‘Freedom is the by-product of economic surplus’ - Aneurin Bevan

Mission‑driven government needs more than ambition:  we must rewrite the rules of the game. Today for @britishprogress.bsky.social, Pedro and I show how mechanism design (‘ reverse game theory’) can help the Government shape markets, crowd in investment and deliver radical reform.

This is a must read for anyone who cares about building more homes and other infrastructure. Brilliant work by @anyamartin.bsky.social

A fascinating and important paper showing how better state capacity (in this case justices of the peace) accelerated the Industrial Revolution. nofuturepast.wordpress.com/2025/05/13/j...

NEW: Government reforms just announced will slash the time to deliver infrastructure! These are big changes:

According to this story, the total cost of the Lower Thames Crossing will be £10bn, and £450m, or 4.5%, is planning - on.ft.com/4jeSUUK via @financialtimes.com An anonymous source says the planning investment will lower the risk of overruns or unexpected costs.

🚨 We’re hiring! If you're passionate about fixing the housing crisis and want real impact — whether through policy or campaigns — we want to hear from you. Help us build a future with more homes for all 🏘️👇

NEW: we're looking to hire a Campaigns Officer! Do you know someone passionate about housing who would be a great fit? Please send them our way! (link in next post)

NEW | Grey belt: the underestimated game-changer for housing @johnrmyers.bsky.social, Director of YIMBY Alliance, outlines the homes already being unlocked by Labour’s new reforms to low-quality ‘grey belt’ land redbrickblog.co.uk/2025/04/grey...

Average Home Size In US States vs Western European Countries For size in sq Meters see: brilliantmaps.com/home-size...

This is an intriguing addition to the centre-left think tank space, with an impressively dynamic leadership - I will be interested to see the ideas they produce!

💫 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...

NEW: the Office for Budget Responsibility estimates that the Government’s reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework will produce an extra 170,000 homes, raising GDP by 0.5%!

NEW | Attlee’s secret weapon to build homes: zoning Ahead of today’s Planning and Infrastructure Bill, @johnrmyers.bsky.social looks back to the Special Development Orders used by Attlee to supercharge housebuilding: redbrickblog.co.uk/2025/03/attl...

Wanted: a Britain economics writer www.economist.com/britain/2025...

I wrote about the many consequences of housing shortages, with comments from @peterkanne2024.bsky.social, @johnrmyers.bsky.social and others. (In Dutch but Google Translate does a good job.)

In Boston, MA today and tomorrow! Anyone want to catch up or suggest someone I should meet?

UK Day One is an inspiring organisation working to drive UK growth and progress. This is a great opportunity for someone enthusiastic to work with the brilliant @jujulemons.bsky.social and @davidlawrenceuk.bsky.social, and make a real difference helping the whole country. ukdayone.org/headofopps

Applications for the No 10 Innovation Fellowships are now open!

Where should the new towns go? And why is our thinking on new towns important for more than just new towns? Read my new report for @centreforcities.bsky.social – out today!

NEW REPORT | Restarting housebuilding III: New towns and land value capture 🏘️ Our latest report focuses on where best to develop New Towns and presents new modelling on the potential land value capture from these developments. Read the full report👇 www.centreforcities.org/publication/...

Huge new announcement: planning applications that comply with the local development plan will bypass planning committees and be decided by officers to speed up building! Deputy PM Angela Rayner said the current planning process is acting like a "drag anchor" on housing. www.bbc.com/news/article...

Encouraging that the new Government milestone is for ‘clean’ power, not solely wind and solar. Could pave the way to improving the approval processes for nuclear power, to add jobs and cheaper energy by capturing some of the coming wave of international investment in datacentres and power for them.

A major new report from @centreforcities.bsky.social calls for the Government to take much bolder action on reform to be sure to achieve its goal of 1.5 million new homes this Parliament! (thread)

The UK could accelerate the path to net zero and cheaper energy with better nuclear power policy and regulation. An impressive new report from @tonelangengen.bsky.social @jeegarkakkad.bsky.social at al is featured in today’s Guardian. institute.global/insights/cli...

UKRI is recruiting a Director to lead work on R&D and Place. A great opportunity for an action-oriented leader who wants to tackle the many well-documented issues of the geography of R&D in the UK! careersportal.taleo.net/careersectio...

I have made a UK growth & progress starter pack! Let me know if you want to be added, or if I have missed anyone. go.bsky.app/2AGSHqi

The consultation period to create the new town of Milton Keynes took just 6 weeks.

I've created a starter pack of housing accounts worth following: go.bsky.app/CiCBZee

I've created a starter pack of housing accounts worth following: go.bsky.app/CiCBZee

This thoughtful piece sets out the large potential benefits if the UK improves its processes for allowing investments in datacentres and the accompanying power, to capture some of the coming global tidal wave of private investment. inferencemagazine.substack.com/p/getting-ai...

English home prices* are explained by a mixture of access to good jobs and the amenities of each area. London is expensive, but so are the nicest parts of the south coast. An underrated paper from @henryoverman.bsky.social explores this. 🧵 *adjusted for size and quality

Economists tell us that prices give us useful information. Around Cambridge, Oxford and London, they are screaming at us. Image from our new interactive map: yimbyalliance.org/2024/09/13/l...