Smart Growth UK
@smartgrowthuk.bsky.social
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"Government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the Earth" - Abraham Lincoln
"Government of the developers, by the developers, for the developers, shall cause the Earth to perish" - ministers
"Government of the developers, by the developers, for the developers, shall cause the Earth to perish" - ministers
Would that be some of the developers who @naturalengland.bsky.social is now being told to stop regulating and become a "partner and enabler" with?
tinyurl.com/yprdecj8
tinyurl.com/yprdecj8
Liverpool council going to court over developers' unpaid £1.5m
Liverpool City Council is to take firms to court over cash promised as part of planning deals.
tinyurl.com
November 11, 2025 at 8:51 AM
Would that be some of the developers who @naturalengland.bsky.social is now being told to stop regulating and become a "partner and enabler" with?
tinyurl.com/yprdecj8
tinyurl.com/yprdecj8
Reposted by Smart Growth UK
Reposted by Smart Growth UK
Do not look for any intellectual depth there. Anyone who takes a look at the planning brief and thinks it can be summarised in a slogan that can fit on a hat is out of their depth.
Surely there are some better arguments on the pro landlordism side of the debate than implying that if a landlord doesn't own the house, the house ceases to exist??
November 9, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Do not look for any intellectual depth there. Anyone who takes a look at the planning brief and thinks it can be summarised in a slogan that can fit on a hat is out of their depth.
"Government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the Earth" - Abraham Lincoln
"Government of the developers, by the developers, for the developers, shall cause the Earth to perish" - ministers
"Government of the developers, by the developers, for the developers, shall cause the Earth to perish" - ministers
November 9, 2025 at 8:43 AM
"Government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the Earth" - Abraham Lincoln
"Government of the developers, by the developers, for the developers, shall cause the Earth to perish" - ministers
"Government of the developers, by the developers, for the developers, shall cause the Earth to perish" - ministers
Not a good moment to further undermine #WaterSecurity by announcing plans for further building in the already water-stressed Oxford-Cambridge Corridor (or whatever the Arc's called this week).
November 8, 2025 at 9:54 AM
Not a good moment to further undermine #WaterSecurity by announcing plans for further building in the already water-stressed Oxford-Cambridge Corridor (or whatever the Arc's called this week).
Reposted by Smart Growth UK
Cutting home insulation funding will imperil UK’s climate goals, Reeves told
Cutting home insulation funding will imperil UK’s climate goals, Reeves told
Energy firms and charities urge chancellor to avoid short-term fix that could also harm low-income households
Rachel Reeves has been told that cutting funding for home insulation at the budget would risk the UK’s climate goals and hurt low-income households in a joint intervention by energy firms, fuel poverty charities and environmental groups.
In a letter to the chancellor, more than 60 groups and companies urged Reeves not to take such a damaging “short-term fix” to slash funding for more energy-efficient homes to pay for a reduction in energy bills. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 8, 2025 at 6:07 AM
Cutting home insulation funding will imperil UK’s climate goals, Reeves told
BLOG The @naturalengland.bsky.social quango has announced that it's no longer a regulator but is now a partner and enabler.
Inevitably that partnership is with the Goverment's obsession - house building.
So it's time to ask if the quango is any longer fit for purpose.
tinyurl.com/yv3rs4zf
Inevitably that partnership is with the Goverment's obsession - house building.
So it's time to ask if the quango is any longer fit for purpose.
tinyurl.com/yv3rs4zf
Unnatural England – Smart Growth UK
tinyurl.com
November 7, 2025 at 12:04 PM
BLOG The @naturalengland.bsky.social quango has announced that it's no longer a regulator but is now a partner and enabler.
Inevitably that partnership is with the Goverment's obsession - house building.
So it's time to ask if the quango is any longer fit for purpose.
tinyurl.com/yv3rs4zf
Inevitably that partnership is with the Goverment's obsession - house building.
So it's time to ask if the quango is any longer fit for purpose.
tinyurl.com/yv3rs4zf
Three very obvious questions:-
1. How to make good the resultant huge hit to the UK's already inadequate food production?
2. Where would an area already short of water find it?
3. Why increase the disparity in economic activity between north and south?
tinyurl.com/wfdasdcf
1. How to make good the resultant huge hit to the UK's already inadequate food production?
2. Where would an area already short of water find it?
3. Why increase the disparity in economic activity between north and south?
tinyurl.com/wfdasdcf
New set of forest towns to be built between Oxford and Cambridge
Communities in the middle of new national forest to show how housebuilding can be delivered alongside nature
tinyurl.com
November 5, 2025 at 8:48 AM
Three very obvious questions:-
1. How to make good the resultant huge hit to the UK's already inadequate food production?
2. Where would an area already short of water find it?
3. Why increase the disparity in economic activity between north and south?
tinyurl.com/wfdasdcf
1. How to make good the resultant huge hit to the UK's already inadequate food production?
2. Where would an area already short of water find it?
3. Why increase the disparity in economic activity between north and south?
tinyurl.com/wfdasdcf
There's something deeply wrong with a Government that whips 102 (mostly elderly) peers to vote against an amendment at 11pm on an utterly innocuous conservation measure.
