Tag: party conference

Conservative Party Conference: Where next for planning?
Conservative Party Conference: Where next for planning?
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Since Robert Jenrick was appointed Secretary of State for Housing in July, he’s made no secret of his ambition to ‘liberalise and improve the planning system.’ Jenrick’s speech at the Conservative Party Conference on Monday offered a mixed bag of proposals.

In a welcome move, the government has published a new national design guide which sets out the characteristics of well-designed places. But government is also proposing to move ahead with planning deregulation that will make enforcing these new standards … Read more

Party Conferences: Taking the political temperature on housing
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As the leaves of another party conference season are swept away, we take a look back at what it meant for housing.

First there was the Lib Dems in sunny Bournemouth. Housing featured as one of the three big themes of Tim Farron’s first conference speech as Lib Dem leader. Farron said it was watching the film ‘Cathy Come Home’ as a teenager that inspired him to get into politics. The film’s original screening in 1966 coincided with … Read more

A mixed bag
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David Cameron opened his Conservative Party Conference speech with the promise of home ownership.

“This week in Manchester we’ve shown this Party is on the side of hardworking people. Helping young people buy their own home.”

The rhetoric is right. And it is fantastic to see all three party leaders recognising the urgent need to tackle our housing crisis. Unfortunately, we still cannot agree with the Government’s proposed solution.

Cameron used the Conference to accelerate the Help to Buy scheme. … Read more

Housing takes centre stage
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‘[This] country desperately needs a delivery of homes…’

Spoken by Vince Cable, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, and Skills during his platform speech at this year’s Liberal Democrat Party Conference.

After a wet and windy three days in Glasgow it’s clear: housing the next generation is on everyone’s mind. The Liberal Democrats, both members and Ministers, genuinely do want to ‘own housing at the next general election’.  However, what this ownership will look like is still all … Read more

Housing: a clear priority for the Liberal Democrats
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This week in stormy Brighton there were many anxious discussions about what the Liberal Democrat Party stands for in 2012, but remarkable consensus on the importance of a decent, affordable home. From coffee bar to conference hall, housing came out as a clear priority with strong support from both local activists and prominent politicians.

The Shelter and Fujitsu joint fringe event at the beginning of the week asked the panel what three arguments the Party will need to make in … Read more