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Exclusive: ‘Big opportunities lie ahead for the Tees Valley’ - Communities Secretary, Sajid Javid

Following Theresa May’s cabinet reshuffle, Bdaily caught up with new Communities Secretary Sajid Javid to find out the Minister’s thoughts regarding the future of the Tees Valley. This is what he had to say:

Big opportunities lie ahead for the Tees Valley. Unemployment is falling, new companies are moving in, and significant investment has been secured for the local economy.

There are challenges ahead, too, but we can overcome them if central and local government keep working together.

That’s why I was honoured to be appointed Communities Secretary. The work of my department – house-building, devolving power to councils, strengthening communities – all are central objectives of Theresa May’s One Nation government.

And – since I’d argue that the most effective politics is local politics – that means I’m ready to work closely with local government.

Town by town, city by city and county by county, we can work together to build the homes we need, help local businesses grow and create jobs, and provide excellent public services.

I have three priorities.

First: we must build more homes. We inherited housing deficit in 2010 that will take another Parliament to turn around.

Behind the statistics of house-building are the life stories of real people. I’m not prepared to see young people denied the home-owning opportunities which my generation could almost take for granted, for example, or young couples forced to choose between starting a family or owning a home.

We know that upwards of 85% of us want to own our home. My aim is to ensure that anyone who works hard can do so.

We are doubling the investment in housing, including the largest affordable house building programme since the 1970s, and helping a million home buyers get on the housing ladder.

My second priority: to push economic growth to every part of our country.

We have already signed billions of pounds worth of Growth Deals, and agreed ten devolution deals covering more than a third of the country, including the Tees Valley.

Your elected mayor will be accountable to you, to work with local businesses to back projects that improve infrastructure, create jobs, and help our best industries to grow and prosper.

My third priority is to strengthen the bonds between people within our communities. Our choice to leave the EU was a momentous choice, and there’s no doubt it revealed – not created – tensions in our society.

I grew up in a poor part of Bristol, the son of an immigrant family: so I understand, completely, these tensions.

The push for new jobs, the new houses we’ll build – these are practical measures designed to ensure that everyone benefits from Britain’s progress.

But my department will also provide £1m to support projects which challenge prejudice. We must uphold the principles of tolerance and mutual respect – these are the values which bind us together.

There are many reasons for optimism. Train-making is coming to Aycliffe, the new potash mine near Whitby will bring more jobs to the area, and there is new investment for local roads and rail.

Together we will build more homes, help more businesses grow, help councils deliver better public services. You can count on my support, and of my whole department, as the Tees Valley looks confidently into the future.

- Sajid Javid, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government

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