Richard Hebditch
@richard.hebditch.org
I'm a board member of London TravelWatch & coordinator of the Better Planning Coalition. Previously: charities streets transport heritage environment philanthropy
IFS proposal: monthly indexation of fuel duties in line with the Consumer Prices Index (from ifs.org.uk/books/road-m...)
November 28, 2025 at 3:07 PM
IFS proposal: monthly indexation of fuel duties in line with the Consumer Prices Index (from ifs.org.uk/books/road-m...)
I am interested why people all seem to strongly believe the Budget statement that fuel duty will definitely rise next year. There is more detail on how this would be done, but this would be the biggest rise in fuel duty since at least the 1980s and could easily be knocked off course by opposition.
November 28, 2025 at 2:51 PM
I am interested why people all seem to strongly believe the Budget statement that fuel duty will definitely rise next year. There is more detail on how this would be done, but this would be the biggest rise in fuel duty since at least the 1980s and could easily be knocked off course by opposition.
...as mentioned about expansion of the ETS to cover share of international shipping (from Budget policy costings document)
November 26, 2025 at 3:44 PM
...as mentioned about expansion of the ETS to cover share of international shipping (from Budget policy costings document)
These two paragraphs are the only mentions of climate change and greenhouse gas emissions in the electric vehicle road pricing consultation. No mention of "environment" either.
It is not a policy interested in anything other than revenue and the administrative ease of running the system.
It is not a policy interested in anything other than revenue and the administrative ease of running the system.
November 26, 2025 at 3:06 PM
These two paragraphs are the only mentions of climate change and greenhouse gas emissions in the electric vehicle road pricing consultation. No mention of "environment" either.
It is not a policy interested in anything other than revenue and the administrative ease of running the system.
It is not a policy interested in anything other than revenue and the administrative ease of running the system.
Consultation on the tourism tax is out. Uses could be "towards capital investment and to access borrowing" for things like "improved public transport, regeneration of the public realm, or
providing housing...and investing in cultural and visitor attraction" plus resource spending on things like:
providing housing...and investing in cultural and visitor attraction" plus resource spending on things like:
November 26, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Consultation on the tourism tax is out. Uses could be "towards capital investment and to access borrowing" for things like "improved public transport, regeneration of the public realm, or
providing housing...and investing in cultural and visitor attraction" plus resource spending on things like:
providing housing...and investing in cultural and visitor attraction" plus resource spending on things like:
Also good news (though a long time to wait for action on unequal VAT rates and unnecessarily high standing charges for EV charging):
November 26, 2025 at 2:07 PM
Also good news (though a long time to wait for action on unequal VAT rates and unnecessarily high standing charges for EV charging):
Bit keener on the nuclear recommendations in the Budget document than implied in the speech
November 26, 2025 at 1:56 PM
Bit keener on the nuclear recommendations in the Budget document than implied in the speech
DLR extension to Thamesmead financed by TfL/GLA borrowing but HMT will help with payments - amounts tbc @murkydepths.bsky.social
November 26, 2025 at 12:20 PM
DLR extension to Thamesmead financed by TfL/GLA borrowing but HMT will help with payments - amounts tbc @murkydepths.bsky.social
SMMT doesn't like the EV road pricing policy but should pleased that their longstanding lobbying on the expensive car supplement has finally had results
November 26, 2025 at 12:14 PM
SMMT doesn't like the EV road pricing policy but should pleased that their longstanding lobbying on the expensive car supplement has finally had results
Only 7% of Motability cars are UK-made at the moment. Excluding luxury brands takes out quite a few UK options, so perhaps just left with a small range from Mini, Toyota and Nissan?
UK car production also struggling since Brexit, and trade reules more challenging still with switch to EVs.
UK car production also struggling since Brexit, and trade reules more challenging still with switch to EVs.
November 25, 2025 at 1:36 PM
Only 7% of Motability cars are UK-made at the moment. Excluding luxury brands takes out quite a few UK options, so perhaps just left with a small range from Mini, Toyota and Nissan?
UK car production also struggling since Brexit, and trade reules more challenging still with switch to EVs.
UK car production also struggling since Brexit, and trade reules more challenging still with switch to EVs.
More emphasis on brownfield first in the new NPPF and NDMPs? Though as most areas aren't able to meet their housing targets so greenfield development can get approval anyway this may be purely academic.
November 25, 2025 at 10:32 AM
More emphasis on brownfield first in the new NPPF and NDMPs? Though as most areas aren't able to meet their housing targets so greenfield development can get approval anyway this may be purely academic.
Seven Labour rebels tonight on Sîan Berry's amendment on a climate and nature duty
November 24, 2025 at 10:38 PM
Seven Labour rebels tonight on Sîan Berry's amendment on a climate and nature duty
Vote on chalk streams in the Lords. One for Lib Dem focus leaflets perhaps.
votes.parliament.uk/votes/lords/...
votes.parliament.uk/votes/lords/...
November 24, 2025 at 8:56 PM
Vote on chalk streams in the Lords. One for Lib Dem focus leaflets perhaps.
votes.parliament.uk/votes/lords/...
votes.parliament.uk/votes/lords/...
Good London TravelWatch session with TfL Commissioner Andy Lord this afternoon. I was struck by how safety is taken for granted by those outside transport orgs but is number one issue for those working inside transport providers.
