Our reaction to the Cabinet appointments

With housing remaining high on the national agenda, our Group CEO, Bjorn Howard, shares his reaction to the Cabinet appointments and what it means for the sector:

 "We welcome Angela Rayner’s return as Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, alongside Matthew Pennycook’s continued role as Housing Minister and his attendance at Cabinet.

"With housing high on the government’s agenda, this continuity is encouraging. It provides an opportunity to maintain momentum on increasing housing supply and delivering the Social and Affordable Homes Programme (SAHP).

"The SAHP is a welcome investment in affordable housing, but challenges remain. Rising construction and labour costs continue to put pressure on development, while local planning authorities need the capacity and resources to help bring forward new homes at the pace required.

"Meeting the country’s housing needs will require homes of all tenures, including social and affordable rent and shared ownership. It also means supporting innovative approaches, such as community land trusts, that give local people a greater say in shaping the places they call home.

"We look forward to working with government, local authorities and partners across the sector to help deliver the high-quality, affordable homes that communities need."