Jonathan Morgan
@jonomorgan.bsky.social
Architect. Retired politician. PhD Researcher at Loughborough University : Policy influences on the use of MMC in English house building.
Fantastic, laugh-out-loud, writing from @whippletom.bsky.social this morning, particularly the reference to his father finding a ratchet. Brilliant start to the weekend.
www.thetimes.com/article/80c0...
www.thetimes.com/article/80c0...
What a half-tonne of Amazon returns says about our spending habits
Companies that cannot afford to keep their goods in storage often choose to dispose of them by selling them as mystery boxes
www.thetimes.com
December 6, 2025 at 7:25 AM
Fantastic, laugh-out-loud, writing from @whippletom.bsky.social this morning, particularly the reference to his father finding a ratchet. Brilliant start to the weekend.
www.thetimes.com/article/80c0...
www.thetimes.com/article/80c0...
Not a great start: the researchers don’t seem to understand that the 1.5m target is for England only - their report (and solutions) reference the whole country - it’s quite a basic error, but not uncommon.
November 20, 2025 at 9:30 AM
Not a great start: the researchers don’t seem to understand that the 1.5m target is for England only - their report (and solutions) reference the whole country - it’s quite a basic error, but not uncommon.
Not entirely sure I agree with this - if post-Good Friday Northern Ireland is a guide - the two party system may continue - just not the usual two parties (and not the same two in each of the four nations).
The other big takeaway from Caerphilly is that despite a brief resuscitation in 2017 the two party system is well and truly over for the UK. And that means either we bite the bullet on PR or the parties are all going to have to make deals to not split the left or right vote
October 24, 2025 at 8:15 AM
Not entirely sure I agree with this - if post-Good Friday Northern Ireland is a guide - the two party system may continue - just not the usual two parties (and not the same two in each of the four nations).
In honor of spooky month, share a 4 word horror story that only someone in your profession would understand.
"Found Great Crested Newts"
"Found Great Crested Newts"
I no longer practise law, but would still be haunted by:
"The bundles are mis-paginated".
"The bundles are mis-paginated".
In honour of spooky month, share a 4 word horror story that only someone in your profession would understand.
“The tapes wouldn’t start”
“The tapes wouldn’t start”
October 12, 2025 at 7:48 AM
In honor of spooky month, share a 4 word horror story that only someone in your profession would understand.
"Found Great Crested Newts"
"Found Great Crested Newts"
Reposted by Jonathan Morgan
Kind of feels like a big deal that a Reform/Brexit Party former MEP has been convicted of taking bribes to promote Russian interests in Ukraine, and it feels like a bigger deal that this isn’t being treated as the major scandal that it clearly is.
September 26, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Kind of feels like a big deal that a Reform/Brexit Party former MEP has been convicted of taking bribes to promote Russian interests in Ukraine, and it feels like a bigger deal that this isn’t being treated as the major scandal that it clearly is.
Reposted by Jonathan Morgan
Imagine all cars were electric, and then one Volkswagen engineer comes up with another idea …
#EMobility
#EMobility
August 11, 2025 at 10:46 AM
Imagine all cars were electric, and then one Volkswagen engineer comes up with another idea …
#EMobility
#EMobility
Many (esp Govt) under-estimate the timeframe required yo deliver larger housing sites (3k+). Business plan can be an average of 45yrs from initial option to final sign-off.
It's also the case that we're increasingly reliant on very large sites for new homes (partly because of the collapse in SME housebuilders). Very large sites will build out over many years, so you need a large number of permissions in the pipeline.
September 8, 2025 at 8:29 AM
Many (esp Govt) under-estimate the timeframe required yo deliver larger housing sites (3k+). Business plan can be an average of 45yrs from initial option to final sign-off.
Reposted by Jonathan Morgan
Labour's new build policies have been focussed on planning reform (important over the longer-term) but the more immediate problem is a crisis in demand. You can plan as many homes as you like but they won't get built if no one can buy them.
My latest market commentary
builtplace.com/market-comme...
My latest market commentary
builtplace.com/market-comme...
September 4, 2025 at 11:31 AM
Labour's new build policies have been focussed on planning reform (important over the longer-term) but the more immediate problem is a crisis in demand. You can plan as many homes as you like but they won't get built if no one can buy them.
My latest market commentary
builtplace.com/market-comme...
My latest market commentary
builtplace.com/market-comme...
Not at all surprising - planning law on hotel use was unsuccessfully challenged through the courts 2+yrs ago by several councils and it was pretty obvious that Epping wouldn’t stand at Appeal.
August 29, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Not at all surprising - planning law on hotel use was unsuccessfully challenged through the courts 2+yrs ago by several councils and it was pretty obvious that Epping wouldn’t stand at Appeal.
Agree - catastrophic outcomes that took a year to discover. The response by HMG, to do everything possible to mitigate this single human act, perhaps reflects better on the response of government than stories today reflect. However, genuinely surprised that original individual still at MOD.
