Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG)
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[edit] Overview
In 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 role of 'Communities Secretary' was renamed 'Housing Secretary', although otherwise remained unchanged, and the activities of MHCLG remained the same as DCLG.
These changes were intended to 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.
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, 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."
[edit] Updates
[edit] April 2018
On 30 April 2018, the Housing Secretary Sajid Javid was replaced by James Brokenshire.
Brokenshire was Northern Ireland Secretary until he resigned in January 2018 due to medical treatment to remove a lung tumour. Having served in the post of Housing Secretary since July 2016, Javid was moved to the position of Home Secretary after the resignation of Amber Rudd over the Windrush scandal.
Brokenshire said; "I am determined to get Britain building the homes our country needs so everyone can afford a place to call their own. One of my top priorities is going to be ensuring everyone affected by the Grenfell Tower fire gets the support they need and we learn lessons from the tragedy so something like this can never happen again."
[edit] July 2018
On 9 July 2018, following the resignation of David Davis, the Housing Minister Dominic Raab was appointed as the new Brexit Secretary, having served only six months in post. Raab was replaced by Kit Malthouse who became the eighth Housing Minister in eight years since 2010.
Malthouse, who served as a member of the London Assembly during Boris Johnson's mayoralty and deputy leader of Westminster council, had previously faced criticism for claiming there had been a council policy of deliberately making homeless people's lives "more uncomfortable" to push them towards support facilities.
Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, said: “The industry has long bemoaned the turnstile approach to this crucial role but the pace of change is quickening. We’re now going through two Housing Ministers a year. The Government claims that housing is a priority yet this constant chopping and changing in terms of the person leading the charge would suggest otherwise.”
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Comments
Its Dominic Raab not Alok Raab.
--Thanks, Ed.