Britain’s new Housing Secretary has pledged to accelerate housebuilding as Labour ramps up efforts to tackle the housing crisis.
Steve Reed, who stepped into the role after Angela Rayner’s resignation, has adopted her well-known slogan, “build, baby build,” to signal continuity and urgency.
He told officials he would “pull every lever” build homes and deliver Labour’s ambitious target of 1.5 million houses this parliament.
Similar promises for homebuilding
It’s time to BUILD, BABY, BUILD🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/OQnolSf6dJSeptember 8, 2025
Steve Reed’s appointment signals a shift in style and emphasis in Labour’s approach to homebuilding.
He has adopted the familiar mantra “build, baby build,” first popularised by Angela Rayner, to underline his commitment to accelerating housebuilding.
Reed is set to bring together developers and housebuilders this week to discuss the next phase of planning reform, with a focus on the 1.4 million homes that already have planning permission but have yet to be built.
A daunting challenge for Labour
Despite Reed’s ambitious messaging, the scale of the task remains formidable.
The UK’s homebuilding sector is facing its longest slump since the COVID-19 pandemic, threatening the Government’s target of 1.5 million new homes by 2029.
Industry experts warn that a shortage of skilled workers compounds the problem: an estimated 140,000 more construction workers are needed over the next five years, with another 61,000 required annually to meet housing targets.
Business confidence is low, with only 34% of firms expecting growth in the coming year - the lowest level since December 2022. Without substantial intervention to stimulate activity and address workforce shortages, Labour’s ambitious housing goals remain at serious risk.
Political urgency after Rayner’s departure
Reed takes up the housing brief in the wake of Angela Rayner’s sudden resignation, which rattled the Labour front bench and intensified pressure on Sir Keir Starmer’s Government.
Senior officials point to Reed’s record as Environment Secretary - where he impressed with decisive reforms - as a reason for optimism.
A source at the housing department said: “The new Housing Secretary will leave no stone unturned to build the homes Britain desperately needs. Let’s get Britain building.”
