Sarah Jones, recently appointed by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, takes charge as the minister for construction, focusing on progressive policy changes.
- Her appointment spans roles in the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero and the Department for Business & Trade.
- Jones is poised to be a government co-chair in the Construction Leadership Council, pending its current structure’s retention.
- Her distinctive approach includes a strong stance against permitted development rights, which she believes have not facilitated affordable housing.
- She criticises the overdevelopment resulting from current practices, attributing it to adverse economic and social impacts.
Recently appointed by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Sarah Jones now serves as the minister for construction, where she is expected to drive forward-thinking policy changes. Her appointment encompasses dual responsibilities at the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero as well as the Department for Business & Trade. This dual role reflects her importance in shaping the intersection of construction, energy, and trade policies.
In her expanded role, Sarah Jones is anticipated to co-chair the Construction Leadership Council, should the new government retain its current structure. Her involvement signifies a potential shift in the council’s policies and operational focus, particularly aligning with the government’s strategic goals.
One of the more controversial aspects of Jones’s portfolio is her opposition to permitted development rights, a policy intended to simplify housing development by bypassing certain planning regulations. Jones has consistently voiced her concerns regarding this policy, particularly its failure to deliver on affordable housing promises. According to her, such measures have not only fallen short in creating affordable housing but have also led to arbitrary and often undesirable urban development.
Jones articulated her concerns about the effects of permitted development in areas such as Harlow, Luton, and Croydon during a House of Commons debate in February 2020. She argued that these policies have resulted in the overdevelopment of office spaces, leaving a void for incoming businesses due to the conversion of commercial premises into housing. This, she contends, is counterproductive, stymying economic growth where it is sorely needed.
Furthermore, Jones has voiced strong disapproval of the financial gains made by certain developers under the current guidelines, categorising such profiteering as ‘unsavoury’. Her criticism focuses on the imbalance these practices have introduced to the housing market, which she argues detracts from community-focused and equitable development.
Sarah Jones’s appointment signals potential shifts in housing and construction policy, aiming for more sustainable development.
