We all know the term NIMBY - the loud minority who shout “Not In My Backyard” at the mere suggestion of new homes, developments, or change of any kind. But according to a new report from the Royal Town Planning Institute and Demos, this group might be dominating the conversation unfairly.
Because - brace yourself - the majority of people are actually open to new homes in their area.
They’re called the MIMBYs (Maybe In My Backyard). And they could be the key to delivering the 1.5 million new homes the government has pledged.
But there’s a catch: they’re not being heard.
The silent majority is ready to say "maybe"
According to recent polling by the Royal Town Planning Institute and Demos:
- 67% of the public are MIMBYs - open to local development under the right conditions
- Only 23% are strongly opposed to development (the classic NIMBYs)
- A further 10% are YIMBYs - fully in favour of new housing nearby
Yet despite this clear majority in favour (or at least open-minded), it’s NIMBY voices that dominate planning consultations.
Why? Because half the population doesn’t even know how to get involved.
52% of people don’t know how to have their say in planning decisions
And those that do are twice as likely to object as support a proposal
The result? A distorted picture of public sentiment and a planning system that ends up reactive, combative, and sluggish.
We're doing consultations wrong
The current consultation model tends to tick the box, not start a conversation. It happens too late in the process, engages too few people, and relies on outdated methods that favour the loudest over the most representative.
The report argues that this isn’t just ineffective; it’s actively working against our housebuilding ambitions.
But there’s good news: change is possible.
When participants were shown a model of early, representative consultation, 40% believed the resulting plans would meet community needs - compared to just 30% under the current approach.
This kind of engagement can:
- Reduce objections and legal challenges
- Reflect actual community needs
- Improve the quality of development proposals
- Build trust between communities and planners
So how do we do it better?
Digital engagement is the key to unlocking the MIMBY majority
At LandTech, we know that engagement doesn’t have to mean a cold town hall on a Tuesday night with instant coffee and a few regular objectors.
With Give My View, our digital engagement platform, planners and developers can reach wider, more diverse audiences and actually hear from the people who want to be part of the solution.
- Gamification meets consultation: Make feedback intuitive, interactive and even… enjoyable?
- Reach the unheard: Engage younger, more diverse, and digitally connected communities who often miss out on traditional methods.
- Data you can act on: Smart surveys and tools that generate insights you can use to shape better proposals and evidence local support.
- Get support early: Don’t just reduce objections - gather momentum.
The tools are here. The appetite is there. The majority wants a say, they just need to be invited to the table in a way that works for them.
Engagement isn't red tape - it's rocket fuel!
If we want to deliver homes with communities, not despite them, then we need to embrace tools that give the MIMBY majority their voice - early, inclusively, and meaningfully.
So whether you’re shaping Local Plans or big-picture SDSs, it’s time to leave tick-box consultation behind and engage smarter.
👉 Explore Give My View and discover how better conversations can unlock better outcomes.
