Richard Hebditch
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richard.hebditch.org
Richard Hebditch
@richard.hebditch.org
900 followers 520 following 2.4K posts
I'm a board member of London TravelWatch & coordinator of the Better Planning Coalition. Previously: charities streets transport heritage environment philanthropy
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richard.hebditch.org
"Both white and ethnic minority adults tend to see lamppost flag raisings as primarily about spreading an anti-migrant or anti-ethnic minority message"
February 11, 2026 at 6:45 PM
richard.hebditch.org
V good question from Bobby Dean MP on why doesn't HMT let local authorities borrow more to fund council housing.
Disappointing that the minister and official didn't have an answer on this but look forward to the correspondence.
Q170 Bobby Dean: I just wanted to touch on the point you made about how we have never really built at scale without the support of local authorities building directly. I wonder if you could help me to step back a bit. If you look at it from a whole-of-state perspective, the maths is very clear. Let us say it costs—I am making these figures up—£250,000 to build a small family home. If you get the rental income over 50 years, it pays for itself. Once you take into account housing benefit going out from the DWP as well, the maths gets even simpler. So from a whole Treasury perspective, allowing local authorities to borrow to build is a no-brainer, but the housing revenue account system is not delivering on that front. Ms Rigby, do you do that kind of whole-of-state perspective when calculating how much you allow local government to borrow to build? Lucy Rigby: Again, it is a good question. I am afraid I was not involved in the last bit of the spending review. Alanna Barber: Apologies, but I did not have sight of the last bit of the spending review either, because of where I sit in the Treasury. Perhaps we can follow that up in writing.
February 11, 2026 at 2:45 PM
richard.hebditch.org
Matthew Pennycook's analysis of housing market is correct (see below from select committee session yesterday). But in short-term, real world impacts of policy are resulting in lots more release of green field sites for development, poorly located and not contributing to densification of urban areas.
Matthew Pennycook: I want to be really clear that it is a systemic problem, rather than the result of bad behaviour on the part of any individual developer. Developers, particularly the volume house builders, are acting entirely rationally in the framework they operate in, in which land is inherently constrained. That is at the root of lots of problems, which is why we are allowing more land to be made available in the system through the NPPF. But we are overly reliant on a speculative model of house building, and that operates on the basis of developers acquiring land, most often these days from a hugely expanded land promotion sector. Lots of land across the country is already optioned, but in the expectation that they will secure planning permission, cover all their costs, and make a return on the basis of house prices as currently constituted and largely set by the second-hand market. Developers under that model cannot build too fast or it will affect their margins, and that is an inherent constraint. It leads to bad outcomes in some instances, but it is also an inherent constraint on supply. Lots of studies have attested to this. The Letwin review is very clear on this. The market absorption rate problem is one of the binding constraints in the housing market. The way that we get around that is partly through transformation, and partly through market reform, as I have touched on. We need to encourage more mixed-use development on larger sites. We have made changes in the NPPF to try and focus on that approach on sites above 150 units. We have put money behind a project called Hestia, which is a Homes England joint partnership with Vistry. That is, again, a partnership model that relies on a type of delivery where there is more affordable being delivered up front to build the site out quicker. The more affordable you get into a site, the quicker it builds this inelastic demand for social and affordable homes for first-time buyers. But we also need to diversify the house building industry. That is where SMEs counsel that getting more players on the pitch that build in different ways and do not face those constraints will help us. So we need, I suppose in simple terms, the volumes to do what they do and in greater numbers, and to open more outlets. We need some of them to contemplate a slightly different business model, hopefully working in a partnership that gets more affordable and quicker build-out, and then all of those different entrants coming through with a more diversified and healthy house building system.
February 11, 2026 at 12:18 PM
richard.hebditch.org
Wet and misty walk back from our park friends group yesterday.
Climate change (ie heavier rainfall), local govt cuts, attempts at income generation, increased post-Covid use (and abuse), investment from 2000s needing replacement, all mean parks taking a bit of a hammering.
