Dangers in the political domain influencing land advancement and development
The UK development sector has faced numerous challenges due to political impasses, with housing targets being effectively scrapped and local plans stalled. This situation is often a result of short-term political thinking and entrenched NIMBYism within communities. However, proposals for a future free from such political impacts are emerging.
These proposals focus on enhancing democratic integrity, closing loopholes for political interference, and fostering long-term commitment through institutional reforms and legislative safeguards.
One key area of focus is electoral and political finance reforms. The UK government plans to implement seismic changes to electoral law, aiming to protect democracy from abusive practices and foreign interference. Measures include a more automated voter registration system, tougher fines for breaches of political finance rules, and stricter regulations on political donations to prevent disguised foreign funding and political influence.
Additionally, efforts are being made to protect election candidates from intimidation and abuse, especially among women and ethnic minorities. This includes removing public home addresses from candidate listings and boosting legal protections against abusive behavior.
The government is also strengthening legal and regulatory frameworks, with reforms to the National Security and Investment Act regime to clarify and streamline national security-related deal scrutiny. This indirectly supports safeguarding sectors, including development, from inappropriate political or foreign influence.
For local governance and development decisions, there is an emphasis on wide engagement with stakeholders, including MPs, residents, businesses, and workers, to ensure proposals for local government reorganisation or development plans reflect sustained local input rather than short-term political whims. While there is no requirement for local referendums on reorganisations, broad consultation processes aim to build trust and shared understanding over time.
The efficiency and consistency of the engagement process in a national approach to development is also being considered. While three rounds of consultation on a design code might not be the best route to fast-tracking development, an 'infrastructure first' approach, which brings together infrastructure, housing, energy, and climate change in a de-politicized environment, can expedite the creation of new settlements and may be part of the solution.
In the current general election, the development sector does not seem to be affected, as the process from a local plan's 'call for sites' to a land sale often extends beyond a four-year political term. The next election should not be fought on opposition to development, and a government that could enable this, if necessary by relinquishing some local political power, could achieve a lasting legacy for which they would be proud.
These political impasses are not insurmountable. By implementing these proposed reforms and adopting an 'infrastructure first' approach, the UK can strive towards a future where development is no longer hindered by short-term political thinking and can instead be driven by a commitment to providing the housing that the country needs.
References: [1] BBC News (2021). Electoral reforms: What changes are being proposed? [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-56286334 [2] The Guardian (2021). Electoral reforms: Tougher penalties for breaches of political finance rules proposed. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/may/17/electoral-reforms-tougher-penalties-for-breaches-of-political-finance-rules-proposed [3] The Conversation (2021). Why community engagement is crucial for local government reorganisation. [online] Available at: https://theconversation.com/why-community-engagement-is-crucial-for-local-government-reorganisation-163891 [4] The Financial Times (2021). UK government to overhaul foreign investment rules. [online] Available at: https://www.ft.com/content/f607d8b2-b33e-4e80-a4d1-b7882533e21e [5] The Guardian (2021). UK government to overhaul foreign investment rules. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/apr/19/uk-government-to-overhaul-foreign-investment-rules-with-new-powers-to-scrutinise-deals
- The government's proposals involve enhancing democratic integrity through electoral and political finance reforms, aiming to protect democracy from abusive practices and foreign interference, and to prevent disguised foreign funding and political influence.
- Strengthening legal and regulatory frameworks is another focus, as reforms to the National Security and Investment Act regime are planned to clarify and streamline national security-related deal scrutiny, supporting sectors like development from inappropriate political or foreign influence.
- In the local governance and development context, a de-politicized 'infrastructure first' approach could expedite the creation of new settlements, ensuring that proposals for local government reorganisation or development plans reflect sustained local input and not short-term political whims.
