New appointments, reactions and meetings as drive for 1.5 million homes continues

1 Concurrent new appointments
2 Industry reactions to the appointments
3 Meeting with developers and builders
4 New infrastructure planning adviser appointed
5 Shared goals and connecting reforms
6 Related articles on Designing Buildings

[edit] Concurrent new appointments

Following the resignation of Angela Rayner as Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, as well as Deputy Prime Minister and Deputy Leader of the Labour party, Steve Reed was appointed as the new housing minister on 5 September, 2025.

On 12 September 2025 in one of his first announcements and press releases, since his appointment Reed confirmed his commitment to the 1.5 million target by saying “Build, baby, build”. Seen as a “call to arms” to housebuilders and developers to help deliver on the government’s ambitious target for this Parliament. Now as housing minister he emphasised that part of the plans to eliminate remaining barriers, include elements of overly complex planning.

Concurrent to this, on the same day the Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced the appointment of planning lawyer Catherine Howard, who has signifiant experience in development consent orders, environmental regulation, and judicial reviews, as the new Infrastructure and Planning Adviser. She joins the Government as they continue to push through their Planning and Infrastructure Bill, intending to reform the planning system and remove obstacles to long-term investment in infrastructure and slow building processes.

The UK Government says it is "doubling down on its commitment to modernise planning laws, unlock private investment and rapidly scale up housing delivery". In a tandem with these announcements, the Chancellor and the Housing Secretary have set out what they see as further bold steps to “get Britain building” and deliver the 1.5 million homes this Parliament.

[edit] Industry reactions to the appointments

RIBA President, Chris Williamson in response to the appointment of Chris Reed said:

“The government has made bold commitments to drive economic growth and improve living standards – ones we continue to work with new Ministers to achieve. From delivering 1.5 million homes to exporting UK services around the world, architecture is integral in helping to deliver its ambitions. To ensure that the new homes we urgently need are high-quality, we must embed good design in the planning system. The Planning and Infrastructure Bill, which is currently going through Parliament, should require a design vision as part of Spatial Development Strategies to guarantee quality from the outset. To support this, planning departments must receive additional resource to address gaps in skills and capacity.

We must continue to put safety at the heart of our buildings and drive forward our net zero goals. Ambitious requirements to reduce both operational and embodied carbon emissions and a National Retrofit Strategy should be at the top of the government’s agenda. None of this will be possible without a pipeline of talent. Recent changes to Level 7 apprenticeship funding undermines the sector’s ability to deliver on the government’s plan for growth. UK architecture is world-renowned, and we are working to export and promote exemplary design and buildings across the globe – all while supporting the government to deliver a better built environment throughout the country. We look forward to continuing this work in the coming months.”

RICS statement on the new appointment reads:

"The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) congratulates Steve Reed on their appointment as Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government. Housing and the built environment are rightly central to the UK’s growth agenda, and it is essential that momentum for reform continues to unlock construction and give the sector confidence.

RICS continues to work with government to help it deliver 1.5 million new homes and to champion a built environment that is sustainable, safe, and fit for the future needs of people and the economy. The keys to achieving this is unlocking the planning system, raising investor confidence, and crucially, inspiring the next generation to enter the built environment professions."

[edit] Meeting with developers and builders

Reed, together with Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook, met with key developers and housebuilders on Friday 12 September 2025 before travelling to a housing site in Bedfordshire to witness first-hand the best ways to move forward and speed up building at sites up and down the country. The meeting was to explore how government can support faster development, including through reforms and investment, with representatives from the organisations below in attendance, notably none, it seems from architecture or engineering bodies:

Vistry Group	Thakeham	Taylor Wimpey
Berkeley	Barratt Redrow	Persimmon
Home Builders Federation (HBF)	Federation of MasterBuilders (FMB)	Grainger
British Land	Landsec	Land, Planning and Development Federation (LDPF)
Muse	The Hill Group	Lendlease
Urban & Civic	Homes England

Discussion points included upcoming planning reforms, how the government can help remove barriers to development and what government can do to get spades in the ground quicker. Part of the plan includes new towns and housing interventions across the country, as well as measures already underway, such as mandatory housing targets reinstated to reverse supply constraints, the New Homes Accelerator program, and unlocking brownfield land.

The new Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government since 5 September 2025, Chris Reed said at the meeting “I want us to build, baby, build, so we can put the key to a decent home into the hands of every single family that needs it. We are doubling down on our plans to unleash one of the biggest eras of building in our country’s history and we are backing the builders all the way. Through major planning reform and investment, we will break down the barriers to development and build the 1.5 million homes this country needs as part of our Plan for Change.”

[edit] New infrastructure planning adviser appointed

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has appointed Catherine Howard, a leading planning lawyer with deep experience in development consent orders, environmental regulation, and judicial reviews, as Infrastructure and Planning Adviser. Howard joins as the Government pushes through its Planning and Infrastructure Bill, intending to reform the planning system and remove obstacles that inhibit long-term investment in infrastructure.

Working initially up to four days a week on an unpaid basis until the Autumn Budget, Howard’s role is to advise on how government can ensure decisions are made faster, better, and with a clearer framework in place to support both infrastructure and housing growth. Reeves said she is “determined we do what it takes to get Britain building, unlock private investment and deliver an economy that works for working people.”

Catherine Howard, who will take a sabbatical from her work at Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer and initially work up to four days a week on an unpaid basis, until the Autumn Budget said of her new appointment:

"It is a privilege to take on this position as the Chancellor’s Infrastructure and Planning Adviser, helping the government to achieve a step-change in how we deliver major infrastructure and housing. With the right framework in place, good decision-making can enable swift progress - improving our natural environment and supporting the government’s Growth Mission. The Planning and Infrastructure Bill makes major strides towards this goal. I look forward to working with stakeholders to consider how we build on this important agenda."

The Terms of Reference for this appointment can be found here: Terms of Reference (PDF, 56.7 KB, 1 page)

[edit] Shared goals and connecting reforms

Both announcements emphasise the role of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, which is currently progressing through Parliament, as central to achieving the housing and infrastructure targets. It aims to streamline decision-making, while also protecting the environment and preserving local input. The Government’s housing programme also includes significant investment: nearly £39 billion into the Social and Affordable Homes Programme, as well as funds for councils to bring disused brownfield sites back into development.

Together, the appointments, policy reforms, funding pledges, and strengthened regulatory framework are intended to send a clear signal to the private sector: the UK aims to unlock private capital and major infrastructure projects, speed up house building, and deliver homes at scale.

The Autumn Budget is expected to include measures further strengthening the infrastructure and planning framework, as well as financial incentives to accelerate housebuilding. The government will consult with stakeholders including developers, councils, landowners, and communities to ensure the reforms are workable, and barriers understood and removed.

Monitoring will be crucial: the government has already unblocked nearly 100,000 homes via the New Homes Accelerator, but must scale up quickly to meet its 1.5 million target in this Parliament. These combined actions signal a government determined to overhaul the planning system, unlock investment, and drive a step-change in housebuilding and national infrastructure development. The challenge now is turning these reforms, appointments, and pledges into bricks, homes, and lasting growth.