Serious questions now need to be asked as to why ministers are taking orders from the house building industry.
Serious questions now need to be asked as to why ministers are taking orders from the house building industry.
November 4, 2025 at 7:20 PM
There's something deeply wrong with a Government that whips 102 (mostly elderly) peers to vote against an amendment at 11pm on an utterly innocuous conservation measure.
Serious questions now need to be asked as to why ministers are taking orders from the house building industry.
Serious questions now need to be asked as to why ministers are taking orders from the house building industry.
Reposted by Smart Growth UK
No government defeats in the Lords last night in the final night of report stage for the Planning & Infrastructure Bill. Even swift bricks didn't manage to get over the line (vote below).
Next is Lords Third Reading on 10 November
Next is Lords Third Reading on 10 November
November 4, 2025 at 1:35 PM
No government defeats in the Lords last night in the final night of report stage for the Planning & Infrastructure Bill. Even swift bricks didn't manage to get over the line (vote below).
Next is Lords Third Reading on 10 November
Next is Lords Third Reading on 10 November
Reposted by Smart Growth UK
📢 40+ NGOs have written to the PM urging him to uphold the Aarhus Convention – the cornerstone of environmental justice
The Convention protects your right to:
✅ Access environmental information
✅ Have a say in decisions that affect nature
✅ Seek environmental justice affordably
The Convention protects your right to:
✅ Access environmental information
✅ Have a say in decisions that affect nature
✅ Seek environmental justice affordably
November 4, 2025 at 10:17 AM
📢 40+ NGOs have written to the PM urging him to uphold the Aarhus Convention – the cornerstone of environmental justice
The Convention protects your right to:
✅ Access environmental information
✅ Have a say in decisions that affect nature
✅ Seek environmental justice affordably
The Convention protects your right to:
✅ Access environmental information
✅ Have a say in decisions that affect nature
✅ Seek environmental justice affordably
Reposted by Smart Growth UK
BAD NEWS! Should the swift brick vote have taken place earlier today we would have won. Tories whipped YES but by the time of the vote, support had gone home just like 2 years ago. It is an AGONISING reality. Tell your MP & steve.reed.mp@parliament.uk what you think. GUTTED.
November 3, 2025 at 11:42 PM
BAD NEWS! Should the swift brick vote have taken place earlier today we would have won. Tories whipped YES but by the time of the vote, support had gone home just like 2 years ago. It is an AGONISING reality. Tell your MP & steve.reed.mp@parliament.uk what you think. GUTTED.
Reposted by Smart Growth UK
“In May 2025, Scotland’s largest city [Glasgow] reached a milestone that would make any transportation planner in Portland or Montreal do a double take: during the morning rush hour, there were more bicycles than cars traveling along Victoria Road, a major artery…” Via @momentummag.bsky.social
When Bikes Outnumber Cars: What Scotland’s Cycling Surge Can Teach North America
Scotland’s largest city reached a milestone that would make any transportation planner in Portland, or Montreal do a double take.
momentummag.com
November 3, 2025 at 3:05 PM
“In May 2025, Scotland’s largest city [Glasgow] reached a milestone that would make any transportation planner in Portland or Montreal do a double take: during the morning rush hour, there were more bicycles than cars traveling along Victoria Road, a major artery…” Via @momentummag.bsky.social
Reposted by Smart Growth UK
European negotiators were personally targeted by their American counterparts during a brutal negotiation over green shipping rules, European Commission officials told POLITICO.
This highly unusual gambit left diplomats shaken after the meeting.
This highly unusual gambit left diplomats shaken after the meeting.
US accused of threatening EU diplomats during bid to kill green shipping rules
Negotiators at shipping talks in London were told both they and their countries could be punished unless they voted with the U.S.
www.politico.eu
November 3, 2025 at 8:11 AM
European negotiators were personally targeted by their American counterparts during a brutal negotiation over green shipping rules, European Commission officials told POLITICO.
This highly unusual gambit left diplomats shaken after the meeting.
This highly unusual gambit left diplomats shaken after the meeting.
