How to get Britain building
From our UK edition
The vast majority of policy brains and economists agree on one thing: Britain’s archaic planning system is a drag on economic growth. But are the Conservatives able to do anything about it? In the past three months alone, the party has had to make several U-turns on its plans to reform the system – culminating in Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove agreeing to do away with compulsory housebuilding targets for local areas. At a Spectator panel event at this year’s Conservative party conference, which was held in partnership with the Earls Court Development Company (ECDC), we spoke with industry experts about the planning reforms needed and how the Tories can go about implementing them. One panellist argued that planning has become the Conservatives’ sacred cow.
