Changes regarding planning as part of Prime Minister Theresa May’s on-going reshuffle.
We referenced our summary of changes expected for 2018 last week.
While house prices in London rose 2.6% in 2017 compared to 4.5% in 2016, according to Building Society Nationwide, housing is apparently becoming the Government’s focus. At least they realise younger people suffering from the price rises and supply shortage might have a say at the next election.
The Department for Communities and Local Government has been renamed, becoming the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. In the same context, ‘Housing’ was added to the job title of the Communities and Local Government Secretary of State Sajid Javid.
After just seven months in the post, Alok Sharma has been replaced by Dominic Raab as Housing Minister while ‘Planning’ has been removed from the title. Although Sharm has been criticised and his experience in the housing sector was questioned, it is worth-noticing that Raab has in the past voted on cutting housing benefit and against the ban on letting agent fees in the past which is now Government Policy.
As Sajid Javid stated, the name changes for the Department and consequently for the Minister reflects the Government’s “renewed focus to deliver more homes and build strong communities across England”. The House Builders Association (HBA) hopes the new Ministry to be a sign for a reinvigorated approach to tackling concerns with the planning process while the house building division of the National Federation of Builders (NFB) asks the Minister for consistency of approach to establish an effective working relationship and address the housing crisis.
Authored by Michaela Kekeri