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Tag: Government policy

The revolution will not be strategised

The revolution will not be strategised

Last week two reports came out with similar names but very different purposes. But they deserve comment and consideration together. On the Monday Global Construction Perspectives and Oxford Economics launched its report Global Construction 2025, a global forecast for the construction industry to 2025. The following day the Government unveiled the Construction 2025: industrial strategy for construction – government and industry in partnership. Most of the similarities and differences will be pretty obvious on reading, so let’s take them as…

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The Housing Strategy: Was that it?

The Housing Strategy: Was that it?

There’s little doubt that we need radical solutions to build more homes. There is a broad consensus for that view, leaving aside supporters of Malthus, the Daily Telegraph anti-house-building campaign and a few others. There’s little doubt also that the issues are complex and we need a strategy rather than one big idea to save the day. But unless I am very much mistaken the 88-page Laying the Foundations: A Housing Strategy for England probably doesn’t amount to a strategy…

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Pre-Budget Report points to more money for construction…but a much bigger fall

Pre-Budget Report points to more money for construction…but a much bigger fall

Few would argue against the view that this set of Pre-Budget Report announcements has more to do with pre-electioneering that pre-budgeting. That’s fair enough. The Labour Party may not be in power to pursue its plans and, if it is after the next election, we don’t know how keen it will be to stick to them given a further five years to play with. The political desire to put the pain at the start rather than the end of a…

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The cruelty of breeding force-fed first-time buyers

The cruelty of breeding force-fed first-time buyers

Here’s a question that goes right to the heart of current housing policy: Should we be using incentives as readily as we are to encourage first-time buyers onto the property ladder? However iconoclastic or contrary this question may seem, it needs to be asked. There is so much at stake.