Rayner promises to get devolution done

Brownfield passports, ‘full devolution across the North’, and a new Decent Homes Standard featured on day one of the Labour Party conference in Liverpool as Angela Rayner got the big speeches underway.

As the party attempts to distract media attention from sleaze scandals back onto policy, attendees in a rain-soaked Liverpool were clinging to any policy announcements they could.

Queuing to get into the Arena & Convention Centre Liverpool on Monday before Rachel Reeves’ speech. Credit: PNW

Rayner addressed Sunday’s annual party conference and outlined further planning, housing and devolved powers policy areas.

Planning | A brownfield-first initiative to move development towards a default position where qualified sites gain permission faster. Consultation is open and responses are being reviewed as part of the reform of the National Planning Policy Framework, due before the end of the year.

Devolution | Government “will prioritise remaining Northern areas in the next wave of devolution deals”. Progression was confirmed last week for deals covering Lancashire, Greater Lincolnshire, Hull and East Yorkshire and Devon and Torbay. A life sciences investment zone will be created for West Yorkshire, offering tax incentives and flexible funding for research

Housing | A new Decent Homes Standard consultation will follow “as soon as possible.” DHCLG said in a statement accompanying communities secretary Rayner’s speech. There will be new standards for social housing and the private rented sector. Senior staff will need “Competence and Conduct… qualifications” to work in the social housing sector. Housing association tenants will have access to landlord information to hold them to account in 2.5m households.

The mood at fringe events on Sunday evening was muted by annoyance at the distraction of the political soap opera over free clothes and whether rules over donations and interests had been followed. “I thought he was different”, one London-based Labour Party member said about Starmer.

The much-anticipated jubilant atmosphere was largely absent at Centre for Cities and Liverpool City Region Combined Authority receptions. Expectation has turned instead to the Budget on 30 October and the Comprehensive Spending Review due next spring.

Trumpeting Decent Homes Standards will be worth nothing if housing associations do not have the budgetary reassurances they can afford to invest in their estates, said one social housing association lobbyist at the LCR drinks in the Gerry Marsden Ferry Terminal.

The single settlement for Greater Manchester Combined Authority from next year is seen as a breakthrough for devolution. Allowing spending along local decisions around housing and education, rather than being limited to departmental pots, will produce greater returns on public spending in health and growth, Andy Burnham told a session with the University of Manchester on Monday morning in the Museum of Liverpool.

Rayner hinted at greater powers coming over spatial planning and housing. Mayors are seen as among the likely winners under the new government. Local leaders around the UK are watching Greater Manchester and want to be next for a devolution deal if they have not already signed one. “Staying in the game” until the Budget and winning the argument by the time of the spending review seems to be the strategy for many here this week.

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