Housing Minister
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Housing Market
£100m funding boost for house builders
The Government has pledged to match the £50 million promised by Lloyds Banking Group in October to help increase the supply of needed new homes across the country, the Housing Minister Brandon Lewis (left) announced this week. The Housing Growth Partnership will act as a dedicated initiative alongside small builders to invest in new developments, with the ultimate aim of increasing housing supply. The latest house building data reveal that housing starts are now at a seven-year high and climbing, while the volume of homes granted planning consent has reached 261,000 – the highest since 2007. But to help “maintain this momentum and keep the country building”, Lewis said that the Government recognised that greater investment in the sector is needed. He commented, “The 2008 economic crash devastated our army of small builders, with delivery falling from 44,000 homes to just 18,000 – seven years on, companies are getting back on their feet but we’re determined to give them all the help they need.” Lloyds Banking Group said that it welcomed the Government’s announcement of support for the housing growth partnership, which will double the capability to support SME house builders. Andrew Bester, Group Director and Chief Executive, commercial banking…
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Brandon Lewis remains Housing Minister despite confusion
Brandon Lewis (left) will remain Housing Minister despite reports he had been replaced. At the start of last week, it was thought that Mark Francois, MP for Rayleigh and Wickford since 2001, had been appointed the new Housing and Planning Minister, in the Communities department, following the appointment of Greg Clark as Communities Secretary. Following 24 hours of confusion, the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) confirmed that Mr Lewis, who is widely thought to have impressed during his brief tenure as Housing Minister in the run-up to this month’s General Election, would in fact retain ministerial responsibility for planning and housing in a reshuffle that has seen various new MPs arrive at the DCLG. A DCLG spokeswoman, said, “I can confirm that Brandon Lewis will remain Housing Minister.” Mr Lewis, who retained his seat in Great Yarmouth by a majority of 43 per cent, outstripping the Labour and UK Independence Party (UKIP) vote, will report to new Communities and Local Government Secretary Greg Clark (right), who replaced Eric Pickles in the Government reshuffle, while Mark Francois has actually been appointed as a Minister of State at the DCLG. The role of Minister of State for Housing and Planning…
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