NEW: Labour just announced the biggest change in planning policy in 80 years. My breakdown of the key measures and whether they will succeed. www.samdumitriu.com/p/labour-are...

This is potentially one of the most transformational policies this government has done if it holds its nerve.

Really good and thoughtful write-up of one of the most positive changes Labour is attempting to make, this:

I am consistently amazed the Building Safety Regulator isn’t a much bigger story. It’s brought house building in London to a total halt, but it’s also brought cladding remedy works to a halt, too. Which is costing leaseholders FORTUNES, halting sales, and leaving people living in unsafe buildings.

Haven't read a single 2025 fiction book. Are there any releases from this year that people recommend?

Extremely good stuff 👍 www.gov.uk/government/p...

This is a vital report. Whether or not the Government accept it in full, is a test of whether they are serious about growth.

The findings of the Nuclear Regulatory Taskforce lay bare the litany of regulations that make Britain the most expensive place in the world to build nuclear power stations. 1/4

Underrated characteristic of Mamdani that works in his favour is he has quite a kindly smile

Customers invited to celebrate decades' long failure to complete the Croxley Rail Link

Join us tonight at Lib Dem Party Conference. Britain Remade drinks reception - 9.30pm to 11pm in the Bryanston Suite in the Highcliff Marriott Hotel.

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

🚨 NEW: Our analysis shows the Government is on track to miss its 1.5m housing target by nearly half a million homes

The Sharron Davies Lords appointment sums Kemi's leadership up in that she'd rather use one of a very limited number of peerages up on a single issue campaigner, than someone that would use the Lords for the wider benefit of her party

What’s the point of a licence fee or anything like it if not to provide coverage of the boring but important stuff? Stopping Politics Live just the latest in the slow killing of any proper coverage of the party conferences.

Reposting this piece (from a September heat wave 2 years ago) about how air conditioning could be helpful in tackling climate change. Air con is usually actually a type of heat pump, and can provide efficient, clean heating as well as cooling www.nesta.org.uk/blog/how-air...

36 degrees indoors! Have a look at the temperatures our supporters recorded at home with no air con (post a pic in the replies if you can beat them!) Only 5% of British households have air con due to anti-air con rules. It's time to change them and COOL BRITANNIA.

London hasn't built enough homes since the 1930s. 1937: 3 page planning application 2025: 1,250 pages (25 pages longer than War and Peace) It didn't used to be this hard to build homes, it doesn't need to be today.

Feel like the camp, day-time tv, low culture element of Reform is a very important part of its identity as a party and political project, but undercommented on.

9th anniversary of Brexit means that nobody you meet under the age of 27 voted in the referendum. Feels like quite an important thing to remember, really.

Interesting that the mission to land man on the moon polled really poorly at the time

We need Estate Renewal Passports to give automatic planning permission to plans residents support. At the Aberfeldy Estate in London, a plan to turn 330 post-war homes into 1,600 new ones was rejected, despite 93% support from residents (who all get new homes).

🥪💼NEW LUNCHTIME BRIEFING 💼🥪 How can we make planning reform work for workers? 🗓️ Friday 6 June, 12-12.30pm We've teamed up with Community trade union to find out. Join our Sam Richards and @samdumitriu.bsky.social, with @domarmstrong.bsky.social. www.britainremade.co.uk/lunchtime_br...

"What do the Scottish public think about the ban on new nuclear power?" In my latest post, I take a deep dive into some recent @britainremade.bsky.social polling to look at attitudes to the Scottish Government's effective ban on new nuclear power: normielisation.substack.com/p/what-do-th...

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. 🧵

💫 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...

Welcome news, but worth remembering that the £300m spent on the planning application for the Lower Thames Crossing is more than it cost Norway to actually *build* the world’s longest road tunnel and the world’s deepest subsea tunnel.

Enjoyed the ride of this, but it's a hell of a lot of "book" for a novel that doesn't quite stick it's landing.

Wild how the 'technology' of the alphabet we use in English has barely changed in 2 millennia

This feels like a terrible precedent to set to me? www.newscientist.com/article/2472...

A truly remarkable story this www.express.co.uk/news/politic...

Obviously the Canadian election hasn't actually happened yet, but this is yet another important datapoint against inevitability in electoral politics.

Me: *exists* My 2 year old: "NO DADDY!"

Places in Europe that are smaller than Leeds but have trams.

Think this v good piece has two important big insights: 1) Reform voters are functionally pre GE 2019 BXP voters. These people have already held their nose once for the tories and were phenomenally let down open.substack.com/pub/marlowe1...

Going to Cambridge (without the kids) for a night on Saturday. What are some good things to do? Only ever been for assorted work things over the years

Why is building new nuclear power in Britain so expensive? @samdumitriu.bsky.social explains why, and why it doesn't have to be. Part 1/2

A south London ICON

The FT reports that Sizewell C's price tag is likely to hit £40bn. This would make it the 2nd most expensive nuclear power station in the world. (Hinkley Point C is the most.) It doesn't need to be this way. South Korea builds nuclear plants for one-sixth of the cost.

My son's first nativity went well

How the planning system stole progress. We're pointing a festive finger at it for delaying progress in housing, transport and clean energy. youtu.be/qHsOEU4gvXo?...

Our latest work with @createstreets.bsky.social looks at how to make new towns a success

New towns are back on the agenda. If we build them fast and well, they can contribute both economic growth and relief to the housing crisis. New towns could deliver 550,000 new homes, and boost the economy by £13-28 billion per year. How? See thread below.

I was 5 last time we won at old Trafford

We welcome the announcement that 4 nuclear power plants will have their working lives extended - but we should never have been in the position where we nearly had no nuclear energy on the grid. Time to crack on and get building new nuclear.

Thought Paddington 3 was a fine kids adventure film which means it pales in comparison to its predecessors.

There's a very real chance we end up with no nuclear on the grid in 2029. But there's a solution: extending the lifespan of our existing AGR reactors

The 25/25/25 point edges slowly closer. cc @jdriver89.bsky.social bsky.app/profile/luke...

Keen for recommendations as the year draws to a close. What has been the best book you've read this year?