A New Chapter for Construction: What it Means for Architects

The appointment of Chris McDonald as the new Construction Minister is a significant move for our industry. Unlike his many predecessors, McDonald's two-decade background in the steel industry brings a much-needed technical and hands-on perspective to a role that has long been political.

Varied design of a new development

For architects, this shift could be pivotal. His expertise in materials and manufacturing could signal a renewed government focus on Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) and offsite pre-fabrication. This presents a huge opportunity for our sector to lead the way in designing scalable, high-quality, and efficient building solutions. His background in decarbonisation, meanwhile, aligns with our collective goal to build a more sustainable future, from design to delivery. He has to tackle issues like supply of materials and labour as without those solved the rest won't happen.

...over 1.4 million homes with planning permission have been left unbuilt since 2007.

The Unbuilt Challenge

While we welcome a more pragmatic approach to policy, the real test will be in tackling the UK's housing crisis. The debate over land banking continues, with reports from organisations like the IPPR and the Local Government Association stating that over 1.4 million homes with planning permission have been left unbuilt since 2007.

Why are so many homes staying at the apporval stage

While there are complex reasons for this, including market conditions and infrastructure constraints, this figure represents a massive bottleneck in our housing pipeline. As architects, we are at the forefront of designing the homes our country desperately needs, yet we're also facing the reality that an enormous number of approved projects are not being realised.

This new appointment has the potential to move beyond the politics of planning and focus on the practicalities of getting spades in the ground. Let's hope he lasts in post as we have now seen 27 ministers over the last 25 years, and what housing needs is consistency!