What is NIMBYism (and is it a problem)?
Posted on: 7 May, 2025
Where does ‘Not in My Backyard’ opposition to new development come from, and what are the potential impacts of this philosophy?
In the United Kingdom, urban planners have long had a challenge on their hands. While on the one hand, something needs to be done to ensure we build enough housing for our steadily rising population, our sector also needs all future development to be sustainable and to do as much as we can to preserve our natural environment.
Housebuilding fell to its lowest levels since the Second World War in 2023 – less than half of the target set by the then Conservative government of 300,000. What’s more, it’s not just cities and urbanised areas that are suffering from the housing crisis. According to a poll of 1,000 people living in rural areas run by the Country Land and Business Association (CLA) and Survation, a lack of affordable rural housing is an even bigger issue than the cost of living.
However, while our cities are continuing to grow, planners and developers are still facing opposition in rural areas in the form of NIMBYism.
What is NIMBYism?
NIMBY stands for ‘Not in My Backyard’ and is used to describe the opposition of residents to new developments and building in their community. Dubbed ‘an unlikely populist movement’, it supports the implementation of strict land use regulations.
NIMBYs have been known to oppose many different types of developments and infrastructure, including:
- Affordable housing developments for low-income households
- High-speed rail lines and other forms of transport planning
- Commercial expansions like shopping centres
- Industrial development, like factories and nuclear power plants
- Infrastructure projects, e.g. bridges
- Renewable energy projects such as wind farms and solar panels
- Social initiatives like homeless shelters
There are different levels of NIMBYism. Many are opposed to development altogether, while others agree with its importance – provided it’s not in their community.
Where does NIMBYism come from?
NIMBYism has become a heated topic in the United Kingdom, but it’s not unique to the country. It first emerged in the 1950s in the USA, later surfacing in the United Kingdom in the 1980s after it was used by British politician Nicholas Ridley. Over time, it has attracted negative connotations and association with racism as well as class-based discrimination.
The philosophy of NIMBYism: 3 common arguments
Some of the most common arguments that fuel NIMBYist attitudes include:
Keeping traffic congestion under control
It’s a common misconception that creating more roads reduces traffic. In fact, it can actually make it worse. Creating more transportation infrastructure encourages more people to travel further and more frequently, resulting in ‘induced traffic’ and greater emissions.
Maintaining property values
Industrial projects and new housing developments can have a significant impact on property values. Advocates of NIMBYism believe it can help protect the price of housing for residents, although this view itself has come under scrutiny.
Reducing pollution
By preventing the development of new transportation infrastructure, as well as the carbon expenditure of the construction process required for new homes, NIMBYs can claim reducing emissions as another benefit of their philosophy. This is a trade-off however, as it also means more sustainable homes and infrastructure can’t be built.
Why NIMBYism is problematic
The NIMBY philosophy has attracted significant criticism, with some of the key issues cited including:
It’s fuelling the housing crisis
NIMBYism has the power to halt developments, preventing more housebuilding that could help to address the housing shortage. If the global shortage of housing isn’t addressed, wealth inequality will be exasperated, the price of renting will rise, homelessness will increase and residential areas will become overcrowded.
It holds back sustainable development
While much of the NIMBY attitude towards development stems from the desire to maintain rural habitats and communities, NIMBYism can actually hold back the implementation of sustainable development. By blocking the creation of new, sustainable homes, along with renewable energy infrastructure, this can impact our sector’s ability to reduce its environmental impact.
It impacts economic growth
The rural countryside is perhaps most commonly associated with NIMBYism in the United Kingdom, but despite this, a CLA and Survation poll found that 46% of people in the rural areas believe NIMBYs have a negative impact.
As Victoria Vyvyan, Country Land and Business Association President, commented:
“Nobody wants to concrete over the countryside, least of all us, but for decades governments of all colours have treated it as a museum, risking the sustainability of communities and failing to generate the conditions necessary for growth.”
It exacerbates socioeconomic division
One of the most interesting aspects of YIMBYism is its advocacy for development of all kinds – even the most luxurious developments out of reach for most people. The rationale for this is that, through a process of ‘filtration’, free up more low-income housing. In contrast, NIMBYism has been cited as a barrier to socioeconomic inclusion, with many believing it will exasperate divisions between classes.
How to tackle NIMBYism
There are several ways planners can address NIMBY attitudes and concerns:
1. Community engagement
Rather than disregarding people’s concerns, it’s important to engage with local communities in order to understand and address the concerns they have during the planning process. This will make them feel heard, and more willing to listen to the benefits new developments could offer.
2. Don’t ignore legitimate concerns
As outlined above, NIMBYs concerns about the impact of a new development may be legitimate, so it’s important not to simply ignore these but be willing to compromise and negotiate a satisfying solution for both parties.
3. Maintain transparency
It’s also important to be transparent about when dealing with NIMBYism and not to make promises you can’t keep. This will help to establish trust and prevent your development from fuelling further scepticism towards new developments.
4. Give residents something to be proud of
Can new developments, be they residential, commercial or industrial, give residents something to take pride in? This can help to get NIMBYs on side and illustrate that you’re trying to provide value to the community.
NIMBYs vs YIMBYs
YIMBYism (Yes in My Backyard), a movement in favour of new developments and affordable housing projects, has also gained traction, particularly in the United States. Amid low housing supply in the San Francisco Bay area in the 2010s, several groups, fuelled by ‘the anger of young adults from the millennial generation’, began engaging in the planning process.
Since then, YIMBYism has spread across the world, as far as Japan, Australia and now back in the UK, where Labour, the country’s ruling party, even has their own dedicated YIMBY group.
Urban planning is an exciting field that has a pivotal role in the design and function of our cities and communities. If you want to have a part in helping the built environment realise a sustainable future, UCEM’s MSc Urban Planning will give you the knowledge, skills and technical understanding you need.
Find out more: MSc Urban Planning – University College of Estate Management
