Housing Secretary: We (still) need to do more on home ownership

More families need a home they can call their own, the Housing Secretary Michael Gove has claimed.

Speaking at the Tory Party conference in Manchester, Gove delivered a 12-minute speech where he highlighted Government achievements such as the education system, Brexit and employment but only got round to talking about housing towards the end of the speech.

Despite the Conservative Party being in power for the past 13 years, Gove suggested “more must now be done” to ensure every family has a safe and decent warm home and that more must have a “home of their own.”

He said the Government is on track to deliver 1m homes in this Parliament but said more is needed.

Gove added that the Government would support building aesthetically-beautiful and energy efficient homes in towns and cities and on brownfield land while also protecting the green belt and nature.

Commenting on the speech, agency trade body Propertymark’s head of policy and campaigns Timothy Douglas, said: “The Conservative Party’s record in Government means we are continuing to talk about building more homes that the country desperately needs. 

“Reforming planning, new homes to net zero and more affordable places to live are vital but we need action now. 

“Furthermore, the party of home ownership also needs to be the party of renting which means a whole-scale review of taxes impacting landlords and investment in the private rented sector. The money to support regional development is welcome but the proportion of towns that will receive support is a drop in the ocean to what is needed.”