Housing and Planning

Planning changes won’t solve crisis


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Press Release

The IEA responds to the Budget

Press Release

The IEA responds to today's report by the House of Lords on foreign aid

The IEA responds to the government's planned changes to planning laws

Commenting on Planning Minister Greg Clark’s comments today, Richard Wellings, Editorial Director at the Institute of Economic Affairs, said:

“Strict planning controls are the main cause of Britain’s housing crisis. As a result of tight restrictions on development, housing in the UK is far less affordable and of far lower quality than in most other developed countries. The simplification of the planning system and the presumption in favour of development is therefore extremely welcome. The government should, however, go much further in liberalising the planning system. In particular, it should drop its commitment to ‘sustainable development’, which will raise construction costs, reduce supply and trap more households in substandard accommodation.”

Notes to editors

To arrange an interview with an IEA spokesperson please contact Stephanie Lis, Director of Communications: 020 7799 8909, [email protected]

The mission of the Institute of Economic Affairs is to improve understanding of the fundamental institutions of a free society by analysing and expounding the role of markets in solving economic and social problems.

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