Alex King
@alexdpking.bsky.social
Senior reporter at Planning Magazine | freelance words in the Guardian, Politico, Novara Media, the Bristol Cable etc | Tips, coffees: alex.king@haymarket.com
Pinned
Alex King
@alexdpking.bsky.social
· May 23
With @reform-uk-official.bsky.social now in control of 9 councils and 2 mayoralties, I've been investigating how much planning power it wields, the kinds of schemes it may back or block and what Reform control means for planning officers in those councils🧵
www.planningresource.co.uk/article/1918...
www.planningresource.co.uk/article/1918...
NEW The National Audit Office has said an “imbalance in capacity and capability between the public and private sector” means developers can “manipulate” their viability assessments to cut infrastructure contributions
More 👇
www.planningresource.co.uk/article/1920...
More 👇
www.planningresource.co.uk/article/1920...
June 6, 2025 at 9:31 AM
NEW The National Audit Office has said an “imbalance in capacity and capability between the public and private sector” means developers can “manipulate” their viability assessments to cut infrastructure contributions
More 👇
www.planningresource.co.uk/article/1920...
More 👇
www.planningresource.co.uk/article/1920...
🚨 One of the government's own advisors on biodiversity net gain has raised concerns about its proposal to exempt small housing schemes from the duty
www.planningresource.co.uk/article/1919...
www.planningresource.co.uk/article/1919...
May 30, 2025 at 8:42 AM
🚨 One of the government's own advisors on biodiversity net gain has raised concerns about its proposal to exempt small housing schemes from the duty
www.planningresource.co.uk/article/1919...
www.planningresource.co.uk/article/1919...
NEW The government has proposed that residential schemes of up to 9 homes be exempt from biodiversity net gain in order to speed up construction
More 👇
www.planningresource.co.uk/article/1919...
More 👇
www.planningresource.co.uk/article/1919...
May 29, 2025 at 11:38 AM
NEW The government has proposed that residential schemes of up to 9 homes be exempt from biodiversity net gain in order to speed up construction
More 👇
www.planningresource.co.uk/article/1919...
More 👇
www.planningresource.co.uk/article/1919...
76% of planning committee members in England say gov’s 1.5m homes target is “unachievable”, a survey by SEC Newgate finds
-33% cited a shortage in construction skills as the main blocker
-19% blamed the “negative impact of perceived developer land-banking”
www.planningresource.co.uk/article/1919...
-33% cited a shortage in construction skills as the main blocker
-19% blamed the “negative impact of perceived developer land-banking”
www.planningresource.co.uk/article/1919...
May 29, 2025 at 11:37 AM
76% of planning committee members in England say gov’s 1.5m homes target is “unachievable”, a survey by SEC Newgate finds
-33% cited a shortage in construction skills as the main blocker
-19% blamed the “negative impact of perceived developer land-banking”
www.planningresource.co.uk/article/1919...
-33% cited a shortage in construction skills as the main blocker
-19% blamed the “negative impact of perceived developer land-banking”
www.planningresource.co.uk/article/1919...
Reposted by Alex King
from all the calls I have been getting from journalists Reform UK seem to be quoting an @instituteforgovernment.org.uk explainer from 2021 www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/article/expl...
May 27, 2025 at 2:17 PM
from all the calls I have been getting from journalists Reform UK seem to be quoting an @instituteforgovernment.org.uk explainer from 2021 www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/article/expl...
With @reform-uk-official.bsky.social now in control of 9 councils and 2 mayoralties, I've been investigating how much planning power it wields, the kinds of schemes it may back or block and what Reform control means for planning officers in those councils🧵
www.planningresource.co.uk/article/1918...
www.planningresource.co.uk/article/1918...
May 23, 2025 at 12:33 PM
With @reform-uk-official.bsky.social now in control of 9 councils and 2 mayoralties, I've been investigating how much planning power it wields, the kinds of schemes it may back or block and what Reform control means for planning officers in those councils🧵
www.planningresource.co.uk/article/1918...
www.planningresource.co.uk/article/1918...
