Rishi Sunak seems to have realised a trick for pushing more building without confronting Tory Nimbyism. Under plans unveiled today, he’s going to ease restrictions on building in urban areas, where prices are most pressured and where Tory votes are rarely found. Councils missing their housing targets will be restricted in when they can refuse permission, and it will become easier to convert existing buildings into housing.

It’s a canny dodge. The Conservatives understand that rising house prices are threatening their future, with fewer younger people getting on the housing ladder. At the same time, however, big steps to resolve the crisis would mean a fight with ageing homeowners who already back the party. These latest moves avoid this dilemma.

The proposals would mean building properties more easily in inner cities, which tend to be overwhelmingly Labour. There will be few Conservative MPs or councillors to worry about getting in the way. It also likely means more building of densely-packed flats, which is good for the housing targets, and for the sorts of urban professionals the party should hope to be winning over. None of this is bad, but it is hardly going to solve the housing crisis.

In terms of supply, there is only so much that ‘brownfield first’ building can do. It is already some of the easiest land to get permission to develop and is often being used by developers already. In London, Manchester, and other major cities derelict industrial land is usually the first to be transformed to housing anyway. There are only so many of these sites, and it’s unclear how much extra the new policy will free up.

At the same time, permission is not the only issue with brownfield buildings. Sites can be expensive to clear, especially if they have been contaminated by previous use.

QOSHE - Sunak is playing it safe with new housing plans - John Oxley
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Sunak is playing it safe with new housing plans

11 1
13.02.2024

Rishi Sunak seems to have realised a trick for pushing more building without confronting Tory Nimbyism. Under plans unveiled today, he’s going to ease restrictions on building in urban areas, where prices are most pressured and where Tory votes are rarely found. Councils missing their housing targets will be restricted in when they can refuse permission, and it will become easier to convert existing buildings into housing.

It’s a canny dodge.........

© The Spectator


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