David Lawrence

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@dc_lawrence

Cofounder @britishprogress, columnist @ArguablyMag. Previously @ChathamHouse & @JesusOxford. Views my own.

London Joined October 2010

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David Lawrence @dc_lawrence Oct 29

What if the best way to reduce the cost of living also turned out to be the best way to boost growth?

In a new paper for @BritishProgress, @timleunig, @robblackie & I find that the Government hitting its housebuilding targets would *reduce rents by £251 a month* in London, within 5 years.

This is a far greater saving for ordinary households than any cost of living measure announced in the Budget.

And the best part? We can do this for free. By streamlining planning restrictions, improving building safety rules and empowering residents, we could hit and exceed Labour's housing targets.

BUT as things stand, the Government's housing targets are not on track, and so households across the UK will not feel this benefit.

David Lawrence @dc_lawrence 2d

Of all the UK growth trackers out there, this is arguably the most important.

Successive governments have failed to build enough homes, but Starmer's Labour was supposed to be different. What went wrong?

Check out @yimbyalliance's new tracker here: yimbyalliance.org/live-housebuil…

And I've written for @ArguablyMag today on what we can do about it: arguably.uk/p/burnham-need…

yimbyalliance.org Live housebuilding tracker - YIMBY Alliance

James Gradel @James_Gradel 2d

The Government is going to miss the 1.5 million homes target.

Homes are now getting built slower than under the previous three Governments.

We need a new wave of planning reform to get back on track.

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David Lawrence @dc_lawrence 2d

What happened to Labour's 1.5 million homes?

Despite its ambitions, Starmer's Labour build new homes at a slower pace than the Cameron, May, Johnson, Truss and Sunak administrations.

This means we are around 220,000 homes short of where we should be (see this excellent new tracker from @yimbyalliance yimbyalliance.org/live-housebuil…)

What went wrong?

I have been critical of YIMBYism in the past. But today for @ArguablyMag I make the case for Burnham to embrace "YIMBYism 2.0": prioritising urban densification, community led development and devolution to capture local benefits.

George Eaton Verified account @georgeeaton 2d

Burnham needs Yimbyism 2.0 – excellent from @dc_lawrence on why housebuilding is the best cost-of-living policy and how to clear away the obstacles to it. arguably.uk/p/burnham-need…
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David Lawrence @dc_lawrence 3d

This evening I was enthused and encouraged by the launch of @ukdynamism, and also grateful to receive some metal and moss.

"Our inheritance is one long, unbroken project of national renewal."

Thank you @andrewjb_. I will use it well.

David Lawrence @dc_lawrence 5d

This is huge. It might sound counterintuitive but this kind of community-led, "gentle density" is often far more effective than building entire new towns.

Why? Because (1) upward extensions are exactly where people want to live, (2) they don't require brand new utilities and infrastructure, (3) you avoid fights with existing residents as they benefit from extending their homes.

YIMBY Alliance Verified account @yimbyalliance 5d

🚨 Upward extensions coming soon to Hackney.

This is HUGE NEWS for more housing in London.

The planning inspector has backed the Stamford Hill Area Action Plan.

This means Hackney is now one step closer to bringing South Tottenham’s upward extensions, used by 60% of eligible homes, to Stamford Hill.

📷 Here's what Stamford Hill's upward extensions will look like.

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