Has Planning ever been so in vogue?

14 Oct 25

Two weeks ago, Iceni attended the Labour Conference in Liverpool to engage in the sharp end of policy debate and hear first-hand of Government plans to ensure that ‘Build Baby Build’ is not just another case of style over substance.

In August, when British Vogue declared that Autumn/Winter 2025 would be the ‘season of baseball caps’, little did they know their reach of influence. This year’s party conference season was undoubtedly defined by its merch and none more so than the humble baseball cap. Labour and Conservative members were adorned with their bespoke headgear, showcasing a rare moment of unity with embroidered messaging to “Build, Baby, Build”. The only difference between delegates in Manchester and Liverpool was the colouring of their respective caps, as the traditional red and blue politics was played out in a rather contemporary fashion.

On a more serious note, conference season offered an opportunity for both leaders to reset their narrative, turn the tide of public opinion and demonstrate credible solutions to Britain’s chronic housing crisis and sluggish economy. Two weeks ago, Iceni attended the Labour Conference in Liverpool to engage in the sharp end of policy debate and hear first-hand of Government plans to ensure that ‘Build Baby Build’ is not just another case of style over substance.

Spanning Saturday to Wednesday, the discussions were non-stop and focused on maximising the opportunities afforded by Planning Reform; Devolution and Local Government Reform; the re-introduction of Spatial Development Strategies; the need to overcome viability challenges, particularly on brownfield sites; and also exploring opportunities with the private sector to ‘sandbox’ delivery-side initiatives to “get more spades in the ground” which could be rolled out to the wider market if positive signals were shown.

Coinciding with the much-awaited New Town announcement, Iceni supported the launch of the New Towns Network at the conference. This group assembled MPs, Council Leaders, Cabinet Members and key industry representatives for their inaugural event, with the aim of sharing best practice for New Towns present and future, actively shaping policy and keeping pressure on Government to deliver upon this critical mission (for both country and party). Do reach out if you would like to be involved in the network going forward.

While the New Towns announcement was welcomed, there are still many unknowns. I was lucky enough to speak with Steve Reed, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, and get clarity on the role of New Towns and whether these identified growth locations would be in addition to, or are absorbed into, Local Housing Needs.

It’s clarity like this, and a collaborative approach instead of combative, that needs to be shared with industry if the private sector is to work shoulder-to-shoulder with Government to achieve the 1.5 million target. Understanding what a potential Development Corporation means for you and your interests will allow Board decisions to be made, investments to be committed to and strategies to be implemented. Having been in the room during these discussions, Iceni are already advising a number of clients in this regard.

While While Labour are quick to remind that a General Election is a ‘long while away, there is an imminent threat in 2026 of local elections in England, as well as Senedd elections in Wales and Scottish Parliamentary elections in Holyrood. Pressure is therefore mounting on Labour to demonstrate that recent policy and fiscal announcements can indeed boost housing delivery, support regional growth and improve the nations fortunes. If they fail in this mission, there is a threat that the currently favoured accessory and its ‘Build Baby Build’ slogan will become ‘so last season’, as the public turn on the Government and look for alternative inspiration to ‘Reform’ their fortunes…

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Has Planning ever been so in vogue?

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