The article was published in Placemaking Resource. Local plans and housing policies are failing to provide homes for older people and the most vulnerable, writes Michael Hardware. No one would argue with the fact that there is a housing crisis in the UK, caused by decades of not building enough …

This is our first newsletter of 2022 and we have four thought-provoking articles looking at current government policies. Although the NHS reforms are in the process of being implemented, local government reforms are still being formulated or yet to be reviewed. Housing numbers and housing policies are like the planning …

By Kasia Banaś, Account Director  Conservative gains  Last week’s local elections were hailed as a big success for the Conservatives who took control of a dozen councils and gained more than 200 new Tory councillors. Local elections and by-elections are traditionally a trying period for a governing party and an opportunity for voters to show their frustrations with …

By Michael Hardware, Director of Planning and Property The Conservatives had a good night generally in the south east last Thursday, although tempered somewhat by growing support for the LibDems, the Greens and for resident candidates, all perhaps an indication of future trends. Labour had an excellent night in London.  Labour did very well in London with both the re-election of Sadiq Khan, …

By Ruby Burdett, Consultant  The hotly anticipated  planning reforms  were  announced  in  the Queen’s  Speech  today  as  one of  the  Government’s priorities.  This re-commitment to comprehensive reforms of the planning system  will be welcomed by the industry which  has long  asked for  removal of the roadblocks that  delay or prevent development and …

By Michael Hardware, Director of Planning and Property The Government has decided that legislation to hold council meetings virtually will not be extended. This means all future meetings will have to be exclusively physical in nature, held again in council chambers and committee rooms across the country.  The lockdown last year to …

By Ruby Burdett, Consultant  In March 2021, our client, Inspired Villages, hosted a workshop entitled ‘Housing-with-care’ at the Conservative Councillor’s Association (CCA) Local Government Conference. The presentation highlighted the current lack of provision of housing for older people, the limited choice and flexibility, and the impacts this is having on society.   Currently, living options for older people are limited: they can stay in their own home, they can move into retirement …

By Michael Hardware, Director of Planning and Property The elections in May will be complicated, and confusing for voters. In some areas they will have four elections at once, all with different candidates: county, district, Police and Crime Commissioner and referendums on neighbourhood plans. There are also various delayed byelections to take place. Voters will, apparently, …