Ant Breach
@antbreach.bsky.social
Director of Policy and Research at Centre for Cities, working on Housing, Planning, Devolution. Stuff on Ukraine + Eastern Europe and Japan + East Asia too. YIMBY. Views own etc. 🥑🇺🇦
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Ant Breach
@antbreach.bsky.social
· Nov 14
Instead the Government should treat big cities and the shires differently. Combined authority style structures work for the big cities, and move to single tier county government in the shires, as we've set out in our briefing Economy First: www.centreforcities.org/publication/...
It is probably too low for large parts of Inner London. This is the problem with trying to run local finance entirely from central government. Different property tax rates are suitable for different places, but central gov doesn't have the insight or ability to get it correct everywhere.
Either you support a tax on wealthier people or you don’t.
on.ft.com/44azcE6 Rachel Reeves under pressure to scale back Budget raid on expensive homes
on.ft.com/44azcE6 Rachel Reeves under pressure to scale back Budget raid on expensive homes
November 21, 2025 at 1:38 PM
It is probably too low for large parts of Inner London. This is the problem with trying to run local finance entirely from central government. Different property tax rates are suitable for different places, but central gov doesn't have the insight or ability to get it correct everywhere.
Reposted by Ant Breach
V good this. Would add: we also need to demolish more!
British cities are too flat — and it’s holding back housing supply.
Our new blog shows a big density gap with France and Japan, driven by missing mid-rise homes.
Read more 👉 buff.ly/mm3GBRX
Our new blog shows a big density gap with France and Japan, driven by missing mid-rise homes.
Read more 👉 buff.ly/mm3GBRX
November 20, 2025 at 12:26 PM
V good this. Would add: we also need to demolish more!
Reposted by Ant Breach
Great data in this thread.
And 100%, we never demolish any Victorian terraced houses, even if wrecked, its like they are sacred temples.
And 100%, we never demolish any Victorian terraced houses, even if wrecked, its like they are sacred temples.
(Incidentally this is because we demolish hardly anything. Contrary to claims that Britain is "addicted" to demolition, we only demolish 0.02 per cent of stock every year - 1 in every 5,000 homes)
November 20, 2025 at 1:16 PM
Great data in this thread.
And 100%, we never demolish any Victorian terraced houses, even if wrecked, its like they are sacred temples.
And 100%, we never demolish any Victorian terraced houses, even if wrecked, its like they are sacred temples.
Reposted by Ant Breach
Ah, but what price can we put on Birmingham successfully protecting its character while Japanese and French cities lose theirs through overdevelopment in pursuit of high quality modern and affordable housing in more prosperous and liveable cities?
The reason is because the built form of the urban core *outside the city centre* of British big cities is essentially frozen.
This is totally different to French and Japanese big cities which see construction across their urban core.
This is totally different to French and Japanese big cities which see construction across their urban core.
November 20, 2025 at 12:41 PM
Ah, but what price can we put on Birmingham successfully protecting its character while Japanese and French cities lose theirs through overdevelopment in pursuit of high quality modern and affordable housing in more prosperous and liveable cities?
Reposted by Ant Breach
You love brownfield? Name three petrol stations you'd demolish.
Everybody loves brownfield-first. But where exactly should we densify our cities? And how?
Our new report shows Britain's density gap is wider in the biggest cities outside London than in the capital - and the inner city 'urban cores' up to 5km out from the centre are to blame.
Our new report shows Britain's density gap is wider in the biggest cities outside London than in the capital - and the inner city 'urban cores' up to 5km out from the centre are to blame.
November 20, 2025 at 12:48 PM
You love brownfield? Name three petrol stations you'd demolish.
Everybody loves brownfield-first. But where exactly should we densify our cities? And how?
Our new report shows Britain's density gap is wider in the biggest cities outside London than in the capital - and the inner city 'urban cores' up to 5km out from the centre are to blame.
Our new report shows Britain's density gap is wider in the biggest cities outside London than in the capital - and the inner city 'urban cores' up to 5km out from the centre are to blame.
November 20, 2025 at 12:21 PM
Everybody loves brownfield-first. But where exactly should we densify our cities? And how?
Our new report shows Britain's density gap is wider in the biggest cities outside London than in the capital - and the inner city 'urban cores' up to 5km out from the centre are to blame.
Our new report shows Britain's density gap is wider in the biggest cities outside London than in the capital - and the inner city 'urban cores' up to 5km out from the centre are to blame.
The unfortunate thing here is that the Government will take a political hit from increasing council tax, but this won't solve either of its main problems - how centralisation 1) makes CT locally regressive and 2) cripples local growth incentives
November 2, 2025 at 6:35 PM
The unfortunate thing here is that the Government will take a political hit from increasing council tax, but this won't solve either of its main problems - how centralisation 1) makes CT locally regressive and 2) cripples local growth incentives
Reposted by Ant Breach
A Tokyo Station room called 松の間 (Matsu-no-ma) was for the Emperor if a train was delayed. Trains for the Emperor are never late, so it wasn't used in the Showa and Heisei eras. In March last year, it was used for the first time when the Emperor met the King of Norway, before they went to Kamakura.
