Mace Chairman Mark Reynolds, Balfour Beatty CEO Leo Quinn, and Berkeley division Managing Director Karl Whiteman were among 50 industry leaders who participated in a virtual roundtable with Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds on Monday.
The 45-minute meeting aimed to “remove barriers to growth and stimulate investment,” according to the Department for Business and Trade.
Also present on the call was Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook, along with a group of experts who “discussed the importance of planning and construction for the government’s development plan.”
Reynolds said: “Building on confidence in our future industrial strategy, we aim to work in partnership with businesses to ensure our reforms benefit communities in every corner of the country. That is why such discussions are extremely important as we work to remove planning barriers to stimulate growth and investment.”
One participant, who wished to remain anonymous, noted: “They reviewed everything they are doing in planning, but there was nothing really new, no specifics. However, it was a valuable opportunity to engage with the government.”
In December, the government published updated national planning policy frameworks and plans to introduce a Planning and Infrastructure Bill, which will grant powers to accelerate infrastructure development and housing construction by spring.