Practices of land value capture differ markedly between state-controlled and private land markets. This lecture explores the theory and discourse that shaped efforts to capture land value for public benefit during the era of comprehensive planning in the UK after 1947.

The lecture begins by revisiting the “land question” — how value in land is generated and who holds legitimate claims to that value. Building on this theoretical foundation, it traces key policy initiatives from post-war experiments in value capture to contemporary debates around funding infrastructure and supporting housing growth. Despite significant numbers of planning permissions granted, the actual delivery of new homes in England (where planning is now devolved) consistently falls short. This gap is largely attributed to the dominance of speculative development models and the persistent failure to effectively capture land value to fund necessary enabling infrastructure.

The lecture will critically examine existing value capture mechanisms, identify reasons for their underperformance, and explore potential reforms, including the expanded use of compulsory purchase at current use value, to help address England’s ongoing residential development impasse.