Simon Jeffrey
@simonjeffrey.bsky.social
Personal opinions about transport and devolution policy.
Great. Focuses on the greatest carbon and cost of living return for finite govt green funding despite a bit of pushback from a small insulation lobby dependent on current v poor vfm allocation. Talk of 10k job losses but I bet plenty already do a bit of PV/battery stuff and more will start.
THE TIMES: Solar grants for millions to cut home energy use #TomorrowsPapersToday
December 30, 2025 at 10:42 AM
Great. Focuses on the greatest carbon and cost of living return for finite govt green funding despite a bit of pushback from a small insulation lobby dependent on current v poor vfm allocation. Talk of 10k job losses but I bet plenty already do a bit of PV/battery stuff and more will start.
Good piece. There’s more to argue for on big ticket stuff but on the fundamentals of most urban transport to transform not just city journeys but also fortunes, govt has been won over and delivered on powers and money. Ball is in the Mayors’ court now to deliver tangible progress quickly.
Why was 2025 a landmark year for local transport?
The key development has been the shift away from inefficient, short-term competitive bidding cycles to multi-year funding settlements, writes our Director @mrjasonprince.bsky.social for Passenger Transport.
urbantransportgroup.org/blog/2025/12...
The key development has been the shift away from inefficient, short-term competitive bidding cycles to multi-year funding settlements, writes our Director @mrjasonprince.bsky.social for Passenger Transport.
urbantransportgroup.org/blog/2025/12...
December 29, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Good piece. There’s more to argue for on big ticket stuff but on the fundamentals of most urban transport to transform not just city journeys but also fortunes, govt has been won over and delivered on powers and money. Ball is in the Mayors’ court now to deliver tangible progress quickly.
Reposted by Simon Jeffrey
A info-rich video by #JonCStone looking towards the new cycling infrastructure we should see in London in 2026, and reflecting on 2025.
(HT @tpc2s.bsky.social )
bsky.app/profile/tpc2...
(HT @tpc2s.bsky.social )
bsky.app/profile/tpc2...
December 28, 2025 at 4:05 PM
A info-rich video by #JonCStone looking towards the new cycling infrastructure we should see in London in 2026, and reflecting on 2025.
(HT @tpc2s.bsky.social )
bsky.app/profile/tpc2...
(HT @tpc2s.bsky.social )
bsky.app/profile/tpc2...
Sounds good, managing most of the objections around shipping and fish/birds of barrage across the entire Severn estuary. Other seaside resorts would probably kill to get something like this landing on their doorstep. Weston-super-Mare should be asking about a second tidal lagoon once they’re done.
December 27, 2025 at 3:08 PM
Sounds good, managing most of the objections around shipping and fish/birds of barrage across the entire Severn estuary. Other seaside resorts would probably kill to get something like this landing on their doorstep. Weston-super-Mare should be asking about a second tidal lagoon once they’re done.
Israel joins Sheffield, Cardiff and Birmingham city councils who’ve voted to support recognition.
🇮🇱 Israel has formally recognised Somaliland as an "independent and sovereign state" and signed an agreement to establish diplomatic ties between the two countries, the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.
➡️ u.afp.com/S8mN
➡️ u.afp.com/S8mN
December 26, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Israel joins Sheffield, Cardiff and Birmingham city councils who’ve voted to support recognition.
Reposted by Simon Jeffrey
Exactly as NESO predicted!
December 26, 2025 at 1:41 PM
Exactly as NESO predicted!
Honestly don’t think he’s hitting according to what he actually says.
December 25, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Honestly don’t think he’s hitting according to what he actually says.
Same is probably true for most residents permits in London. A service for drivers subsidised by non driving neighbours.
#Berlin makes losses in the millions on its ... residential parking permits. Because the price of about €10 per year is lower than the costs to the administration (which is about €42). www.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/koste...
Kosten für Verwaltung sind viel höher als Einnahmen: Berlin macht Millionenverlust mit Anwohnerparkausweisen
Bei jedem neu ausgestellten Anwohnerparkausweis zahlt das Land drauf – und zwar immer mehr. Auch, weil der Preis seit 2008 nicht erhöht wurde. Bringt das angekündigte Parkkonzept der CDU bald die Wend...
www.tagesspiegel.de
December 23, 2025 at 7:40 PM
Same is probably true for most residents permits in London. A service for drivers subsidised by non driving neighbours.
This is fantastic. Combine it with the DfT Connectivity Tool and you’ve got yourself a pretty amazing map for where to build and probably the economic impact of that and potential CIL and infrastructure funding it can unlock.
