Sam Dumitriu
@samdumitriu.bsky.social
Head of Policy at Britain Remade.
This is rhetorically the most pro-building govt ever, but housebuilding has ground to a halt and Heathrow still expect their planning app to cost £800m to produce.
The problem is there's a massive gap between what Labour say they want and what they're doing.
www.samdumitriu.com/p/rhetoric-v...
The problem is there's a massive gap between what Labour say they want and what they're doing.
www.samdumitriu.com/p/rhetoric-v...
Rhetoric vs. Reality
Slogans won’t get Britain building again
www.samdumitriu.com
November 12, 2025 at 12:45 PM
This is rhetorically the most pro-building govt ever, but housebuilding has ground to a halt and Heathrow still expect their planning app to cost £800m to produce.
The problem is there's a massive gap between what Labour say they want and what they're doing.
www.samdumitriu.com/p/rhetoric-v...
The problem is there's a massive gap between what Labour say they want and what they're doing.
www.samdumitriu.com/p/rhetoric-v...
What do Labour's New Towns plans get right?
My latest on why the Government are right to want to build New Towns in Enfield and Tempsford
samdumitriu.com/p/will-labou...
My latest on why the Government are right to want to build New Towns in Enfield and Tempsford
samdumitriu.com/p/will-labou...
samdumitriu.com
November 3, 2025 at 2:09 PM
What do Labour's New Towns plans get right?
My latest on why the Government are right to want to build New Towns in Enfield and Tempsford
samdumitriu.com/p/will-labou...
My latest on why the Government are right to want to build New Towns in Enfield and Tempsford
samdumitriu.com/p/will-labou...
Reposted by Sam Dumitriu
My latest: Move over bat tunnel, here’s the wild story of how HS2 were forced to build a multi-million pound bridge for a road that… doesn’t actually exist.
How HS2 built a bridge to nowhere
A state-of-the-art road bridge has been built deep in the heart of rural Buckinghamshire. Designed to carry traffic over the HS2 railway, there's just one tiny problem - there's no actual road.
martinrobbins.substack.com
November 3, 2025 at 7:16 AM
My latest: Move over bat tunnel, here’s the wild story of how HS2 were forced to build a multi-million pound bridge for a road that… doesn’t actually exist.
Bad regulations that require us to build bat sheds and produce 80,000 page EIAs clearly make infrastructure more expensive than necessary.
But are theu really enough to explain why HS2 and Hinkley are so expensive? Here's my answer.
www.samdumitriu.com/p/how-bad-regulations-make-infrastructure
But are theu really enough to explain why HS2 and Hinkley are so expensive? Here's my answer.
www.samdumitriu.com/p/how-bad-regulations-make-infrastructure
How bad regulations make infrastructure expensive
It's more complicated than you think
www.samdumitriu.com
September 23, 2025 at 12:29 PM
Bad regulations that require us to build bat sheds and produce 80,000 page EIAs clearly make infrastructure more expensive than necessary.
But are theu really enough to explain why HS2 and Hinkley are so expensive? Here's my answer.
www.samdumitriu.com/p/how-bad-regulations-make-infrastructure
But are theu really enough to explain why HS2 and Hinkley are so expensive? Here's my answer.
www.samdumitriu.com/p/how-bad-regulations-make-infrastructure
Nuclear works. It’s safe, clean and reliable. In other countries, it’s affordable too.
Here's how Britain can lead again in nuclear by fixing bad safety rules, streamlining planning, and creating new routes to market.
Here's how Britain can lead again in nuclear by fixing bad safety rules, streamlining planning, and creating new routes to market.
Britain once led the world in nuclear power.
Today, we’re building the most expensive nuclear power station in history.
Why? And how do we fix it?
The answer is here:
www.britainremade.co.uk/cheapernuclear
Today, we’re building the most expensive nuclear power station in history.
Why? And how do we fix it?
The answer is here:
www.britainremade.co.uk/cheapernuclear
A policy playbook for cheaper nuclear
Britain Remade's policy playbook for cheaper nuclear energy.
www.britainremade.co.uk
September 16, 2025 at 1:27 PM
Nuclear works. It’s safe, clean and reliable. In other countries, it’s affordable too.
Here's how Britain can lead again in nuclear by fixing bad safety rules, streamlining planning, and creating new routes to market.
Here's how Britain can lead again in nuclear by fixing bad safety rules, streamlining planning, and creating new routes to market.
Will Labour deliver its 1.5 million home target?
New Britain Remade analysis of planning application data finds Labour are on track to be almost 500,000 homes short by the end of Parliament.
www.samdumitriu.com/p/labours-15...
