A recent blog post by Lichfields suggested that the government’s housing White Paper has been excessively criticised by housing commentators. They go further stating that the white paper “leaves enough flexibility in the process to reflect spatial variation and it stops short of gimmicks.” Lichfields raises an important issue as the housing white paper does indeed contain wide ranging options to address a number of issues that have plagued the UK’s inability to raise its long-term trend of housebuilding. Continue reading “Sustaining profitable growth in volatile markets”
Category: Strategic Economic Infrastructure
How can we create networks of high quality physical infrastructure – including housing and transportation – that will drive inclusive economic growth, nationally and regionally? How can we best manage our utilities – including rail, water, energy and broadband – to sustainably deliver value for both consumer and taxpayer?
This work stream focuses particularly on place-based approaches to policy, planning and investment, such as our current work on capturing the uplift in land value to finance infrastructure.
How the government’s housing white paper could transform infrastructure investment and solve the housing crisis
Sajid Javid has made it clear that building more homes is his top priority. So what can we expect in his white paper later this month? Recent comments by Gavin Barwell suggest the government is focussed on finding a system that can fund the necessary infrastructure to pave the way for larger scale housebuilding while avoiding conflicts that can make schemes unviable. A housing white paper that finally addressed Britain’s feeble levels of infrastructure investment by tweaking the Land Compensation Act would be transformational
Sajid Javid has made it clear that building more homes is his top priority. So what can we expect in his white paper later this month? Recent comments by Gavin Barwell suggest the government is focussed on finding a system that can fund the necessary infrastructure to pave the way for larger scale housebuilding while avoiding conflicts that can make schemes unviable. A housing white paper that finally addressed Britain’s feeble levels of infrastructure investment by tweaking the Land Compensation Act would be transformational.
How the chancellor can boost infrastructure investment by £180bn
The chancellor should change the way the uplift in land values from infrastructure investment is captured to help boost investment by £180bn over the next 20 years and to make the economy work for everyone
The chancellor should change the way the uplift in land values from infrastructure investment is captured to help boost investment by £180bn over the next 20 years and to make the economy work for everyone
Continue reading “How the chancellor can boost infrastructure investment by £180bn”
Report: Rebalancing the UK economy – A post-Brexit industrial strategy
An industrial strategy should address the persistent overvaluation of sterling and the failure to develop an appropriate system of technical education
Executive summary
On the eve of the EU referendum vote, according to numerous measures the British economy was performing exceptionally well. Unemployment was low and employment participation rates were at all-time highs, with continued low inflation. GDP growth since the financial crisis was only marginally behind Canada and the US, but well ahead of Germany and France.
Continue reading “Report: Rebalancing the UK economy – A post-Brexit industrial strategy”
Churchill knew how to solve the housing crisis
Writing for Prospect, Centre for Progressive Capitalism director Thomas Aubrey argues that the answer to Britain’s housing crisis lies in land value capture, something that Winston Churchill wrote about
Writing for Prospect, Centre for Progressive Capitalism director Thomas Aubrey argues that the answer to Britain’s housing crisis lies in land value capture, something that Winston Churchill wrote about.
Continue reading “Churchill knew how to solve the housing crisis”
The explosive concoction of globalisation and the rising cost of housing
For people’s basic needs to be provided in an era of globalisation, wages need to be rising at faster rates than housing costs. But Britain has continually failed to address its dysfunctional housing market and build sufficient homes
For people’s basic needs to be provided in an era of globalisation, wages need to be rising at faster rates than housing costs. But Britain has continually failed to address its dysfunctional housing market and build sufficient homes
Continue reading “The explosive concoction of globalisation and the rising cost of housing”
Britain’s housebuilding targets are like iron production estimates in Mao’s China
Politicians keep setting ambitious targets for housebuilding but rates remain far below the desired levels
Politicians keep setting ambitious targets for housebuilding but rates remain far below the desired levels
During the Great Leap Forward, provincial governors in China exaggerated the amount of iron each province was producing in order to please Chairman Mao. As long as iron production estimates rose, Mao seemed content. Sadly for China this approach did little for actual iron output, which fell instead of rising. It wasn’t until 1964 that output reached the levels achieved in 1958.
Continue reading “Britain’s housebuilding targets are like iron production estimates in Mao’s China”
Report: Bridging the infrastructure gap
A report on financing infrastructure investment to unlock housing
Financing infrastructure investment to unlock housing
Infrastructure is a key element of the enabling environment to increase economic growth. Access to infrastructure such as energy and transport greatly influences the productivity of private investment and an economy’s competitiveness. Moreover, physical infrastructure plays a central role in fulfilling the ambitions of citizens including the ability to live in an affordable, good quality home that is reasonably close to their place of work.
Improving trust in business across Europe
Writing in European magazine E!Sharp, Thomas Aubrey cites research showing falling levels of trust in business across Europe
Writing in European magazine E!Sharp, our director Thomas Aubrey cites research showing that the gap in trust in business between the elites or “informed public” – defined as those with a college education and a top quartile income – and the rest of the mass population has been widening over the last few years.
Continue reading “Improving trust in business across Europe”