New housing minister is the sixth in four months
It beggars belief that a role so intrinsic to the challenges faced by the government changes hands so often. Rachel Maclean MP was confirmed as Housing Minister by Rishi Sunak in his ministerial reshuffle this week. However the role isn’t senior enough to qualify as a Secretary of State, so she won’t join the cabinet, writes Zah Azeem, Partner at Wimbledon based Chartered Surveyors Scrivener Tibbatts.
We’re not the only ones dismayed at the lack of importance the government places in housing.
Reported in Building magazine, Richard Beresford, Chief Executive of the National Federation of Builders said: “Six housing ministers in a calendar year and watered-down planning reforms suggests the Government isn’t taking the housing crisis seriously enough.”
Peter Hardy, Partner and Co-head of Housing at law firm Addleshaw Goddard, said: “The number of housing ministers we’ve seen over the last ten years would be comical were it not such a crucial role. The real estate sector deserves a committed and knowledgeable minister for housing, not someone who has only a surface-level understanding of the many myriad issues it’s faced with. This is important stuff.”
Property Week pointed out that there have now been 15 housing ministers since the Conservatives took office in 2010. Reported by the magazine Melanie Leech, Chief Executive of the British Property Federation, said: “We had begun a very constructive dialogue with (outgoing) Lucy Frazer and it’s hugely frustrating to see the rapid departure of yet another housing minister in the middle of both significant policy changes and uncertain market conditions. We need clarity and stability from government to help unlock the new homes the country so vitally needs.”
Stuart Baillie, head of planning at Knight Frank, said: “When Lucy Frazer was appointed the first minister for housing and planning, we all hoped this might be a sign that government was placing appropriate emphasis on getting the proposed planning reforms right.
”She’s now the fourth minister in a row that hasn’t lasted five months in office – how can we sensibly plan for any kind of future like this? This has been a ‘revolving door’ role for years; we need to find a way to keep Housing Ministers in post for longer than a few months if we have any hope of making serious and sustained improvements to the fractured housing and planning system.”
There are many more such quotes.
Following the reshuffle, Sunak said his government needed, ”To reflect the priorities of the British people and be designed to deliver for them.” It doesn’t seem housing is on his to do list. A pity, and a surprise.
If you would like to discuss something related to a property valuation, please contact me direct via email at zah@scrivenertibbatts.co.uk or call 020 8947 7040.
