Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has announced a mini reshuffle of ministers, as well as the introduction of four new governmental departments.
The new appointments include Grant Shapps as Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero and Kemi Badenoch as Secretary of State for Business and Trade and Michelle Donelan as Secretary of State for Science, Innovation, and Technology.
In addition, Rishi Sunak has formed four new government departments, that he says, ‘will ensure the right skills and teams are focused on the Prime Minister’s five promises: to halve inflation, grow the economy, reduce debt, cut waiting lists, and stop the boats.”
The new Departments includes the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. Richard Beresford, chief executive of the National Federation of Builders (NFB), said: “It’s good to see the Government recognise our and industry calls for net zero and energy to have their own departments. We hope they can work alongside the new Department for Science, Innovation and Technology to enable strategic outcomes.
“However, after several productive meetings with Lucy Frazer MP during her time as housing minister, her promotion restarts a period of ministerial education about the housing and planning system.
“We look forward to working with whomever gets this vital role, but it may be time to create a specific department for housing, construction, and planning because six housing ministers in a calendar year and watered down planning reforms suggests the Government isn't taking the housing crisis seriously enough.”
The new jobs around the Cabinet table will bring little comfort to small, local builders worried about falling workloads and enquiries, if they’re not followed by bold policy action, warns the Federation of Master Builders (FMB.
Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, said: “A new Department for Energy and Net Zero must be followed by a long-term National Retrofit Strategy and funding this side of the General Election to green our homes. In the seven years since this department’s predecessor was scrapped, we’ve seen retrofit levels tumble, so I hope the Government will seize this renewed opportunity to give small, local builders the confidence they need to train and take advantage of the business potential of a sustained home upgrade programme.
“Yet another Housing Minister – the fifth in 12 months – raises questions about this Government’s commitment to get Britain building. A sclerotic planning system is pushing the smallest house builders out of business. Small, local developers should be at the heart of levelling up, but they need a Government that backs them with bold support to reverse their decline.
“It can start by ensuring planning departments are properly resourced, and that environmental and energy mitigation measures are applied fairly, mindful of the costs they are pushing on to small building companies.”
Simon McWhirter, UKGBC’s Director of Communications, Policy and Places, welcomd the Government’s prioritisation of net zero, through the creation of a dedicated ministry, which he said has the potential to deliver the enormous economic prize of jobs, growth, and innovation so acutely needed in the UK today.
“Following Chris Skidmore MP’s Review into Net Zero and in anticipation of the updated Net Zero Strategy, all eyes are on the Government to put net zero at the heart of every decision,” he continued. “This new Department should act decisively to fill critical gaps in UK policy, particularly for upgrading homes, while championing climate policies across Government, such as on planning system reforms. Most importantly, the Department must develop and implement a comprehensive delivery plan to achieve net zero. No amount of change to Government machinery can deliver net zero without implementing the policies urgently needed.
“Our members look forward to working with the Energy Security and Net Zero Department to fulfil the Chancellor’s commitment to match energy saving with energy supply and to dramatically skill-up and scale-up the built environment sector for our decarbonised future.”
RIBA President, Simon
Allford said he fully supported the principle of the
creation of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. “Indeed, we have
previously stated that the cross-departmental nature of energy
efficiency has led to crucial policy elements being lost; but
how it functions in reality is what really matters,” he explained.
“Millions of energy inefficient homes in the UK are in urgent need
of retrofit. We very much hope that this new department will bring
together the right people, skills and funding to introduce a National
Retrofit Strategy with a clear timetable and targets.
“The Rt Hon Lucy Frazer’s move will usher in the
sixth Housing Minister in just one year. If the Government
are serious about delivering the high-quality homes that people need, they
themselves must prioritise stability.
“The Government must now work collaboratively with the built
environment sector to ensure these changes make a positive
difference to people’s lives. We will be engaging with the new Secretaries
of State and their departments immediately.”