November 1, 2025 at 6:46 AM
A Tokyo Station room called 松の間 (Matsu-no-ma) was for the Emperor if a train was delayed. Trains for the Emperor are never late, so it wasn't used in the Showa and Heisei eras. In March last year, it was used for the first time when the Emperor met the King of Norway, before they went to Kamakura.
The actual answer to this problem is to make it profitable to build at a lower price.
Quicker permitting, lower obligations on development, and a planning regime that is more certain and has a wider range of sites. All increase competition, range of business models, and customer demand for supply.
Quicker permitting, lower obligations on development, and a planning regime that is more certain and has a wider range of sites. All increase competition, range of business models, and customer demand for supply.
October 30, 2025 at 9:36 AM
The actual answer to this problem is to make it profitable to build at a lower price.
Quicker permitting, lower obligations on development, and a planning regime that is more certain and has a wider range of sites. All increase competition, range of business models, and customer demand for supply.
Quicker permitting, lower obligations on development, and a planning regime that is more certain and has a wider range of sites. All increase competition, range of business models, and customer demand for supply.
Reposted by Ant Breach
The Government has set a clear mission – to get the UK growing again 🌱
To achieve this, they will need to increase residential density.
Join us for the launch of a new report exploring where higher densities could be expected in UK cities👇
www.centreforcities.org/event/report...
To achieve this, they will need to increase residential density.
Join us for the launch of a new report exploring where higher densities could be expected in UK cities👇
www.centreforcities.org/event/report...
Report launch – Flat Britain: The urban density gap and how to solve it - Centre for Cities
Join Centre for Cities for the launch of a new report exploring where higher densities could be expected in UK cities.
www.centreforcities.org
October 29, 2025 at 10:07 AM
The Government has set a clear mission – to get the UK growing again 🌱
To achieve this, they will need to increase residential density.
Join us for the launch of a new report exploring where higher densities could be expected in UK cities👇
www.centreforcities.org/event/report...
To achieve this, they will need to increase residential density.
Join us for the launch of a new report exploring where higher densities could be expected in UK cities👇
www.centreforcities.org/event/report...
Reposted by Ant Breach
Once more for the evening shift. It's going to be a seven year shit tornado
October 24, 2025 at 7:33 PM
Once more for the evening shift. It's going to be a seven year shit tornado
Very interesting finding - aligns with Sir Peter Hall's observation that British cities became much more segregated by social class after the Town and Country Planning Act 1947 was passed, as it resulted in very different housing types and tenures being built in different parts of urban areas.
Was Manchester really as segregated as Engels said? What kept the rich and poor apart.... if anything? My first article is out today in @historicaljnl.bsky.social and I'm so pleased to share it with you all! doi:10.1017/S0018246X25101246
@stjohnscollege.bsky.social @camunicampop.bsky.social
@stjohnscollege.bsky.social @camunicampop.bsky.social
October 21, 2025 at 9:35 AM
Very interesting finding - aligns with Sir Peter Hall's observation that British cities became much more segregated by social class after the Town and Country Planning Act 1947 was passed, as it resulted in very different housing types and tenures being built in different parts of urban areas.
Great chart here from @resfoundation.bsky.social on housing costs by square metre by age. Britain's problems with Nimbyism and the planning system in a nutshell.
October 18, 2025 at 8:31 AM
Great chart here from @resfoundation.bsky.social on housing costs by square metre by age. Britain's problems with Nimbyism and the planning system in a nutshell.
Reposted by Ant Breach
Long(ish) thread by my colleague @antbreach.bsky.social setting the story and analysis from our latest briefing on big city productivity.
The official data on productivity shows Britain's big cities have decoupled from the national economy. But while the big cities outside the capital are roaring ahead, London is stagnating.
But can we trust this data? Are our regional divides closing? Our new paper investigates:
But can we trust this data? Are our regional divides closing? Our new paper investigates:
October 17, 2025 at 6:41 AM
Long(ish) thread by my colleague @antbreach.bsky.social setting the story and analysis from our latest briefing on big city productivity.
Reposted by Ant Breach
The official data on productivity shows Britain's big cities have decoupled from the national economy. But while the big cities outside the capital are roaring ahead, London is stagnating.
But can we trust this data? Are our regional divides closing? Our new paper investigates:
But can we trust this data? Are our regional divides closing? Our new paper investigates:
October 16, 2025 at 8:08 AM
The official data on productivity shows Britain's big cities have decoupled from the national economy. But while the big cities outside the capital are roaring ahead, London is stagnating.
But can we trust this data? Are our regional divides closing? Our new paper investigates:
But can we trust this data? Are our regional divides closing? Our new paper investigates:
The official data on productivity shows Britain's big cities have decoupled from the national economy. But while the big cities outside the capital are roaring ahead, London is stagnating.
But can we trust this data? Are our regional divides closing? Our new paper investigates:
But can we trust this data? Are our regional divides closing? Our new paper investigates:
October 16, 2025 at 8:08 AM
The official data on productivity shows Britain's big cities have decoupled from the national economy. But while the big cities outside the capital are roaring ahead, London is stagnating.
