Ant Breach
@antbreach.bsky.social
Director of Policy and Research at Centre for Cities, working on Housing, Planning, Devolution. Stuff on Ukraine + Eastern Europe and Japan + East Asia too. YIMBY. Views own etc. 🥑🇺🇦
Pinned
Ant Breach
@antbreach.bsky.social
· Nov 14
Instead the Government should treat big cities and the shires differently. Combined authority style structures work for the big cities, and move to single tier county government in the shires, as we've set out in our briefing Economy First: www.centreforcities.org/publication/...
The unfortunate thing here is that the Government will take a political hit from increasing council tax, but this won't solve either of its main problems - how centralisation 1) makes CT locally regressive and 2) cripples local growth incentives
November 2, 2025 at 6:35 PM
The unfortunate thing here is that the Government will take a political hit from increasing council tax, but this won't solve either of its main problems - how centralisation 1) makes CT locally regressive and 2) cripples local growth incentives
Reposted by Ant Breach
A Tokyo Station room called 松の間 (Matsu-no-ma) was for the Emperor if a train was delayed. Trains for the Emperor are never late, so it wasn't used in the Showa and Heisei eras. In March last year, it was used for the first time when the Emperor met the King of Norway, before they went to Kamakura.
November 1, 2025 at 6:46 AM
A Tokyo Station room called 松の間 (Matsu-no-ma) was for the Emperor if a train was delayed. Trains for the Emperor are never late, so it wasn't used in the Showa and Heisei eras. In March last year, it was used for the first time when the Emperor met the King of Norway, before they went to Kamakura.
The actual answer to this problem is to make it profitable to build at a lower price.
Quicker permitting, lower obligations on development, and a planning regime that is more certain and has a wider range of sites. All increase competition, range of business models, and customer demand for supply.
Quicker permitting, lower obligations on development, and a planning regime that is more certain and has a wider range of sites. All increase competition, range of business models, and customer demand for supply.
October 30, 2025 at 9:36 AM
The actual answer to this problem is to make it profitable to build at a lower price.
Quicker permitting, lower obligations on development, and a planning regime that is more certain and has a wider range of sites. All increase competition, range of business models, and customer demand for supply.
Quicker permitting, lower obligations on development, and a planning regime that is more certain and has a wider range of sites. All increase competition, range of business models, and customer demand for supply.
Reposted by Ant Breach
The Government has set a clear mission – to get the UK growing again 🌱
To achieve this, they will need to increase residential density.
Join us for the launch of a new report exploring where higher densities could be expected in UK cities👇
www.centreforcities.org/event/report...
To achieve this, they will need to increase residential density.
Join us for the launch of a new report exploring where higher densities could be expected in UK cities👇
www.centreforcities.org/event/report...
Report launch – Flat Britain: The urban density gap and how to solve it - Centre for Cities
Join Centre for Cities for the launch of a new report exploring where higher densities could be expected in UK cities.
www.centreforcities.org
October 29, 2025 at 10:07 AM
The Government has set a clear mission – to get the UK growing again 🌱
To achieve this, they will need to increase residential density.
Join us for the launch of a new report exploring where higher densities could be expected in UK cities👇
www.centreforcities.org/event/report...
To achieve this, they will need to increase residential density.
Join us for the launch of a new report exploring where higher densities could be expected in UK cities👇
www.centreforcities.org/event/report...
Reposted by Ant Breach
Once more for the evening shift. It's going to be a seven year shit tornado
October 24, 2025 at 7:33 PM
Once more for the evening shift. It's going to be a seven year shit tornado
Very interesting finding - aligns with Sir Peter Hall's observation that British cities became much more segregated by social class after the Town and Country Planning Act 1947 was passed, as it resulted in very different housing types and tenures being built in different parts of urban areas.
