An overview of the changes planned by the Labour Government and how they will revolutionise the planning system to create economic growth across the Golden Triangle region - Oxford, Cambridge, Reading and west London.

Urban design director for WWA Studios Johnathan Headland joined us for the first Battle & Bunce podcast since the General Election.

And it was the new Labour Government’s plans to get housebuilding moving and improve the planning system that provided the basis for a thorough look at where we are headed over the next five years.

Johnathan named councils where the Local Plan hasn’t been updated since the 1990s and he sees the new urgency to unclog the system likely to bring about many more of the homes the country needs.

He argues that new towns will not relieve the crisis quickly enough and shares his thoughts on the restrictions on building in legacy cities such as Oxford where developers cannot build as high as they would like due to the impact on views of the dreaming spires.

And infrastructure, both in terms of transport and energy, and schools and hospitals, was up for discussion along with the NIMBY debate happening cross the Home Counties as the Green Belt comes under increasing threat.

The Battle & Bunce podcast Interviews the people making the headlines across key property markets of Reading, Oxford, Cambridge and west London, loosely labelled the 'The Golden Triangle'.

Additional notes and details can be found in the weekly journal The Forum published by UK Property Forums.

www.ukpropertyforums.com

When Lichfields director Dan Lampard wrote about the planning issues around Jeremy Clarkson's Diddly Squat farm for Thames Tap in June 2023, the response was beyond our wildest expectations.

Dan, who is senior director and head of Thames Valley, and lives in West Oxfordshire, not far from Diddly Squat, gave a rare perspective on life and planning in that part of the world and, in the process, brought us our most-read story ever – around 100,000 page views.

So, after months of trying to match our various diaries, and just as a new series of Clarkson's Farm is under way, Dan joined us to talk about the issues almost a year on from his original article.

Is Clarkson's Law now a part of the planning process? What are his thoughts on Green Belt, the Grey Belt and brownfield development? How will density levels be managed in a county like Oxfordshire? And will the problems of the planning system event ever be solved?

Dan offers a knowledgeable insight.

The Battle & Bunce podcast Interviews the people making the headlines across key property markets of Reading, Oxford, Cambridge and west London, loosely labelled the 'The Golden Triangle'.

Additional notes and details can be found in the weekly journal The Forum published by UK Property Forums.

www.ukpropertyforums.com

These two great UK Cities have been competing against each other for over 1000 years in some respect whether it be in the provision of education, accumulation of knowledge, or success of their research. And whilst many still associate the Oxford v Cambridge with sporting rivalries such as the annual Boat Race or Rugby Varsity Match, they are now competing in a far bigger league to become the leading provider of Life Sciences. And it is this wave of growth that is fuelling the property markets and creating halcyon days for the Cities of Oxford and Cambridge.

On this Battle & Bunce - Talking Property podcast, we interview Richard Venables from CBRE Oxford and Henry Godsal from the Savills Cambridge office, to compare and contrast these two markets and with a surprising conclusion that reflects the increasing synergy of these markets as they begin to compete with its noisy neighbours, Boston and London.

Additional notes and details can be found in the weekly journal The Forum published by UK Property Forums.

www.ukpropertyforums.com

The Battle & Bunce podcast Interviews the people making the headlines across key property markets of Reading, Oxford, Cambridge and west London, loosely labelled the 'The Golden Triangle'.

Additional notes and details can be found in the weekly journal The Forum published by UK Property Forums.

www.ukpropertyforums.com