Sign in

Richard Hebditch

@richard.hebditch.org
969 followers 543 following 3.2K posts

charities streets transport heritage environment philanthropy planning

PostsRepliesMedia
Richard Hebditch @richard.hebditch.org · 02/10/2026
Cabinet Office on Government's investments in infrastructure which should help address El Nino impacts this winter: www.gov.uk/government/n...
gov.uk
Communities protected as government readies nation for winter weather
Communities and businesses across the UK will benefit from more resilient infrastructure this winter, ahead of national campaign launching later this autumn to raise awareness of simple steps househol...
010
Richard Hebditch @richard.hebditch.org · 02/10/2026
"Councils now have a power they can use where appropriate, instead of one that had fallen out of use through ineffectiveness. We hope this represents a line in the sand - a Government saying that it won’t tolerate homes going to waste, when over a hundred thousand families are homeless."
000
Richard Hebditch @richard.hebditch.org · 02/10/2026
Missed this - comments from Action on Empty Homes on the MHCLG announcement on changes to powers for councils to act on empty homes: www.actiononemptyhomes.org/news/change-...
actiononemptyhomes.org
Change at last as Government Reforms Council Powers? — Action on Empty Homes
100
Richard Hebditch @richard.hebditch.org · 02/10/2026
Recommendations sound familiar: - Reform transport appraisal - Spatial planners & transport planners/highway engineers should work better together - Switch investment from new roads to rail (+ reopen branch lines/stations) - Public debate on whether new roads necessary and consult on options first
020
Richard Hebditch @richard.hebditch.org · 02/10/2026
RAC and AA did not agree though
110
Richard Hebditch @richard.hebditch.org · 02/10/2026
RAC and AA had other ideas though
021
Richard Hebditch @richard.hebditch.org · 02/10/2026
"Whatever hopes we may pin on the prospects of North Sea oil or of accommodation with Arab Governments, the events of the winter of 1973/4 have conclusively demonstrated that a transport system increasingly based on the internal combustion engine and roads is gravely inadequate."
231
Richard Hebditch @richard.hebditch.org · 02/10/2026
Office is being cleared out before we move. Found this on my desk - 1973 report on need to move away from petrol and roads post-oil shock.
151
Richard Hebditch @richard.hebditch.org · 01/10/2026
AI on LinkedIn today. Note door height and charger location.
120
Reposted by Richard Hebditch
Ian McKee @ianmck.ee · 01/10/2026
VAT drops to zero on home electricity today and just as well. However, aggravates an injustice: the driveway divide between those who can charge an EV at home and those who can't. ChargeUK & many other other great orgs have written to the PM to end it. www.chargeuk.org/post/ev-driv...
chargeuk.org
EV ‘driveway divide’ increases to £200 as home electricity VAT drops to zero
EV charging industry and driver groups united in call to end the ‘pavement tax’ as it grows to £200 following the Prime Minister’s domestic electricity VAT cut
044
Richard Hebditch @richard.hebditch.org · 30/09/2026
Better make sure they're free conference passes for civil servants to avoid incentive to use it as a party subsidy. I'd also be interested to know if ministers would be happy to see their civil service colleagues watching on!
010
Richard Hebditch @richard.hebditch.org · 30/09/2026
A good news story about HS2: www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026... (including first cattlegrids in Herts apparently, though I think there might be on some of the big landed estates already possibly)
theguardian.com
Wildlife arrives on time at rewilded chalk grasslands built along HS2 route
The trains may be running late, but the Western Slopes project is already attracting birds and insects on lands around the high-speed railway
000
Richard Hebditch @richard.hebditch.org · 30/09/2026
"The £53 million trees fund will be funded over 3 years and will be available for organisations in England to carry out urban, peri-urban and rural tree planting projects that sit outside of the Government’s larger woodland creation offers" www.gov.uk/government/n...
gov.uk
Local communities to receive £79 million to restore nature
Environment Secretary announces local communities to receive £79 million to restore nature and adapt to climate change
010
Richard Hebditch @richard.hebditch.org · 30/09/2026
On the train back from Labour conference. Seemed like a smaller but jollier conference than last year. Mid-term conference probably means fewer businesses and NGOs & fall in membership means less delegates? Cabinet speeches are here: labour.org.uk/updates/stor...
labour.org.uk
010
Reposted by Richard Hebditch
London TravelWatch @ldntravelwatch.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
We welcome this news. Dockless e-bikes often being carelessly dumped in the streets and blocking pavements causes a issues for pedestrians, particularly wheelchair users, people with buggies and those with visual impairments. Read our statement in full www.londontravelwatch.org.uk/news/london-...
londontravelwatch.org.uk
London TravelWatch statement - e-bike regulations - London TravelWatch
We welcome the announcement that London’s Mayor is laying out proposals for consistent standards for e-bike operators. E-bike hire schemes are important and useful to many Londoners, but the number of...