Was Manchester really as segregated as Engels said? What kept the rich and poor apart.... if anything? My first article is out today in @historicaljnl.bsky.social and I'm so pleased to share it with you all! doi:10.1017/S0018246X25101246
@stjohnscollege.bsky.social @camunicampop.bsky.social
@stjohnscollege.bsky.social @camunicampop.bsky.social
October 21, 2025 at 9:35 AM
Very interesting finding - aligns with Sir Peter Hall's observation that British cities became much more segregated by social class after the Town and Country Planning Act 1947 was passed, as it resulted in very different housing types and tenures being built in different parts of urban areas.
Great chart here from @resfoundation.bsky.social on housing costs by square metre by age. Britain's problems with Nimbyism and the planning system in a nutshell.
October 18, 2025 at 8:31 AM
Great chart here from @resfoundation.bsky.social on housing costs by square metre by age. Britain's problems with Nimbyism and the planning system in a nutshell.
Reposted by Ant Breach
Long(ish) thread by my colleague @antbreach.bsky.social setting the story and analysis from our latest briefing on big city productivity.
The official data on productivity shows Britain's big cities have decoupled from the national economy. But while the big cities outside the capital are roaring ahead, London is stagnating.
But can we trust this data? Are our regional divides closing? Our new paper investigates:
But can we trust this data? Are our regional divides closing? Our new paper investigates:
October 17, 2025 at 6:41 AM
Long(ish) thread by my colleague @antbreach.bsky.social setting the story and analysis from our latest briefing on big city productivity.
Reposted by Ant Breach
The official data on productivity shows Britain's big cities have decoupled from the national economy. But while the big cities outside the capital are roaring ahead, London is stagnating.
But can we trust this data? Are our regional divides closing? Our new paper investigates:
But can we trust this data? Are our regional divides closing? Our new paper investigates:
October 16, 2025 at 8:08 AM
The official data on productivity shows Britain's big cities have decoupled from the national economy. But while the big cities outside the capital are roaring ahead, London is stagnating.
But can we trust this data? Are our regional divides closing? Our new paper investigates:
But can we trust this data? Are our regional divides closing? Our new paper investigates:
The official data on productivity shows Britain's big cities have decoupled from the national economy. But while the big cities outside the capital are roaring ahead, London is stagnating.
But can we trust this data? Are our regional divides closing? Our new paper investigates:
But can we trust this data? Are our regional divides closing? Our new paper investigates:
October 16, 2025 at 8:08 AM
The official data on productivity shows Britain's big cities have decoupled from the national economy. But while the big cities outside the capital are roaring ahead, London is stagnating.
But can we trust this data? Are our regional divides closing? Our new paper investigates:
But can we trust this data? Are our regional divides closing? Our new paper investigates:
Reposted by Ant Breach
The DLR just got better.
54 brand new, state-of-the-art trains are rolling out over the next year - with more space, air con, phone charging points and improved accessibility.
54 brand new, state-of-the-art trains are rolling out over the next year - with more space, air con, phone charging points and improved accessibility.
October 13, 2025 at 6:05 AM
The DLR just got better.
54 brand new, state-of-the-art trains are rolling out over the next year - with more space, air con, phone charging points and improved accessibility.
54 brand new, state-of-the-art trains are rolling out over the next year - with more space, air con, phone charging points and improved accessibility.
Great piece on how campaigning lawyers changed British politics
An underrated aspect of judicial review is it fuels centralisation. If campaigning lawyers convince a judge to give every mayor and council in the country a new statutory duty, local democracy dies a little more.
An underrated aspect of judicial review is it fuels centralisation. If campaigning lawyers convince a judge to give every mayor and council in the country a new statutory duty, local democracy dies a little more.
Law is politics by other means. Wrote about Leigh Day, the law firm that love suing the government www.economist.com/britain/2025...
October 9, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Great piece on how campaigning lawyers changed British politics
An underrated aspect of judicial review is it fuels centralisation. If campaigning lawyers convince a judge to give every mayor and council in the country a new statutory duty, local democracy dies a little more.
