Title

PLANNING

Councils should benefit from land value uplift - MPs

Increases in land value that result from public policy decisions should be shared with councils instead of ending up in the pockets of private developers, MPs have said.

Increases in land value that result from public policy decisions should be shared with councils instead of ending up in the pockets of private developers, MPs have said.

Government statistics show that agricultural land that is granted planning permission for residential use increases in value on average from £21,000 per hectare to £1.95m per hectare.

A report from the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee concluded that councils and Government should be able to capture a ‘significant proportion' of that uplift to invest in new infrastructure and public services.

Committee chair Clive Betts said: ‘As these increases are significantly created by the actions of the state, it is right that a significant proportion of this should be shared with the local community.'

PLANNING

Do devolution differently: without LGR

By Colin Copus | 14 August 2026

Steve Leach and Colin Copus write an open letter to the Prime Minister urging the government to rethink local government reorganisation and strengthen devolu...

PLANNING

Could changing the way we think about care help deliver economic growth?

By Jim McKenna | 14 August 2026

Research commissioned by Cornwall Council shows social care drives economic growth, jobs, wellbeing and wider social value, says Cllr Jim McKenna.

PLANNING

The case for fundamental reform of adult social care

By Alison Whiteley | 14 August 2026

Alison Whiteley explains why councils must help shape a more preventative, person-centred future for adult social care, and she says London is ready to work ...

PLANNING

Council tax harmonisation warning

By Dan Peters | 13 August 2026

Local authorities heading towards reorganisation face a lose-lose scenario on how to harmonise varying council tax bills, a finance director has warned.

Popular articles by William Eichler