New Government Sets Out Priorities

During the State Opening of Parliament on 17 July, the King outlined the programme of legislation that the new Government intends to pursue in this parliamentary session.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is promising to ‘take the brakes off Britain’ and unlock economic growth. Over 35 bills were covered in the King's Speech, and the key ones for the construction industry include:

• Planning and Infrastructure Bill â€ Getting Britain building through planning reform, which will accelerate the delivery of high‐quality housing and infrastructure.
• High Speed Rail Bill â€ Providing powers to construct and operate rail projects, which will improve east to west connectivity across the north of England.
• Great British Energy Bill â€ Creating a publicly-owned clean power company, which will accelerate investment in renewable energy, with the aim of achieving energy independence and unlocking investment in energy infrastructure.
• Skills England Bill â€ Establishing ‘Skills England’, a new partnership centred around employers designed to ensure the supply of skills, as well as reforming the Apprenticeship Levy.
• English Devolution Bill â€ Giving new powers to metro mayors and combined authorities to support local growth plans.

In a display of the new Government's commitment to increasing housing and infrastructure, Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Secretary of State for Business and Trade Jonathan Reynolds have convened early meetings with industry leaders, including Build UK members Berkeley Group, Mace, and Skanska. These discussions focused on a 10-year implementation strategy, private investment, the planning system, and supply chain skills.

Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Housing, Communities, and Local Government Angela Rayner has also announced that the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities will return to its previous name: the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG).