It is understood that Sarah Jones is to be named the next UK construction minister
Sarah Jones, MP for Croydon West, is set to be appointed as construction minister.
On the 8th of July, Jones was appointed as minister of state at the department for energy security and net zero, and the department for business and trade.
The new construction minister will inherit a previously chaotic position
The former construction minister, conservative Alan Mak, was appointed at a time of upheaval for the previous government, having had to take over from Nusrat Ghani during a shuffle.
From there, Mak was only in the role for a month before Rishi Sunak announced a general election.
The next construction minister will be the 26th to have had the role this century, and will take on a portfolio that has passed hands twice in 17 months. If the Construction Leadership Council does not change under the new government, it is assumed that Jones will take this portfolio.
Sarah Jones has much experience in the construction industry
Jones has previously been an advocate for increased safety in construction, as well as an opponent to permitted development rights.
In 2017, as MP for Croydon Central, she used her first speech in parliamentary debate to discuss the Grenfell tower disaster, and heavily advocate for the installation of sprinklers in all towers for fire safety.
Since then, Jones has been outspoken on issues including protecting the UK steel industry, vital to UK construction, and increasing interest in the youth in construction jobs/apprenticeships as well as improving schemes for training and employment.
She has also been a strong opponent of the permitted development scheme, saying in 2020: “The principle[…]of making it easier to build housing, is clear, but the consequences since its introduction are obvious. It has not increased affordable housing, which is what we would hope for. The ad hoc nature of the development can be seen in Harlow, Luton and Croydon, and in Croydon it has meant overdevelopment of office space.
“There is now a gap, because businesses that want to come into the area cannot, as everything has been converted through permitted development. Also, a lot of quite unsavoury people are making quite a lot of money. That was obvious in the “Panorama” programme about permitted development in Harlow.”
Dave Dargan, CEO and Co-founder of Starship, says: “I welcome the anticipated appointment of Sarah Jones as the new Construction Minister. As the 26th person to hold this crucial role in the past century, her experience as Shadow Minister for Industry and Decarbonisation expertly positions her to navigate the future MMC landscape, drive innovation and sustainability within the sector, and address the pressing housing shortage.”
This experience makes Jones a strong candidate for construction minister.
The The National Federation of Demolition Contractors said in a comment: “We are enthusiastic about continuing our work with the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government (formerly the Department of Levelling Up, Housing, and Communities) to support this cause by enhancing understanding demolition’s role in sustainable development. Often misunderstood, the demolition industry is dedicated to sustainable practices that contribute to the efficient and responsible redevelopment of our urban areas.
We also welcome Sarah Jones to her new role as Construction Minister in the Department for Business and Trade, alongside her role within the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero. We welcome the opportunity to collaborate with the minister and her team.
The NFDC looks forward to working closely with the government and other stakeholders to promote the benefits of brownfield development and to highlight the significant contributions of the demolition sector to a sustainable future.”
This experience makes Jones a strong candidate for construction minister.
