Addressing the Land and Housing Crisis: A Call for Reform
We’re excited to introduce the first in a series of thought-leadership pieces from the Civic Voice Expert Forum. The inaugural article is by John Walker, Vice-Chair of the Canterbury Society, who makes a compelling case for long-overdue reforms in how we approach land development. We hope this piece sparks meaningful discussions within your communities.
In this post, John Walker, Vice-Chair of the Canterbury Society and a member of the Civic Voice Expert Forum, explores the pressing issues surrounding the housing crisis and the market for land. John delves into the historical context, referencing insights from John Stuart Mill and Winston Churchill, and proposes a radical rethinking of how we approach land development to ensure affordable housing for future generations.
John argues that the current system benefits landowners and developers at the expense of those in need of housing. He calls for a new approach where local authorities would have the power to acquire land at fair values that allow for sustainable and affordable development.
Don't miss this thought-provoking piece that challenges the status quo and calls for long-overdue reform.