Paul Smith
@pmsmith.bsky.social
Developer, land promoter, planner, surveyor, cyclist, YIMBY. MD of The Strategic Land Group, director at LPDF, advisor to PricedOut and columnist for Housing Today.
I write longer things on Substack: https://open.substack.com/pub/longwall
I write longer things on Substack: https://open.substack.com/pub/longwall
Pinned
Paul Smith
@pmsmith.bsky.social
· Oct 18
Why we're failing to increase the density of our urban areas and how we can fix it
Brooklands, Sir Patrick Abercrombie, Auckland and Croydon
open.substack.com
This is Brooklands, in Greater Manchester.
It's where Sir Patrick Abercrombie used to live.
And it can teach us something about why our suburbs aren't denser, and how we can fix it.
Find out here.
👇👇👇
open.substack.com/pub/longwall...
It's where Sir Patrick Abercrombie used to live.
And it can teach us something about why our suburbs aren't denser, and how we can fix it.
Find out here.
👇👇👇
open.substack.com/pub/longwall...
November 16, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Reposted by Paul Smith
If you're ever upset about the state of US land use policy, just spend 30 seconds reading anything about the UK. Automated NIMBYism!
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
AI-powered nimbyism could grind UK planning system to a halt, experts warn
Tools that help people scan applications and find grounds for objection have potential to hit government’s housebuilding plans
www.theguardian.com
November 11, 2025 at 9:32 PM
If you're ever upset about the state of US land use policy, just spend 30 seconds reading anything about the UK. Automated NIMBYism!
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
You might all think that Bluesky is superior to X, but the number of ladies in bikinis that have followed me in the last two weeks says otherwise.
November 11, 2025 at 9:21 PM
You might all think that Bluesky is superior to X, but the number of ladies in bikinis that have followed me in the last two weeks says otherwise.
Reposted by Paul Smith
Love being reminded to do this every year. It's a win/win all round
November 11, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Love being reminded to do this every year. It's a win/win all round
Here’s the next episode in my 50 Shades podcast series about planning systems elsewhere, to coincide with World Town Planning Day.
This time I spoke to Melissa Neighbour about the Australian approach - the perfect excuse to use this photo of a snoozy koala.
open.spotify.com/episode/7BEz...
This time I spoke to Melissa Neighbour about the Australian approach - the perfect excuse to use this photo of a snoozy koala.
open.spotify.com/episode/7BEz...
November 8, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Here’s the next episode in my 50 Shades podcast series about planning systems elsewhere, to coincide with World Town Planning Day.
This time I spoke to Melissa Neighbour about the Australian approach - the perfect excuse to use this photo of a snoozy koala.
open.spotify.com/episode/7BEz...
This time I spoke to Melissa Neighbour about the Australian approach - the perfect excuse to use this photo of a snoozy koala.
open.spotify.com/episode/7BEz...
When the committee refuses your application against officer advice.
November 6, 2025 at 10:46 PM
When the committee refuses your application against officer advice.
Reposted by Paul Smith
Note absence of roads in the area of a Little Gaulish Village…
November 6, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Note absence of roads in the area of a Little Gaulish Village…
There are few things more exciting than the arrival of a book you’d forgotten you’d pre-ordered.
The Land Trap by @birdyword.bsky.social
The Land Trap by @birdyword.bsky.social
November 6, 2025 at 8:05 PM
There are few things more exciting than the arrival of a book you’d forgotten you’d pre-ordered.
The Land Trap by @birdyword.bsky.social
The Land Trap by @birdyword.bsky.social
Just discovered that Buzz Aldrin’s uncle was called Bob Moon.
November 4, 2025 at 6:39 PM
Just discovered that Buzz Aldrin’s uncle was called Bob Moon.
A really interesting new study showing that the smaller the area at which we plan for development, the more restrictive policies become.
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
November 1, 2025 at 4:01 PM
A really interesting new study showing that the smaller the area at which we plan for development, the more restrictive policies become.
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
The government have just published this "package of support for housebuilding in the Capital."
October 23, 2025 at 1:12 PM
The government have just published this "package of support for housebuilding in the Capital."
New appeal stats just dropped and they're 😮
Over the last quarter:
• 76% of public inquiries allowed
• 59% of hearings allowed
• 53% of appeals for more than 10 homes allowed
Those rates are all pretty much as high as they've ever been.