Bats and newts did not cause planning delays last year, new research by @the-wildlifetrusts.bsky.social and @rspb.bsky.social suggests
Analysis of 17,433 planning appeals in England in 2024 found newts were relevant in 140 (0.8%) of cases and bats in 432 (2.48%)
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Analysis of 17,433 planning appeals in England in 2024 found newts were relevant in 140 (0.8%) of cases and bats in 432 (2.48%)
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Wildlife charities urge Labour to scrap ‘licence to kill nature’ in planning bill
Conservationists say part of bill allowing developers to avoid environmental laws by paying into nature fund should be ditched
www.theguardian.com
May 23, 2025 at 11:59 AM
Bats and newts did not cause planning delays last year, new research by @the-wildlifetrusts.bsky.social and @rspb.bsky.social suggests
Analysis of 17,433 planning appeals in England in 2024 found newts were relevant in 140 (0.8%) of cases and bats in 432 (2.48%)
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Analysis of 17,433 planning appeals in England in 2024 found newts were relevant in 140 (0.8%) of cases and bats in 432 (2.48%)
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
NEW Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, has announced he will “actively explore” releasing bits of London's green belt for development
Khan claimed GB “can often be low-quality land” that is “rarely enjoyed by Londoners”
He opposed building on it until 2024
www.planningresource.co.uk/article/1917...
Khan claimed GB “can often be low-quality land” that is “rarely enjoyed by Londoners”
He opposed building on it until 2024
www.planningresource.co.uk/article/1917...
May 9, 2025 at 2:31 PM
NEW Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, has announced he will “actively explore” releasing bits of London's green belt for development
Khan claimed GB “can often be low-quality land” that is “rarely enjoyed by Londoners”
He opposed building on it until 2024
www.planningresource.co.uk/article/1917...
Khan claimed GB “can often be low-quality land” that is “rarely enjoyed by Londoners”
He opposed building on it until 2024
www.planningresource.co.uk/article/1917...
Reposted by Alex King
'The climate movement is experiencing a lull. We must broaden our tactics if we are to maintain popular support and reframe the narrative.'
Check out our latest article from writer and community activist, Joe Attlee.
Please like and share 🌿
www.gndmedia.co.uk/articles/sab...
Check out our latest article from writer and community activist, Joe Attlee.
Please like and share 🌿
www.gndmedia.co.uk/articles/sab...
Green New Deal Media
www.gndmedia.co.uk
May 6, 2025 at 11:59 AM
'The climate movement is experiencing a lull. We must broaden our tactics if we are to maintain popular support and reframe the narrative.'
Check out our latest article from writer and community activist, Joe Attlee.
Please like and share 🌿
www.gndmedia.co.uk/articles/sab...
Check out our latest article from writer and community activist, Joe Attlee.
Please like and share 🌿
www.gndmedia.co.uk/articles/sab...
The government's proposal to cut a requirement for developers to consult on major infrastructure schemes before submitting an application is a “panicked misstep” that would be “disastrous for the natural world”, warns @the-wildlifetrusts.bsky.social
www.planningresource.co.uk/article/1916...
www.planningresource.co.uk/article/1916...
May 2, 2025 at 3:41 PM
The government's proposal to cut a requirement for developers to consult on major infrastructure schemes before submitting an application is a “panicked misstep” that would be “disastrous for the natural world”, warns @the-wildlifetrusts.bsky.social
www.planningresource.co.uk/article/1916...
www.planningresource.co.uk/article/1916...
🚨 A planning barrister and a member of the House of Lords has been sanctioned by Russia, after calling for the government to seize Kremlin state assets in the UK to support the Ukrainian war effort
www.planningresource.co.uk/article/1915...
www.planningresource.co.uk/article/1915...
April 25, 2025 at 12:39 PM
🚨 A planning barrister and a member of the House of Lords has been sanctioned by Russia, after calling for the government to seize Kremlin state assets in the UK to support the Ukrainian war effort
www.planningresource.co.uk/article/1915...
www.planningresource.co.uk/article/1915...
Some more info on gov's new towns:
- “Preferably 60,000 homes” in size
- A “pledge” that 40% of homes will be social and affordable
- Proposed locations kept under close wraps to avoid land values soaring and giving early warning to local opponents
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
- “Preferably 60,000 homes” in size
- A “pledge” that 40% of homes will be social and affordable
- Proposed locations kept under close wraps to avoid land values soaring and giving early warning to local opponents
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Inside Labour’s top-secret plan for new towns, I see signs of hope | Polly Toynbee
Vision and patience are vital if past mistakes are to be avoided, but the rewards for the country could be immeasurable, says Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee
www.theguardian.com
April 25, 2025 at 12:38 PM
Some more info on gov's new towns:
- “Preferably 60,000 homes” in size
- A “pledge” that 40% of homes will be social and affordable
- Proposed locations kept under close wraps to avoid land values soaring and giving early warning to local opponents
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
- “Preferably 60,000 homes” in size
- A “pledge” that 40% of homes will be social and affordable
- Proposed locations kept under close wraps to avoid land values soaring and giving early warning to local opponents
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Alex King
Planning deregulation carries serious political risks for Labour
✍️ @chrishinchliff.bsky.social
✍️ @chrishinchliff.bsky.social
Planning deregulation carries serious political risks for Labour
The origins of Britain’s planning system are as deeply rooted in the legacy of the great post-war Labour government as the National Health Service ...
www.politicshome.com
April 8, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Planning deregulation carries serious political risks for Labour
✍️ @chrishinchliff.bsky.social
✍️ @chrishinchliff.bsky.social
Reposted by Alex King
The Wildlife Trusts (@the-wildlifetrusts.bsky.social) has put forward series of amendments to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill that it wants to see ministers take forward to ‘plug the gaps’ currently in the legislation.
