France has built around 300,000 new homes per year in recent years - roughly the same number that successive British Governments have set as a target but never achieved.

One significant enabler has been the systematic expansion of tramway networks, with new lines opened across French towns and cities over the past two decades, many explicitly designed to enable suburban housing growth.

This report examines whether a similar tram-enabled housing model that avoids accessibility being car-dependent could be replicated in Britain.

Rather than presenting a traditional comparison, we took five senior British policymakers with direct responsibility for housing, transport and planning to visit three French locations where tramways have been used to unlock development.

Participants were interviewed before and after the visit under Chatham House rules. The aim was to understand how exposure to real places shaped their view of what might be possible in the UK and what barriers would need to be overcome.

The visit was funded by the RAC Foundation and organised by Create Streets with support from the Campaign for Better Transport.

I wrote the report. Here it is…