As a Christmas present to renters, we’ve build a new public zoomable map of rents per square metres in England and Wales! Have fun browsing and please share:
yimbyalliance.org/2025/12/18/h...
yimbyalliance.org/2025/12/18/h...
How much space can you afford to rent? - YIMBY Alliance
A map of rent per square metre for renters in England and Wales If you rent, you probably don’t think in square metres. You think about how many bedrooms and space you can actually get for your monthl...
yimbyalliance.org
December 23, 2025 at 6:22 PM
This is fantastic. Combine it with the DfT Connectivity Tool and you’ve got yourself a pretty amazing map for where to build and probably the economic impact of that and potential CIL and infrastructure funding it can unlock.
Reposted by Simon Jeffrey
Prediction: Madrid will have better outcomes (when you adjust for economic growth) but the conclusion from the author will be that Barcelona's reforms were 'watered down' and didn't go far enough.
Which model of housing will increase affordability? Madrid (market-led, "abundance") or Barcelona (state-regulated, scarcity).
You need both of course. In the case of the UK, I would be inclined to bet on a strategic state managing/sitting alongside the market.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
You need both of course. In the case of the UK, I would be inclined to bet on a strategic state managing/sitting alongside the market.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Barcelona and Madrid have very different ideas on tackling Spain’s housing crisis. Which will succeed? | Jaime Palomera
While the country’s capital is loosening regulations, the Catalan city is strengthening social housing. Their outcomes will affect all our futures, says author and researcher Jaime Palomera
www.theguardian.com
December 23, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Prediction: Madrid will have better outcomes (when you adjust for economic growth) but the conclusion from the author will be that Barcelona's reforms were 'watered down' and didn't go far enough.
Fabric first and retrofit up there with green belt as powerfully effective yet damagingly so policy branding. By people and govts trying to stick to it they undermine what most people think the policy is protecting.
They are among hundreds of people who have contacted the BBC about problems with poorly installed insulation.
BBC News - Our son can't come home for Christmas after insulation mould took over - BBC News
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
BBC News - Our son can't come home for Christmas after insulation mould took over - BBC News
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Our son can't come home for Christmas after insulation mould took over
Mr and Mrs Wadley's 19-year-old son has asthma and cannot come home for Christmas due to mould all over the walls.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 23, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Fabric first and retrofit up there with green belt as powerfully effective yet damagingly so policy branding. By people and govts trying to stick to it they undermine what most people think the policy is protecting.
If you've never watched it and have some time over Christmas, Get Back and the Beatles Anthology on Disney+ are astonishingly good.
December 23, 2025 at 12:43 PM
If you've never watched it and have some time over Christmas, Get Back and the Beatles Anthology on Disney+ are astonishingly good.
Agree with this. Can have a god discussion about tightening migration policy but getting very worked up over base effects isn’t that useful.
This is a thoroughly ridiculous take on a projection of a (possible) few months of negative net migration.
- There is no crisis. It'll reverse itself once the unusually large cohort of students leave.
- We can change it if we want to (we're lucky to live in a country that many want to come to).
- There is no crisis. It'll reverse itself once the unusually large cohort of students leave.
- We can change it if we want to (we're lucky to live in a country that many want to come to).
The UK is now facing an emigration crisis and a shrinking population. It must, must, must reverse engines on immigration immediately - throw the doors open and wave people in. Otherwise we are inviting disaster.
December 22, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Agree with this. Can have a god discussion about tightening migration policy but getting very worked up over base effects isn’t that useful.
This is sounds exactly right to me and learns the lessons of May’s handling of negotiations and Parliament.
I think a productive UK/EU policy for Labour government is to maintain its red lines for this parliament, while starting duscussion in 2026 about its 2029 manifesto for post-2029 negotiations. That could ditch the red lines seeking a "green light" mandate to explore all options short of rejoin
December 21, 2025 at 1:59 PM
This is sounds exactly right to me and learns the lessons of May’s handling of negotiations and Parliament.
Impeccable timing. ‘Good day bury bad (cricket-related) news)’
Sixes: Social cricket-themed bar chain goes into administration
Sixes: Social cricket-themed bar chain goes into administration
The chain, which is backed in part by England captain Ben Stokes, is remaining open for business except at one venue.
www.bbc.com
December 21, 2025 at 12:31 PM
Impeccable timing. ‘Good day bury bad (cricket-related) news)’
This Labour Together paper which included ditching a lot of the crud in the employment rights act has some more crackers. Letting the South East fend for itself would be easy win North and South for any govt that could loosen its centralising grip
December 21, 2025 at 10:40 AM
This Labour Together paper which included ditching a lot of the crud in the employment rights act has some more crackers. Letting the South East fend for itself would be easy win North and South for any govt that could loosen its centralising grip
A timetable and budget agreed at the outset seem like a pretty useful exercise for public inquiries.
