How planning policy can incentivise the building of places not just homes

Why do new residential developments often feel like a collection of houses rather than a real place? This report, which has been submitted to the Government’s Building Better, Building Beautiful Commission, argues that planning policy and practice, the land market and the structure of the house building industry often conspire against the building of beautiful places.

The report puts forward a new policy approach that incentivises land owners and developers to propose and build housing schemes that are beautiful and diverse, helping to address public opposition to new homes being built in their area (so called ‘Nimbyism’) and unlocking the building of new homes at the scale required by the housing shortage.

“I commend Policy Exchange for this report as we seek to get the right policies in place and for all they have done to put beauty and place making at the top of the political agenda.