New minister promises to remove 'unnecessary barriers' to housing

Rob Callister appointed as new Housing and Communities Minister

The new Housing and Communities Minister says he wants to remove 'unnecessary barriers' to housing on the Island, but admits there are no 'quick fixes'.

Onchan MHK Rob Callister was appointed to the role yesterday (30 October), the position having been created by Ard-Shirveishagh Chris Thomas.

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As part of his priorities, Mr Callister says he want to see greater emphasis on bringing brownfield sites back into productive use, improving the look and feel of towns and communities, and ensuring local authorities have the right tools to tackle empty and dilapidated properties.

In a post on social media he says: "Housing is one of the biggest challenges facing our Island. Whether you are trying to buy your first home, looking for somewhere secure and affordable to rent, waiting for social housing, or needing a home that better suits you later in life, housing affects us all.

"It is also fundamental to our Island’s future. If we want to grow our economy, retain our young people, attract skilled workers and support our public services, we need the right homes, in the right places, at prices people can realistically afford."

Mr Callister adds that he knows expectations on him will 'rightly be high', but says 'meaningful progress will not happen overnight'.