New Britain Remade analysis of planning application data finds Labour are on track to be almost 500,000 homes short by the end of Parliament.
www.samdumitriu.com/p/labours-15...
Labour’s 1.5 million home target is drifting out of reach
It’s early days, but it isn’t looking good
www.samdumitriu.com
August 14, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Will Labour deliver its 1.5 million home target?
New Britain Remade analysis of planning application data finds Labour are on track to be almost 500,000 homes short by the end of Parliament.
www.samdumitriu.com/p/labours-15...
New Britain Remade analysis of planning application data finds Labour are on track to be almost 500,000 homes short by the end of Parliament.
www.samdumitriu.com/p/labours-15...
Reposted by Sam Dumitriu
On Thursday night, we heard that government was making big concessions on its planning bill, putting lots more controls on its nature recovery plans.
I find this disappointing. And to explain why, I have to tell a story I’ve been holding off from sharing.
I find this disappointing. And to explain why, I have to tell a story I’ve been holding off from sharing.
July 19, 2025 at 7:50 AM
On Thursday night, we heard that government was making big concessions on its planning bill, putting lots more controls on its nature recovery plans.
I find this disappointing. And to explain why, I have to tell a story I’ve been holding off from sharing.
I find this disappointing. And to explain why, I have to tell a story I’ve been holding off from sharing.
NEW: Britain Remade's judgment on Labour's amendments to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill.
Plus: What they need to do to salvage their planning reform agenda.
www.samdumitriu.com/p/what-happe...
Plus: What they need to do to salvage their planning reform agenda.
www.samdumitriu.com/p/what-happe...
What happened to backing the builders?
The Planning and Infrastructure Bill’s most powerful measure has been watered down
www.samdumitriu.com
July 19, 2025 at 9:55 AM
NEW: Britain Remade's judgment on Labour's amendments to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill.
Plus: What they need to do to salvage their planning reform agenda.
www.samdumitriu.com/p/what-happe...
Plus: What they need to do to salvage their planning reform agenda.
www.samdumitriu.com/p/what-happe...
It's very hot today so I wrote about the UK's anti-air conditioning policies and why getting rid of them could be the secret to getting us to install heat pump.
samdumitriu.substack.com/p/legalise-ac
samdumitriu.substack.com/p/legalise-ac
Legalise AC
Clean energy abundance should mean sweating less indoors
samdumitriu.substack.com
June 30, 2025 at 2:33 PM
It's very hot today so I wrote about the UK's anti-air conditioning policies and why getting rid of them could be the secret to getting us to install heat pump.
samdumitriu.substack.com/p/legalise-ac
samdumitriu.substack.com/p/legalise-ac
Reposted by Sam Dumitriu
☀️A strong front of warming to the idea of new nuclear power is spreading across Europe ☀️
____________________________________________
🌧️There's a high chance that Scotland misses out by continuing to ban it 🌧️
____________________________________________
🌧️There's a high chance that Scotland misses out by continuing to ban it 🌧️
June 5, 2025 at 8:13 AM
☀️A strong front of warming to the idea of new nuclear power is spreading across Europe ☀️
____________________________________________
🌧️There's a high chance that Scotland misses out by continuing to ban it 🌧️
____________________________________________
🌧️There's a high chance that Scotland misses out by continuing to ban it 🌧️
Reposted by Sam Dumitriu
Make it easier for cities to build trams... regenerate post-war housing estates... build new towns (in the right places)
Here are 10 ways to revive the UK economy, writes @britainremade.bsky.social's Head of Policy @samdumitriu.bsky.social
Here are 10 ways to revive the UK economy, writes @britainremade.bsky.social's Head of Policy @samdumitriu.bsky.social
10 Ways To Revive Our Economy
Why is the UK so slow to build? Sam Dumitriu, head of policy at Britain Remade, shares the think tank’s best ideas for injecting new life into the ...
www.politicshome.com
May 26, 2025 at 5:51 PM
Make it easier for cities to build trams... regenerate post-war housing estates... build new towns (in the right places)
Here are 10 ways to revive the UK economy, writes @britainremade.bsky.social's Head of Policy @samdumitriu.bsky.social
Here are 10 ways to revive the UK economy, writes @britainremade.bsky.social's Head of Policy @samdumitriu.bsky.social
Reposted by Sam Dumitriu
Britain’s planning system is broken, and working people are paying the price.
High bills. Low wages. Sky-high house prices and rents. A system built for blockers, not builders. It doesn’t have to be this way. 🧵
High bills. Low wages. Sky-high house prices and rents. A system built for blockers, not builders. It doesn’t have to be this way. 🧵
May 13, 2025 at 12:33 PM
Britain’s planning system is broken, and working people are paying the price.
