Years ago I asked a planner what it would mean to develop a plan which prioritised human welfare. He responded by arguing that what his place really needed was some new humans because the humans they did have were too poor, too unqualified, too sick…which was why there were executive homes on greenfield sites, to ‘drive growth'.

I have been reminded of this conversation in recent weeks as planning reform has headlined Labour's mission to boost economic growth. The current planning regime is being presented as a major brake on growth which needs reform to support the development of housing and infrastructure.