黑洞社区

The former head of the civil service has told government it must reset its relationship with the housebuilding and development sector at the opening of a property conference in Leeds this morning.

In a keynote speech kicking off UKREIIF, Lord Bob Kerslake said the industry鈥檚 relationship with the government had been made difficult by disagreements over planning policy and the aftermath of the Grenfell fire in 2017.

Kerslake, who chairs the event鈥檚 advisory board as well as housing association Peabody, was speaking before visiting investment minister, Lord Dominic Johnson.

鈥淭he one thing I would say gently to the minister is that the government does need to look at resetting its relationship with the housebuilding and development industry,鈥� said Kerslake.

鈥淭o put it mildly, this has been a difficult time in that relationship, in the aftermath of Grenfell and the need to tackle the safety issue, and some very contested issues around planning and development.鈥�

Kerslake who is a 黑洞社区 the Future Commissioner, added: 鈥淏ut we risk seeing housing starts fall to nearly their lowest low since the great financial crash, and we know how desperately we need housing in this country, both market and affordable.

鈥淪o, I would say to the minister, rebuild that relationship 鈥� let鈥檚 get the country growing and building and developing again.鈥�

Johnson outlined to delegates details of the achievements of private investment and regional political leaders.

鈥淭he government has been doing a huge amount to ensure that this country is successful, and I believe our levelling up agenda has been at the core of this incredible renaissance in English regional capitalism,鈥� he said.

The conference, which is in its second year, will be visited by an estimated 7,500 delegates over the course of this week.