Neil Shastri-Hurst: Build more homes, but build them beautifully

Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst MP is the Conservative Member of Parliament for Solihull West & Shirley, elected in 2024. He previously served as a British Army Medical Officer and barrister, and sits on the House of Commons Justice Committee.

Britain faces a housing challenge that cannot be ignored. Too many young people are locked out of home ownership. Too many families are living in accommodation that is overcrowded or insecure. Too many communities lack the homes necessary to sustain local economies and public services. The argument for building more is clear and compelling.

However, in our understandable urgency to increase supply, we risk overlooking something fundamental; the quality of what we build. A nation is not simply strengthened by the number of houses it produces. It is shaped by the character of the places those houses create.

Britain’s towns and cities are among the most recognisable in the world because earlier generations built with confidence and care. The elegant terraces of the Regency period, with their measured proportions and coherent streets, remain among the most admired urban environments anywhere. The Victorian era, too, produced civic buildings, railway stations and town halls that combined engineering ingenuity with architectural ambition. Those structures were built not merely for utility, but for permanence.

Even where the buildings themselves were modest, they were conceived as part of a wider whole. Streets were designed with rhythm and harmony. Materials were chosen with durability in mind. Public spaces were integrated rather than incidental. The result was an environment that felt deliberate and settled.

By contrast, much contemporary development appears detached from place. Estates are laid out with little regard for the character of surrounding neighbourhoods. Materials are selected primarily for speed and cost. Streets are often treated as functional corridors rather than civic spaces. The outcome may satisfy housing targets, but it rarely inspires affection.

Such lack of attachment has consequences.

Beautiful architecture does more than please the eye; it shapes behaviour. When people live in places that are attractive, coherent, and well cared for, they are more likely to feel pride in their surroundings. That pride expresses itself in practical ways. Streets are kept cleaner. Public spaces are respected. Communities become more invested in maintaining the quality of their environment.

The reverse is also true. Where developments appear temporary, anonymous, or poorly designed, residents can struggle to form a sense of ownership. The built environment begins to feel disposable. Over time, that detachment can erode civic responsibility.

This is why design quality matters so profoundly. The homes we construct today will form the landscape of Britain for generations. They will shape how children grow up, how neighbours interact and how communities perceive themselves. Building well is therefore not an aesthetic indulgence; it is an act of civic stewardship.

None of this is an argument against building. Britain must increase housing supply if we are to provide opportunity for the next generation. But the choice is not between quantity and quality. We can do both. Indeed, we must.

That means making better use of brownfield land and regenerating underused urban spaces. Many of our towns contain disused industrial sites, vacant plots and neglected high streets that could be transformed into thriving neighbourhoods. Development in such locations brings new life to existing communities while reducing pressure on open countryside.

It also means recognising the continuing value of the green belt. The principle behind it remains sound; to prevent uncontrolled urban sprawl, protect the character of the countryside, and encourage renewal within our towns and cities. The green belt should not be treated as a convenient reservoir for poorly conceived expansion. Once open land is lost, it is rarely recovered.

Equally important is the role of design standards. Clear design codes, shaped locally and applied consistently, can provide certainty for developers whilst ensuring that new housing respects the scale, materials, and character of existing places. They should not be seen as bureaucratic obstacles but as instruments of good planning.

Where design is taken seriously from the outset, the results can be striking. Streets become places where people want to walk rather than merely drive through. Squares and parks encourage interaction and recreation. Homes feel connected to their surroundings rather than isolated from them. In such environments, residents develop a stronger sense of belonging.

There is also a broader cultural dimension. Britain’s built environment forms part of our national identity. Visitors from around the world admire our historic towns precisely because they possess coherence and character. We should not assume that such qualities are relics of the past. They can, and should, be carried forward.

Innovation in architecture is entirely compatible with respect for tradition. The best new buildings learn from what came before them whilst adapting to modern needs. They employ contemporary methods and technologies but remain attentive to proportion, materials, and context.

This approach reflects a deeper understanding of the nation as an inheritance. We receive landscapes shaped by previous generations and pass them on, altered in turn, to those who follow. That continuity imposes a responsibility to build in ways that enhance rather than
diminish the places we inhabit.

Britain must therefore pursue a housing strategy that is both ambitious and thoughtful. Ambitious in its determination to meet demand, and thoughtful in its commitment to beauty, coherence, and environmental stewardship.

If we succeed, the rewards will extend far beyond the provision of homes. We will create neighbourhoods that foster pride, encourage care for public spaces, and strengthen the bonds between citizens and their communities.

Britain has built beautifully before. With the right ambition and discipline, it can do so again.