Broadgate: symbol of red tape Britain
ON the face of it, it is hardly a major story that English Heritage wants to list the Broadgate office and retail estate in the City, a rather ugly 1980s construct in desperate need of modernisation. It is, however, a deeply symbolic move that confirms not only that Britain isn’t open for business but that public sector bureaucracies are still thinking and behaving as if the pursuit of economic growth and jobs simply didn’t matter. UBS wants to build its new offices in Broadgate; a listing would jeopardise its plans and suggest that the City is not a serious competitor for global HQs. Nobody is arguing for the destruction of truly iconic buildings such as Tower Bridge or the House of Commons – but English Heritage doesn’t seem to understand that Broadgate is not of the same calibre. Its obsession with preserving at any cost makes no sense; if the Chancellor is looking to make cuts, that out-of-touch bureaucracy is one place where he should begin. Jeremy Hunt, the Culture Secretary, must veto English Heritage’s recommendation.
The Broadgate fiasco is merely a microcosm of the UK’s problems – red tape, red tape and yet more red tape, with a myriad more labour market and other rules introduced over the past year and in the pipeline. In addition to its austerity measures, the government must introduce real supply-side measures to boost enterprise and jobs. So here are three, immediate pro-growth policies for the government to mull over.
First, actually deliver the shake-up in planning law promised earlier this year but which has run out of steam. It is too difficult for companies and individuals to build or extend residential or commercial properties. This must change. Opposition to development should have to be justified, not the other way around. Obviously, residents need protection from noise and disturbance but at the moment the balance is completely wrong. Private property rights have been weakened too much.
Second, immediately repeal our archaic Sunday trading laws, which restrict larger stores to just six hours’ opening. All shops should be allowed to open any hours they want on Sunday, as they can already Monday-Saturday. This would hit a few smaller shops which are partly shielded from competition one day a week but on balance would create thousands of extra jobs as retailers put in place Sunday cover. It would also enhance millions of consumers’ quality of life.
Third, halt all the looming labour market regulation that the government wants to introduce. Far from deregulating in this area, the coalition keeps doing the opposite. It should stop doing any more damage – and then start to actually repeal rules. If that means a row with Brussels, so be it. The civil service seems unable to embrace real change, so an outside executive should be brought in with a simple mission: identify £20bn a year worth of red tape and eliminate it within one year. Legalistic objections should be overridden.
There are plenty of other policies that could be pursued. Instead of increasing spending on foreign aid, most of which will be squandered or go to countries that don’t need it, that budget could be reallocated to pro-enterprise tax cuts. The raid on oil and gas North Sea firms, which has led to many projects being halted, should be reversed. With the global economy slowing again, the coalition must show that it is putting growth and job creation first.
Follow me on Twitter: @allisterheath