Planning Ahead – June Issue

Welcome to our June issue of Planning ahead.

In this issue we have articles on the Labour Party’s housing and NPPF policy; people’s perception of building on green belt and the shift in views; and a summary of the Westminster Social Policy Forum keynote conference on housing supply and development .

We also have political updates, our usual Local Plan updates and some comment from us.

• Labour Party Housing Commitments “I want labour to be the party of home ownership”. Whilst outlining their party’s housing policy, Labour leader Keir Starmer has definitively contrasted the party against the current conservative government. Not only would Labour reintroduce mandatory housing targets, it would also bring in new powers for local authorities which would give them greater remit to build on the greenbelt, Starmer has stated that if the party came to government. More…
• Westminster Social Policy Forum event Michael Hardware, Chelgate Local’s director of planning and property, chaired the first session of the Westminster Social Policy Forum online conference on housing supply and development on Friday, 26 May. More…
• Going for the Green Belt A recent Times article titled “Voters are Ready to Hear the Case for Building Homes on the Green Belt” has explored the changing dynamics and public sentiment surrounding the contentious issue of building homes on the green belt. Penning the article, Ben Cooper – lead researcher at the Fabian Society on Housing – highlights the nuanced attitudes of the public perception surrounding greenbelt policy. More…
• Harlow & Gilston Garden Town Having chaired the first-morning session, Michael Hardware went on to present in the second session, introducing the Harlow & Gilston Garden Town, the unsung hero of the east of England. More…