View from Palestra below
View from Palestra below
November 24, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Good London TravelWatch session with TfL Commissioner Andy Lord this afternoon. I was struck by how safety is taken for granted by those outside transport orgs but is number one issue for those working inside transport providers.
View from Palestra below
View from Palestra below
2. Implication that the duty on public bodies to further the statutory purposes of national parks and national landscapes should be scrapped
November 24, 2025 at 11:02 AM
2. Implication that the duty on public bodies to further the statutory purposes of national parks and national landscapes should be scrapped
1. Nuclear as a whole would get an opt out of the Habitats Directive and of the mitigation hierarchy moving direct to paying for compensatory measures elsewhere
November 24, 2025 at 11:01 AM
1. Nuclear as a whole would get an opt out of the Habitats Directive and of the mitigation hierarchy moving direct to paying for compensatory measures elsewhere
Climate, nature & clean air amendment has support from Labour, Lib Dem, Green and Conservative MPs. Hopefully the Government will table their own amendment on this in the Lords.
November 24, 2025 at 8:28 AM
Climate, nature & clean air amendment has support from Labour, Lib Dem, Green and Conservative MPs. Hopefully the Government will table their own amendment on this in the Lords.
Are we building the homes we need for an ageing population? Most of the new households in the next 7 years will be headed by someone over 65, and over a third by someone over 75. (from ONS household projections)
November 20, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Are we building the homes we need for an ageing population? Most of the new households in the next 7 years will be headed by someone over 65, and over a third by someone over 75. (from ONS household projections)
Most of the projected increase in the number of households will come from households with an older household reference person over 65
ONS household projections: www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopula...
ONS household projections: www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopula...
November 20, 2025 at 6:35 PM
Most of the projected increase in the number of households will come from households with an older household reference person over 65
ONS household projections: www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopula...
ONS household projections: www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopula...
Apropos of nothing in particular that might be happening, I enjoyed this very Yes, Minister exchange between the Sec of State and the Perm Sec at the select committee last week:
November 17, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Apropos of nothing in particular that might be happening, I enjoyed this very Yes, Minister exchange between the Sec of State and the Perm Sec at the select committee last week:
Not sure that Planning Inspectorate publications are the most thrilling reads generally - but this update on major infrastructure schemes is interesting (to me at least) in showing just how many schemes are energy related.
Here's the schemes currently in progress - just two freight & one H2
Here's the schemes currently in progress - just two freight & one H2
November 17, 2025 at 1:30 PM
Not sure that Planning Inspectorate publications are the most thrilling reads generally - but this update on major infrastructure schemes is interesting (to me at least) in showing just how many schemes are energy related.
Here's the schemes currently in progress - just two freight & one H2
Here's the schemes currently in progress - just two freight & one H2
Photo below is one of the four new Lewisham homes in our street that should be going to families in temp accommodation. 2018: Planning permission given and garage tenants kicked out. 2020: site cleared.
2022: included in the pre-election claim of 1,200 homes delivered.
2025: Still not finished.
2022: included in the pre-election claim of 1,200 homes delivered.
2025: Still not finished.
November 15, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Photo below is one of the four new Lewisham homes in our street that should be going to families in temp accommodation. 2018: Planning permission given and garage tenants kicked out. 2020: site cleared.
2022: included in the pre-election claim of 1,200 homes delivered.
2025: Still not finished.
2022: included in the pre-election claim of 1,200 homes delivered.
2025: Still not finished.
My daughter's friend bailed so went with her to Alex G at the Hammersmith Apollo last night. Nice to be at a gig where the audience isn't quite so middle aged
November 15, 2025 at 9:36 AM
My daughter's friend bailed so went with her to Alex G at the Hammersmith Apollo last night. Nice to be at a gig where the audience isn't quite so middle aged
Really good @evaengland.org.uk session with Vicky Read of Charge UK earlier.
One of her slides explains why public charging costs so much:
- higher energy costs since Russian invasion of Ukraine
- HMT levying full VAT rate (domestic rate is just 5%)
- Ofgem changing formula for standing charges
One of her slides explains why public charging costs so much:
- higher energy costs since Russian invasion of Ukraine
- HMT levying full VAT rate (domestic rate is just 5%)
- Ofgem changing formula for standing charges
November 14, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Really good @evaengland.org.uk session with Vicky Read of Charge UK earlier.
One of her slides explains why public charging costs so much:
- higher energy costs since Russian invasion of Ukraine
- HMT levying full VAT rate (domestic rate is just 5%)
- Ofgem changing formula for standing charges
One of her slides explains why public charging costs so much:
- higher energy costs since Russian invasion of Ukraine
- HMT levying full VAT rate (domestic rate is just 5%)
- Ofgem changing formula for standing charges
House price changes for existing and new build properties since the general election (only to June this year - data from landregistry.data.gov.uk/app/ukhpi/?l...)
Cost inflation is driver of increase in prices rather than demand-led, I would suggest.
Cost inflation is driver of increase in prices rather than demand-led, I would suggest.
November 14, 2025 at 12:50 PM
House price changes for existing and new build properties since the general election (only to June this year - data from landregistry.data.gov.uk/app/ukhpi/?l...)
Cost inflation is driver of increase in prices rather than demand-led, I would suggest.
Cost inflation is driver of increase in prices rather than demand-led, I would suggest.