It might sound like a paradox, but cities are good for the environment. By constantly changing, and using density to share land and infrastructure between more people, urban areas reduce the pressure humans put on the natural world. And it’s not just the countryside that feels the environmental benefits of urbanisation – the climate does […]
Last week’s publication of the Bacon Review into self and custom-build housing was an important moment in the battle to create a sensible planning system. Although self and custom build are currently only a small part of the UK housebuilding sector, that’s precisely why reform could unlock huge benefits. Chances are if you mention self and custom-build […]
As the country begins to think about the road to economic recovery from Covid-19, the most obvious area for reform is housing. Building more homes in expensive cities will create new jobs, grow the economy, and reduce inequality. The need to rebuild after the pandemic is why at Centre for Cities we are calling for […]
Recently released Government housebuilding data contains a pleasant surprise – the number of new dwellings in England was over 241,000. This is the highest rate of housebuilding in England since the target for 240,000 new homes a year for the UK was set back in 2007. This is good news for housing affordability, and national […]
Soaring house prices, rising rents, and homeownership near record lows in British cities are recognised as massive political and economic challenges by all. But the flip side of these growing costs has received less attention – how political choices have gifted huge windfalls for homeowners in the wealthiest cities. Homeownership is not the same thing […]
