A new IPPR report argues that the reform of the dysfunctional land market is essential if the UK is to be a more equal, more productive and stable economy. It is also vital to creating a better-functioning housing market that delivers the affordable and quality homes the country needs.

Land is an essential factor in all economic activity but, if it is not properly managed and regulated, it can play a destabilising role in the housing market and the wider economy. The UK's dysfunctional land market and soaring land values have helped drive growing wealth inequality, create the conditions for a broken housing market, and are a root cause of an unproductive and unstable economy. Reform of the land market must therefore be focused on reducing the financial speculation that occurs in land and sharing the benefits of increases in land values for the benefit of the public good.

In Lib Dem Voice on 3 June Helen Flynn urge the readers to come up with "big ideas" to solve our current housing market.

Helen Flynn rightly identifies the issue is not of 'supply and demand': … problems in the housing market … are not necessarily problems of the housing market. Helen Flynn then singles out "distribution" of housing as the main issue: "Some people are occupying a lot more housing than others … others are squeezed out of the market entirely".

The housing, communities and Local Government Committee held a review of Land Value Capture on 8 May, which is now available on the web at the following URL: https://goo.gl/DxSCDM

Steve Akehurst of Shelter estimated that only 25% of land uplift due to development is recovered for the community at present in the UK, as opposed to 80% in Holland or Germany.

In the wake of the Salisbury attack, should non-Resident Russians be able to own homes in the UK? ALTER secretary David Cooper argues that preventing this could be an effective sanction that actually benefits the UK, see Guardian Letters...

Our fringe meeting at federal conference in Southport was entitled, 'Reforming business rates and council tax' with Michael Meadowcroft (standing in photo), a former Liberal member of Parliament and life-long campaigner invited to introduce the discussion.

Tony Vickers of ALTER (sitting to the right) also spoke on more technical matters and solutions to the problems raised by our policy of using site value rating to replace the present taxation methods supporting local services...

ALTER has submitted its response to the Inquiry on Land Value Capture to the Communities and Local Government Committee Inquiry. Compiled by ALTER executive member Chris Glover, it criticises so called betterment taxes and explains why Land Value Tax is the way forward. It proposes several short term measure including removal of capital gains exemption for domestic property sale. The document can be read here.

The Scottish Land Commisstion is seeking partners in a project to "assess, with reference to international experience, the potential of land value taxation to contribute to a more productive, accountable and diverse pattern of land ownership and use in Scotland and to identify a set of potential policy options that merit further consideration by SLC".

Alter welcomes the report https://institute.global/insight/renewing-centre/home-truths-progressive-vision-housing-policy-21st-century published by the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change.

The executive summary is reproduced below:

A housing crisis is sweeping through cities from Sydney to London to San Francisco. Following a short slump in 2008, house prices across the OECD have soared, contributing to a decline in living standards and a rise in wealth inequality. Today, housing is the source of economic anxiety, social resentment, and political frustration.

Former Liberal MP for Leeds and ALTER member Michael Meadowcroft has written a letter about land hoarding in the Sunday Times.

Meanwhile well known LVT activist Duncan Pickard has featured on Radio 4 Money Box. Follow the link to listen.