Prime Minister Andy Burnham announces new Housing Secretary

Reacting to Andy Burnham’s appointment as Prime Minister and Angela Rayner returning to MHCLG, Stonewater Chief Executive Jonathan Layzell said:

“We welcome Andy Burnham as the UK’s new Prime Minister and are encouraged by his commitment to delivering truly affordable housing at a time of urgent need. We also welcome Angela Rayner’s return as Secretary of State at MHCLG, given her previous role in advancing planning reform and working constructively with providers to secure vital funding for affordable and social homes.

“As a housing association with an ambitious development programme, we want to play our full part in delivering the next generation of social and affordable homes and helping Government meet its housing targets. However, there are concerns across the sector about potential delays in implementing the Social and Affordable Homes Programme and allocating funding, creating uncertainty at a time when the need for affordable housing continues to grow unabated.

“With long-term responsibilities to our customers stretching decades into the future, we need clarity and certainty to confidently plan investment, leverage private finance and accelerate delivery. We therefore urge the Government to allocate the SAHP with urgency, enabling us and other housing associations to maximise delivery and build the thousands of high-quality affordable and social rent homes that communities across England need.”