Here’s what you need to know ⬇️
Here’s what you need to know ⬇️
Wildlife Trusts sets out amendments to ‘plug the gaps’ in Planning Bill
The Wildlife Trusts has set out a series of amendments to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill that it wants to see ministers take forward to ‘plug the gaps’ currently in the legislation. Here’s what ...
www.endsreport.com
April 10, 2025 at 2:21 PM
The Wildlife Trusts (@the-wildlifetrusts.bsky.social) has put forward series of amendments to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill that it wants to see ministers take forward to ‘plug the gaps’ currently in the legislation.
Here’s what you need to know ⬇️
Here’s what you need to know ⬇️
🚨The planning minister Matthew Pennycook has flatly rejected Oldham Council's request to leave Places for Everyone, GM's joint spatial strategy
Cllr Howard Sykes, leader of the council’s opposition Lib Dem group, dubbed decision “a betrayal of democracy”
www.planningresource.co.uk/article/1913...
Cllr Howard Sykes, leader of the council’s opposition Lib Dem group, dubbed decision “a betrayal of democracy”
www.planningresource.co.uk/article/1913...
April 10, 2025 at 8:59 AM
🚨The planning minister Matthew Pennycook has flatly rejected Oldham Council's request to leave Places for Everyone, GM's joint spatial strategy
Cllr Howard Sykes, leader of the council’s opposition Lib Dem group, dubbed decision “a betrayal of democracy”
www.planningresource.co.uk/article/1913...
Cllr Howard Sykes, leader of the council’s opposition Lib Dem group, dubbed decision “a betrayal of democracy”
www.planningresource.co.uk/article/1913...
Reposted by Alex King
Journalists in Victorian Bristol didn't do investigative reporting until James Crosby - "Gentleman James" - decided to have a go. thebristolcable.org/2025/03/how-...
How a 19th century journalist shone on a light on poverty in Bristol
Homes of the Bristol Poor was one of the first pieces of investigative journalism revealed the poverty of much of the population
thebristolcable.org
March 29, 2025 at 11:53 AM
Journalists in Victorian Bristol didn't do investigative reporting until James Crosby - "Gentleman James" - decided to have a go. thebristolcable.org/2025/03/how-...
Reposted by Alex King
“There is no such thing as an ‘illegal immigrant’”
My myth-busting piece for The Guardian today arguing that it is factually inaccurate & totally, utterly wrong to say that undocumented people are ‘illegal’ & are automatically ‘criminals’.
I bring receipts:
My myth-busting piece for The Guardian today arguing that it is factually inaccurate & totally, utterly wrong to say that undocumented people are ‘illegal’ & are automatically ‘criminals’.
I bring receipts:
There is no such thing as an ‘illegal immigrant’ | Mehdi Hasan
It is a factually inaccurate and totally, utterly wrong to say that undocumented people are ‘illegal’ and are ‘criminals’
www.theguardian.com
April 2, 2025 at 11:22 PM
“There is no such thing as an ‘illegal immigrant’”
My myth-busting piece for The Guardian today arguing that it is factually inaccurate & totally, utterly wrong to say that undocumented people are ‘illegal’ & are automatically ‘criminals’.
I bring receipts:
My myth-busting piece for The Guardian today arguing that it is factually inaccurate & totally, utterly wrong to say that undocumented people are ‘illegal’ & are automatically ‘criminals’.
I bring receipts:
Reposted by Alex King
Exclusive: The plan to make Sadiq Khan share power in London - by copying Andy Burnham and Greater Manchester. www.londoncentric.media/p/the-plan-t...
The plan to make Sadiq Khan share power in London
Exclusive: London's councils want a "radical" change that could curtail the mayor's power — by following the lead of Andy Burnham in Greater Manchester.
www.londoncentric.media
April 3, 2025 at 5:54 AM
Exclusive: The plan to make Sadiq Khan share power in London - by copying Andy Burnham and Greater Manchester. www.londoncentric.media/p/the-plan-t...
