‘The will is absolutely there’: Major housebuilders meet Reeves for high-level discussions ahead of King’s Speech

Housebuilder bosses were among a group of construction industry leaders invited in for high-level discussions with the new government last week as Labour in its very first days in power sought to engage the sector ahead of planned reforms.

A group of senior figures in the housing and infrastructure sectors last Friday met Rachel Reeves, the new chancellor of the Exchequer, along with Treasury officials in Number 11 Downing Street. 

The delegation included representatives from volume housebuilders Berkeley, Barratt and Taylor Wimpey.

Also present were energy groups Scottish Power, SSE and National Grid, infrastructure contractors Jacobs, Skanska and Mace, from telecoms firm Open Reach and the chair of the National Infrastructure Commission, John Armitt. 

One source close to the talks told Housing Today the housebuilders raised with the chancellor the importance of ensuring national planning strategies and local planning strategies are not “disjointed”

“It so often happens that a national plan gets undone at the local level” the source said.

During the meeting, industry leaders were “asked for feedback and gave feedback good and bad”.

Business leaders emphasised the importance of a “joined-up approach” to investment that is ring-fenced and outlives the current government and stressed the need for consistency on planning requirements and the pipeline of projects.

Another person linked to the talks who spoke to Housing Today said attendees felt cautiously encouraged by what they had heard. “I’d give them 10 out of 10 for intentions,” they said.

“I think the will is absolutely there. The obviously the challenge is always to make that reality, isn’t it? And devil’s in the detail, But at the moment, I’m feeling hopeful and positive.” 

Attendees were told that the government wanted to “keep this discussion going” and were asked to flag when major projects hit planning blocks. 

“I think this and other groups will convene again because there was also a group that worked with the advisory panel pre-election with Darren Jones,” one source said, referring to the new chief secretary to the Treasury, who conducted a major review into infrastructure delivery before Labour’s electoral victory.

“So, this was a slightly different mix of that group because we had housebuilding in there, as well as John Armitt. You definitely feel like the door’s open,” they added.

Reeves has already announced a number of changes, including re-instating mandatory local housing targets. 

The King’s Speech, which takes place tomorrow, is expected to reveal further changes to planning and infrastructure policy.