013
Richard Hebditch @richard.hebditch.org · 30/09/2026
And two billion trees would have been planted by 2040 under 2019 Labour manifesto www.bbc.co.uk/news/electio...
bbc.co.uk
General election 2019: Labour promises to plant two billion trees by 2040
The party sets out its £3.7bn "plan for nature", which includes creating 10 new national parks.
191
Richard Hebditch @richard.hebditch.org · 30/09/2026
Some previous pledges on tree planting: www.bbc.co.uk/news/electio...
bbc.co.uk
General election 2019: Tories and Lib Dems in rival tree-planting pledges
Boris Johnson announces £640m for more forests while Jo Swinson aims for 60 million new trees.
110
Richard Hebditch @richard.hebditch.org · 30/09/2026
Half a million trees to be planted in England in three years, says government www.theguardian.com/environment/...
theguardian.com
Half a million trees to be planted in England in three years, says government
Exclusive: Environment secretary Angela Eagle to make pledge as part of efforts to protect against extreme weather
551
Richard Hebditch @richard.hebditch.org · 29/09/2026
"According to Aviva's research, nearly a third of new homes built in 2024 will be at risk of some flooding by 2050, and one in seven would be at medium to high risk of flooding as extreme weather becomes more acute." www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Aviva boss warns more homes will be uninsurable due to flood risk
Aviva boss Amanda Blanc said England was "for sure" building homes that might be uninsurable at some point in the future.
000
Richard Hebditch @richard.hebditch.org · 28/09/2026
Off to Liverpool (with the cheapskates on LNR rather than Avanti). Rather more relaxing...
010
Richard Hebditch @richard.hebditch.org · 27/09/2026
Minister didn't seem super-keen on new powers on empty homes when he gave evidence to HCLG committee in February 2026, and today's announcement is more about making it easier to use existing powers.
100
Richard Hebditch @richard.hebditch.org · 27/09/2026
Good to see some action on empty homes. Number of empty homes has risen by over 50% since 2016 & some estimates put it over 1.2m, affecting most regions. (see www.actiononemptyhomes.org/the-last-dec...)
232
Richard Hebditch @richard.hebditch.org · 25/09/2026
Thank you LinkedIn but I'm really not
030
Richard Hebditch @richard.hebditch.org · 25/09/2026
And a slightly surprising shrine to Ernst Schumacher, William Blake and Kate Raworth
000
Richard Hebditch @richard.hebditch.org · 25/09/2026
Plus a dolmen thrown in (Kit's Coty House)
100
Richard Hebditch @richard.hebditch.org · 25/09/2026
Walked section 7 of the N Downs Way today. From the roar of the M2 over the Medway to more peaceful paths beyond.
110
Richard Hebditch @richard.hebditch.org · 25/09/2026
Neat even.
010
Richard Hebditch @richard.hebditch.org · 25/09/2026
How hot was this summer? Newt little postcode lookup from BBC www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... Answer - pretty hot in SE London.
100
Richard Hebditch @richard.hebditch.org · 24/09/2026
Also Vistry half-year results also out today - key quote on turning round their performance: "Lower volume is a deliberate choice to improve cash, margins & returns" (from presentation) www.vistry.co.uk/investors/re...
vistry.co.uk
Results, Reports & Presentations
Access Vistry Group’s latest financial results, annual reports, and investor presentations. Stay up to date with key performance insights and updates.
001
Richard Hebditch @richard.hebditch.org · 24/09/2026
Longer-term picture by tenure - council house building the line at the bottom, just beginning to rise. New govt aim (according to housing minister) is to get council housebuilding rate up to early 80s level ("end of the post-war era of council house building")
110
Richard Hebditch @richard.hebditch.org · 24/09/2026
Latest housing supply stats out from MHCLG today. Completed housing numbers down but increase in the number of starts (but still quite a bit below govt target) www.gov.uk/government/s...
111
Richard Hebditch @richard.hebditch.org · 24/09/2026
Latest on developing an integrated development and land use plan in Loch Lomond & the Trossachs national park. In England, kept well apart with MHCLG owning planning policy & Defra the land use framework & ELMS (inc national parks). www.lochlomond-trossachs.org/planning/pla...
lochlomond-trossachs.org
Plotting a map to the future - our new Local Development and Land Use Plan - Here. Now. All of us.
Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park is an iconic place with outstanding landscapes, habitats and communities. We work to ensure a sustainable future for this special place.
010
Richard Hebditch @richard.hebditch.org · 23/09/2026
One month till the ZEV mandate consultation closes. Weakening the regs (which ramp up car makers share of electric vehicle sales) would be more consequential for net zero than Rosebank/Jackdaw, contrary to the level of scrutiny on that decision. www.gov.uk/government/c...
gov.uk
Zero emission vehicle mandate review
Seeks views on the zero emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate and its effectiveness in the UK.
