New housing ministry must show consistency of approach, says NFB
National Federation of Builders
Theresa May has appointed Dominic Raab, MP for Esher and Walton, as minister of state for housing and planning.
This move was part of a wider government reshuffle, with Sajid Javid confirmed as secretary of state for the new Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCL). Raab is the fourth housing minister in three years and succeeds Alok Sharma, who served as housing minister for less than six months and has been appointed as employment minister.
The House Builders Association (HBA), the house building division of the National Federation of Builders (NFB), congratulates Mr Raab on his appointment and looks forward to working with him. The HBA hopes that the new ministry, which has an explicit focus on housing and communities, will signal a reinvigorated approach to tackling concerns with the planning process.
Richard Beresford, chief executive of the NFB, said: “Having four housing ministers in three years makes it increasingly difficult for the industry to establish an effective working relationship with the Government. Addressing the housing crisis doesn’t just require resolve, but also consistency of approach.”
