Make a Better Britain

The Conservative Government are making the same old same old attempts to solve the housing shortage. The paper prepared last week authored by Robert Jenrick the Communities Minister addresses the obvious, easing of Town Planning Consents. This policy is doomed to fail and Boris the Builder will not get on site to start building anything.

The UK property market has created immense value for landowners since the 1947 Town and Country Planning Act. It has created a whole industry for Town Planners, Planning Experts with Lawyers and Barristers enjoying milking a plethora of Public Enquiries and judicial Reviews. Bob Kerslake told me in a City Hall meeting that obstruction protected their jobs. I should know as I have borne the cost of two public enquiries and a Judicial Review.

Take the lid off restraint throw away Section 106 deals and the free for all to follow, build what you like will result in a fall in land values , a lesser appetite to release land banks and an even lower propensity to build anything.

The Government’s approach is flawed, its old hat , its dead parrot. We need a radical move. For years I’ve spoken of Time line ownership a tenure never seen but one to suit landowner, user and investor. I had of been talking about it with Tony Pidgeley before his sudden death and he was very interested as he could see it would work but it would also damage his share price. Turkeys really don’t vote for Christmas.

When Boris was elected his boss Dominic Cummings promised ‘ different ‘ , alas there is nothing new and Jenrick confirmed that last week. If anything this is an even bigger disgrace especially at a 400 year low of interest rates and the fact remains property is only attractive when inflation is seen on the horizon.

Time line ownership will take a brave Politician to allow as it will affect the lawyers, the consultants and the status quo. It will rock the boat and create a healthier Britain when one removes the fixation with what their house is worth when they struggle to pay the bills to live in it.

The Tories need to pay for Furlogh and Forever that means an attack on those capital values built up the majority tax free not by ingenuity but by inactivity. The English Man’s home may well be his castle but hold on it’s about to be attacked.

Change tack , change Tenure and make a Better Britain.