The Community Planning Alliance has launched a tracker to record every piece of countryside that is being rated #GreyBelt under the Government plan to destroy the effectiveness of green belt protection.
Please fill in as much of the form as you can and submit it.
tinyurl.com/yrczfc6h
Please fill in as much of the form as you can and submit it.
tinyurl.com/yrczfc6h
Grey Belt Tracker
The Green Belt is at great risk under the 'grey belt' rules.
We want to keep an eye on countryside and farmland that is being designated as 'grey belt'.
Originally, when Sir Keir Starmer promised to p...
tinyurl.com
October 31, 2025 at 10:34 AM
The Community Planning Alliance has launched a tracker to record every piece of countryside that is being rated #GreyBelt under the Government plan to destroy the effectiveness of green belt protection.
Please fill in as much of the form as you can and submit it.
tinyurl.com/yrczfc6h
Please fill in as much of the form as you can and submit it.
tinyurl.com/yrczfc6h
Reposted by Smart Growth UK
Ghent in Belgium has a car-free city centre, a modern tram and bus network, and plentiful walking and cycling routes.
On #WorldCitiesDay, what's your favourite city for its transport network?
On #WorldCitiesDay, what's your favourite city for its transport network?
October 31, 2025 at 9:01 AM
Ghent in Belgium has a car-free city centre, a modern tram and bus network, and plentiful walking and cycling routes.
On #WorldCitiesDay, what's your favourite city for its transport network?
On #WorldCitiesDay, what's your favourite city for its transport network?
Reposted by Smart Growth UK
Guest blog - Blanket bogs and windfarms by @green--jenny.bsky.social
Blog: markavery.info/2025/10/30/g...
#peat #bog #turbines #renewable #climate #walshaw #hebden #haworth #floods #petition #PIB
Blog: markavery.info/2025/10/30/g...
#peat #bog #turbines #renewable #climate #walshaw #hebden #haworth #floods #petition #PIB
October 30, 2025 at 6:31 AM
Guest blog - Blanket bogs and windfarms by @green--jenny.bsky.social
Blog: markavery.info/2025/10/30/g...
#peat #bog #turbines #renewable #climate #walshaw #hebden #haworth #floods #petition #PIB
Blog: markavery.info/2025/10/30/g...
#peat #bog #turbines #renewable #climate #walshaw #hebden #haworth #floods #petition #PIB
Yes, we know.
Developers don't want to build them.
Not enough workers or materials.
Financiers don't want to invest.
Sprawl-type development is highly destructive.
But... ministers have sold their souls to Tufton Street's #YimbyLobby.
Time for a rethink.
tinyurl.com/4up9bc73
Developers don't want to build them.
Not enough workers or materials.
Financiers don't want to invest.
Sprawl-type development is highly destructive.
But... ministers have sold their souls to Tufton Street's #YimbyLobby.
Time for a rethink.
tinyurl.com/4up9bc73
Government set to miss 1.5m target, housebuilders warn
Housebuilders tell the government's budget watchdog the new homes target for England is too optimistic.
tinyurl.com
October 30, 2025 at 9:01 AM
Yes, we know.
Developers don't want to build them.
Not enough workers or materials.
Financiers don't want to invest.
Sprawl-type development is highly destructive.
But... ministers have sold their souls to Tufton Street's #YimbyLobby.
Time for a rethink.
tinyurl.com/4up9bc73
Developers don't want to build them.
Not enough workers or materials.
Financiers don't want to invest.
Sprawl-type development is highly destructive.
But... ministers have sold their souls to Tufton Street's #YimbyLobby.
Time for a rethink.
tinyurl.com/4up9bc73
Be interesting to see the response from @miattafahnbulleh.bsky.social.
We need a Charter for Community Empowerment.
Developers shouldn’t have more power to shape our towns than local residents.
Farage feeds off powerlessness–but serves the same rich interests who created it.
Labour’s answer must be real empowerment.
My letter to the Minister. 👇
Developers shouldn’t have more power to shape our towns than local residents.
Farage feeds off powerlessness–but serves the same rich interests who created it.
Labour’s answer must be real empowerment.
My letter to the Minister. 👇
October 30, 2025 at 8:47 AM
Be interesting to see the response from @miattafahnbulleh.bsky.social.
Reposted by Smart Growth UK
🚨In response to the government's publication of their Carbon Budget and Growth Delivery plan this afternoon, our T&E UK Director Anna Krajinska has the following response
[A thread]
[A thread]
October 30, 2025 at 8:37 AM
🚨In response to the government's publication of their Carbon Budget and Growth Delivery plan this afternoon, our T&E UK Director Anna Krajinska has the following response
[A thread]
[A thread]
Reposted by Smart Growth UK
A blog musing on (and not on) Walshaw Moor markavery.info/2025/10/29/o...
