Big housing news from Labour on the eve of conference in Liverpool. Keir Starmer announces plan for ‘planning passports’ to ‘turbocharge’ housebuilding, which ‘will mean that where development proposals meet design and quality standards, the default answer will be yes, not no’

'densification' is another way of saying 'building taller buildings' isn't it? Which is both good news (lowers commuting cost, creates dynamic urban environments/ reduces loneliness and lowers carbon costs) and is essential (only way to raise volume significantly).

If this is indeed the London government announcing a policy that will apply "across the UK" then it means a further erosion of devolved responsibilities outside England (that's not criticising the idea)

Do you suppose local authorities will get extra funding for more building inspectors to monitor the quality of all this new housing?

We will get more of this 👇and won't increase social housing. We actually need tighter planning and building regs and abolish right to buy. x.com/Kwajotwenebo...

How about passports for social housing?

Who decides the design and quality will be an interesting question. A new build in Coventry has applied to remove the social housing aspect from the development because they will only make 2% profit and not the projected 15% 🤔

"design and quality standards" That'll be interesting. If developers can't knock them up as cheap as shit, they won't build them. Any time limits on planning permission to discourage land banking? Any taxing the massive profits on land values from re-zoning land?

"Design codes, pre-approved by local residents and keeping with local character" sounds worryingly as though it will discourage developers from trying to do anything remotely innovative - and encourage greater involvement of certain organisations that are intent on turning everywhere into Poundbury.