Photo from Hilly Fields towards Lewisham gateway on a wet and misty night
February 11, 2026 at 9:11 AM
richard.hebditch.org
Government are currently considering scrapping the duty covering public bodies and National Parks/AONBs, recommended by the Fingleton Review on nuclear regulation. So what's the evidence base for this? Just one blog, written by a Review member.
(as revealed in FoI to @campaign4parks.bsky.social)
The FOI response received by Campaign for National Parks has revealed that: There was no due diligence, no impact assessment nor a quantified cost assessment. No evidence was found listing even a single National Park or National Landscape where there may be any conflict between the current duty and nuclear development. Not a single nuclear developer, industry body or indeed anyone at all raised the Protected Landscapes duty as an issue to the Taskforce in their call for evidence or through-out their process. The recommendation is largely based on a single blog article written by one Taskforce member, sub-titled “Areas of outstanding national bickering”.
February 11, 2026 at 9:00 AM
richard.hebditch.org
Meanwhile planning policy is being changed to make it easier to build homes in areas at risk of flooding (in new NPPF being consulted on and change in "sequential test" from last autumn).
www.bbc.co.uk/weather/arti...
UK weather: Flood warnings in place as UK braces for more rain
With more rain in the forecast, BBC Weather presenter Simon King looks at what's been causing the very wet year so far.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 10, 2026 at 10:00 PM
richard.hebditch.org
Queen Elizabeth Hall, Purcell Room, Hayward Gallery finally listed - "the only post-war building on London’s South Bank to remain unlisted, refused protection on six separate occasions by successive culture secretaries" (RFH and NT already listed)
www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/brutali...
Brutalist Southbank Centre finally listed after 35 years of refusals
The government has finally listed London’s Southbank Centre ending a 35-year battle to secure statutory heritage protection for the 1960s Brutalist landmark
www.architectsjournal.co.uk
February 10, 2026 at 12:00 PM
Reposted by Richard Hebditch
annaclarke.bsky.social
Second staircases in buildings under 30m height will save one life every 6,153 years, but this requirement is reducing housebuilding, so 90,000 fewer homes built over 5 years.

Meanwhile 74 children have died from poor conditions temporary accommodation in 5 years.

www.thetimes.com/business/com...
The staircase safety rule costing the UK 90,000 new homes
The need for a second staircase, brought in by the Conservatives after the Grenfell Tower disaster, have frustrated housebuilders, who claim it is unnecessary
www.thetimes.com
February 10, 2026 at 9:13 AM
richard.hebditch.org
Final version of the Local Outcomes Framework has been published after consultation last year. Does now include development of a climate change indicator.
www.gov.uk/government/p...
February 9, 2026 at 4:11 PM
richard.hebditch.org
Why is it always late afternoon/almost sunset and sunny in AI pictures? This is not what England looks like
(pic from gov dept presentation this morning)
AI image of green tram route next to empty urban street in late afternoon sunshine
February 9, 2026 at 2:32 PM
richard.hebditch.org
My own pet theory is that McSweeney approach applies zero-sum Labour factionalism (which requires total defeat of your enemy to take control) to governing, ie seaaking to defeat large parts of the electorate, civil society & the economy.
Not a total surprise to be at 19% in the polls.
iandunt.bsky.social Ian Dunt @iandunt.bsky.social · 5d
Why is every scandal existential for Starmer? Because he has actively worked to eradicate his own support base. And that, along with the Mandelson decision, can be laid at McSweeney's door iandunt.substack.com/p/starmers-m...
February 6, 2026 at 4:30 PM
richard.hebditch.org
This is good on the deliberate mistruths to attack protections for nature.
Fingleton Review said Hinckley Point mitigations "will save just few hundred fish per year. EA’s figs show the actual figures to be 8,000 times higher".
Cost of mitigation claimed to be £700m. Actual cost 7% of that figure.
February 6, 2026 at 3:59 PM
richard.hebditch.org
"bands of rain...wintry showers scattered around...further risks of some heavy rain and local risks of flooding...further wet and windy periods, with widespread wetter than normal conditions"
Worst February ever (quotes from BBC monthly outlook)
February 5, 2026 at 4:45 PM
richard.hebditch.org
Implementation plan for Fingleton Review due by Feb (as already promised by Gov).
