Property industry welcomes new ministers
Wednesday, 10 June 2009 4:45 PM
The property industry has welcomed new ministers, since the Cabinet re-shuffle.
Hopes are high the new appointments will initiate a "new focus" for the challenges currently facing the weary housing market.
Following the re-shuffle, the ministers who now make up the department for Communities and Local Government are (CLG) are:
John Denham MP - Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government
John Healy MP - Minister for Housing
Rosie Winterton MP - Minister of State
Shahid Malik MP - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State
Sarah McCarthy-Fry MP - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State
Ian Austin MP - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State
The Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA) have welcomed the new ministers, but ask for "a new focus on the challenges of climate change, social justice and the acute housing shortages facing the nation today".
TCPA chief executive Gideon Amos OBE said: "Shahid Malik MP, Sarah McCarthy-Fry MP and Ian Austin MP bring a complementary set of experience to the CLG brief. The issues of climate change and massive housing challenges in a recession urgently await attention."
The National Landlords Association (NLA) have in particular welcomed the appointment of Ian Austin, former parliamentary private secretary to the prime minister, as the new minister with responsibility for the private rented sector.
David Salusbury, chairman of the NLA, said: "For two years we have enjoyed a highly productive relationship with Iain Wright. He has shown himself to be a balanced housing reformer; always willing to listen to the many voices which compete for his attention.
"However, moving forward, the NLA very much looks forward to working with the new minister, Ian Austin. The recently published government recommendations for the sector are ambitious and to ensure that the voice of landlords is heard throughout the consultation process, the NLA hopes to meet Mr Austin as soon as possible."
The property industry will also see a new Construction Minister, following the re-shuffle. Ian Lucas MP has become the fifth minister in the last two years in charge of construction.
The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) has said he "must champion the interests of small building firms within government if they are to survive the worst recession in living memory".
In a statment on behalf of the FMB, Richard Diment, director general, said: "At a time when the construction industry is suffering the new Construction Minister must be a strong advocate for the interests of small builders who are finding it difficult to find work in the current economic climate.
"Every day eight construction companies are going out of business so it is vital that the new minister keeps the pressure on the banks to cut their lending charges to small businesses.
"We want the a series of measures to help builders survive the recession including a range of fiscal incentives to retrofit existing homes to make them more energy efficient such as Council tax rebates and a cut in VAT to five per cent for property repairs; changes to public sector procurement so that small builders can compete on a level playing field with large contractors; and a simpler, quicker planning system to encourage development.
"We hope Mr Lucas will be the strong voice that builders deserve because now is not the time for timidity but for confidence to help builders get back on their feet and to do what they do best, building a better Britain."
