Matthew Bennett

We need to reclaim the idea of a 15-minute cities from the distortions and opportunism of conspiracy theorists... every neighbourhood, wealthy or not, well-connected or not, should be somewhere that people feel proud to call home - I wrote for @IndyVoices independent.co.uk/voices/15-minu…

Earlier today, I joined @ShamaTatler, @KiMcGuinness, and Evie John of @ICClimited to discuss inclusive growth We had a great discussion on the need for devolution, greater fiscal responsibility at a local level and the need for place based solutions to our challenges #Lab24

The bathos of a prime minister standing in the pouring rain trying to make his case to the country while his words are drowned out by things can only get better.

It shouldn't have to be like this, and eventually a long-term sustainable funding settlement is going to be needed for local government, but until then places need a plan that doesn't see them trading their right arm for a sticking plaster.

Almost certainly, the sale list has been drawn up on what's easiest to sell and what gets the quickest return, rather than based on what has the least long-term value to these councils and their communities.

This isn't a bailout of councils. It's a fire sale. theguardian.com/society/2024/f…

"Real wages ended 2023 at roughly the same level as in early 2008." The big picture is that the last 15 years have been a living standards disaster. newstatesman.com/comment/2024/0…

Hopefully the first step in moving us away from a debate about housing that starts and finishes with “You can’t put that there!” And shows a real seriousness about unblocking the economy from the risk of stagnation.

A proper plan for strategic use of land, backed by infrastructure, connected to transport, and with services and shops within walking distance is a million miles away from the handful of homes in green fields approach that so antagonises communities across the country.

Housebuilding has been seen as the third rail in British politics for far too long. Really pleased to see the detail coming forward from the ‘builders not blockers’ slogan. thetimes.co.uk/article/well-b…

A serious conversation about the housing crisis *has* to talk about green fields, has to talk about green belt, has to talk about new settlements and urban extensions - and sadly this intervention from the government falls far short on that score.

‘Brownfield only’ means running out of capacity pretty damn quick - or to starts to ask towns and cities to start cannibalising their commercial, industrial and retail spaces - which are exactly the spaces that make urban areas economically vibrant and successful

Strong sense of déjà vu here. I feel like we’ve heard that Brownfield land in cities is the pain free solution to the housing crisis for some time. 🧵 amp.theguardian.com/society/2023/j…

Have just seen some of the birth certificate discourse on here. My gf has loved our daughter since before she was even thought of. She was there when she was conceived, and when she implanted. She held her first as I recovered from an emergency c section.