17
Oct
Maiden Beckett speech gains warm reception
Margaret Beckett's first speech in her new role as housing minister
has been given a warm welcome by Dave Bexon, the managing director
of new housing firm SmartNewHomes.com.
The speech was made to a conference of the Home Builders Federation
and Mr Bexon responded: "It is encouraging to hear Margaret Beckett
stating an early intention to prioritise a close working
relationship with housebuilders in her first address to the
industry."
Mr Bexon said that he was particularly pleased to hear the minister
raise the issue of the use of public land for housing development,
commenting that planning and land supply will be "crucial" in a
period when the housing industry emerges from the recent
downturn.
In her speech, Ms Beckett said that the supply of public land for
housing and measures to lower the risk faced by developers could
"lay the foundations" for a major market recovery.
Such moves could be good news for those seeking mortgages as it
could help increase the stock of available homes to choose
from.
