Hi, thanks for the responses, I wouldn't say I have a problem with population growth as I tend to build farms etc first and leave taxes on low. I do find however that by mid-game even if I've been building something in every province in every turn I still seem way behind on my construction and that I'm reaching a level 3 or 4 size settlement before I've even finished the level 2 buildings. Thats why I'm thinking of reducing the build time required.

My castles can produce reasonable troops but because there are so few castles if I need to raise an army quickly I find there are more militia available than there are anything else.