Steve Reed MP has replaced Angela Rayner as Housing Secretary at the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG).

In his first statement since being appointed, he has issued a ‘call to arms’ to key developers and housebuilders and has vowed to ‘build, baby, build’, as part of the next phase of getting Britain building faster. 

Steve Reed, Housing Secretary, said: “I want us to build, baby, build, so we can put the key to a decent home into the hands of every single family that needs it.

“We are doubling down on our plans to unleash one of the biggest eras of building in our country’s history and we are backing the builders all the way.  

“Through major planning reform and investment, we will break down the barriers to development and build the 1.5 million homes this country needs as part of our Plan for Change.”

He has, alongside Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook, committed to working in partnership with industry leaders to ramp up housebuilding, focusing on the remaining barriers, including complex planning processes, that stand in the way of building 1.5 million homes in the current Parliament.   

Ben Beadle, Chief Executive of the National Residential Landlords Association, on the appointment said: “We welcome Steve Reed’s appointment as Housing Secretary.

“At a time of substantial change for the rental market, we look forward to working constructively with him. Top of the agenda will need to be ensuring the smooth implementation of the Renters’ Rights Bill.

“Alongside this there is a desperate need to support long term investment in new decent quality homes to rent and ensure the private rented sector operates on the basis of trust and confidence between landlords and tenants.”