The think tank ResPublica has today published a report on the creation of local plans to tackle the housing crisis:

The report, title “Devo Home” recommends the creation of “Local Place Partnerships”, dedicated to housebuilding and place-making.

Other recommendations include: 

– Citizens should be able to instigate Local Place Partnerships and take control of housebuilding and development in their areas. 

– the Homes and Community Agency should transfer surplus public sector land directly to Local Place Partnerships to ensure swift release and efficient use

– the use of local government pension funds to invest in new homes and development.

– where appropriate, the creation of cross-development plans that can take a ‘larger than local’ approach to development.

– introduce the use of Local Development Orders to capture the uplift in the value of land and offset the cost of affordable housing and infrastructure projects.

– trailblazing the use of new technology and methods to engage communities and give them real power over the shape and direction of their areas.

Does any of this sound like a Faversham Plan created through a Faversham Conversation? I think it has many echoes that reflect a common need among communities to reshape the way that local planning in done – to move it off the back foot and to play a few strokes again. 

If it’s working for the England cricket team, then why mightn’t it work for Faversham?