High bills. Low wages. Sky-high house prices and rents. A system built for blockers, not builders. It doesn’t have to be this way. 🧵
High bills. Low wages. Sky-high house prices and rents. A system built for blockers, not builders. It doesn’t have to be this way. 🧵
Coventry is doing something that many thought impossible: building a tram line in Britain quickly and cheaply.
Read David Milner of @createstreets.bsky.social on how they've done it and what we can learn from it.
capx.co/coventrys-tr...
Read David Milner of @createstreets.bsky.social on how they've done it and what we can learn from it.
capx.co/coventrys-tr...
May 9, 2025 at 10:01 AM
Coventry is doing something that many thought impossible: building a tram line in Britain quickly and cheaply.
Read David Milner of @createstreets.bsky.social on how they've done it and what we can learn from it.
capx.co/coventrys-tr...
Read David Milner of @createstreets.bsky.social on how they've done it and what we can learn from it.
capx.co/coventrys-tr...
The Government are abolishing the legal requirment to consult the public before submitting a planning application for major infrastructure.
Here's why they are right to do so.
www.samdumitriu.com/p/britain-is...
Here's why they are right to do so.
www.samdumitriu.com/p/britain-is...
Britain is a consultation nation
The Government is right to rein in consultation
www.samdumitriu.com
April 23, 2025 at 1:46 PM
The Government are abolishing the legal requirment to consult the public before submitting a planning application for major infrastructure.
Here's why they are right to do so.
www.samdumitriu.com/p/britain-is...
Here's why they are right to do so.
www.samdumitriu.com/p/britain-is...
NEW: The Planning and Infrastructure bill will abolish the legal requirement to consult before submitting a planning application for major infrastructure projects.
Consultation is good in theory, but it has become a box-ticking exercise.
This reform will slash years off planning tables.
Consultation is good in theory, but it has become a box-ticking exercise.
This reform will slash years off planning tables.
April 23, 2025 at 11:37 AM
NEW: The Planning and Infrastructure bill will abolish the legal requirement to consult before submitting a planning application for major infrastructure projects.
Consultation is good in theory, but it has become a box-ticking exercise.
This reform will slash years off planning tables.
Consultation is good in theory, but it has become a box-ticking exercise.
This reform will slash years off planning tables.
"This state of affairs is not inevitable or necessary. It is a political choice. Politicians are choosing a system that will, on occasion, put protecting specific species and environmental features ahead of jobs, growth, and energy security."
www.samdumitriu.com/p/the-planni...
www.samdumitriu.com/p/the-planni...
The Planning and Infrastructure bill should go further
Why we need a better solution to the Bat Tunnel problem
www.samdumitriu.com
April 15, 2025 at 10:40 AM
"This state of affairs is not inevitable or necessary. It is a political choice. Politicians are choosing a system that will, on occasion, put protecting specific species and environmental features ahead of jobs, growth, and energy security."
www.samdumitriu.com/p/the-planni...
www.samdumitriu.com/p/the-planni...
Reposted by Sam Dumitriu
London has seen a large decrease in fires (~-30%) and fire deaths (~-50%) since 2009. Very much calls into question the value of the new single-stair rules
@samdumitriu.bsky.social
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
@samdumitriu.bsky.social
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
April 13, 2025 at 5:03 PM
London has seen a large decrease in fires (~-30%) and fire deaths (~-50%) since 2009. Very much calls into question the value of the new single-stair rules
@samdumitriu.bsky.social
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
@samdumitriu.bsky.social
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
You can hear me (plus Rosie Pearson and Andrew Boswell) on the @tortoisemedia.bsky.social Slow Newscast discussing NIMBYism, the Lower Thames Crossing, legal challenges and much more.
www.tortoisemedia.com/listen/the-s...
www.tortoisemedia.com/listen/the-s...
Nimby Nation
Earlier this year the Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, wrote about a group of people he called zealots. And he identified one man in particular who the Prime Minister claimed was costing the country its ...
www.tortoisemedia.com
April 8, 2025 at 10:03 AM
You can hear me (plus Rosie Pearson and Andrew Boswell) on the @tortoisemedia.bsky.social Slow Newscast discussing NIMBYism, the Lower Thames Crossing, legal challenges and much more.
www.tortoisemedia.com/listen/the-s...
www.tortoisemedia.com/listen/the-s...
They can’t keep getting away with this.
April 7, 2025 at 9:12 AM
They can’t keep getting away with this.
Reposted by Sam Dumitriu
💫 We’re launching the Centre for British Progress
Our founding essay: Rediscovering British Progress is a case for growth that drives shared progress, rooted in Britain's values and industrial heritage.
