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CommentThe government should do more to support build-to-rent
Despite a fall in starts and completions last quarter, build-to-rent is on the rise but needs more backing from ministers, argues James Simondson
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Comment
The government’s regulation and rhetoric threatens the viability of sites
Ministers’ focus on quality over quantity could increase costs, hit delivery and make it harder for smaller builders to flourish, argues James Thomson
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Comment
Superfluous and unconvincing: why the levelling up bill is a missed opportunity
The lack of depth in Michael Gove’s flagship legislation announced in the Queen’s Speech will make change difficult, argues Derek Long
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Comment
The Queen’s Speech shows the government in full retreat on planning reform
But the government could still include measures to help the system deliver more homes when the detail is brought forward, says Joey Gardiner
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Comment
Solving nutrient neutrality puzzle is a key test of ministers’ housebuilding commitment
On nutrient neutrality, the government must find a way of protecting the environment while being fair to the housing development industry, argues Joey Gardiner
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Comment
Choices, choices, choices: ministers must decide whether they’re serious about the housing crisis
Ahead of the Queen’s Speech next Tuesday, Paul Smith suggests how ministers could best choose to improve the planning system
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Comment
Axing section 106 would mean better placemaking
The government’s plan to introduce a consolidated infrastructure levy allows placemakers to focus on what’s important – creating schemes of both spatial and social quality, says James Cons
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Comment
Why increasing density is the key to healthy living in communities
Healthy living principles must be embedded in every stage of a development, argues Katja Stille
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Comment
Lessons on regeneration and levelling up from the Netherlands
Austen Reid and Ad Hereijgers from pan-European consultancy Ritterwald provide some tips on how levelling up can work effectively to create sustainable urban regeneration at scale
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Comment
What Gove’s levelling up plan needs to do to improve lives and not just ‘tart up’ town centres
Levelling up success should be measured in places like Blackpool and Jaywick, argues Chris Brown
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Comment
Why do new homes get blamed for everything?
From nutrient neutrality to pressure on local services, new housing developments are unfairly blamed for a lot of problems, argues Paul Smith
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Comment
How to assess social value in the housing development sector
Richard Jones looks at the ways housing developers are assessing the wider impact of their operations in line with the government’s social value model guidance
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Comment
Ministers must be wary of ‘development hesitancy’ among housing associations
Last month’s spring statement did little to support developing associations to meet build targets in a challenging climate, argues Mark Perry of Vivid
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Comment
Architects can help unlock net zero for housing developers
Four architectural practices are calling on housing clients to agree and monitor environmental objectives at key stages in a project, explain Ben Derbyshire
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Comment
Gove’s cladding deal - what does it mean for the sector?
With negotiations on a housebuilder pledge to pay for fire safety repairs close to finalising, Joey Gardiner looks at what the likely shape of the deal says about how far the housing secretary has been able to get his way on cladding
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Comment
Financial resilience is key to associations clearing the inflationary hurdle
Rampant inflation means affordable homes programme grant will cover a smaller proportion of construction costs than previously expected and it is up to housing associations to respond, writes Paul Hackett.
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Comment
Nutrient neutrality rules may hit delivery at first, but they offer opportunity too
The government’s proposed expansion of nutrient neutrality rules may help councils, developers and landowners find nature-based solutions through planning, argues Andrew Watson
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Comment
Why are there are so many badly designed edge-of-town housing schemes?
Planners and architects must engage more with developers to ensure plans are of good design and provide connectivity with other developments, argues Jerry Tate
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Comment
The housing delivery conundrum really isn’t that difficult
If the government really wants to see more new homes delivered, all they have to do is plan for it, argues Paul Smith
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Comment
The UK must follow Ireland’s lead on retrofitting homes
The Irish government last month announced a national retrofitting scheme. Anthony Coumidis argues UK ministers should follow suit and fund a retrofitting revolution rather than relying on heat pumps
