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Anna Clarke

@annaclarke.bsky.social

7K followers 2.3K following 4.5K posts

Policy and Public Affairs at The Housing Forum. Interested in UK housing policy, planning, economics, housebuilding, energy, social policy. Views are my own. Cambridge based. https://housingforum.org.uk/

housingforum.org.uk

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Anna Clarke @annaclarke.bsky.social · 1d

The ban on non-locals buying newbuild homes of course does nothing to stop people buying second homes - they just buy up the existing housing stock, as older houses tend to be more popular as holiday homes anyway.

Anna Clarke @annaclarke.bsky.social · 1d

From www.telegraph.co.uk/money/proper....

Access Restricted

www.telegraph.co.uk

Anna Clarke @annaclarke.bsky.social · 1d

So Farage wants to scrap double council tax on second homes - a policy that's been working well to raise more money for councils and also free up more homes for locals. And instead ban new homes from being sold to anyone not already local - a policy shown to grind housebuilding to virtually zero?

Anna Clarke @annaclarke.bsky.social · 1d

Just googled it and yes you're right. Cambridge, where I live, stopped using it last year and I'd assumed that was everywhere, but seems some councils are still using it.

Anna Clarke @annaclarke.bsky.social · 1d

Not any more - Glyphosate got banned.

Anna Clarke @annaclarke.bsky.social · 1d

Students could leave if they wanted. Parents wouldn't be able to get a mortgage to buy a house for their child and friends, and would have to charge rent-controlled rents and not evict (or sell to the child and friends, or to the council). See www.greencoordinate.co.uk/motions/abol...

Abolish Landlords (#10) • Green Party Conference Agenda

www.greencoordinate.co.uk

Anna Clarke @annaclarke.bsky.social · 1d

They seem to be talking about some form of contribution-based ESA.

Anna Clarke @annaclarke.bsky.social · 1d

The savings depend upon how many move to means tested benefits instead though presumably?

Anna Clarke @annaclarke.bsky.social · 1d

Also, not allowed to end tenancies at the end of the academic year, or evict for any reason whatsoever. The students in private rentals would be bought up by councils and become council tenants. Next year's students will be asked to bring tents....

Anna Clarke @annaclarke.bsky.social · 1d

No I think only council would be social (possibly housing association too). So as a private landlord universities would be subject to rent controls, banned from borrowing money to build student housing, and forced to sell the rooms to students at a price that deducts all the rent they've ever paid.

Anna Clarke @annaclarke.bsky.social · 2d

Developed countries weren't flat for 40-50 years. They were declining quite consistently, apart from a few small blips.

Anna Clarke @annaclarke.bsky.social · 2d

I'm Asia it's tied up with a very competitive education system and sense among parents that you need to plough all your resources into one child or they won't succeed. Hugely damaging to the children, as well as putting their society on a fast track towards oblivion.

Anna Clarke @annaclarke.bsky.social · 2d

I'm not sure. Those look like blips to me on what is overall a very clear and strong global trend. Maybe not intractable but certainly in one overall direction currently.

Anna Clarke @annaclarke.bsky.social · 2d

Unlikely. At the moment - for all the tensions over it - migration from poorer countries to richer ones is overall a win win. I can see there being much more tensions when everyone's competing for workers.

Anna Clarke @annaclarke.bsky.social · 2d

World fertility rates are declining too, and fast. So migration is only a temporary patch to solve the high pensioner to working age ratio.

Anna Clarke @annaclarke.bsky.social · 2d

Depends whether you want an actual wealth tax to raise money. Or a fantasy wealth tax paid only by Somebody Else (and definitely not involving either houses or pensions because normal people own them)

Anna Clarke @annaclarke.bsky.social · 2d

I've not read that book I'm afraid. CPOs are certainly useful to councils assembling land for urban infill schemes. My understanding is that some make good use of them but others lack skills/confidence or are worried about legal challenge.

Anna Clarke @annaclarke.bsky.social · 2d

I could see a case for making it optional for 13-16. They often want id to get child train tickets etc. But making it compulsory seems something that could never gain support.

Anna Clarke @annaclarke.bsky.social · 2d

Not sure exactly what data there is on density of newbuild. But there are density targets in some local plans, or you could look at case studies of big schemes. Agree that we don't always push density as high as we could - even in London I've seen low-rise done to appease the local community.

Anna Clarke @annaclarke.bsky.social · 2d

I don't think it does really. Potential for densification depends massively on the built form, condition and tenure of the housing. (Very hard to change privately owned terraced housing, much more potential for council owned flats in poor condition)

Anna Clarke @annaclarke.bsky.social · 2d

The tricky thing is the scientific bodies can only advise from the perspective of "If your priority is X (disease prevention, protecting nature, etc) then you should do Y". But governments have to balance many priorities, so need the confidence to go against advice at times, and be open about why.

Anna Clarke @annaclarke.bsky.social · 2d

Yes, fair point. I guess looking at the density of newbuild/regen is possibly more insightful than bemoaning the low density built at historically.

Anna Clarke @annaclarke.bsky.social · 2d

Make the real ale £2 as a loss leader, but attract a younger crowd who are actually drinking expensive bottled lager?

Anna Clarke @annaclarke.bsky.social · 2d

I like a lot of Centre for Cities work, but found that one a bit theoretical. Yes our cities are less dense than in many other countries, but we can't turn it clock back and rebuild them. And densifying areas where people already live is massively more complex, costly and political.

Anna Clarke @annaclarke.bsky.social · 2d

Impact won't be massive (as funding is the biggest barrier to councils building more homes). But risk of losing them very quickly to the RTB does demotivate currently, as well as creating financial risk.