The government should instigate a new wave of public participation in the planning process to unlock its housebuilding programme by giving the “Mimby majority” a voice, according to new research from the Royal Town Planning Institute and Demos.
Polling for the report reveals that:
- 67% of the public are ‘MIMBYs’ - Maybe In My Backyard - open to new homes in their area under the right circumstances.
- In contrast, only 23% are almost completely opposed to local development (Not in My Backyard or ‘NIMBYs’).
- 10% are consistently in favour (Yes in My Backyard or ‘YIMBYs’).
Yet, with 52% of the public unaware of how to input into planning decisions, it is often the NIMBY minority whose voices dominate planning consultations.
For example, people are twice as likely to object to planning applications than they are to support it (with 6% of the public reporting having objected vs 3% supported planning applications in the past year) - creating a distorted picture of public sentiment and resulting in protracted planning processes.
The report recommends a new approach to public participation in planning decisions to ensure it is done at an early stage and includes a representative group of residents in order to give voice to this “Mimby majority” and power forward the housebuilding agenda.
But far from driving support, the government’s current combative tone could be dangerously backfiring. The research shows that since the government increased its anti-NIMBY rhetoric in late 2024, the proportion of people identifying as NIMBYs may have grown by almost a third (17.5% to 23% when comparing our new polling to a poll conducted by Labour Together in September 2024).
With only 12% of people polled reporting they feel they have a say over the outcome of planning decisions, there are risks the government’s enthusiasm to drive forward building could fuel further mistrust.
The research shows a significant opportunity to use the planning process to reduce risk, save time and build trust. When people are shown a model of early and representative engagement, 40% believe the resulting plan would meet community needs, compared to just 30% under the current consultation model.
The report argues that far from creating unnecessary blockers and inviting public opposition, meaningful early participation could:
- Reduce objections and legal challenges later in the process
- Ensure that plans better reflect the needs of whole communities
- Improve the quality and deliverability of development
- Build trust between residents and government
Key Recommendations
As the government pursues its pledge to build 1.5 million new homes by the end of this Parliament, it has introduced major planning reforms, including Spatial Development Strategies (SDSs), designed to deliver housing and infrastructure at scale. The Planning and Infrastructure Bill currently outlines only minimal requirements for public consultation on SDSs—less than is expected for Local Plans. The report argues this is a missed opportunity, and SDSs should involve early and representative engagement:
- The government should create secondary legislation for the Planning and Infrastructure Bill to set guidance and expectations for strategic authorities on early and representative public participation
- Strategic authorities should proactively adopt meaningful public participation as part of their process that is both early and representative
- Strategic authorities should build an enabling culture for participation through training and a Community of Practice
- Strategic authorities should evidence the public participation they have carried out in the final SDS that goes to Examination in Public
- Government, strategic authorities and planning authorities should collaborate on experimentation and evaluation to provide evidence that participation can speed up the planning process
Dr Victoria Hills, Chief Executive of the RTPI, said: “The assumption that general public is opposed to new housing is out of touch with the reality on the ground. This report shows that, through effective community engagement, the majority of people would accept housing near them.
“We have long said that the planning system is designed to work alongside communities and not against them. This report illustrates that authentic communication with local communities could mean future developments will be seen as being born from cooperation and transparency, not confrontation.
“If our members, and the authorities they work with, are given the time, space, and expertise to engage early enough in the process, then we would find that housing across the country is delivered with the support of the local communities, not despite them.”
Polly Curtis, CEO of Demos said:
“Cutting the public out of the conversation like they are red tape will lead to more legal challenges and friction down the line. Instead, early and representative public participation will properly engage the Mimby majority, giving that silent majority a voice and helping to unlock housebuilding. This is a risk reducing and time saving strategy - and one that will help build trust in government.”