It all starts with a postcard from 1870 👇
britishprogress.org/articles/red...
Our founding essay: Rediscovering British Progress is a case for growth that drives shared progress, rooted in Britain's values and industrial heritage.
It all starts with a postcard from 1870 👇
britishprogress.org/articles/red...
April 3, 2025 at 7:52 AM
💫 We’re launching the Centre for British Progress
Our founding essay: Rediscovering British Progress is a case for growth that drives shared progress, rooted in Britain's values and industrial heritage.
It all starts with a postcard from 1870 👇
britishprogress.org/articles/red...
Our founding essay: Rediscovering British Progress is a case for growth that drives shared progress, rooted in Britain's values and industrial heritage.
It all starts with a postcard from 1870 👇
britishprogress.org/articles/red...
New from me: The OBR estimate that recent planning reforms will boost the UK economy by £7bn a year by the end of the Parliament.
Here are 7 thoughts on what this means.
www.samdumitriu.com/p/7-thoughts...
Here are 7 thoughts on what this means.
www.samdumitriu.com/p/7-thoughts...
7 thoughts on the OBR scoring planning reform
What we learnt at the Spring Statement
www.samdumitriu.com
March 28, 2025 at 10:59 AM
New from me: The OBR estimate that recent planning reforms will boost the UK economy by £7bn a year by the end of the Parliament.
Here are 7 thoughts on what this means.
www.samdumitriu.com/p/7-thoughts...
Here are 7 thoughts on what this means.
www.samdumitriu.com/p/7-thoughts...
My latest on the threat to the Planning and Infrastructure bill from innocous sounding amendments pushed by green groups.
www.samdumitriu.com/p/how-to-bre...
www.samdumitriu.com/p/how-to-bre...
How to break the Planning and Infrastructure bill
Let's not waste this opportunity to fix planning
www.samdumitriu.com
March 24, 2025 at 4:41 PM
My latest on the threat to the Planning and Infrastructure bill from innocous sounding amendments pushed by green groups.
www.samdumitriu.com/p/how-to-bre...
www.samdumitriu.com/p/how-to-bre...
New: Has the Government solved the £121m Bat Tunnel problem?
My latest looks at the bat tunnel problem and whether or not the new Planning and Infrastructure fixes it.
www.samdumitriu.com/p/have-we-so...
My latest looks at the bat tunnel problem and whether or not the new Planning and Infrastructure fixes it.
www.samdumitriu.com/p/have-we-so...
Have we solved the bat tunnel problem?
And everything else you wanted to know about the new Planning and Infrastructure Bill
www.samdumitriu.com
March 12, 2025 at 4:41 PM
New: Has the Government solved the £121m Bat Tunnel problem?
My latest looks at the bat tunnel problem and whether or not the new Planning and Infrastructure fixes it.
www.samdumitriu.com/p/have-we-so...
My latest looks at the bat tunnel problem and whether or not the new Planning and Infrastructure fixes it.
www.samdumitriu.com/p/have-we-so...
Reposted by Sam Dumitriu
Quite like this suggestion from @samdumitriu.bsky.social that regulators set up 'red teams' to argue the best case against a new regulation. This is better than e.g. untransparent corporate lobbying or govt pushes for regulators to maximise growth
www.samdumitriu.com/p/why-regula...
www.samdumitriu.com/p/why-regula...
Why regulators need a ‘red team’
Good decisions require negative feedback
www.samdumitriu.com
March 6, 2025 at 9:35 AM
Quite like this suggestion from @samdumitriu.bsky.social that regulators set up 'red teams' to argue the best case against a new regulation. This is better than e.g. untransparent corporate lobbying or govt pushes for regulators to maximise growth
www.samdumitriu.com/p/why-regula...
www.samdumitriu.com/p/why-regula...
We are in the midst of a global nuclear renaissance, but the Climate Change Committee haven't heard.
In their new Carbon Budget 7 advice, nuclear will only make up 13% of our grid by 2050.
Why does nuclear play such a small role? In short, they assume it doesn't get cheaper.
In their new Carbon Budget 7 advice, nuclear will only make up 13% of our grid by 2050.
Why does nuclear play such a small role? In short, they assume it doesn't get cheaper.
February 26, 2025 at 12:03 PM
We are in the midst of a global nuclear renaissance, but the Climate Change Committee haven't heard.
In their new Carbon Budget 7 advice, nuclear will only make up 13% of our grid by 2050.
Why does nuclear play such a small role? In short, they assume it doesn't get cheaper.
In their new Carbon Budget 7 advice, nuclear will only make up 13% of our grid by 2050.
Why does nuclear play such a small role? In short, they assume it doesn't get cheaper.