002
Richard Hebditch @richard.hebditch.org · 23/09/2026
Govt response to CCC progress report has also been pushed back, presumably to allow time to manage expectations on all this too.
010
Richard Hebditch @richard.hebditch.org · 23/09/2026
English Devo Bill was also missed opportunity to give mayors/strategic authorities a clearer and simpler duty on environment and climate change across their enhanced functions, rather than the current jumble of duties built up over decades and which is out of date in a world of net zero.
010
Richard Hebditch @richard.hebditch.org · 23/09/2026
Mayors/strategic authorities have London-style powers but without London style scrutiny. Also need for watchdogs like Transport Focus to adapt to devolution too to support scrutiny of mayors/strategic authorities.
110
Richard Hebditch @richard.hebditch.org · 23/09/2026
Good call from @ipprnorth.bsky.social on need for better scrutiny: www.theguardian.com/politics/202... With my Better Planning hat on, we called for this during passage of the English Devo Bill setting up strategic authorities. Govt did move a bit but don't think seen plans yet to implement it.
theguardian.com
England’s mayors should face greater scrutiny as powers expand, thinktank says
IPPR North says one bad decision could derail devolution agenda as regions gain control of billions in funding
110
Reposted by Richard Hebditch
London TravelWatch @ldntravelwatch.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Did you know you can watch Talking Transport on Spotify? 🎙️ From bus stops to rail fares, there's plenty to get stuck into! 🚆 🚏 🎫 Just search ‘Talking Transport’ to bring up all our past episodes. You can also listen if you prefer 🎧 🔗 To our latest episode: open.spotify.com/episode/26bR...
021
Reposted by Richard Hebditch
Campaign for Better Transport @bettertransport.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
🚶‍♀️🌳 It's #WorldCarFreeDay! From Newcastle to Great Yarmouth to London, communities are enjoying car-free streets where children can play and people can connect. A glimpse of a future with cleaner air and affordable public transport for all. Read more 👉https://ow.ly/wwhU50ZPIbI
Child holding colorful chalks next to a bucket with a quote about imagining a less car-dependent future for children on World Car Free Day.
02117
Richard Hebditch @richard.hebditch.org · 21/09/2026
Andy Burnham's* "plan to seize unsafe housing from rogue landlords" (* when mayor of GM) www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-engl...
bbc.co.uk
Mayor's plan to seize unsafe housing from rogue landlords
Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham wants to introduce a raft of new powers to help protect tenants.
100
Richard Hebditch @richard.hebditch.org · 18/09/2026
Surrey has pretty much the same amount of brownfield land available as Liverpool
020
Richard Hebditch @richard.hebditch.org · 18/09/2026
Source: www.cpre.org.uk/2026-state-o... Thanks to Shan Lim for the data analysis
cpre.org.uk
State of Brownfield 2026
We are CPRE, the countryside charity. Learn how we're working for a beautiful and thriving countryside that's accessible to everyone - and how to get involved.
100
Richard Hebditch @richard.hebditch.org · 18/09/2026
New stats on brownfield land available for housing, recorded on LA brownfield registers. England notionally has a "brownfield first" planning policy. So if that policy was biting, shouldn't we see the brownfield numbers coming down as more sites gets developed on? Instead...
the number of brownfield sites has grown every year since 2018
100
Richard Hebditch @richard.hebditch.org · 18/09/2026
Full document on the Sky news blog: news.sky.com/story/politi... Interesting also as a sign of which industry lobbyists could get their asks into the heart of government.
news.sky.com
Politics latest: Leak inquiry launched after Sky News reveals No 10 plan for Starmer to stay in power
How much has Andy Burnham borrowed from Sir Keir Starmer? Sam Coates reveals a leak from the heart of Downing Street which helps answer that question. Follow the latest.
010
Richard Hebditch @richard.hebditch.org · 18/09/2026
Help to Buy:
100
Richard Hebditch @richard.hebditch.org · 18/09/2026
"Radical planning reform" (sort of happening already, not quite so radical so far but awaiting legislation)
100
Richard Hebditch @richard.hebditch.org · 18/09/2026
Alongside proposal to weaken the highly effective ZEV mandate regs, proposals to spend more public funding on grants for EVs purchases (effectively a subsidy to car companies)
100
Richard Hebditch @richard.hebditch.org · 18/09/2026
"Dash" on home energy efficiency and heat pumps. Not sure this would be possible without either getting into a mess on badly installed insulation, or big spending on skills and heat pump subsidies
101
Richard Hebditch @richard.hebditch.org · 18/09/2026
More oil and gas extraction
100
Richard Hebditch @richard.hebditch.org · 18/09/2026
"Mobilise a series of high profile sprints to remove barriers to growth...eg tackling blockages in construction and housing delivery". Key blockages are cost inflation and weak demand for housing - not sure how govt sprint could address those.
000