Maybe I've missed this. But "a soldier sent an email" is not going to cut it as an explanation of how this happened. I'm not saying name-and-shame. But the public are owed a proper explanation. Continuing obfuscation just compounds this.
July 16, 2025 at 7:26 AM
Agree - catastrophic outcomes that took a year to discover. The response by HMG, to do everything possible to mitigate this single human act, perhaps reflects better on the response of government than stories today reflect. However, genuinely surprised that original individual still at MOD.
Thanks for the inclusion on your list @annaclarke.bsky.social ! - it’s a really good source of people and bodies.
As Nazi-Grok appears to be driving quite a few new arrivals on Bluesky, I thought it would be worth re-sharing a starter pack of people posting about UK housing.
I've made a new UK Housing Starter pack - this one includes folks in my old one, alongside others. Do share, and let me know if you'd like to be added or to suggest others (limit has been changed to 150 now, so lots of space) go.bsky.app/VA1DV9s
July 9, 2025 at 9:36 AM
Thanks for the inclusion on your list @annaclarke.bsky.social ! - it’s a really good source of people and bodies.
Reposted by Jonathan Morgan
As Nazi-Grok appears to be driving quite a few new arrivals on Bluesky, I thought it would be worth re-sharing a starter pack of people posting about UK housing.
I've made a new UK Housing Starter pack - this one includes folks in my old one, alongside others. Do share, and let me know if you'd like to be added or to suggest others (limit has been changed to 150 now, so lots of space) go.bsky.app/VA1DV9s
July 9, 2025 at 9:20 AM
As Nazi-Grok appears to be driving quite a few new arrivals on Bluesky, I thought it would be worth re-sharing a starter pack of people posting about UK housing.
Good thread setting out the choices ahead given the (limited) finances available. Not enough clarity around the huge sums needed to be spent (and who’s going to build!) to achieve the targets set etc.
They're not setting a target, but as a rough estimate:
- If half the funding goes on social rent @£200k per home, that's 9,750 homes a year.
People calling for 90,000 a year ought to say where the other £16bn a year would come from.
- If half the funding goes on social rent @£200k per home, that's 9,750 homes a year.
People calling for 90,000 a year ought to say where the other £16bn a year would come from.
Labour has been urged to set a target for how many social homes should be built through its new £39bn fund announced at the spending review.
June 17, 2025 at 7:54 AM
Good thread setting out the choices ahead given the (limited) finances available. Not enough clarity around the huge sums needed to be spent (and who’s going to build!) to achieve the targets set etc.
Reposted by Jonathan Morgan
New research prepared by Lichfields for LPDF and Richborough reveals a stark deterioration over the past decade in the amount of time it takes to determine outline planning applications for new homes despite a big drop in the number of applications.
More here: lichfields.uk/content/insi...
More here: lichfields.uk/content/insi...
May 19, 2025 at 8:51 AM
New research prepared by Lichfields for LPDF and Richborough reveals a stark deterioration over the past decade in the amount of time it takes to determine outline planning applications for new homes despite a big drop in the number of applications.
More here: lichfields.uk/content/insi...
More here: lichfields.uk/content/insi...
The next bit of #eurovision always the most interesting - the split between what each nation’s panel thought was best, and what the population actually voted for.
May 17, 2025 at 10:01 PM
The next bit of #eurovision always the most interesting - the split between what each nation’s panel thought was best, and what the population actually voted for.
As the thread below sets out - the lack of understanding of devolved policy and use of clear, relevant data, remains….challenging.
Conclusion: no-one believes the 1.5m for England will be achieved, incl the government…but we’ll no doubt hear the target repeated again….as an ambition.
Conclusion: no-one believes the 1.5m for England will be achieved, incl the government…but we’ll no doubt hear the target repeated again….as an ambition.
March 26, 2025 at 2:09 PM
As the thread below sets out - the lack of understanding of devolved policy and use of clear, relevant data, remains….challenging.
Conclusion: no-one believes the 1.5m for England will be achieved, incl the government…but we’ll no doubt hear the target repeated again….as an ambition.
Conclusion: no-one believes the 1.5m for England will be achieved, incl the government…but we’ll no doubt hear the target repeated again….as an ambition.
Bringing stability and predictability to the building sector is very important (planning reforms move in that direction) but government housing targets won’t be met until questions of who will build, and why should they build, are understood/answered.
March 12, 2025 at 9:03 AM
Bringing stability and predictability to the building sector is very important (planning reforms move in that direction) but government housing targets won’t be met until questions of who will build, and why should they build, are understood/answered.
Reposted by Jonathan Morgan
The Rotting of the Conservative Mind: the Tory party bends the knee to Donald Trump.
A disgrace and one for which they deserve to be judged. open.substack.com/pub/alexmass...
A disgrace and one for which they deserve to be judged. open.substack.com/pub/alexmass...
The Rotting of the Conservative Mind
Britain's Tories bend the knee to Donald Trump and disgrace themselves
open.substack.com
February 19, 2025 at 8:59 PM
The Rotting of the Conservative Mind: the Tory party bends the knee to Donald Trump.