An underrated aspect of judicial review is it fuels centralisation. If campaigning lawyers convince a judge to give every mayor and council in the country a new statutory duty, local democracy dies a little more.
Packed room for our @centreforcities.bsky.social In Conversation event with the Mayor of Greater Manchester @andyburnham.bsky.social
October 6, 2025 at 12:39 PM
Packed room for our @centreforcities.bsky.social In Conversation event with the Mayor of Greater Manchester @andyburnham.bsky.social
Packed room for our @centreforcities.bsky.social In Conversation event with the Mayor of Greater Manchester @andyburnham.bsky.social
October 6, 2025 at 12:19 PM
Packed room for our @centreforcities.bsky.social In Conversation event with the Mayor of Greater Manchester @andyburnham.bsky.social
Very sensible column here from Chris. We need to properly think through the political economy and geography of property taxation to reform it
It's broadly a mistake to clump stamp duty and council tax together as they both tax property - that they are each national and local is extremely important!
It's broadly a mistake to clump stamp duty and council tax together as they both tax property - that they are each national and local is extremely important!
The economics profession is almost united in calling for major reforms to UK property tax fast. They’re badly misguided
Think twice before rushing to fix the UK’s broken property taxes
on.ft.com/48FYT2s
Think twice before rushing to fix the UK’s broken property taxes
on.ft.com/48FYT2s
October 2, 2025 at 8:05 AM
Very sensible column here from Chris. We need to properly think through the political economy and geography of property taxation to reform it
It's broadly a mistake to clump stamp duty and council tax together as they both tax property - that they are each national and local is extremely important!
It's broadly a mistake to clump stamp duty and council tax together as they both tax property - that they are each national and local is extremely important!
Great news to hear Aarhus' cap on legal costs is under review - a whopping subsidy to comedy legal cases from Nimbys, funded by you, the taxpayer
September 27, 2025 at 10:26 AM
Great news to hear Aarhus' cap on legal costs is under review - a whopping subsidy to comedy legal cases from Nimbys, funded by you, the taxpayer
Leaving aside that many of these sites are in cities with low demand + we have a shortage of 4.3 million homes vs Europe:
The TCPA 1947 planning system makes it even more difficult to build on brownfield land than greenfield. If you want more urban housebuilding, you should want planning reform!
The TCPA 1947 planning system makes it even more difficult to build on brownfield land than greenfield. If you want more urban housebuilding, you should want planning reform!
Almost 1.5m homes could be built on brownfield sites in England, report finds
Almost 1.5m homes could be built on brownfield sites in England, report finds
Exclusive: CPRE study suggests housebuilding targets can be met without encroaching on green belt land
Almost 1.5m new homes could be built on brownfield sites in England to avoid encroaching on green belt and meet the government target for housing growth by the end of this parliament, new figures suggest.
But despite the scale of brownfield land available, developers are pushing to build on green land, including increased housebuilding on and adjacent to areas of outstanding natural beauty. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
September 24, 2025 at 6:55 AM
Leaving aside that many of these sites are in cities with low demand + we have a shortage of 4.3 million homes vs Europe:
The TCPA 1947 planning system makes it even more difficult to build on brownfield land than greenfield. If you want more urban housebuilding, you should want planning reform!
The TCPA 1947 planning system makes it even more difficult to build on brownfield land than greenfield. If you want more urban housebuilding, you should want planning reform!
Reposted by Ant Breach
Cool views, plus got to see @antbreach.bsky.social in person!
September 20, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Cool views, plus got to see @antbreach.bsky.social in person!
Reposted by Ant Breach
HUGE HOUSING NEWS: The Assembly just passed our bill allowing more homes near public transportation, SB 79!
We need more housing & we need it near transit. It’ll reduce traffic congestion & carbon emissions & increase transit ridership & affordability.
Go housing! Go transit!
