RE:UK comment on Andy Burnham devolution speech

Commenting on Andy Burnham's devolution speech, Vanessa Hale, Chief Executive of Real Estate:UK, said:

“The real estate sector has a critical role to play in boosting growth across the UK, working not only with national government, but also with newly empowered mayors and local leaders through genuine partnership working to deploy place-based funds, facilitate the development of industrial clusters, deliver the successful regeneration of places, and build new homes as part of a place-first, ‘good growth’ approach. With a stable and supportive policy framework, we can build the affordable and higher density homes that Andy Burnham says he wants.

"However, the full benefits of this will only be delivered if the same radical approach to reforming the role of government is also applied to how government works with the private sector, including full recognition of the challenges that the real estate industry faces, such as the viability crisis which has effectively stalled building activity across the country, that enhanced local and regional authorities need the extra resourcing to match the scale of their ambition, and an understanding that the need for stability is paramount for those seeking to make long-term investment into the UK.”