On a packed episode of The Abundance Agenda this week:

* James and Martin run through five reasons to be optimistic, including the exciting news that the government has taken control of the planning powers for two major new reservoirs.

* James heads to Old Oak Common, the massive new HS2 station in West London, and speaks to HS2 Station Delivery Director Huw Edwards about progress inside the 1.8km “station box”.

* Then Martin explores the story of Skegness – and talks about how its 19th century success started with its infrastructure, and how its modern lack of infrastructure is helping Reform win votes.

* And finally, we speak to Labour MP Antonia Bance about how to build good quality housing, the opportunities of industrial policy – and whether an ‘Abundance’ mindset can ever be politically popular.

You can find James’s piece “Why I still believe in HS2” here.

You can find Martin’s piece… whatever it is going to be this week… here.

The report we talk about by Michael Dnes on missing roads is here.

The Abundance Agenda is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and hopefully wherever you get your podcasts!

You can find James on Bluesky here, and Martin here.

00:00 Introduction to the Abundance Agenda Podcast

00:38 Top Signs of Progress: New Reservoirs

03:09 Water Leaks and Infrastructure Challenges

07:45 Planning Reforms: Heat Pumps and EV Chargers

11:14 Railway Developments: HS2 and Great British Rail

18:19 A Visit to Skegness: Seaside Towns and Infrastructure

32:21 Government Failures and Local Issues

33:09 Staycations vs. Holidays

33:46 Podcast Housekeeping

34:24 Crowdfunders and Substack Topics

35:32 Listener Feedback on Local Plans

38:34 Interview with Antonia Bance: Housing and Public Services

47:59 Building More Homes: Affordable vs. Private

52:45 Skills Crisis and Industrial Strategy

01:01:42 Trade Unions and Technological Change

01:06:10 The Abundance Agenda: Political Popularity

01:10:14 Closing Remarks and Future Episodes

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.abundancepod.com

On The Abundance Agenda this week, Martin explores new research which reveals that the planning system is – amazingly – even more dysfunctional than we thought. Then James digs into some new polling from Ipsos, which reveals that a plurality of people are actually supportive of building new homes.

Then we have an update on the National Parking Platform, which we swear is more interesting than it sounds. And finally, we speak to Ben Johnson from the Centre for British Progress about his new paper, Security and Prosperity: Building UK Defence Innovation.

The Abundance Agenda is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and hopefully wherever you get your podcasts!

You can find James on Bluesky here, and Martin here.

James’s piece explaining why the National Parking Platform is cool is here.

Martin’s latest on bins is here.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.abundancepod.com

On The Abundance Agenda this week, James explains why buses are cool – and shares depressing news about what appears to be another delay to HS2.

Then Martin digs deep into a new report packed with ideas for increasing Britain’s housing supply. The secret? More air conditioning and smaller homes!

And finally, we speak to writer, comedian and prolific podcaster Andrew Hunter Murray about the phenomenon of empty houses… and why they are actually good.

The Abundance Agenda is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and hopefully wherever you get your podcasts!

You can find James on Bluesky here, and Martin here.

You can find Andrew Hunter Murray’s novel, A Beginner’s Guide to Breaking and Entering here. He’s also on the Private Eye Podcast, No Such Thing As A Fish, and The Naked Week.

The report Breaking the Bottlenecks by Centre for Cities can be found here.

James’s unwise wading in on Blue Labour and the politics of immigration is here.

Martin’s latest post about the nature of diagnosis is here.

Liz’s post on why we need seven bins is here.

00:00 Introduction to the Abundance Agenda Podcast

00:35 The Struggles of Non-London Bus Services

01:31 Exciting News: West Yorkshire's Weaver Network

03:02 The Future of Bus Franchising in the UK

06:40 HS2: Costs and Delays

12:34 Challenges in Building More Housing

15:56 The Debate on Air Conditioning and Flat Sizes

28:45 Substack News and Housekeeping

30:38 Introducing Our Guest: Andrew Hunter Murray

31:34 Andrew's Obsession with Second Homes

32:46 The Second Home Situation in the UK

35:12 Potential Solutions to the Housing Crisis

37:33 The Impact of Second Home Ownership Policies

39:36 Incremental Changes and Taxation

46:01 Gentle Density and Housing Solutions

52:19 Political Viability of Abundance Ideas

55:38 Conclusion and Podcast Promotion

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.abundancepod.com

On this week’s Abundance Agenda, we discuss Sadiq Khan’s dramatic YIMBY U-turn, announcing this week that London needs to build on its green belt – and why the real villains are London’s golf courses.

