Today marked the start of this year’s UKREiiF and to kick things off deputy prime minster Angela Rayner delivered the opening remarks.
During her speech, Rayner encouraged the real estate sector to ‘build, build, build’ and said that Labour have ‘more to come’ in the forthcoming Spending Review. However, in true politics fashion, she gave little detail about what these plans might include.
‘We have big changes in the pipeline,’ Rayner said. ‘I urge everyone to seize them in both hands.’
The latter was particularly encouraged to the new regional mayors. Rayner added: ‘To our mayors, I say don’t hold back – take control of planning to drive growth across housing, transport and skills.
‘Our councils, too, must raise our game with up-to-date local plans and we must work together with housing associations to build a new generation of social housing, because the days of business as usual are over.’
Not only was Rayner’s speech needed for policy but is also marked an important milestone for her and the Labour party. The snap election was announced during the dates of last year’s UKREiiF of which Rayner spoke at as shadow housing secretary.
In 2024 Rayner pledged that Labour would prioritise building new towns within its first term of government, however, speaking this year’s event she expressed frustration that this target has not been met and added that the government was aware of the critical need for growth.
On a more positive note, Rayner also listed a changes that the government have successfully implemented. These include allowing councils to decided how much they want to charge in planning fees and ringfencing funds to re-invest in planning. She likewise referenced the fact that the UK’s only specialist construction college is situated in Leeds, suggesting more people will be able to pursue a career in the sector.
Concluding her speech, Rayner said: ‘I am known as a straight talker and so I know that target is stretching, all the more now we know the disastrous inheritance we were left by the previous government of plummeting housebuilding. But I won’t shy away from that challenge. It [housing] is desperately needed after years of failure.’
Alongside housing, Rayner additionally explained that it isn’t just homes that people need, but a sense of community. She outlined the government intend to deliver this by building GP surgeries, parks and other community assets within new homes developments.
UKREiiF is set to take place from Tuesday 20th May until Thursday 22nd May 2025.
Photo by UKREiiF
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