It was incredibly moving to witness the 80^th  anniversary commemorations of the D-Day landings in Normandy earlier this summer. Following the media coverage, it was impossible not to be awed by the gigantic scale of the undertaking and the courage and sacrifice of the young men and women who took part.

The occasion also made me look forward and think about how my job concentrates on a similar amount of time into the future. The new Labour government has put housebuilding at the centre of its plans and pledged to get Britain building again. And every home we build today will have to last for at least 80 to 100 years. They’ll cater for another three or four generations of residents, housing managers, community developers, maintenance, repair and reinvestment. Each scheme also fundamentally alters the landscape in which it’s located and becomes part of that neighbourhood’s story.