Wilfred Aspinall is a member of Hitchin Conservative Association and convenor of the HCA Policy Forum. He previously served as Honorary Chairman of the Forum in the European Parliament for Construction and Energy Users.
It is commonly agreed that under-40s have turned their back on the Conservatives. We need to adapt to meet the aspirations of the younger age groups. We need to go further and set out a clear forward projection of how a future Conservative government will improve the lot of younger people. We need to think about the way they live and hope to develop in their careers, their living standards, their desire for a good quality of life for their family, and the hopeful prospects of their children.
We need to adapt from a different society of yesterday and recognise that the 25-40 age group wants more opportunities to come their way. I think this is true for the next generational grouping up to 55. They want to hang onto what they have and thrive to improve their lot. Those older fear for their children and also for their future. The Conservatives can and should make a serious pitch to answer some of these age groups
The first issue is growth. Without it, all our aspirations are negated. We must build more houses and create the climate in which more people can buy and enjoy their own property, since the Conservative dream of house ownership appears to have been abandoned. We need to reform the planning regime to make the building of houses easier – together with commercial and infrastructure projects. These will release capital, provide a better quality of life, and make our citizens proud to own their own home.
The route is clear. Make the rules simpler, so it is less costly to build. Cut out unnecessary bureaucracy. Create an environment where builders have the certainty to borrow funds to build. Ensure that financial institutions are encouraged to do what they have always been good at and provide funds for the builder and mortgage schemes for the buyer. This would stimulate the economy.
We need to stop the ever-cautious regime where local authority resistance to building is governed by the NIMBY culture. There is a demand for more houses of all types and sizes but planners appear to have a field day in following out-of-date planning rules – restraint and the constant ability for some people to object. Demands to protect the “green belt” as against providing houses for the needs of people
This is an out-of-date strategy. Affordable houses will emerge according to a market economy demand – local amenities will be built in the deals that can be negotiated. We need to adopt a total change of attitude. Relax building rules, get more houses built, and demonstrate that buying a house is purchasing an asset for the future. Planning conditions should be reduced to a minimum. Many aim to satisfy a minority of vested interests, many of whom live in houses that have been built in areas that would today never be permitted to build.
Small builders and self-builders should be given maximum encouragement. Stamp duty on the purchase of land and the purchase of houses should be waived on all developments of 50 houses and under as a start to the future revolution to actually build 300,000 houses every year for the foreseeable future. Areas of land adjourning towns and villages should be made available to build on with permission granted. These and other incentives would add value to the nation’s wealth. The green belt is for all our usage.
The most interesting point is that this type of planning and building regime would come from private funding. The authorities (national and local) would see a win-win from tax on profits, tax on those employed, and council tax. The funds from the building levy could be used to improve local facilities.
Remember in a market economy the “same” money spins around from one activity to another. If an area becomes prosperous it is because there is employment, subsidiary trades to the house build are earning, all other private services are increased, taxes and council charges increased, all because assets are being purchased that one can be proud of for the future.
Under my plan, the nation gets new houses providing a better quality of life, and opportunity for the younger generations to own their property, ensuring future happiness for many people. The Conservatives should take this on board and make a pitch to our younger generations that the market under Conservative leadership can provide them with a better life in the future. Even the pensioners will be happy to see their own family prosper.
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Author: Wilfred Aspinall
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