/2024-02-29/debates/48BADB17-4BC5-4D4A-81A9-6E80B85533AF/Long-TermNationalHousingStrategy#contribution-F4869BBB-7ECD-49E2-9E36-7AEA3060249D

Neighbourhood Planning Design Coding Guidance

https://neighbourhoodplanning.org/toolkits-and-guidance/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.