Housing sector finds itself at an important crossroads

Will they do the next right thing?

With Andy Burnham now in Number 10 and Angela Rayner returning to the housing brief, the housing sector finds itself at an important crossroads. The question isn't whether housing is a priority; it is whether priorities will translate into delivery.

Both Burnham and Rayner have long advocated for greater public investment in housing, regeneration, and tackling inequality. However, some expectations have already been tempered, with concerns emerging around the ambition to deliver 1.5 million new homes. For those of us working in and around the sector, this reality check won't come as a surprise.

Housing delivery has never been as simple as setting a target. It requires long-term vision, investment certainty, planning reform, skills development, supply chain capacity, and sustained political commitment.

Building the largest council housebuilding programme in generations demands far more than ambition; it demands consistency. That said, change in leadership can create momentum, bringing renewed focus, clarity, and a willingness to tackle challenges that have persisted for decades.

One area that particularly stands out is Burnham's commitment to ending rough sleeping through a funded strategy. If implemented effectively, it represents an opportunity to address one of the most visible and pressing symptoms of our housing crisis.

At Anglian Building Products, we welcome the fact that housing has risen to the top of the national agenda. The conversation has moved beyond simply recognising the problem to discussing solutions. That's progress. However, success won't be measured by speeches, announcements, or manifesto commitments; it will be measured by housing starts, completed homes, reduced homelessness, and improved living standards.

In his first speech as Prime Minister, Burnham pledged to "put the care of people at the heart of everything" he does. If that principle is to mean something tangible, housing is one of the most powerful places to start. Safe, secure, and affordable homes are the foundation upon which people build healthier, more prosperous lives.

There is no crystal ball for what comes next, but leadership is often about doing the next right thing. For housing, the next right thing is turning promise into delivery.