"If there were a fan club for Walshaw Moor then I’d be a member, despite never having set foot on it."
#wuthering #hebden #haworth #peat #daftwindfarm #floods
#publicland #grouse
"If there were a fan club for Walshaw Moor then I’d be a member, despite never having set foot on it."
#wuthering #hebden #haworth #peat #daftwindfarm #floods
#publicland #grouse
October 29, 2025 at 10:44 AM
A blog musing on (and not on) Walshaw Moor markavery.info/2025/10/29/o...
"If there were a fan club for Walshaw Moor then I’d be a member, despite never having set foot on it."
#wuthering #hebden #haworth #peat #daftwindfarm #floods
#publicland #grouse
"If there were a fan club for Walshaw Moor then I’d be a member, despite never having set foot on it."
#wuthering #hebden #haworth #peat #daftwindfarm #floods
#publicland #grouse
Reposted by Smart Growth UK
📢 Call for Tender
We’re commissioning digital media research on how deregulation and disinformation are undermining EU environmental laws.
Help us defend #nature and democracy online. 🌍
🗓️ Deadline: 11 Nov 2025
👉 More info: eeb.org/digital-medi...
#HandsOffNature #ItsOurNature
We’re commissioning digital media research on how deregulation and disinformation are undermining EU environmental laws.
Help us defend #nature and democracy online. 🌍
🗓️ Deadline: 11 Nov 2025
👉 More info: eeb.org/digital-medi...
#HandsOffNature #ItsOurNature
October 29, 2025 at 11:49 AM
📢 Call for Tender
We’re commissioning digital media research on how deregulation and disinformation are undermining EU environmental laws.
Help us defend #nature and democracy online. 🌍
🗓️ Deadline: 11 Nov 2025
👉 More info: eeb.org/digital-medi...
#HandsOffNature #ItsOurNature
We’re commissioning digital media research on how deregulation and disinformation are undermining EU environmental laws.
Help us defend #nature and democracy online. 🌍
🗓️ Deadline: 11 Nov 2025
👉 More info: eeb.org/digital-medi...
#HandsOffNature #ItsOurNature
Reposted by Smart Growth UK
So much for "boosting growth".
All this vandalism will do is leave us with devastated ecosystems, fewer green spaces, worse quality of life, while neither solving the housing crisis (because the problem IS NOT AND NEVER WAS "bats and newts") nor creating "growth".
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
All this vandalism will do is leave us with devastated ecosystems, fewer green spaces, worse quality of life, while neither solving the housing crisis (because the problem IS NOT AND NEVER WAS "bats and newts") nor creating "growth".
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
New planning bill could jeopardise UK’s trade deal with EU, ambassador warns
Exclusive: Proposed legislation removes EU-derived nature protections as government hopes to boost economic growth
www.theguardian.com
October 29, 2025 at 5:16 PM
So much for "boosting growth".
All this vandalism will do is leave us with devastated ecosystems, fewer green spaces, worse quality of life, while neither solving the housing crisis (because the problem IS NOT AND NEVER WAS "bats and newts") nor creating "growth".
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
All this vandalism will do is leave us with devastated ecosystems, fewer green spaces, worse quality of life, while neither solving the housing crisis (because the problem IS NOT AND NEVER WAS "bats and newts") nor creating "growth".
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Smart Growth UK
Big defeat in the Lords on the Government's Planning & Infrastructure Bill - restricting the proposed new Environmental Delivery Plans to just four issues. 260 - 141.
Amendment here: bills.parliament.uk/bills/3946/s...
Amendment here: bills.parliament.uk/bills/3946/s...
October 29, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Big defeat in the Lords on the Government's Planning & Infrastructure Bill - restricting the proposed new Environmental Delivery Plans to just four issues. 260 - 141.
Amendment here: bills.parliament.uk/bills/3946/s...
Amendment here: bills.parliament.uk/bills/3946/s...
While HM Treasury and Rachel Reeves mull over their budget...
IMPORTANT: The Dutch invest €595 million annually on urban biking, resulting in €19 BILLION saved in public health care costs alone. That’s how smart governments do the math on investing in better mobility.
Let’s be clear— it wastes public money to NOT do it.
#CityMakingMath HT @modacitylife.com
Let’s be clear— it wastes public money to NOT do it.
#CityMakingMath HT @modacitylife.com
October 29, 2025 at 8:52 AM
While HM Treasury and Rachel Reeves mull over their budget...