A NIMBY, or “Not In My Back Yard”, is a pejorative that refers to those who oppose housebuilding in their area, ranging from existing homeowners to conservationists. Underlying this term is the argument that politics, rather than economics, explains this country’s failure to build enough homes, with successive governments at a national and local level bowing to those who wish to see their property prices stay high. Meanwhile, younger generations struggle to get on the housing ladder.
With the UK’s housing shortage being one of the most potent political issues of our time and a powerful example of generational inequality, it is more important than ever to understand the reasons behind it. Is NIMBYism the primary cause for failure to deliver sufficient housing year on year or does the blame lie elsewhere, with property developers or excessive government regulations perhaps?