Data here: assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68f78d...
Over the last quarter:
• 76% of public inquiries allowed
• 59% of hearings allowed
• 53% of appeals for more than 10 homes allowed
Those rates are all pretty much as high as they've ever been.
Data here: assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68f78d...
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk
October 23, 2025 at 12:56 PM
New appeal stats just dropped and they're 😮
Over the last quarter:
• 76% of public inquiries allowed
• 59% of hearings allowed
• 53% of appeals for more than 10 homes allowed
Those rates are all pretty much as high as they've ever been.
Data here: assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68f78d...
Over the last quarter:
• 76% of public inquiries allowed
• 59% of hearings allowed
• 53% of appeals for more than 10 homes allowed
Those rates are all pretty much as high as they've ever been.
Data here: assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68f78d...
A young opposition politician once compared housing policy to a game of Buckaroo! - pile on too much and the donkey throws it all off.
Have we reached that point?
I've tried to answer that in this post (and you'll find out who the politician was...)
👇 👇 👇
longwall.substack.com/p/buckaroo-t...
Have we reached that point?
I've tried to answer that in this post (and you'll find out who the politician was...)
👇 👇 👇
longwall.substack.com/p/buckaroo-t...
October 21, 2025 at 9:31 AM
A young opposition politician once compared housing policy to a game of Buckaroo! - pile on too much and the donkey throws it all off.
Have we reached that point?
I've tried to answer that in this post (and you'll find out who the politician was...)
👇 👇 👇
longwall.substack.com/p/buckaroo-t...
Have we reached that point?
I've tried to answer that in this post (and you'll find out who the politician was...)
👇 👇 👇
longwall.substack.com/p/buckaroo-t...
Stockport have responded to the intervention letter from @matthewpennycookmp.bsky.social, but this foreword makes it clear they're really not happy about it.
Some Stockport facts:
- Last plan adopted in 2011.
- 1.77 year housing land supply.
- 238% increase in affordable housing need since 2019.
Some Stockport facts:
- Last plan adopted in 2011.
- 1.77 year housing land supply.
- 238% increase in affordable housing need since 2019.
October 17, 2025 at 1:07 PM
Stockport have responded to the intervention letter from @matthewpennycookmp.bsky.social, but this foreword makes it clear they're really not happy about it.
Some Stockport facts:
- Last plan adopted in 2011.
- 1.77 year housing land supply.
- 238% increase in affordable housing need since 2019.
Some Stockport facts:
- Last plan adopted in 2011.
- 1.77 year housing land supply.
- 238% increase in affordable housing need since 2019.
Sometimes I worry about tech companies knowing everything about me.
And then I get served adverts like this asking if I ever played elite rugby.
And then I get served adverts like this asking if I ever played elite rugby.
October 16, 2025 at 5:49 PM
Sometimes I worry about tech companies knowing everything about me.
And then I get served adverts like this asking if I ever played elite rugby.
And then I get served adverts like this asking if I ever played elite rugby.
I suppose it was inevitable that planning would feature in the new season of Partridge.
October 13, 2025 at 5:49 PM
I suppose it was inevitable that planning would feature in the new season of Partridge.
One from the archive.
A Michael Gove piece from 2009 for Building Magazine, warning of the dangers of loading too many regulatory requirements onto new homes.
www.building.co.uk/comment/buck...
A Michael Gove piece from 2009 for Building Magazine, warning of the dangers of loading too many regulatory requirements onto new homes.
www.building.co.uk/comment/buck...
October 8, 2025 at 8:03 AM
One from the archive.
A Michael Gove piece from 2009 for Building Magazine, warning of the dangers of loading too many regulatory requirements onto new homes.
www.building.co.uk/comment/buck...
A Michael Gove piece from 2009 for Building Magazine, warning of the dangers of loading too many regulatory requirements onto new homes.
www.building.co.uk/comment/buck...
Slightly odd report, this.
It identifies viability as the biggest obstacle to delivery.
Then proposes some things that will reduce cost but a whole load more that will increase them.
🔗 keycities.uk/wp-content/u...
It identifies viability as the biggest obstacle to delivery.
Then proposes some things that will reduce cost but a whole load more that will increase them.
🔗 keycities.uk/wp-content/u...
October 7, 2025 at 6:42 AM
Slightly odd report, this.
