Steve Reed has been appointed as the new housing secretary following the resignation of Angela Rayner.
The former Lambeth Council leader has switched from his role as environment secretary to succeed Rayner, who departed the post after issues relating to the underpayment of Stamp Duty on a flat.
Angela Rayner resigns as housing secretary and deputy leader
Reed has served as the MP for Streatham and Croydon North since 2012, and before that, headed up Lambeth Council, working to improve the local authority, which had received the lowest grade by the Audit Commission at the time he came into the role.
Reed also co-chaired the Vauxhall-Nine Elms-Battersea regeneration board, created to coordinate the large-scale regeneration plans that would deliver 20,000 new homes.
As shadow communities secretary in 2021, Reed was vocal in his opposition to the Conservatives’ plans to reform the planning system, especially the proposal to introduce a zoning system that would reduce councillors’ input on planning decisions, calling them “a renewed assault on local democratic control of planning and regeneration”.
Labour has also introduced similar measures to parliament, which would transfer decision-making powers to planning officers and away from councillors.
During his time as environment secretary, Reed pledged to align water infrastructure investment and spatial planning, describing the former as “critical for housing development”.
In the past, Reed has accused housebuilders of ‘land banking’ and has called for “new measures that will incentivise developers” in a bid to speed up the completion of new homes.
Melanie Leech CBE, chief executive of the British Property Federation, said: “We look forward to working with the Rt Hon Steve Reed MP in his new role as Secretary of State for Housing to unlock investment, tackle viability challenges and make sure the legislative and policy framework supports the real estate sector to thrive and help to deliver the economic growth the UK so desperately needs. His predecessor made a bold start on reforming the planning system and empowering the English regions to strive for growth. We now need to collectively ensure that that agenda not only continues but that government works with the real estate industry closely to help deliver our collective ambitions.”
Faraz Baber, chief operating officer of Lanpro, said: “Steve Reed brings a huge amount of experience to his new role. As a former leader of a London borough, he has an excellent understanding the challenges of local government. Furthermore, as a former portfolio lead for housing across London Councils, combined with his time at DEFRA, he has a rich mix of direct experience. This should greatly help in delivering the ambitious 1.5 million homes target. Also very importantly, his experience will ensure the UK can meet its transition to green energy through new green infrastructure such as onshore wind and solar.”
“Steve’s appointment at MHCLG is one which will ensure the pace of delivery can now accelerate.”
