The decision of Prime Minister Boris Johnson to stand down after a flurry of resignation and a high-profile sacking of his Cabinet and ministerial team has prompted the industry to call for a re-set for construction.
RIBA’s president described the major political upheaval as “an opportunity to refocus priorities” whilst the NFB asked whether new Housing Minister Greg Clark would assume responsibility for the flagship Levelling Up agenda as well as the many issues facing the housebuilding sector.
For the manufacturers, the CPA expressed a hope that the situation at No.10 Downing Street is resolved as quickly as possible as the industry still faced a number of significant and pressing challenges.
RIBA President Simon Allford said: “The news that Boris Johnson will step down as Prime Minister is an opportunity for the Conservative Party to take stock and refocus its priorities.
“Amidst all the uncertainty, the climate crisis and its implications on the built environment - urgent action is required. This is an opportunity for a new leader to step up and take that action.
“From improving the sustainability, safety and quality of our buildings to addressing the housing crisis, architects have a key role to play.
“We will be reaching out to the new leader and their ministers as soon as they are in post - encouraging them to draw on the expertise in our industry, to help make our buildings and communities fit for the future.”
The NFB offered congratulations to Greg Clark MP on his appointment. Richard Beresford, chief executive of the National Federation of Builders (NFB), said: “Although the government is clearly in transition, a housing and levelling up secretary needs to be in post, and we therefore thank the Prime Minister for this swift appointment and welcome the Rt Hon Greg Clark MP, who has had several ministerial positions that will prove integral to understanding the mechanics of levelling up in practice.”
The NFB has been lobbying the government on how placemaking and levelling up works on the ground and why the watering down of planning reforms will create major barriers to enable small and medium-sized housebuilders, directly employed labour, rural employment and a more skilled workforce. We therefore hope the new secretary of state is more openminded to working with the broader industry.
Rico Wojtulewicz, head of housing and planning for the House Builders Association (HBA) and NFB, said: “The Levelling Up Bill needs attention as it appears to be making assumptions that previous government policies have proved as flawed, such as on land prices going down, infrastructure first and localism enabling regional and national benefits. We therefore hope that the new minister will be more engaging with industry, so that the reality on the ground is heard and not assumed. The Secretary of State has a big job but our expertise and honesty is always available and we hope to meet him shorty.”
The CPA issued a statement that said: “The upheaval in government is unlikely to have an immediate effect on current construction activity on the ground, but we have already been told by civil servants that we should expect some important policy discussions to slow, given the absence of ministerial direction.
“We hope that the Government can right itself quickly, as there are pressing issues such as building safety, energy supply and security, sustainability initiatives, and the general inflationary and cost of living pressures impacting the economy and consumer sentiment, that require the Government to be actively engaged.”
Meanwhile, Stephen Phipson, Chief Executive of Make UK, said industry “respects the role” played by Boris Johnson in taking the country through the pandemic and the leading role he has played in the response of the West to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
“Moving forward the country faces considerable societal challenges in the short and long term to which manufacturing will play a pivotal role in addressing, especially in areas of the UK that need levelling up,” he added.
“It is now vital that whoever succeeds him works in partnership with industry to develop a long term economic vision which has an all-encompassing industrial strategy at its heart. This is essential if we are to boost growth, drive innovation and create the high quality, highly skilled jobs the economy urgently needs.”