We need more housing & we need it near transit. It’ll reduce traffic congestion & carbon emissions & increase transit ridership & affordability.
Go housing! Go transit!
September 12, 2025 at 1:13 AM
HUGE HOUSING NEWS: The Assembly just passed our bill allowing more homes near public transportation, SB 79!
We need more housing & we need it near transit. It’ll reduce traffic congestion & carbon emissions & increase transit ridership & affordability.
Go housing! Go transit!
We need more housing & we need it near transit. It’ll reduce traffic congestion & carbon emissions & increase transit ridership & affordability.
Go housing! Go transit!
Reposted by Ant Breach
I was going to tweet this last year but somehow I was impeded…
“When [economic] growth does, and does not, reduce poverty”
www.bii.co.uk/en/news-insi...
— A great literature review by a team including @paddycarter.bsky.social and @paulsegal.bsky.social
“When [economic] growth does, and does not, reduce poverty”
www.bii.co.uk/en/news-insi...
— A great literature review by a team including @paddycarter.bsky.social and @paulsegal.bsky.social
September 11, 2025 at 4:58 PM
I was going to tweet this last year but somehow I was impeded…
“When [economic] growth does, and does not, reduce poverty”
www.bii.co.uk/en/news-insi...
— A great literature review by a team including @paddycarter.bsky.social and @paulsegal.bsky.social
“When [economic] growth does, and does not, reduce poverty”
www.bii.co.uk/en/news-insi...
— A great literature review by a team including @paddycarter.bsky.social and @paulsegal.bsky.social
Very excited to see my favourite Substack is going full time. If you're interested in Euro politics then you should be spending more time trying to understand Turkey. I've already learned lots from @selimkoru.bsky.social and you can too if you subscribe below: open.substack.com/pub/kulturka...
Re-launch
I'm going full-time
open.substack.com
September 9, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Very excited to see my favourite Substack is going full time. If you're interested in Euro politics then you should be spending more time trying to understand Turkey. I've already learned lots from @selimkoru.bsky.social and you can too if you subscribe below: open.substack.com/pub/kulturka...
The Government is considering a second planning bill - if they are serious about meeting their target of 1.5 million new homes, they should use it to introduce a new flexible zoning system:
September 9, 2025 at 11:33 AM
The Government is considering a second planning bill - if they are serious about meeting their target of 1.5 million new homes, they should use it to introduce a new flexible zoning system:
Reposted by Ant Breach
BLOG | What should the Government put in the second planning bill? 🏗️
England's planning system needs more certainty at the plan-making stage.
@antbreach.bsky.social & @mauricelange.bsky.social set out how new legislation could help to establish a zoning system. Read 👇
buff.ly/pxUo7mh
England's planning system needs more certainty at the plan-making stage.
@antbreach.bsky.social & @mauricelange.bsky.social set out how new legislation could help to establish a zoning system. Read 👇
buff.ly/pxUo7mh
September 9, 2025 at 8:01 AM
BLOG | What should the Government put in the second planning bill? 🏗️
England's planning system needs more certainty at the plan-making stage.
@antbreach.bsky.social & @mauricelange.bsky.social set out how new legislation could help to establish a zoning system. Read 👇
buff.ly/pxUo7mh
England's planning system needs more certainty at the plan-making stage.
@antbreach.bsky.social & @mauricelange.bsky.social set out how new legislation could help to establish a zoning system. Read 👇
buff.ly/pxUo7mh
Reposted by Ant Breach
There is plenty to like about this pledge to help universities diversify income. But it really doesn't tackle the wider issues they face, or recognise their primary local roles in their home cities.
My blog on last week's announcement 👇
My blog on last week's announcement 👇
September 8, 2025 at 9:35 AM
There is plenty to like about this pledge to help universities diversify income. But it really doesn't tackle the wider issues they face, or recognise their primary local roles in their home cities.
My blog on last week's announcement 👇
My blog on last week's announcement 👇