Then we dig into the failure to build a massive new North Sea wind farm – and wonder what the changing economics of wind mean for the government’s 2030 Net Zero grid pledge.

And finally, we speak to Sam Richards, CEO of Britain Remade, about his new report making the case for several new ideas to improve the planning system – and how these ideas could benefit not just the pointy-headed wonks, but British workers too.

The Abundance Agenda is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and hopefully wherever you get your podcasts!

You can find James on Bluesky here, and Martin here.

You can find James’s piece on why Tony Blair is right about climate here.

And Martin’s piece on the nature of diagnosis here.

00:00 Introduction to the Abundance Agenda

00:26 London's Housing Crisis and the Green Belt

03:55 The Reality of London's Green Belt

05:25 Golf Courses and Urban Development

10:28 Political Will and Transit-Based Development

12:21 Opposition to the Green Belt Push

17:36 Challenges in Wind Farm Development

23:48 Future of Nuclear Energy Projects

24:23 Challenges in Achieving Net Zero

25:20 Government's Role in Nuclear Commitment

26:08 Wind Farms and Inflation

26:46 Housekeeping and Substack Updates

28:25 Interview with Sam Richards

29:01 Planning Reforms for Net Zero

32:53 Estate Renewal Passports

36:30 New Towns and Housing Expansion

38:49 Nuclear Power Plant Regulations

46:12 Environmental Rules and Clean Energy

49:07 Local Support for Infrastructure Projects

52:21 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.abundancepod.com

On this week’s Abundance Agenda, James reveals the secrets of what Tony Blair actually said about climate policy – by actually reading the words he has written.

Then because it’s the 80th anniversary of VE Day this week, Martin shares some utterly mind-boggling numbers from D-Day – and explains why it was Abundance wot won it.

And finally, we speak to Lindy Fursman, author of the aforementioned Tony Blair Institute climate paper, The Climate Paradox: Why We Need To Reset Action On Climate Change, and we explore the actual policy ideas within, instead of reacting hysterically.

The Abundance Agenda is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and hopefully wherever you get your podcasts!

You can find James on Bluesky here, and Martin here.

You can read James’s piece on why he hates Reels and other shortform video here.

And Martin’s piece on diagnosis will be published later in the week here.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.abundancepod.com

On this week’s episode of The Abundance Agenda, Martin tells James a frankly horrifying story about another attempt to delay the construction of HS2, and then we speak to former OpenAI frontier AI researcher Rosie Campbell about why her new non-profit, Eleos Research, is focusing on the emerging field of “AI Welfare”.

The Abundance Agenda is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and hopefully wherever you get your podcasts!

You can find James on Bluesky here, and Martin here.

You can find Martin’s detailed Substack posts with maps, diagrams and much more detail here.

You can read James’s solution to the AI/copyright problem here.

And you can find Rosie’s colleague Rob Long, whose newsletter she recommended, here.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.abundancepod.com

On this week’s episode of The Abundance Agenda, hosts James O’Malley and Martin Robbins make a bold prediction about when the Sizewell C nuclear plant will get the green light.

Then Martin horrifies James with a frankly shocking deep dive into caravans – or trailer homes.

And finally, we speak to Robert Colvile, Director of the right-leaning Centre for Policy Studies about his views on the Planning Bill, and whether the Conservative Party can ever be persuaded to embrace Abundance.

The Abundance Agenda is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and hopefully wherever you get your podcasts!

You can find James on Bluesky here, and Martin here.

Robert Colvile is on Twitter, Bluesky, and is at the Centre for Policy Studies.

James steals the opinions of the excellent Zion Lights at one point. (You can listen to James and Zion in conversation here.)

