Love the NIMBY

… and build more homes! A campaign and research programme to change the politics of housebuilding from asking ‘how do we build more homes?’ to asking ‘how do we make new homes more popular?

 

The need for new housing in the UK is too well known to need rehearsing: 

  • Many studies of this issue start by setting out process (planning), investment model or capacity constraints to new development
  • Very few have empirically asked the simple question: why do local voters in practice still so often oppose new development?
  • These linked reports will do this empirically, run through detailed case studies and suggest policy and process responses.
 We will be publishing up to five linked reports as part of this programme:
  • Context: why it matters what people want. This report will set out the existing evidence & analysis on barriers to new development and why the drivers of local resistance to new homes have been inadequately analysed or understood. We are also commissioning new polling and revealed and stated preference analysis
  • Case study one: intensifying an existing town. Setting out a case study of brownfield development in one (real) town and analyse the way in which different elements of process, use, development and design influence support on the ground
  • Case study two: building a new town. Setting out a case study of greenfield development near one (real) town and analyse the way in which different elements of process, use, development and design influence support on the ground
  • Toolkit: setting out a practical process, investment and design framework that can minimise opposition to and maximise support for new housing – for landowners, investors, developers, councils and communities
  • Reform: setting out a practicable step by step programme to deliver more speed, certainty of outcome and popular design outcomes to the English planning system  

We would like to thank Shelter and two private philanthropists who are very kindly supporting this work.