Edward Seymour* was recruited to the pro-building movement when a note was pushed through his letterbox. Was this a clandestine invitation to formally join the Yimbys (Yes In My Back Yard) – a secret network of believers who want to overturn planning rules and cover the green belt in housing developments? No, it was a letter from a local family, canvassing neighbours to support their planning application to build an extension on to their house in Surrey. The extension would allow them to remain in the area, but the local cricket club was objecting on grounds that Seymour felt were spurious. He supported their application – and became a Yimby. The incident was a reminder that every time a planning application is blocked by Nimbys (Not In My Back Yard) it has a real-world effect on individuals, as well as on a society that is experiencing a severe lack of affordable, quality housing. Seymour now regularly searches his local council website for planning applications that he can back. He has supported everything from loft extensions to the conversion of a derelict pub into housing – something he became aware of after local Nimbys began campaigning against it. “There are a...