General Election Update   We are now only two weeks away from polling day and the formation of a new Government. The polls, commentators and just about everyone else (barring John McDonnell) think Theresa May and her ‘team’ will end up with a ‘Thatcher style majority’. Indeed, recent polling …

The Conservative Party launched their manifesto this morning. In the two years since the last election, housing (and planning) level of importance has plummeted with no mention in the five key priorities of the next Tory administration and little mention until the last gasp in the Tory manifesto.   The …

The Communities and Local Government Select Committee met this week (April 19) to discuss the Housing White Paper and question the Government’s position on certain key elements of it. Broadly, the Government is keen to fulfil its policy of building one million new homes by 2020, encouraging local authorities to …

For the construction industry generally, it’s good news and bad news. Sterling’s value shot up instantly as The City anticipated a stronger Tory win which could pave the way for a softer Brexit deal. Building projects in the pipeline and the housing market are expected to continue relatively unaffected by …

In a period of huge political uncertainty with Brexit, Trump and other world leaders including Putin jostling for stronger positions, Prime Minister Theresa May has thrown her hat into the ring by calling a UK General Election. If she manages to get her surprise snap poll, announced in Downing Street …

Planned and deliver Lichfields published its fifth annual review of local plans last week, five years since the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) came into existence. The report makes for some very interesting reading, revealing the struggle many local authorities are currently in to bring forward their local plans. Some …

Gavin Barwell has finally admitted that the Government won’t enforce the early 2017 deadline for Local Plans. Barwell’s admission, made in an interview at MIPIM, has been hotly tipped as the deadline looms and many Tory authorities seemed to be at threat. Speaking yesterday, he said, the government needed to …

Housing White Paper Almost a month on from the Housing White Paper and opinions still differ as to whether it will have any impact on the planning system, or indeed how many of the provisions will actually be taken forward into legislation. Speaking on February 20 at the Campaign to …