Doom Spiral

Rob and Alex look at the future of UK house building. How the government might loosen up the planning system, release capital in an era of high interest rates, and keep up the supply of high quality labour. And the cultural changes we will need to embed if we want the 2020s to be another great era of house building productivity growth like the 1930s.

Rob and Alex examine how, since the 90s, the UK has ended up with historically low rates of house building and soaring prices. Despite low interest rates, high availability of labour, and high demand for housing. Discussing the planning system, market structure and incentives on developers.

Rob and Alex explore how post-WW2 governments tried to meet the urgent need for need housing after the war, despite a restrictive new planning system, labour shortages and high interest rates. And raised house building to its highest ever level, whilst causing yet another political backlash - against ugly new council estates.

Rob and Alex discuss the heyday of British house building in the 1930s. How cheap labour, low interest rates and light regulation came together to generate a transformative building boom - and a cultural backlash to match it...