A disgrace and one for which they deserve to be judged. open.substack.com/pub/alexmass...
A disgrace and one for which they deserve to be judged. open.substack.com/pub/alexmass...
Reposted by Jonathan Morgan
An apt moment for a remarkable piece of journalism, documenting Russia’s seemingly systematic murder of Ukrainian PoWs. (By @christopherjm.ft.com @joesinft.ft.com & the visual investigations team) on.ft.com/4gLNn61
Russia’s executions of Ukrainian prisoners point to systematic policy
FT documentary investigates rise in cases of Russian soldiers executing Ukrainian POWs
on.ft.com
February 20, 2025 at 7:47 AM
An apt moment for a remarkable piece of journalism, documenting Russia’s seemingly systematic murder of Ukrainian PoWs. (By @christopherjm.ft.com @joesinft.ft.com & the visual investigations team) on.ft.com/4gLNn61
Strongly agree with all the points in this thread - repeating the 1.5m claim is disingenuous - it also bakes-in continued cynicism around non-delivery - it won’t end well in so many ways.
If the government wants to keep repeating its “1.5 million new homes in the 5-year parliament” target, which it will fail to meet, that is up to them. However, the key questions to ask government are… (1/n)
#ukhousing
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
#ukhousing
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
February 9, 2025 at 6:54 PM
Strongly agree with all the points in this thread - repeating the 1.5m claim is disingenuous - it also bakes-in continued cynicism around non-delivery - it won’t end well in so many ways.
Given last summer’s failed takeover discussions, this may not end well - may not be a significant house builder but capacity would still be a loss.
www.thetimes.com/article/aac5...
www.thetimes.com/article/aac5...
Crest Nicholson reports loss before tax of £143.7m for the year
The housebuilder said it was at risk of breaching a covenant on its bank lending in a ‘severe but plausible’ scenario
www.thetimes.com
February 4, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Given last summer’s failed takeover discussions, this may not end well - may not be a significant house builder but capacity would still be a loss.
www.thetimes.com/article/aac5...
www.thetimes.com/article/aac5...
Helpful thread, and fascinating data. Litchfield’s analysis suggests it takes up to 7yrs to convert sites into homes - planning permissions are probably half way through that period - so it’s clear that the 300+ permissions granted in late 2016+ aren’t being fully built out now.
It's also noticeable how rarely we've approved more than 300,000 homes in a 12 month period.
And when you consider that some of these will be amended consents on sites that already have permission, and we need to allow for some slippage too, we've probably never really done it.
And when you consider that some of these will be amended consents on sites that already have permission, and we need to allow for some slippage too, we've probably never really done it.
January 17, 2025 at 10:59 AM
Helpful thread, and fascinating data. Litchfield’s analysis suggests it takes up to 7yrs to convert sites into homes - planning permissions are probably half way through that period - so it’s clear that the 300+ permissions granted in late 2016+ aren’t being fully built out now.
Reposted by Jonathan Morgan
"What we need, then, is policy-based evidence-making, not evidence-based policymaking."
@michael-sanders.bsky.social says the publication of the Treasury's "Areas of Research Interest" shows academics must answer questions that are actually of interest to policymakers if they want to change things
@michael-sanders.bsky.social says the publication of the Treasury's "Areas of Research Interest" shows academics must answer questions that are actually of interest to policymakers if they want to change things
We need more policy-based evidence
Academics should focus on answering questions that are of interest to policymakers
www.kcl.ac.uk
January 8, 2025 at 9:20 AM
"What we need, then, is policy-based evidence-making, not evidence-based policymaking."
@michael-sanders.bsky.social says the publication of the Treasury's "Areas of Research Interest" shows academics must answer questions that are actually of interest to policymakers if they want to change things
@michael-sanders.bsky.social says the publication of the Treasury's "Areas of Research Interest" shows academics must answer questions that are actually of interest to policymakers if they want to change things
Reposted by Jonathan Morgan
This is from the Simple Field Sabotage Manual, published by the CIA in 1944.
It explains how enemy decisions could be slowed and productivity stifled.
And it bares an uncanny resemblance to the way we have chosen to determine planning applications.
👇👇👇
open.substack.com/pub/longwall...
It explains how enemy decisions could be slowed and productivity stifled.
And it bares an uncanny resemblance to the way we have chosen to determine planning applications.
👇👇👇
open.substack.com/pub/longwall...
December 12, 2024 at 7:33 AM
This is from the Simple Field Sabotage Manual, published by the CIA in 1944.
It explains how enemy decisions could be slowed and productivity stifled.
And it bares an uncanny resemblance to the way we have chosen to determine planning applications.
👇👇👇
open.substack.com/pub/longwall...
It explains how enemy decisions could be slowed and productivity stifled.
And it bares an uncanny resemblance to the way we have chosen to determine planning applications.
👇👇👇
open.substack.com/pub/longwall...