"We are considering these recommendations in line with our objectives to achieve win-wins for nature and growth, as well as meeting our international obligations."
questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-ques...
February 5, 2026 at 11:20 AM
Reposted by Richard Hebditch
richardfoordld.bsky.social
The Government is consulting on weakening flood protection planning guidance. This would be utter madness. I have made my views plain to the planning minister. The system is already failing; planning policy needs strengthening, not weakening. www.richardfoord.org.uk/news/article...
“Utter madness” - Devon MP slams Government plans to weaken flood protection
A Devon MP has opposed fiercely Government proposals to water-down important and established protections against flooding in national planning guidance.
www.richardfoord.org.uk
February 4, 2026 at 11:24 AM
richard.hebditch.org
"Look up “one-party state” in a political dictionary and alongside Pyongyang there will feature Lewisham."
(in last 12 years, just one opposition cllr elected and just for one term)
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The Green surge shows British politics has reached a turning point - and it has surprisingly little to do with Zack Polanski | Aditya Chakrabortty
At a party event in a school hall in Lewisham, people told me how disillusionment with Labour has led to this moment, says Guardian columnist Aditya Chakrabortty
www.theguardian.com
February 5, 2026 at 8:56 AM
richard.hebditch.org
Latest on the Commonwealth War Graves Gaza Cemetery: www.theguardian.com/world/2026/f...
February 4, 2026 at 4:31 PM
richard.hebditch.org
More polling showing that weakening protections for nature is not a vote winner: 'nearly a fifth of people who voted for Labour in 2024 are less likely to do so again following the PM’s speech deriding the laws that protect nature as “unnecessary red-tape”'
www.wildlifetrusts.org/news/anti-na...
February 4, 2026 at 1:36 PM
richard.hebditch.org
TfL's board meets today to agree their business plan for the coming year. Lots of good stuff as usual to keep London moving but big risk at the heart of it is the reliance on future passenger income growth.
Goes from just over 50% now to almost hitting 60% of overall income in 2029/30.
Comparison of 2025/26 TfL income with 2029/30
February 4, 2026 at 1:04 PM
richard.hebditch.org
Actual sunshine!
Might be the only sunny day in February so enjoy it while it lasts
February 4, 2026 at 12:38 PM
richard.hebditch.org
DfT / Behavioural Insights Team / TRL report on carbon labels on consumer flight choices. 5 star (or cloud in this case) and % of recommended annual emissions info most effective.
www.gov.uk/government/p...
Graph showing carbon information impact on low carbon emission flight choices
February 4, 2026 at 12:01 PM
Reposted by Richard Hebditch
adamvaughan.bsky.social
Nature is the "ultimate foundation" for the economy, the King has told global experts meeting in Britain to discuss the decline in biodiversity.

Charles told delegates at an @ipbes.net meeting that nature is "vitally important" and underpins the climate, food, water and air we rely on.
February 4, 2026 at 10:21 AM
richard.hebditch.org
Thank you to CPRE for inviting me to their 100th birthday bash in the Lords yesterday - packed room with plenty of peers and MPs, despite the awful weather.
CPRE centenary plans: www.cpre.org.uk/celebrating-...
Mary-Ann Ochota (CPRE president), Simon Murray (CPRE chair), Kate Parminter (ex CPRE CEO), Baroness Hayman, Roger Mortlock (CPRE CEO), Mariella Frostrup and Kate Adie at CPRE reception
February 4, 2026 at 9:47 AM
richard.hebditch.org
How important is preserving the Green Belt to you?
4% not very important or not important at all
85% very important or quite important
(More in Common, CPRE research published today)
February 3, 2026 at 2:53 PM
Reposted by Richard Hebditch
wclnews.bsky.social
The Government has today released a disappointing Forever Chemical Action Plan which will leave people and nature exposed to forever chemicals

The action plan does not address PFAS emissions at source but instead leans heavily on more monitoring and guidance.
February 3, 2026 at 9:45 AM