[pjc50]

Land with planning permission, in desireable areas, is very expensive. Random example from near me: http://www.plotfinder.net/plot/land-sale-city-edinburgh-situ... - that's just over $100k.

More stringent building regulations probably add to the cost, but the planning system is the big factor. "Desireable area" makes a difference in some cases: a while ago Stoke-on-Trent were selling derelict houses at £1 to anyone who promised to renovate and live in them.

[branchless]

Planning permission is how the establishment introduce artificial scarcity.

[ajuc]

Who will build the infrastructure (roads, electricity, water, sewage)? If you build sth without planning you can block or make it harder to provide these services to others. It only makes sense to plan such thing beforehand.

[branchless]

Sure. But in the UK the govt is planning to artificially restrict building land to boost asset prices in place of actual growth.

[pjc50]

Planning restrictions are very popular with the local public. So much so that some places in the US invent their own weird private contract law versions (HOAs).

[branchless]

Planning restrictions are very popular with old people who are "alright thanks".