The challenge for Nick Boles is turning his vision into reality

Sometimes words change the world and sometimes they do not.

For now, Nick Boles? intervention over planning is a statement of long-term intent rather than a change in policy.

Inevitably, however, the new planning minister has caused a furore after claiming that the amount of land built on should increase from 9 per cent today to 12 per cent in the future: over a 20-year timeframe.

He also threw in a criticism of ?nimbies? who opposed new homes ? while (for good measure) accusing builders of making ?pig ugly? homes.

Maybe it is the language from tonight?s Newsnight interview that created the controversy. After all, Nick Clegg said roughly the same thing last week without any negative reaction to speak of. (He called for an array of new ?garden cities?.)

Yet Boles is worth listening to. The Newsnight interview was ahead of a speech the minister is giving on Thursday. I?ve seen a copy and it makes fascinating reading.

The main thrust of the argument is that it is not only natural landscape that can be beautiful, but also the built environment. He cites Edinburgh as an excellent

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Source: http://blogs.ft.com/westminster/2012/11/the-challenge-for-nick-boles-is-turning-his-vision-into-reality/

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