Remember Blair and Brown’s billions? The vibrant design debates, the sparkling new schools, hospitals, health centres and the impact of amazing new public spaces? It gave everyone a much needed lift and boosted not only productivity but the morale of a nation – even if some eyebrows were raised over the cost overruns and dubious efficiencies associated with PFI. 

Those years of ambitious investment feel almost like a dream now to contractors and consultants once drunk on the excesses of a clear pipeline of public sector work. Yet now more than ever is the time to make the case for significant investment in public services again. But it won’t happen if there is a lack of central government spending in its post-Brexit investment strategy. And it certainly won’t happen if we end up in development paralysis courtesy of a loony left slowly but surely taking over from Labour moderates across London and beyond (see news analysis). 

Next week the country takes to the polls for local elections and the question will be to what extent Labour in-fighting limits the number of seats the Tories lose in London. The results of these polls will have a significant impact on future investment in construction and housing – perhaps as much as central government public expenditure plans, or the lack of them. 

Whatever the poll results next week and whatever the impact turns out to be on development and housing regeneration schemes across London, do not let it mask the woeful lack of central government investment in public services

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