Devolution should be top of Gove’s fresh agenda

EDITOR’S COMMENT I am all in favour of innovation, bravery and bold moves, but sometimes what you really need to succeed is good old-fashioned dullness. A safe, boring pair of sensible hands. And whether you like him or his politics, that is what Rishi Sunak has brought back to Number 10. With some notable exceptions (this is not the place to rant about Suella Braverman, much as I want to), Sunak has installed a cabinet of sensible, intelligent grown-ups who might actually be able to get the job done and deliver on at least some of the manifesto commitments that won the Conservatives power. “Might” is the operative word here, obviously. One of those sensible, intelligent, dull grown-ups is Michael Gove. His re-appointment as levelling up secretary has at least brought the idea of spreading equality and growth across the UK back into political conversation. Sunak mentioned those two still-misunderstood words in his first speech as PM. They never crossed the lips of Liz Truss during her short sojourn in Downing Street. While most of those in the sector who we have spoken to over the past few days are largely pleased that Gove is back in the role – he’s smart, civil servants like him, he knows how Whitehall operates, he’s a proper politician and capable cabinet minister – what actual power he will have to deliver and what kind of relationship he will have with the built environment remain a concern for others. When previously in post, very little was delivered on levelling up. There was – and likely is – as someone told me this week “no bloody money”. Funding mechanisms were blamed for the lack of any real payout under the levelling up guise. In his revived role, will Gove have any more clout with the Treasury? In the first 24 hours of Sunak’s premiership he has spent more hours than others with the PM. Could they be cutting a deal? Here’s hoping. As for his relationship with the real estate sector, it’s safe to say Gove hasn’t been much of a champion of it. He has labelled the housebuilders a cartel – there may be a little bit of truth in that, but his brandishing of such an emotive word shows more of a desire to hit the headlines than an understanding of the sector. He has enjoyed giving the development community a decent kicking too, so expect a greater number of call ins with him back in the role. I am all in favour of retrofit first, but have a little faith that firms in our sector generally want to make things better, not just tear down buildings and build their next ego trip. And he is, of course, to blame for Brexit, really. Although there are whispers out there that the man may indeed be for turning. If Gove really wants to turn that 300-page white paper of what not to do into a piece of legislation that truly enables, he needs to focus on powering up local government and understanding how to work with those authorities, regardless of their political persuasion. He needs to move on from whipping the housebuilding and development sectors and focus on devolution. Devolving power to strong local leadership – even if it is Labour – should absolutely be top of his agenda if he really wants to be a minister that delivers on that manifesto promise of levelling up and keeps the Tories in power for longer than the next 18 months. What matters most now, however, is what this industry does. How this country develops, how we “level up”, how we bring equality, growth and real social value to places is a job done by the built environment, not by central government politicians. Now should be real estate’s moment to show what true leadership looks like, to show to the likes of Gove, Sunak and chancellor Jeremy Hunt that this industry can create places that thrive and do so inclusively. The opportunity is yours for the taking. Can you do it?   To send feedback, e-mail samantha.mcclary@eg.co.uk or tweet @samanthamcclary or @EGPropertyNews Photo by Tayfun Salci/ZUMA Wire/Shutterstock