"Just say yes in my backyard" - support proposals for planning reform, support more house building, support home ownership and cheaper rents

The housing campaign group, Priced Out has published its reponse to the Government's consultation on planning reform. Their plea, near the beginning of the representation is heartfelt and right:

"There will be opponents to these plans.

An armada of councillors who want housing to be built, but don’t want to relinquish the ability to say “Not in my backyard.”

A fleet of backbench MPs who can score political points by opposing policies that benefit existing homeowners at the expense of future ones, and so don’t want to relinquish the ability to say “Not in my backyard.”

A legion of campaign groups who accept, begrudgingly, that we need to build homes, but consider the proposals a “developers’ charter” to deliver homes where they shouldn’t be delivered - “Not in my backyard.”

And, a bizarre contradiction, an oligopoly of developers (and their lawyers and planning consultants) who’ve created an industry out of negotiating down contributions to affordable housing and don’t want the uncertainty and complexity taken away so that they lose their competitive advantage.

Please, do not listen to these views without understanding that everyone is representing an interest that the current system has been adept at benefiting.

Please, in the case of political opponents, understand that the points are scored by opposing the plans, not in ultimately being victorious in efforts to shoot them down.

Please, don’t let a fear of the unknown mean that in the year 3,000 we are still clinging onto the 1947 Town and Country Planning Act for fear that moving to a better system will spook the markets.

Please, don’t throw away young renters’ dreams of homeownership without relying on the bank of mum and dad; don’t throw away the economic prosperity that comes with people living close to labour markets; don’t throw away the supply of the homes we need in the areas we need them.

Don’t throw these away because of influential and vocal minorities that say “Not in my backyard.” Instead, say

“Yes! in my backyard.”

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