But can we trust this data? Are our regional divides closing? Our new paper investigates:
But can we trust this data? Are our regional divides closing? Our new paper investigates:
Reposted by Ant Breach
The DLR just got better.
54 brand new, state-of-the-art trains are rolling out over the next year - with more space, air con, phone charging points and improved accessibility.
54 brand new, state-of-the-art trains are rolling out over the next year - with more space, air con, phone charging points and improved accessibility.
October 13, 2025 at 6:05 AM
The DLR just got better.
54 brand new, state-of-the-art trains are rolling out over the next year - with more space, air con, phone charging points and improved accessibility.
54 brand new, state-of-the-art trains are rolling out over the next year - with more space, air con, phone charging points and improved accessibility.
Great piece on how campaigning lawyers changed British politics
An underrated aspect of judicial review is it fuels centralisation. If campaigning lawyers convince a judge to give every mayor and council in the country a new statutory duty, local democracy dies a little more.
An underrated aspect of judicial review is it fuels centralisation. If campaigning lawyers convince a judge to give every mayor and council in the country a new statutory duty, local democracy dies a little more.
Law is politics by other means. Wrote about Leigh Day, the law firm that love suing the government www.economist.com/britain/2025...
October 9, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Great piece on how campaigning lawyers changed British politics
An underrated aspect of judicial review is it fuels centralisation. If campaigning lawyers convince a judge to give every mayor and council in the country a new statutory duty, local democracy dies a little more.
An underrated aspect of judicial review is it fuels centralisation. If campaigning lawyers convince a judge to give every mayor and council in the country a new statutory duty, local democracy dies a little more.
Packed room for our @centreforcities.bsky.social In Conversation event with the Mayor of Greater Manchester @andyburnham.bsky.social
October 6, 2025 at 12:39 PM
Packed room for our @centreforcities.bsky.social In Conversation event with the Mayor of Greater Manchester @andyburnham.bsky.social
Packed room for our @centreforcities.bsky.social In Conversation event with the Mayor of Greater Manchester @andyburnham.bsky.social
October 6, 2025 at 12:19 PM
Packed room for our @centreforcities.bsky.social In Conversation event with the Mayor of Greater Manchester @andyburnham.bsky.social
Very sensible column here from Chris. We need to properly think through the political economy and geography of property taxation to reform it
It's broadly a mistake to clump stamp duty and council tax together as they both tax property - that they are each national and local is extremely important!
It's broadly a mistake to clump stamp duty and council tax together as they both tax property - that they are each national and local is extremely important!
The economics profession is almost united in calling for major reforms to UK property tax fast. They’re badly misguided
Think twice before rushing to fix the UK’s broken property taxes
on.ft.com/48FYT2s
Think twice before rushing to fix the UK’s broken property taxes
on.ft.com/48FYT2s
October 2, 2025 at 8:05 AM
Very sensible column here from Chris. We need to properly think through the political economy and geography of property taxation to reform it
It's broadly a mistake to clump stamp duty and council tax together as they both tax property - that they are each national and local is extremely important!
It's broadly a mistake to clump stamp duty and council tax together as they both tax property - that they are each national and local is extremely important!
Great news to hear Aarhus' cap on legal costs is under review - a whopping subsidy to comedy legal cases from Nimbys, funded by you, the taxpayer
September 27, 2025 at 10:26 AM
Great news to hear Aarhus' cap on legal costs is under review - a whopping subsidy to comedy legal cases from Nimbys, funded by you, the taxpayer
Leaving aside that many of these sites are in cities with low demand + we have a shortage of 4.3 million homes vs Europe:
The TCPA 1947 planning system makes it even more difficult to build on brownfield land than greenfield. If you want more urban housebuilding, you should want planning reform!
The TCPA 1947 planning system makes it even more difficult to build on brownfield land than greenfield. If you want more urban housebuilding, you should want planning reform!
Almost 1.5m homes could be built on brownfield sites in England, report finds
Almost 1.5m homes could be built on brownfield sites in England, report finds
Exclusive: CPRE study suggests housebuilding targets can be met without encroaching on green belt land
Almost 1.5m new homes could be built on brownfield sites in England to avoid encroaching on green belt and meet the government target for housing growth by the end of this parliament, new figures suggest.
But despite the scale of brownfield land available, developers are pushing to build on green land, including increased housebuilding on and adjacent to areas of outstanding natural beauty. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
September 24, 2025 at 6:55 AM
Leaving aside that many of these sites are in cities with low demand + we have a shortage of 4.3 million homes vs Europe:
The TCPA 1947 planning system makes it even more difficult to build on brownfield land than greenfield. If you want more urban housebuilding, you should want planning reform!
The TCPA 1947 planning system makes it even more difficult to build on brownfield land than greenfield. If you want more urban housebuilding, you should want planning reform!
Reposted by Ant Breach
Cool views, plus got to see @antbreach.bsky.social in person!
September 20, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Cool views, plus got to see @antbreach.bsky.social in person!