Britain’s new Housing Secretary has pledged to speed up housebuilding as Labour ramps up efforts to sort out the housing disaster.
Steve Reed, who stepped into the function after Angela Rayner’s resignation, has adopted her well-known slogan, “construct, child construct,” to sign continuity and urgency.
He advised officers he would “pull each lever” construct properties and ship Labour’s bold goal of 1.5 million homes this parliament.
Related guarantees for homebuilding
It’s time to BUILD, BABY, BUILD🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/OQnolSf6dJSeptember 8, 2025
Steve Reed’s appointment indicators a shift in model and emphasis in Labour’s strategy to homebuilding.
He has adopted the acquainted mantra “construct, child construct,” first popularised by Angela Rayner, to underline his dedication to accelerating housebuilding.
Reed is ready to carry collectively builders and housebuilders this week to debate the subsequent section of planning reform, with a give attention to the 1.4 million properties that have already got planning permission however have but to be constructed.
A frightening problem for Labour
Regardless of Reed’s bold messaging, the dimensions of the duty stays formidable.
The UK’s homebuilding sector is dealing with its longest droop for the reason that COVID-19 pandemic, threatening the Authorities’s goal of 1.5 million new properties by 2029.
Business consultants warn {that a} scarcity of expert staff compounds the issue: an estimated 140,000 extra building staff are wanted over the subsequent 5 years, with one other 61,000 required yearly to fulfill housing targets.
Enterprise confidence is low, with solely 34% of companies anticipating development within the coming 12 months – the bottom degree since December 2022. With out substantial intervention to stimulate exercise and tackle workforce shortages, Labour’s bold housing objectives stay at critical danger.
Political urgency after Rayner’s departure
Reed takes up the housing temporary within the wake of Angela Rayner’s sudden resignation, which rattled the Labour entrance bench and intensified stress on Sir Keir Starmer’s Authorities.
Senior officers level to Reed’s file as Setting Secretary – the place he impressed with decisive reforms – as a motive for optimism.
A supply on the housing division stated: “The brand new Housing Secretary will go away no stone unturned to construct the properties Britain desperately wants. Let’s get Britain constructing.”
