It’s worth reading Fiona Reynolds of the National Trust in the Telegraph this weekend. The Government seems to be misjudging the growing pressure wave of resistance to the proposed changes in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). That the wave broke in the slow news weeks either side of the bank holiday is perhaps unsurprising but if I were in Government I would be manoeuvring to get myself into a place where I was seen to be in listening (rather than U-turning) mode.

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Great news this morning that Iain Duncan Smith has reportedly reached agreement with Treasury on the welfare system to create continuous incentives to work.

This, with sub-regional economic prosperity, is one of the two key building blocks of the regeneration of deprived areas. Without these we can never succeed.

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