Call for time limits on public inquiries as costs soar
Call for time limits on public inquiries as costs soar
MSPs have recommended changes as they revealed almost £260m has been spent on Scotland's public inquiries since 2007.
www.bbc.com
December 21, 2025 at 10:11 AM
A timetable and budget agreed at the outset seem like a pretty useful exercise for public inquiries.
Reposted by Simon Jeffrey
No pen. Good process, lads
December 20, 2025 at 4:44 PM
No pen. Good process, lads
Just as true in Britain.
Young people are the labor market canary in the coal mine.
My bespoke take is that this general predisposition towards young people in the labor market is one step away from the generalized ressentiment that is thrown at immigrants, minorities
December 20, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Just as true in Britain.
Reposted by Simon Jeffrey
📈#IFSSatStat: Core funding for English councils in the most-deprived tenth of areas will increase by 15.4% above-inflation on average over the next three years. The least-deprived tenth will see almost no real-terms growth, even if they put up council tax by the maximum.
December 20, 2025 at 9:15 AM
📈#IFSSatStat: Core funding for English councils in the most-deprived tenth of areas will increase by 15.4% above-inflation on average over the next three years. The least-deprived tenth will see almost no real-terms growth, even if they put up council tax by the maximum.
Quite frustrating m that this article doesn’t even try to explain why such well meaning targets might actually not lead to the outcomes it aims for effectively, let alone the its impact on wider housing ambitions. If we want enough family homes we don’t mandate every house be a 4-bed.
Disabled people in England ‘betrayed’ by cuts to new-build accessibility targets
Disabled people in England ‘betrayed’ by cuts to new-build accessibility targets
Campaigners decry plan to reduce requirement for improved standards from 100% down to 40% of new homes
Government plans to make huge cuts to targets for accessible new-build homes in England have been labelled a “monumental reversal” by campaigners, who say disabled people have been left feeling “betrayed and excluded”.
In its proposals for changes to the country’s planning system, the government said a minimum of 40% of new-build homes would be built to improved accessibility standards – M4(2) – which include step-free access and wider doorways and corridors. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
December 19, 2025 at 7:42 PM
Quite frustrating m that this article doesn’t even try to explain why such well meaning targets might actually not lead to the outcomes it aims for effectively, let alone the its impact on wider housing ambitions. If we want enough family homes we don’t mandate every house be a 4-bed.
This is a huge deal for a lot of people. And pretty important if you're planning to surround hundreds of train stations and greybelt sites into new build housing estates.
We pledged in our manifesto to bring the injustice of ‘fleecehold’ and unfair maintenance costs to an end.
Today, we’re setting out proposals to ensure homeowners on freehold housing estates get a fair deal 👇🏻
questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-stat...
Today, we’re setting out proposals to ensure homeowners on freehold housing estates get a fair deal 👇🏻
questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-stat...
Written statements - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament
Information from UK Parliament on written questions & answers, written statements and daily reports.
questions-statements.parliament.uk
December 18, 2025 at 12:50 PM
This is a huge deal for a lot of people. And pretty important if you're planning to surround hundreds of train stations and greybelt sites into new build housing estates.
Tees Valley Mayor charges no precept. Greater Manchester mayoral precept is £42/yr for band D for non-police or fire. If there’s losses or loans to be covered he can explain to his voters exactly why their council tax is going up. 300k households paying avg £50/yr wd cover £15m/yr repayments.
TVCA had itself borrowed from the government and lent onwards to these orgs.
Uncertainty around the above repayments mean it’s now going back to borrow more.
Uncertainty around the above repayments mean it’s now going back to borrow more.
December 18, 2025 at 10:01 AM
Tees Valley Mayor charges no precept. Greater Manchester mayoral precept is £42/yr for band D for non-police or fire. If there’s losses or loans to be covered he can explain to his voters exactly why their council tax is going up. 300k households paying avg £50/yr wd cover £15m/yr repayments.
Oh dear. One reason why making it much easier to build homes around *existing* stations/stops or in and around city/town centres is such a good policy.
December 18, 2025 at 9:42 AM
Oh dear. One reason why making it much easier to build homes around *existing* stations/stops or in and around city/town centres is such a good policy.
Unexpectedly positive framing.
Why this month's inflation figure may be good news for you
Why this month's inflation figure may be good news for you
The rate of inflation, which charts the rising cost of living, has slowed - driven partly by essentials.
www.bbc.com
December 17, 2025 at 11:31 PM
Unexpectedly positive framing.