More Comment – Page 21
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CommentSocial value, housing associations and the Procurement Bill
The Procurement Bill in the Queen’s Speech hammers home the need for housing associations and public bodies to take into account social value when procuring work, but a lack of consistency in measuring it may prove challenging, argues Steve Cooper
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CommentWhy can’t we have a national housing strategy like other countries?
As Michael Gove seemingly backs away from housebuilding targets, David Orr argues what we really need is a coherent long-term housing strategy
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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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CommentThe 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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CommentSuperfluous 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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CommentThe 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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CommentSolving 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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CommentChoices, 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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CommentAxing 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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CommentWhy 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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CommentLessons 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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CommentWhat 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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CommentWhy 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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CommentHow 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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CommentMinisters 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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CommentArchitects 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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CommentGove’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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CommentFinancial 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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CommentNutrient 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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CommentWhy 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