Who are the new ministers for housing and planning following Tuesday’s reshuffle?
Quick Move Properties takes a look at the new ministers for housing and planning who were announced in yesterday's reshuffle...HOUSING MINISTER: Mark Prisk
Mark Prisk comes to the table with a significant amount of experience in ‘green’ construction, most notably as co-chair of the Green Construction Board, which will help considerably with the UKs aim to provide zero carbon housing by 2016. His experience as a chartered surveyor and of managing business will hopefully bring a balance to this – giving him empathy with the builders on whom the industry relies and an understanding of the importance of maintaining realistic margins.
As Construction Products Association economics director Noble Francis pointed out: “The housing market has some serious issues and it is going to be extremely challenging for the incoming minister. Planning is not the key issue in the near term. Private house builders have a considerable amount of land with planning permission but little incentive to raise units significantly as it harms their margins.”
PLANNING MINISTER: Nick Boles
As a radical thinker who wants to slash red tape to boost the economy, Mr Boles may prove a breath of fresh air to the long-raging planning debate. His view is firmly on the economic impact of planning and balanced by Mark Prisk’s green focus, we could have a partnership that manages to combine growth and environmental concern.
Like Mr Prisk, Mr Boles too has managed a successful business, giving him an insight into the some of the difficulties that those running building companies face and, as he states on his website, “I also saw how small interventions by government can handicap British businesses’ ability to compete in a global market”.
The appointment of Mr Boles is a clear indication from the prime minister that he wishes to move forward in terms of planning, and he is a clear choice to do that. Described by many as arrogant, he will need to improve his ability to communicate with the electorate and bring some balance with an understanding of conservation and the benefits of greenbelt land. If he manages to achieve this, we may well see one of the most progressive periods in the history of planning legislation.
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