L&G’s levelling up chief appointed interim housing director at WMCA

Legal & General’s director of levelling up, John Godfrey, has been appointed as interim director of housing, placemaking and regeneration at the West Midlands Combined Authority. Godfrey, who also worked at Downing Street as head of policy for Theresa May’s government, will oversee the WMCA as it works to unlock brownfield sites for the development and delivery of affordable housing. He has been seconded from L&G until the end of December while the WMCA looks to appoint a permanent director. Godfrey’s appointment follows the Deeper Devolution Deal for the West Midlands, announced earlier this year. The deal, which secured up to £500m to support housing and regeneration projects throughout the region, secured a dramatic transfer of powers from Whitehall to the WMCA. They included confirmation that the new Affordable Housing Programme will be fully devolved to the West Midlands by 2026, as well as the first-ever land reform partnership with central government, giving the WMCA a say on all disposals of public land across the region. In May this year, SEGRO was announced as a strategic partner of the WMCA, with a commitment to invest £2bn over the coming decade to deliver next-generation, net zero warehouse facilities across the West Midlands. And last year, L&G and the WMCA signed a partnership agreement committing to invest £4bn in regeneration, housing and levelling up across the West Midlands. Andy Street, mayor of the West Midlands and WMCA chair, said: “Our region has been at the very forefront of the levelling-up agenda – with our mission to unlock brownfield sites for development and provide much-needed affordable housing playing a central part in that story. “Following the historic Deeper Devolution Deal agreed with government back in March, and a range of strategic partnerships with the private sector now in place, we’re well placed to double down on our progress to date – driving prosperity for local people right across our region. “To have John Godfrey’s expertise on board at this critical juncture is a real win. It will further solidify our position as an exemplar region in the months and years ahead. I look forward to working with John as we continue to deliver for the West Midlands.” Godfrey added: “This is a region which is fast-becoming a best-in-class blueprint for devolution, public-private partnerships and levelling up. “Just as the West Midlands led the Industrial Revolution of the 18th century, so too is it laying trailblazing foundations that will cement its status as the birthplace of a new, green industrial revolution of the 21st century.” To send feedback, e-mail akanksha.soni@eg.co.uk or tweet @AkankshaEG or @EGPropertyNews