The deputy prime minister Rayner has held the housing brief in Labour’s shadow cabinet since September 2023. She has been the MP for Ashton-under-Lyne since 2015.

In its manifesto, the Labour Party committed to building 1.5 million new homes by 2029, reforming the planning system, delivering a Warm Homes Plan to upgrade the energy efficiency of five million homes, and developing a national industrial strategy to drive economic growth.

The built environment welcomed the new government after Labour’s landslide victory last week. Labour won 411 parliamentary seats, and the Liberal Democrats and the Greens got record numbers of MPs. The Conservatives gained 121 seats—down 244 from the 365 it won in the 2019 general election. However, voter turnout is estimated to have been 60%, the lowest since 2001’s 59.4%.

The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) expressed its eagerness to collaborate with the new government to fulfil Labour’s pledges to build new homes, reform planning, and improve home energy efficiency.

Eddie Tuttle, CIOB's policy, external affairs, and research director, said: “A new government offers the opportunity to build new relationships with policymakers and help them understand the sector's challenges and opportunities.

“The construction sector relies on stability, and we urge the Labour government to ensure consistency and longevity with policymaking and its communications with industry.”