On 17 July 2024, the first session of the new UK parliament was opened with the King’s Speech. Delivered by the monarch but written by the UK Government, the speech lays out the Government’s priorities for the incoming parliamentary session.
In this speech, Sir Keir Starmer, the new UK Prime Minister, has pledged to "get Britain building". At the heart of his plan to boost the country’s economic growth are several Bills relating to increasing security at public arenas, changes to the planning system designed to make it easier to build houses and infrastructure, and proposals to give local leaders more powers.
To keep members updated, the Guild has detailed some of the main issues raised below:
- “Martyn’s law”, the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill which was included in the last King’s Speech but not introduced by the previous government. This will improve protective security and organisational preparedness across the UK by mandating, for the first time, those responsible for certain premises and events to consider the terrorist risk and how they would respond to an attack. It will ensure premises in the UK are prepared for and protected against terrorist attacks. The Bill is known as ‘Martyn’s Law’ in tribute to Martyn Hett, who was tragically killed alongside 21 others in the Manchester Arena terrorist attack in 2017. Further details on this proposed Law can be found here. Martyn’s Law overview and what you need to know | ProtectUK
- Planning and Infrastructure Bill ‐ This bill will speed up and streamline the planning process to build more homes of all tenures and accelerate the delivery of major infrastructure projects. It will also reform compensation rules and unlock development sites. By passing this bill, the UK Government aims to accelerate construction and make housing more affordable.
- Skills England Bill ‐ Establishing ‘Skills England’, a new partnership centred around employers designed to ensure the supply of skills, as well as reforming the Apprenticeship Levy. This will bring together central and local government, businesses, training providers and unions to meet the skills needs of the next decade across all regions, providing strategic oversight of the post-16 skills system aligned to the UK Government’s Industrial Strategy.
- English Devolution Bill ‐ Legislation will be introduced to give new powers to metro mayors and combined authorities. This will support local growth plans that bring economic benefits to communities.
- New UK Construction Minister – The Speech also heralds the arrival of the new Construction Minister Sarah Jones MP – the fifth holder of this post in 10 years.
- DLUHC – It should also be noted that the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has become the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, (a name it was previously known as). This Ministry is of importance to our industry as it contains responsibility for construction product manufacturing.
- Full speech – a transcript of the full speech can be seen here – The King’s Speech 2024 – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
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