00:00 Introduction to The Abundance Agenda

00:27 Nuclear Power Predictions

02:26 Energy Security and Nuclear Benefits

05:08 Challenges in Nuclear Plant Construction

06:52 Regulatory Hurdles and International Comparisons

10:30 Caravans and Housing Issues

12:24 History of Trailer Parks in America

16:00 Trailer Living in Modern America

19:02 Caravan Living in the UK

22:32 The Housing Crisis and Future Trends

28:20 Housekeeping and Social Media Call to Action

28:47 Substack Newsletters and Upcoming Content

29:48 Discussing Political Views and Ideologies

31:07 Interview with Robert Colville on Planning Bill

32:55 Challenges in Housing and Planning Reforms

39:10 Political Dynamics and Housing Crisis

53:44 Concluding Thoughts and Future Plans

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.abundancepod.com

In Episode 6 of The Abundance Agenda podcast, hosts James O'Malley and Martin Robbins explore positive developments in the UK, particularly focusing on new theme park projects and the challenges facing British Steel. The episode kicks off discussing Universal's plan to build a massive theme park resort in Bedfordshire, expected to create thousands of jobs and boost the local economy. The conversation then shifts to the recent crisis with British Steel, the government’s intervention, and the implications for the industry’s future. The hosts also cover an amendment to the planning bill proposed by Labour MP Chris Hinchcliffe, which has sparked debate among YIMBYs and developers. Additionally, the episode features an in-depth interview with JP Spencer, author of a new report by Labour Together that discusses strategies for addressing regional economic disparities and rebalancing the UK's growth. Themes of transport infrastructure, regional development, and the planning process are thoroughly examined.

00:00 Introduction to the Abundance Agenda

00:32 Theme Parks: A Fascinating Business

02:44 Universal's New Theme Park in Bedfordshire

03:11 Local Impact and Community Response

03:59 Challenges and Comparisons with Other Theme Parks

09:23 Planning and Development Insights

12:11 The Rise and Fall of the London Paramount Entertainment Resort

15:20 British Steel: A Crisis Unfolds

24:05 The Uncertain Future of British Steel

24:29 Historical Context of British Steel Nationalization

25:04 Challenges Facing the British Steel Industry

25:46 Potential Solutions for Revitalizing British Steel

26:31 Planning Bill Controversies and Local Politics

27:20 The Role of Planning in Economic Growth

28:38 The Debate Over Housing and Planning Amendments

29:34 The Future of Planning and Development in the UK

30:25 Housekeeping and Personal Updates

32:21 The Concept of 'Leveling Up' in UK Politics

34:05 Interview with JP Spencer on Regional Imbalances

41:43 The Role of the Treasury Green Book

45:05 Political Attitudes Towards Rebalancing the Economy

46:47 Conclusion and Call to Action

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.abundancepod.com

In the fifth episode of The Abundance Agenda, hosts James O’Malley and Martin Robbins explore (rage at) a deeply terrible proposal to make it harder for the Mayor of London to do their job.

Then they dig into plans to double the capacity of Luton Airport, looking at how the airport democratised air travel in the past – and how to reconcile caring about climate change with the need to expand airports.

Then finally, we speak to David Lawrence and Julia Willemyns, the co-founders of the Centre for British Progress, a new think-tank that researches and promotes, er, basically the sort of things we like. We talk about why economic growth should be at the heart of progressive politics.

The Abundance Agenda is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and hopefully wherever you get your podcasts!

You can find James on Bluesky here, and Martin here.

Here’s the must-read “Rediscovering British Progress” essay.

Here’s London Centric on the proposal to make the Mayor of London share power.

And here’s our newsletter posts for the week:

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.abundancepod.com

The Future of Infrastructure: Examining the Lower Thames Crossing and Everything-ism

In this episode of the Abundance Agenda podcast, hosts James O'Malley and Martin Robbins discuss the UK government's plan to invest £2 billion in affordable housing and the significant approval of the Lower Thames Crossing. They explore the transport infrastructure project's details, challenges with the existing road systems, and the potential socio-economic benefits of the new tunnel. The hosts also touch on their evolving views on road building, balancing environmental concerns, and the role of autonomous vehicles in future transportation systems. Furthermore, the episode features an interview with Joe Hill from the Reform think tank, who introduces the concept of 'Everything-ism'—the problematic practice of overloading policies with multiple objectives, leading to inefficiencies and project delays. The episode concludes with reflections on the necessity of strategic focus in policymaking and infrastructure development.

00:00 Introduction to the Abundance Agenda Podcast

00:27 Exciting News: Lower Thames Crossing Approval

00:59 The Dartford Crossing: Current Issues and Future Plans

03:20 Debate on Road Building and Induced Demand

08:06 Planning Process and Costs of the Lower Thames Crossing

10:03 Comparison with International Infrastructure Projects

14:17 Challenges and Criticisms of Affordable Housing

24:57 Historic Roofline Preservation

25:04 The Ugly Cinema in Maidenhead

25:58 Introduction to Everythingism

26:25 Housekeeping and Substack Updates

28:10 Interview with Joe Hill on Everythingism

29:36 Examples of Everythingism in Policy

34:50 Challenges and Solutions in Policy Making

36:53 The Role of Government and Public Bodies

45:54 Cultural and Political Implications

48:49 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.abundancepod.com