Sector leaders deliver verdict on ‘build, build, build’

Local government leaders have delivered their verdict on the prime minister’s latest speech, in which he promised to ‘build, build, build!’.

Boris Johnson delivered a wide-ranging speech yesterday (30 June) in which he unveiled ‘a new deal for Britain’, which included pledges to build more homes and fix social care.

He also confirmed the government would simplify the planning system to allow existing commercial properties, including newly vacant shops, can be converted into residential housing more easily, in a move to kick start the construction industry and speed up rebuilding.

The president of the Association of Directors of Environment, Economy, Planning and Transport (ADEPT), Nigel Riglar, said it welcomed the fovernment’s intention to invest in construction, broadband and cycleways, and particularly in renewing school buildings.

‘However, we have seen some of this funding announced before and we wait to see more detail in how we can build back clean and green. It would have been good to see investment in retrofitting existing housing stock to improve energy efficiency, for example,’ added Mr Riglar.

The chairman of the Local Government Association (LGA), Cllr James Jamieson, warned that planning powers must remain at a local level.

‘We have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to not just recover from this crisis but to go further and address the stark inequalities the virus has exposed, develop a green recovery, address skills gaps and rebuild the economy so that it benefits everyone,’ said Cllr Jamieson.

While the director of IPPR North, Sarah Longlands said the speech was ‘deeply disappointing for anyone who hoped that it might set out an ambitious programme of change to tackle our regional inequalities’.

‘In the face of the biggest challenge ever to face these islands, it merely reheats existing announcements and does little to “level up” power and resources across the UK. The North deserves better,’ added Ms Longlands.

And the chief executive of Localis, Jonathan Werran, said local government needs a ‘clear and defined strategic role’ to build on its ‘existing expertise to combine the jobs stimulus required to address the impact of Covid-19 lockdown with the deeper and longer-term regional investment the levelling up agenda calls into play’.

‘Central government must use the English Devolution White Paper to create a pathway for the local state to deliver infrastructure at pace and fund pipeline development, clearing aside the delay and obstruction brought about by the need for local areas to canvass, cap in hand, different central government departments for capital investment on a case-by-case basis,’ added Mr Werran.

Photo Credit – TheDigitalArtist (Pixabay)