A former elected city mayor, a city council planning assistant director and an ex-planning officer and are among 12 people that have appeared in court to face bribery and public office misconduct charges
Full story 👇
www.planningresource.co.uk/article/1912...
Full story 👇
www.planningresource.co.uk/article/1912...
April 2, 2025 at 8:39 AM
A former elected city mayor, a city council planning assistant director and an ex-planning officer and are among 12 people that have appeared in court to face bribery and public office misconduct charges
Full story 👇
www.planningresource.co.uk/article/1912...
Full story 👇
www.planningresource.co.uk/article/1912...
The OBR has predicted that the gov's changes to the National Planning Policy Framework will push housebuilding to its highest level for 40 years, but that the gov will ultimately miss its target to deliver 1.5m new homes this parliament by 200,000 homes
www.planningresource.co.uk/article/1911...
www.planningresource.co.uk/article/1911...
March 26, 2025 at 5:48 PM
The OBR has predicted that the gov's changes to the National Planning Policy Framework will push housebuilding to its highest level for 40 years, but that the gov will ultimately miss its target to deliver 1.5m new homes this parliament by 200,000 homes
www.planningresource.co.uk/article/1911...
www.planningresource.co.uk/article/1911...
Reposted by Alex King
Just the sheer, obscene spectacle of a Government minister on £160K+ plus expenses and all the freebies, coming for the sub £10K per year that my son gets in PIP - being autistic & learning disabled in a deeply unequal, discriminatory & hostile society is not a “lifestyle choice”
March 19, 2025 at 8:06 AM
Just the sheer, obscene spectacle of a Government minister on £160K+ plus expenses and all the freebies, coming for the sub £10K per year that my son gets in PIP - being autistic & learning disabled in a deeply unequal, discriminatory & hostile society is not a “lifestyle choice”
Reposted by Alex King
Andy Burnham sounding very confident here re getting upwards of £200m in the spending review for the Old Trafford regen project
on.ft.com/41NBRBB
on.ft.com/41NBRBB
Andy Burnham pushes for £200mn in government funding for Old Trafford regeneration
Mayor makes case for state support for development plans around Manchester United’s new stadium
on.ft.com
March 14, 2025 at 10:07 AM
Andy Burnham sounding very confident here re getting upwards of £200m in the spending review for the Old Trafford regen project
on.ft.com/41NBRBB
on.ft.com/41NBRBB
Reposted by Alex King
17 freedom of expression and human rights organisations, including FairSquare, have written to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, calling for the UK to intensify efforts to secure British-Egyptian writer Alaa Abd el-Fattah’s release. www.englishpen.org/posts/campai...
Joint appeal for Alaa Abd el-Fattah - English PEN
www.englishpen.org
March 14, 2025 at 2:17 PM
17 freedom of expression and human rights organisations, including FairSquare, have written to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, calling for the UK to intensify efforts to secure British-Egyptian writer Alaa Abd el-Fattah’s release. www.englishpen.org/posts/campai...
NEW Andy Burnham says the Greater Manchester Combined Authority has agreed “in principle” to a mayoral development corporation delivering the new Manchester United stadium and wider regeneration of Old Trafford, and that it has “the backing of government”
www.planningresource.co.uk/article/1910...
www.planningresource.co.uk/article/1910...
March 13, 2025 at 5:57 PM
NEW Andy Burnham says the Greater Manchester Combined Authority has agreed “in principle” to a mayoral development corporation delivering the new Manchester United stadium and wider regeneration of Old Trafford, and that it has “the backing of government”
www.planningresource.co.uk/article/1910...
www.planningresource.co.uk/article/1910...
NEW Heidi Alexander, transport secretary, has said she is “minded to approve” Gatwick airport expansion but has delayed a formal decision by nine months
Gatwick’s plans include bringing its emergency runway into regular use and extending both terminals
www.planningresource.co.uk/article/1908...
Gatwick’s plans include bringing its emergency runway into regular use and extending both terminals
www.planningresource.co.uk/article/1908...
Transport secretary ‘minded to approve’ application for second Gatwick runway but delays decision by nine months
www.planningresource.co.uk
February 27, 2025 at 2:38 PM
NEW Heidi Alexander, transport secretary, has said she is “minded to approve” Gatwick airport expansion but has delayed a formal decision by nine months
Gatwick’s plans include bringing its emergency runway into regular use and extending both terminals
www.planningresource.co.uk/article/1908...
Gatwick’s plans include bringing its emergency runway into regular use and extending both terminals
www.planningresource.co.uk/article/1908...