Ministers and representatives from significant housebuilders met to exchange views on the state of the housing market at present and on proposed planning reforms
Led by Matthew Pennycook MP, Minister for Housing and Planning, and Steve Reed OBE, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities, and Local Government, the roundtable discussion held this week on housing and infrastructure was an opportunity for key players in the housebuilding sector to meet with government.
Taylor Wimpey, Vistry, Mace, Barratt Redrow, and Persimmon were just some of those in attendance, who heard from the Housing Secretary that housing starts had gone up 18% when compared with the previous year as the government looked to drive towards its housebuilding targets.
He stressed that “while recovery is underway, government and industry alike cannot afford to let a generation down and must rise to the challenge together.”
Responding to this call, Darragh Hurley, Managing Director at Mount Anvil, said: “Mount Anvil loves the energy, determination, and action that this government is bringing to building more homes. This is a welcome and much-needed change in a very tough market. Their willingness to engage, listen, and take decisive action, like the Planning and Infrastructure Act and London Emergency Measures will mean more families have a place to call home.”
The meeting, also attended by the Chancellor Rachel Reeves MP and Chief Secretary to the Treasury, James Murray MP, heard details of the government’s plans for the next phase of its reform to boost housebuilding.
Kate Henderson, Chief Executive of the National Housing Federation, who attended the meeting said: “I am delighted to have been part of this important discussion with the Chancellor, the Housing Secretary, the Housing Minister, and other key partners about how the government's planning reforms and ambitious new £39 billion Social and Affordable Homes Programme will help housing associations to build the affordable homes families across the country need.
"It was clear from the discussion that the government understands the foundational difference a secure and affordable home makes to people’s lives.
“Housing associations are committed to working in partnership with the government to deliver on our shared ambition of a decade of renewal for social housing.”
Reflecting on one of the blockers to housebuilding that is being removed by the Building Safety Regulator (BSR), Chief Executive of the FPA, Dr Gavin Dunn said:
“there have been some noticeable internal changes to BSR operations, taking into account industry feedback and frustrations … the recently implemented changes, including the establishment of the Innovation Unit (IU), are indicative of a clear focus on unlocking the Gateway 2 process and moving building control applications through the system to meet the government’s pledge for 1.5 million new homes”.