It identifies viability as the biggest obstacle to delivery.
Then proposes some things that will reduce cost but a whole load more that will increase them.
🔗 keycities.uk/wp-content/u...
It identifies viability as the biggest obstacle to delivery.
Then proposes some things that will reduce cost but a whole load more that will increase them.
🔗 keycities.uk/wp-content/u...
This is a great summary of the steps taken in New Zealand to increase housing supply, and the lessons we can learn for England.
At its core is a simple premise - if the planning system allows permission for more homes in a predictable way, then more will be built.
www.express.co.uk/news/politic...
At its core is a simple premise - if the planning system allows permission for more homes in a predictable way, then more will be built.
www.express.co.uk/news/politic...
New Zealand shows how UK can end housing crisis | Politics | News | Express.co.uk
Empty words do not build homes. Supply does. That means freeing up land where people want to live.
www.express.co.uk
October 5, 2025 at 9:03 AM
This is a great summary of the steps taken in New Zealand to increase housing supply, and the lessons we can learn for England.
At its core is a simple premise - if the planning system allows permission for more homes in a predictable way, then more will be built.
www.express.co.uk/news/politic...
At its core is a simple premise - if the planning system allows permission for more homes in a predictable way, then more will be built.
www.express.co.uk/news/politic...
Reposted by Paul Smith
My favourite ridiculous example of this is the Manchester United credit card in Malaysia and Singapore (yes really) which used to give extra rewards only when they won now also gives rewards when they draw as people were churning due to lack of victories milelion.com/2025/07/17/h...
Hooray: Maybank Manchester United Card enhanced; now rewards draws - The MileLion
For the 2025/26 EPL season, earn 2.8 mpd for every Manchester United win, 1.6 mpd for a draw, and 1.12 mpd on all other occasions where they teach us that winning isn't everything.
milelion.com
October 4, 2025 at 11:44 AM
My favourite ridiculous example of this is the Manchester United credit card in Malaysia and Singapore (yes really) which used to give extra rewards only when they won now also gives rewards when they draw as people were churning due to lack of victories milelion.com/2025/07/17/h...
We have far fewer homes relative to our population size than other European countries.
October 3, 2025 at 7:47 AM
We have far fewer homes relative to our population size than other European countries.
A summary of Andy Burnham’s housing record from @rcolvile.bsky.social in today’s Sunday Times.
September 28, 2025 at 8:56 AM
A summary of Andy Burnham’s housing record from @rcolvile.bsky.social in today’s Sunday Times.
Here are the locations of the next wave of New Towns.
It’s an interesting mix of enlarged settlements, most of which seem to be centred on railway stations, and inner urban regeneration.
www.gov.uk/government/p...
It’s an interesting mix of enlarged settlements, most of which seem to be centred on railway stations, and inner urban regeneration.
www.gov.uk/government/p...
Initial government response - September 2025
www.gov.uk
September 28, 2025 at 7:17 AM
Here are the locations of the next wave of New Towns.
It’s an interesting mix of enlarged settlements, most of which seem to be centred on railway stations, and inner urban regeneration.
www.gov.uk/government/p...
It’s an interesting mix of enlarged settlements, most of which seem to be centred on railway stations, and inner urban regeneration.
www.gov.uk/government/p...
If you were going to speak someone about the way the Dutch planning system works, what questions would you ask?
September 22, 2025 at 3:32 PM
If you were going to speak someone about the way the Dutch planning system works, what questions would you ask?
Labour will miss its 1.5m homes target by 2030.
But missing the number doesn’t have to mean missing the chance to change direction.
I’ve explained what’s been done, what still needs to happen, and how delivery can rise again.
🔗 open.substack.com/pub/longwall...
But missing the number doesn’t have to mean missing the chance to change direction.
I’ve explained what’s been done, what still needs to happen, and how delivery can rise again.
🔗 open.substack.com/pub/longwall...
September 17, 2025 at 9:36 AM
Labour will miss its 1.5m homes target by 2030.
But missing the number doesn’t have to mean missing the chance to change direction.
I’ve explained what’s been done, what still needs to happen, and how delivery can rise again.
🔗 open.substack.com/pub/longwall...
But missing the number doesn’t have to mean missing the chance to change direction.
I’ve explained what’s been done, what still needs to happen, and how delivery can rise again.
🔗 open.substack.com/pub/longwall...