Inter-Ministerial Group for Housing, Communities and Local Government communiqué: 4 February 2026
Published 5 February 2026
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The Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG) for Housing, Communities and Local Government met on 4 February by video conference.
The attending ministers were:
From the Northern Ireland Executive:
- Gordon Lyons MLA – Minister for Communities (Meeting Chair)
From the UK Government:
- Rt Hon Steve Reed MP – Secretary of State for Housing, Communities & Local Government
From the Welsh Government:
- Jayne Bryant MS – Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government
From the Scottish Government:
- Màiri McAllan MSP – Cabinet Secretary for Housing
The Chair opened proceedings by welcoming attendees to the fifth meeting of the Inter-Ministerial Group.
The group discussed best practice approaches in place-based policy for housing, as well as challenges and solutions to increasing housing supply across the UK.
The group agreed that increasing housing supply across all tenures was essential to building thriving, sustainable communities. All governments agreed to work together to deliver homes for all citizens of the UK, with ministers noting the benefits of the positive working relationships that already exist between officials and agreeing for this official level collaboration to continue.
The meeting closed with confirmation that governments would work together at official level to agree the Chair of the next meeting in light of elections taking place in May.
A suitable date and agenda items will also be identified at official level.