Research by Stack Data Strategy has revealed Essex as the most anti-development county in England, with Uttlesford, Maldon, Brentwood and Rochford among the 10 local authority areas where people are shown to be least supportive of new development overall.
New development covers new private family housing, social housing, blocks of flats, commercial real estate such as new shopping facilities and also residential care homes.
Based on polling of more than 15,000 adults nationally on their views about various types of new development within 0.5 miles of where they live, the polling also found that Gloucestershire and Cornwall have some of the most anti-development NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) residents in England, with residents in Forest of Dean and Isle of Scilly also polling in the top 10 most anti-development local authority areas in England.
On the other hand, the data also shows Inner London as the most pro-development area in England, with residents in Hackney polling as the local authority area most in favour of new development. Outside of London, Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Nottinghamshire are the counties with some of the most pro-development residents.
The results can be viewed on the interractive heat map below. The scores are calculated from a number of 0-10 scale questions capturing support and opposition to a number of different types of development, and the likelihood that someone says they will object to a development, within various distances of their home.
With property developers and planners needing to find ways to win over local opinion in these areas, the polling uncovered the top four most effective arguments for persuading even the most anti-development residents to support new developments in their immediate area.
- Jobs will be created in the local area;
- New developments will give future generations a chance at affordable home ownership and renting;
- Attracting investment in local services and facilities;
- Improving local safety through better street lighting and walking routes.
Kieran Kumaria, Managing Director at Stack Data Strategy, said: “Planning is partly political, and the process is often dominated by vocal minorities with the time and inclination to noisily engage. This research gives voice to the potentially supportive majority.
“Winning support for new development is possible everywhere, if it addresses what people want in their local area and if it’s explained in terms that people understand. If we’re going to get building again, we need to understand what the supportive majority think, want and worry about.”
Stack polled more than 15,000 adults across Great Britain between November 2023 and January 2024. Full data tables are available here.
