Many voices – including Shelter’s – have been plugging the economic benefits of getting housebuilding, but two things are new about the current burst of pre-budget clamour. Firstly, the breadth, and seniority, of the voices demanding investment has reached a … Continue reading →

You might have missed Nick Clegg’s announcement on the next wave of city deals: apparently all twenty cities that applied for a city deal will now enter talks with the Government ‘on a staggered basis’, to ‘negotiate deals that give … Continue reading →

While most of the policy universe was busy speculating on the contents of the Leveson report this morning, new Planning Minister Nick Boles was waxing lyrical to the TCPA conference on the value of beauty. He made a robust call … Continue reading →

There’s bound to be some stiff competition to get into Private Eye’s Olympicballs column this week – but let’s give it a go…. It’s still unfashionable to be sceptical about the likelihood of a legacy for the games, but let’s … Continue reading →

We’ve been waiting for the government’s big housing announcement ever since one was apparently pulled from the budget for not being bold enough. What finally emerged this morning certainly had some boldness in it, if not the radicalism that some … Continue reading →