What the planning system can learn from fantasy football

The appeal of the Premier League’s Fantasy Football game lies in its simplicity. There are just a few basic rules – a maximum squad value and limits on the number of players from any one team and in each position. Beyond that, players can indulge their dreams of being the next Pep Guardiola, picking whatever squad they think will perform best overall. As I argue in a new paper for the Adam Smith Institute, our planning system should be popular and gamified, just like fantasy football.

But, what on earth does that have to do with building more homes? Well, let’s look at how the current system operates.

Right now, councils are supposed to set out where new homes can be built in a local plan, but opposition to the choice of development sites can be fierce, slowing down the planning process and often bringing it to a halt. 

Read the full article here.