18.1 C
Manchester
Friday, September 19, 2025
PropertyMatthew Pennycook named housing minister

Matthew Pennycook named housing minister

Matthew Pennycook has been appointed as the new housing minister.

Pennycook, who secured re-election as MP for Greenwich and Woolwich with a majority exceeding 18,000 votes, has been serving as shadow housing minister since 2021.

In his new role, he will report to Angela Rayner, who was confirmed as housing secretary – as well as deputy leader – on Friday.

He has been involved in housing policy having recently submitted dozens of amendments to the Renters (Reform) Bill.

Pennycook said: “It is a real honour to have been appointed Minister of State at the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC).

“Tackling the housing crisis and boosting economic growth is integral to national renewal. Time to get to work.”

Nathan Emerson, CEO of Propertymark, said: “Housing must play a pivotal role for the government moving forwards and in real terms, delivering over 1,100 new homes every single working day for the next five years will take immense planning and enormous stakeholder engagement to achieve.

“The housing sector is crying out for a vastly increased supply to keep pace with demand, there simply can be no room for error moving forwards or we may end up with prices artificially rocketing due to consumer desperation in finding a suitable home for their needs.

“There must be a broad mix of sustainably built homes that brings much need stock to both buyers and renters. The plan must be delivered with precision and in a way that is connected with wider government planning to ensure key infrastructure is provisioned for as the population further grows.”

Nick Walkley, principal and UK president at Avison Young, said Labour’s housing delivery plan was bold with its target if 1.5 million new homes, with a focus on 90,000 affordable or social housing units each year.
He added: “To get land ready for building and boost affordable housing, Labour needs a revamped approach to capturing land value. This calls for collaboration among local authorities and stakeholders.
“Big housing projects take time, even when everyone’s on board. Labour wants to speed things up by streamlining how funding is approved, especially by involving private companies. They also plan to make compulsory purchase orders quicker and easier, so they can start building sooner. It’s a balancing act: Labour wants to solve the housing crisis fast, but large projects come with delays.”

Perry Jax, marketing director for Alesco, said for Labour to be successful with this housing policy, they must look at areas of tenant demand, which continues to outweigh supply, and focus on locations where demand and economic benefits go hand in hand – an approach echoed by think tank Centre for Cities.

He added: “While it’s important Labour develop a substantial number of affordable and social housing to replace what’s been sold off through the right-to-buy scheme, they must not neglect private landlords who play a vital role in keeping the market growing. A promise to not increase Capital Gains Tax is a good indicator, though an increase to stamp duty surcharge for non-UK residents could stifle the UK market’s global appeal.

“Opening up the newly formed ‘Grey belts’ and prioritising brownfield sites for new developments while promising to speed up the process to approval should start Labour off on a good course to deliver, providing they choose to stick to the pledges outlined in their election-winning manifesto.”

Helen Greaney
Helen Greaney
I'm a journalist with more than 18 years' experience on local, regional and national newspapers, as well as PR and digital marketing. Crime and the courts is my specialist area but I'm also keen to hear your stories concerning Manchester and the greater North West region.
Latest

Tees Valley International Film Festival to Premiere “3 Peaks 3 Pots” This November

The eagerly awaited documentary 3 Peaks 3 Pots will have its first screening on 6 November 2025 at ARC Stockton, marking one of the...

The green fleet: Sourcing affordable EVs at car auctions

The used electric vehicle market is experiencing unprecedented growth across the UK, with government data showing that zero-emission vehicles accounted for 20% of all new car...

Timberwise Boss Reveals Five Costly Issues Buyers of Older Homes Should Know

A leading voice in property care has revealed the five most widespread and expensive issues that often arise when people purchase older homes. George Edwards,...

K2L Marketing Strengthens Global Footprint with New Offices in Dubai and Illinois

Manchester-based performance marketing agency K2L has announced the opening of two new international offices, one in Dubai and the other in Illinois, USA. This...
Subscribe to our newsletter
Business Manchester will use the information you provide on this form to be in touch with you and to provide updates and marketing.
Don't miss

Appy Pie Unveils Snappy 2.5: A Faster, Smarter Website Builder Designed Around User Feedback

Appy Pie has introduced Snappy 2.5, the latest upgrade to its website builder, developed in direct response to long-standing user feedback. This release focuses...

FREESMO Leads the Way with Smarter Smoke-Free Choices Through Trusted Questionnaire

As the smoke-free sector continues to grow and diversify, FREESMO is highlighting the importance of its Smoke-Free Questionnaire – a tried and tested tool...

Timberwise Boss Reveals Five Costly Issues Buyers of Older Homes Should Know

A leading voice in property care has revealed the five most widespread and expensive issues that often arise when people purchase older homes. George Edwards,...

Choosing reliable vehicle financing for families in Manchester

When it comes to securing vehicle financing for your family, reliability is essential. Families need to consider the long-term impact of their financial decisions,...

More News

Timberwise Boss Reveals Five Costly Issues Buyers of Older Homes Should Know

A leading voice in property care has revealed the five most widespread and expensive issues that often arise when people purchase older homes. George Edwards,...

Why more UK homeowners are delaying their next move

The UK housing market has entered an unprecedented period of stagnation, with transaction volumes plummeting to levels not seen since the financial crisis of...

Buying property at below market value: Legal implications you should know

Bagging a home for less than its market price can feel like a win. Maybe it’s a family deal, a motivated seller, or a rare...