This week, we joined forces with @arguablymag.bsky.social to bring together some of the best minds in British politics for our Summer Reception. Deputy PM David Lammy, Pensions Minister Torsten Bell, Yuan Yang and George Freeman joined us for a lively evening of British Progress.

Britain needs new homes to grow. Street votes are backed by @philipsalter.bsky.social @tenentrepreneurs.bsky.social and by some of the UK’s most innovative founders and entrepreneurs who signed TEN’s Strong Foundations letter, including Matt Clifford

Students across Britain are routinely crammed into expensive, dilapidated converted homes. Street votes could see low quality houseshares transformed into modern student homes or flats for post-graduates.

To get Britain growing again we need to build new homes in the places they’re most needed. Street votes will deliver thousands of new homes close to good jobs and will help revitalise our cities. Professors Tony Travers and Jonathan Haskel support street votes.

Street votes give local residents the power to say yes to new homes and control over the future, and design of their local area. Architects like @jayvictoria8.bsky.social, @russellcurtis.com @benderbyshire.bsky.social and @rietteoos back street votes.

Street votes will build homes in our well connected cities and suburbs, not produce sprawl. That’s why they’re backed by transport campaigners like Chris and Roger.

@anyamartin.bsky.social and @danwilsoncraw.bsky.social have been fighting for better prices and conditions for renters. They both see the opportunity that street votes bring: lower rents and better homes.

Senior planning lawyers have backed street votes for their ability to help unblock planning and get local residents to say yes to new homes.

Housing associations are part of Britain’s vital social housing backbone. Street votes have been endorsed by leading voices at some of the largest HAs in the country.

Labour Together’s Director of Devolution, @jpspencer.bsky.social, on why giving local communities more say matters.

Both @benjudah.bsky.social and Issy Waite back street votes because of the huge benefit they can bring to local communities and their power to deliver new homes.

Rt Revd Dr Guli Francis Dehqani, Bishop of Chelmsford and Lead Bishop for Housing supports the potential for street votes to help local people become leading voices for positive change in their area.

Mirte co-founded the Carbon Balance Initiative. Street votes will deliver homes in places that are best for communities and the climate: in our existing cities close to good jobs and public transport.

Green Alliance wrote in support of street votes because higher densities in our existing cities are one of the best ways to tackle the climate crisis.

@tomchance.bsky.social knows how important local communities are to delivering homes and the high barriers for community land trusts to create affordable plans.

Street votes have also been supported by a wide range of progressive think tanks, policy organisations and campaigns.

Labour MP for Milton Keynes North and co-chair of Labour Growth Group @chriscurtis94.bsky.social, is a tireless advocate for more and better homes. We’re extremely pleased that he has expressed his support for street votes.

We’re delighted that @yuanfenyang.bsky.social, Labour MP for Earley and Woodley, Secretary of Tribune Group, founder of the Living Standards Coalition, and founder of Rethinking Economics, has endorsed street votes.

What if the residents of a street could collectively decide to build more homes on it - and share directly in the benefits? That's street votes. In our new paper with @labourtogether.bsky.social we set out how community-led street votes could help Steve Reed build 1.5 million new homes.

Once you’ve read our launch essay, don’t miss out on a few of our team’s top recommendations:

A date for your diaries: @jujulemons.bsky.social will be speaking at a TxP event on April 30th!

It’s been a busy few weeks here, with our launch. A massive thank you to everyone who helped us get this far, and to everyone who read, shared and commented on our essay.

The Progress Post: our new substack We'll look beyond policy to the cultural currents behind British progress, and the ideas, values, & visions that we're building towards. Today: our April newsletter, upcoming events, & bookshelf with pieces from @droojb.bsky.social & Jack Wiseman

Frustration with government is mounting across western countries, but we must resist the impulse to slash and burn. The harder, but more courageous, route is one that brings people with us to build effective institutions that last.

A better model of governance is possible. Since its founding in 1958, the US’s DARPA has produced a steady stream of technological breakthroughs: from GPS to mRNA vaccines. Not because of DARPA’s scale, but its structure: empowered program managers who make and own decisions.

Deeper than everythingism, our institutions lack agency. Our machinery of governance has been tailored for consultation not decisive action. The Lower Thames crossing, finally approved, has spent years and £300m in planning. A decision delayed and avoided and a road unbuilt.

‘Everything bagel liberalism’ is pervasive. A policy that sets out to achieve a single objective is laden with other worthy goals. Every policy must now also be a vehicle to tackle all ills like decarbonisation or lack of access to community sports.

This leaves Britain a high-wealth, low-income country. We’re sweating assets left to us by previous generations, instead of building an endowment for the future.

Building was once a national act of confidence. We laid 6,000 miles of railway in a generation. We built sewers, town halls, reservoirs, and housing for the masses. Today? We can't build a railway to the Midlands without cancelling it halfway through.

This isn’t just a story of stalled infrastructure. It’s a story of values. The Victorians didn’t just build fast. They built beautifully – and with pride. Paddington. St Pancras. Temple Meads. Glasgow Central. Civic cathedrals in glass, steel and iron.