Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG)

On 8 January 2018, as part of a Cabinet reshuffle, it was announced that the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) would be renamed the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG).

The Rt Hon Sajid Javid MP retained his role, but this was renamed 'Housing Secretary' rather than 'Communities Secretary'. Both these changes reflect the government's commitment to tackle the housing crisis, following the Autumn Budget 2017 announcement that the government would deliver 300,000 additional homes a year by the mid-2020s, the biggest annual increase in housing supply since 1970.

The role of Sajid Javid will not be changed, and the activities of MHCLG will remain the same as DCLG.

Sajid Javid; "Building the homes our country needs is an absolute priority for this government and so I’m delighted the Prime Minister has asked me to serve in this role. The name change for the department reflects this government’s renewed focus to deliver more homes and build strong communities across England." (Ref. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-renews-focus-on-housing-with-ministry-of-housing-communities-and-local-government)

Chief executive of the Federation of Master Builders (FMB), Brian Berry said; “The inclusion of the word ‘housing’ sends a clear signal as to the importance the government places on housing policy... However, actions always speak louder than words, which is why it is vital that we also see continuity, application and a continued willingness to be bold where necessary in housing policy.”

Chief executive of NHBC, Steve Wood said; “NHBC welcomes the prime minister’s commitment at the start of 2018 to addressing the challenges faced by the housing sector, reflected in the secretary of state’s new job title and renamed department. We look forward to continuing our positive relationship with Sajid Javid and his department. NHBC remains committed to helping the industry to deliver the high quality new homes that consumers deserve and that the country needs.”

As part of the reshuffle, Dominic Raab replaced Alok Sharma as Housing Minister. Alok Sharma had been in place for just just seven months, and Dominic Raab became the seventh housing minister since 2010. A lawyer by profession, Alok Raab worked at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office before his election to Parliament in 2010 as Conservative MP for Esher and Walton. He was Minister of State at the Ministry of Justice from 12 June 2017 to 9 January 2018.

Julia Evans, Chief Executive, BSRIA, said; "BSRIA is calling for Mr Raab to continue to foster and deliver robust housing polices. We learned in the recent government Autumn Statement that the housing industry is set to receive £44bn in financial incentives to increase supply to 300,000 new homes a year by the mid-2020s, the biggest annual increase in housing supply since 1970. However, BSRIA stresses that: quantity must not be at the cost of quality."

Stephen Wilkinson, RTPI president said; "As the largest professional body to represent planners and planning in the UK, the RTPI is looking forward to working with the new minister, Dominic Raab in his new position as housing minister. Planners are critical to the successful delivery of more homes, of all types and tenures, in locations across the UK supported by the right infrastructure."

Mark Farmer, author of Modernise or Die said; "The housing brief is incredibly complex and any new minister needs to pick up the intricacies of the challenges very quickly, as well as immediately engaging the wider industry."

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