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'Rabbit Hutches on Postage Stamps': Planning, Development and Political Economy

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  • Alan W. Evans

    (Alan W. Evans is Professor of Environmental Economics at the Department of Economics, University of Reading, PO Box 219, Whiteknights, Reading RG6 2BU, UK)

Abstract

The supply of land for housing has been restricted by planning controls. The prices of land and of houses have risen in consequence. As a result land has been used with increasing intensity with infill, 'town cramming' and smaller houses on less land—'rabbit hutches on postage stamps'; a destruction of the urban environment of the many to preserve a rural environment for a few. Why is the supply of land restricted? Firstly, it is suggested, because the British misapprehend the degree of urbanisation in their own country. Secondly, because rural and farming interests ensure that the planning system operates in their favour. And thirdly, and most importantly, because the planning process is tilted in favour of the existing residents of an area who seek to preserve their environment by resisting intruders. A number of suggestions are made to resolve the situation by increasing the supply of land or reducing the demand for land.

Suggested Citation

  • Alan W. Evans, 1991. "'Rabbit Hutches on Postage Stamps': Planning, Development and Political Economy," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 28(6), pages 853-870, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:urbstu:v:28:y:1991:i:6:p:853-870
    DOI: 10.1080/00420989120081091
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Bover, Olympia & Muellbauer, John & Murphy, Anthony, 1989. "Housing, Wages and UK Labour Markets," Oxford Bulletin of Economics and Statistics, Department of Economics, University of Oxford, vol. 51(2), pages 97-136, March.
    2. Paul Cheshire & Stephen Sheppard, 1989. "British Planning Policy and Access to Housing: Some Empirical Estimates," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 26(5), pages 469-485, October.
    3. Richard A. Posner, 1974. "Theories of Economic Regulation," Bell Journal of Economics, The RAND Corporation, vol. 5(2), pages 335-358, Autumn.
    4. Alan W. Evans, 1973. "The Economics of Residential Location," Palgrave Macmillan Books, Palgrave Macmillan, number 978-1-349-01889-5, October.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Tsai, I-Chun, 2019. "Relationships among regional housing markets: Evidence on adjustments of housing burden," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 309-318.

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