Brexit and the waning days of the United Kingdom

[OttoVonBismarck]

The style is not unheard of in America--several Mid-Atlantic cities built a ton of them for basic housing when they had large scale urbanization in the 19th century--Baltimore is the most obvious example where tons of them still survive. Philadelphia also had a bunch, but they aren't as commonly preserved as in B'More.

These were middle class to lower middle class homes when built, unfortunately many have fallen into extreme disrepair and ghettoization, but there are still some nice onces preserved in many neighborhoods in Balitmore.

[The Larch]

you still need as many parking spaces for a block of flats

Underground parking is not a thing over there? Over here it's the norm in all new developments.

[Tamas]

Availability of land is not the issue:

I didn't mean land in general, but land where residential development can be made. It doesn't matter if the Higlands are half empty, nobody is going to build there. What matters is land surrounding the larger cities, where development makes sense. If some plot of land near London becomes available, planners should aim for the highest possible density, given the limitations to development.

True but it is worth noting that our lack of space in frequented areas is of a legal nature not a practical one.

The entire economy, and indeed society (whoever invented the phrase "property ladder" should burn in hell) seems to be dependent on property prices rising without pause. To build new homes is to go against the vested interests of the country's majority.

[OttoVonBismarck]

A lot of the highest residential areas of England are historically drained swamps I think, geographically speaking, might not be the best foundation for willy-nilly underground structure building. You can obviously build a basement anywhere, but certain geography makes them more expensive / worse to maintain etc etc.

[garbon]

A lot of the highest residential areas of England are historically drained swamps I think, geographically speaking, might not be the best foundation for willy-nilly underground structure building. You can obviously build a basement anywhere, but certain geography makes them more expensive / worse to maintain etc etc.

I'm not sure if my area was ever swampy but I know I am in walking distance of former marshes. Not one of the nicest complexes and yet we still have basement parking for all residences.

[Sheilbh]

True but it is worth noting that our lack of space in frequented areas is of a legal nature not a practical one.

Agree. Although if we build enough I'd be happy with plenty of terraced houses around London - for example at some of the brand new, very expensive public transport infrastructure we've just built
https://twitter.com/EJSaunderson/status/1562831682926829568

And one for you I just saw an article bemoaning the massive scaling back of plans for Ebbsfleet. It was announced as a new "garden city" in the 2000s. It was all designed around Ebbsfleet Central which would be business development around the railway station, with seven new parks, primary schools, healths centres etc and around 15,000 homes all within a few minutes walk of the station (so not just terraces ). All the plans were for building largely on brownfield sites such as a former cement plant.

Following an environmental petition half the site has now been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest because of the possible presence of some of Britain's rarest spiders. Ironically, from what I've read, the rare spiders actually live on the brownfield sites

The site has been shaped by a number of industries including power generation, dredging, landfill and more than 150 years of chalk quarrying for cement production. These processes have left an incredible assortment of grassland, scrub, wetlands, grazing marsh and saltmarsh habitat, providing ideal conditions for a unique variety of wildlife.

I think a smaller project is now being looked at. Apparently one of the reasons Ebbsfleet had tried to sign up as one of Liz Truss' () "investment zone" was because it might allow them a way around the Site of Special Scientific Interest designation.

I'm not sure if my area was ever swampy but I know I am in walking distance of former marshes. Not one of the nicest complexes and yet we still have basement parking for all residences.

Mine won't. Don't know if it's one of the nicest because nowhere else has been built yet and I'll just be in a small tower in an industrial park for now () but I suspect most now are trying to discourage car ownership, especially in cities.

[Tamas]

  One of those 4 Google Maps photos is the train station nearest to me.

[Tamas]

And one for you I just saw an article bemoaning the massive scaling back of plans for Ebbsfleet. It was announced as a new "garden city" in the 2000s. It was all designed around Ebbsfleet Central which would be business development around the railway station, with seven new parks, primary schools, healths centres etc and around 15,000 homes all within a few minutes walk of the station (so not just terraces ). All the plans were for building largely on brownfield sites such as a former cement plant.

Following an environmental petition half the site has now been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest because of the possible presence of some of Britain's rarest spiders. Ironically, from what I've read, the rare spiders actually live on the brownfield sites
Quote
The site has been shaped by a number of industries including power generation, dredging, landfill and more than 150 years of chalk quarrying for cement production. These processes have left an incredible assortment of grassland, scrub, wetlands, grazing marsh and saltmarsh habitat, providing ideal conditions for a unique variety of wildlife.

OMG this is like a parody.

[Sheilbh]

Separately saw this polling today. I'm not sure I would really describe this as independence

[OttoVonBismarck]

I mean I think as much practical thought has gone into Scottish independence by its supporters as did Brexit and the Brexiteers.

[Barrister]

There's always been a certain deliberate vagueness on Quebec independence (not that the issue is very lively these days), but open borders, membership in trade-agreement-formerly-known-as-NAFTA, the Canadian dollar were very much part of it.

There's already separate Quebec pension plan (and welfare system) so different context there.

[Sheilbh]

There's already separate Quebec pension plan (and welfare system) so different context there.

Welfare is already devolved here too

The state pension is still UK-wide, but there is no "common welfare system".

[Sheilbh]

I mean I think as much practical thought has gone into Scottish independence by its supporters as did Brexit and the Brexiteers.

It's one of the things that annoys me. You get a lot of English remainers who will howl about "lies" and "cakeism" in the context of Brexit, but now quite like/are envious of Sturgeon and the SNP and say that if they were Scottish they'd vote for independence.

I don't mind it so much with Scottish indepdendence supporters because it's a legitimate position and many are realistic. But the various SNP White Papers on independence should be better, but are full of nonsense like (in the recent one) the British state paying pensions to pre-independence pensioners or (the 2014 one) basically the entire economic projections being based on discovering millions of barrels of new oil in the North Sea.

[The Larch]

Separately saw this polling today. I'm not sure I would really describe this as independence

It seems to me that what they truly want is getting rid of the more superficial trappings of "Britishness", like the Monarchy or a common Olympic team, rather than a deep desire to do things their own way. Wanting to retain British pensions and welfare is a total head scratcher for me, not to mention the armed forces.

[Barrister]

It seems to me that what they truly want is getting rid of the more superficial trappings of "Britishness", like the Monarchy or a common Olympic team, rather than a deep desire to do things their own way. Wanting to retain British pensions and welfare is a total head scratcher for me, not to mention the armed forces.

It's perfectly understandable.

Independence movements in stable, wealthy countries where the minority doesn't face any overt discrimination, like Scotland, Quebec, or Catalonia, all have to do with a sense of identity and belonging, rather than any meaningful policy differences with the larger country.

I'm quite confident an independent Quebec would almost immediately scrap the monarchy and petition to have a Team Quebec at sporting events.  Things like foreign and trade policy are secondary considerations.