Fresh faces to drive forward Government's housing and planning agenda

Published by Jon Land for 24dash.com in Housing and also in Central Government, Local Government

While the focus of yesterday's reshuffle - at least for the housing sector - was on whether Grant Shapps would be taking up his cabinet promotion and finding out just who his replacement, business minister Mark Prisk, is, there were also some other important ministerial changes at the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG).

Planning minister Greg Clark - who was so influential in ensuring both the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and the Localism Bill worked their way into mainstream policy and law - has been appointed financial secretary to the Treasury but will be continuing his cities role.

In his place is the man who was tipped by many yesterday to succeed Grant Shapps as housing minster - Nick Boles MP, who set up influential think tank the Policy Exchange.

The Tory MP for Grantham and Stamford is seen as a radical thinker and someone who can further drive forward the Government's deregulation of the planning system.

Mr Boles (pictured), a close friend of both David Cameron and George Osborne, has already put down a marker on planning in a speech he made to the influential Tory Reform Group earlier this year, during which he launched an attack on the National Trust and other "latter-day Luddites".

He said: "Business investment is deterred by the bureaucratic rigidity of our outdated planning regime so it is essential that we press on with our planning reforms and do not allow the hysterical scare-mongering of latter-day Luddites to strangle developments that will boost living standards."

Mr Boles' appointment was welcomed by the Home Builders Federation on Twitter, which said: "Expect some new ideas."

Elsewhere, Lib Dem Don Foster succeeds fellow Lib Dem and empty homes warrior Andrew Stunell who held the position of junior housing minister. Mr Foster, 65, has been MP for Bath since the 1992 election when he beat the sitting Tory, Chris Patten. He was caught up in the expenses scandal and was asked to pay back over £4,000 he had claimed for a mortgage. Mr Foster was also one of 28 Lib Dems who voted for the Government's controversial rise in tuition fees.

The new faces won't have long to get equipped with their respective roles with an announcement on planning and housing growth due this week.