Rt Hon. Sajid Javid MP has become Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government. DCLG to be renamed as the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG).
In the January Cabinet reshuffle Sajid Javid has been appointed the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government. He was previously Secretary of State at the DCLG.
Commenting on his appointment Housing Secretary Sajid Javid said: “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.”
Responding to the news the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) has called Sajid Javid’s new job title a step in the right direction. Commenting on the change to Sajid Javid’s title, who becomes Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Brian Berry Chief Executive of the FMB said: “The inclusion of the word ‘housing’ sends a clear signal as to the importance the Government places on housing policy by the renaming of the Department and the Secretary of State’s title. 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. We want to see continuity in terms of building on a set of good policies to unleash the capacity of the SME house building sector set out in the Housing White Paper; application in terms of effective implementation; and a willingness to still be bold where Government intervention is still called for.”
Also in the reshuffle, Dominic Raab MP will become the new Housing Minister in the MHCLG, replacing Alok Sharma MP.
The House Builders Association (HBA), the house building division of the National Federation of Builders (NFB), has congratulated Mr Raab on his appointment and hopes the move 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.”
Image: Sajid Javid MP visiting a McCarthy & Stone development.
