Do we still have a Cabinet full of Mugs ?

Let’s first agree some principles.  Housebuilding is at a record low because planning permissions are at a record low.  I don’t accept the nonsense that property developers land bank because frankly why would a business spend millions of pounds investing in a development project to then slow its expected rate of return.  It doesn’t make logical sense. (Its NIMBY noise).

Planning applications are at a record low because government not only burdens a planning applicant with an obligation to produce a vast quantity of supporting information (to move bats and not stand on newts) but more specifically because the planning decision making process is largely a democratic one.

My concern is not only housebuilding but the system is an impediment to any form of development, roads, rail infrastructure, power plants, bridges, airports, phone masts and even bus stops.  Everything is doomed by consultation; inviting the great unqualified to make comments and statements about things that they have no knowledge nor experience to comment on.  Sadly the politicians listen.  Ecologists scratch their beards (and charge a fortune to do so) and after vast wasted expense everyone decides that a rare thistle (yes this happened to me) is more important that a large housing scheme.  The worst example on record is the Lower Thames Crossing, the application alone cost £297 million.

We can all agree that the British economy has suffered dramatically for the past 15 years.  Mr Gove single handedly muted change to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) which caused half of the councils in England to pause their local plans.  He hinted that they would be given greater powers to protect greenbelt and refuse development.  I am pleased that the new government has unpicked his meddling and reintroduced greater housing targets and reinvigorated the NPPF with more positive directives to adopt a greater presumption in favor of development.

The NIMBYs are out in force.  Vocalising distain for any suggestion that anything should be built anywhere.   Sadly again the local politicians listen.  I speak from bitter experience when I personally report, the majority of people who bother to write letters to their local council write to object to planning applications.  People who don’t have an opinion don’t write.  The result is that ward councillors and planning committees are presented with a distorted representation that everyone hates development.  Councillor’s ‘currency’ is votes so they follow and support the objecting masses and refuse planning applications.  As a result fewer houses get built, there is greater demand for housing and prices increase as a result of this problem.

Lets make that clear;

NIMBYS OBJECT = PLANNING REFUSALS = LESS HOMES = INCREASED HOUSE PRICES = LACK OF SUPPLY = INCREASED HOMELESSNESS.

DEDUCTION

NIMBYS CREATE HOMELESSNESS

Perhaps NIMBYs don’t care about homelessness but they must have children or grandchildren who want to buy a home ?  I wonder how many children ask their parents to stop objecting to planning applications because it is making home ownership unobtainable ?  I wonder if NIMBYs realise that if they object to a phone mast their phone won’t work ?

I think we can agree that the last cabinet was full of mugs. Not all of them of course but enough to have driven policy to make things harder to get done.

This is a chance to change.  Dear Cabinet, allow things to happen.  Lock up your economists and your lawyers, tell your MPs not to object to planning applications.  Tell your planning committees to embrace development and remind them that their children need homes and this country needs a better phone signal (and a nuclear power station).