CIOB welcomes new Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government

Following today’s government reshuffle, the Rt Hon Michael Gove MP for Surrey Heath has been appointed as Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government.  

The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) looks forward to working with the new Secretary of State to ensure the construction industry’s priorities are well understood and supported, particularly as the Building Safety Bill progresses in Parliament and the sector will need support and guidance from Government in implementing the new regulatory regime.  

CIOB would like to see quality as a priority when it comes to the development of affordable new homes, alongside progress on the New Homes Ombudsman, which the government announced plans for in October 2018. It is also vital that the industry receives clarity on the Planning Bill, particularly in relation to the government’s position on permitted development rights and ensuring they have strict quality controls should they press ahead as a key mechanism for housing delivery.  

Eddie Tuttle, Director of Policy, External Affairs and Research at CIOB, said: 

“The construction sector will be one of the most vital sectors to the UK Government’s housing plans if it is to successfully build back better and level up. 

We would like to see quality as a priority when it comes to the development of all homes – new and retrofitted - alongside progress on the New Homes Ombudsman which the government announced plans for nearly three years ago in October 2018. It is also vital that the industry receives clarity on the Planning Bill, and its relationship with the Fire Safety Act and Building Safety Bill; particularly in relation to the government’s position on permitted development rights and ensuring they have strict quality controls should they press ahead as a key mechanism for housing delivery. 

"We look forward to working with the new Secretary of State to make progress on the big issues facing our industry. I am confident, though, that CIOB and our sister professional bodies, with which we work closely to develop consistent and robust positions to support the construction community, can work with the Secretary to deliver on the priorities for the construction industry.” 

Update 23.09.21:
Lee Rowley, MP for North East Derbyshire, has also been appointed as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). Mr Rowley will take on the construction brief in Government and will also Co-Chair the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) with Andy Mitchell. CIOB look forward to working with the new minister and ensure the construction sector and wider built environment is well represented in Government