Construction minister
There is no official title of construction minister within the UK government, however, there is generally a minister whose role includes construction (and generally infrastructure). As part of their role, they generally serve as co-chair of the Construction Leadership Council.
This is typically a relatively short appointment, much to the annoyance of the construction industry. There have been 25 construction ministers since 2001.
A timeline of appointments since 2019 is set out below, most recent first.
- Following the 2025 election, Sarah Jones, MP for Croydon West, was appointed Construction Minister.
- In April 2024, Alan Mak was appointed as construction minister.
- On 21 November 2022, it was announced that Nusrat Ghani MP, who was appointed Minister of State (Minister for Industry and Investment Security) in September 2022, would have responsibilities that include construction. She was previously minister for transport. On 7 February 2023, Kemi Badenoch was appointed as secretary of state at the newly-created Department for Business and Trade, but Nusrat Ghani retained the role of construction minister.
- Following the appointment of Rishi Sunak as prime minister, Jackie Doyle-Price was no longer the construction minister, but no replacement was immediately appointed. However, in November 2022, Lee Rowley MP was appointed Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Local Government and Building Safety).
- In September 2022, Jackie Doyle-Price MP was appointed Minister of State at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with responsibilities including construction. She has been MP for Thurrock since May 2010, and from 2010 to 2014 she served on the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee. She was Private Secretary to the Lord Mayor of London from 2000-2005.
- On 11 July 2022, a BEIS bulletin confirmed Lord Callanan (parliamentary undersecretary of state at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy since February 2020) would take temporary responsibility for construction. He was previously Minister of State at the Department for Exiting the European Union. He was educated at Newcastle Polytechnic where he gained a Bachelor of Science degree (BSc) in electrical and electronic engineering.
- On 17 September 2021, Lee Rowley was appointed Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (Minister for Industry), with responsibilities including infrastructure and construction. He resigned on 6 July 2022.
- In January 2020, just a month after the appointment of Kwasi Kwarteng, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, MP for Berwick-upon-Tweed, became the latest construction minister. She was previously Secretary of State for International Development, and was appointed Minister of State (Minister for Business, Energy and Clean Growth) at the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on 8 January 2021. She is a chartered accountant by trade.
- In December 2020, Kwasi Kwarteng, MP for Spelthorne and Minister of State (Minister for Business, Energy and Clean Growth) took over from Nadhim Zahawi. He was previously Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the Department for Exiting the European Union. Nadhim Zahawi was put in charge of the UK's covid-19 vaccination roll out.
- On 26 July 2019, MP for Stratford-on-Avon, Nadhim Zahawi, took over the role, with the official title Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). He was previously Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Education.
- On 5 April 2019, MP for Pendle, Andrew Stephenson was made minister responsible for construction, having previously been a government whip. He took over from Richard Harrington who resigned in protest at the government’s handling of Brexit.
See also: Housing minister.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- Building safety minister.
- Chief construction adviser.
- Chief planner.
- Construction 2025.
- Construction Leadership Council.
- Construction sector deal.
- Government Construction Strategy.
- Government departments responsibility for construction.
- Housing minister.
- Industrial Strategy: building a Britain fit for the future.
- Ministerial appointments July 2014.
- Planning minister.
- Transforming Infrastructure Performance.
- Transport infrastructure efficiency strategy.
- UK construction industry.
Featured articles and news
British Architectural Sculpture 1851-1951
A rich heritage of decorative and figurative sculpture. Book review.
A programme to tackle the lack of diversity.
Independent Building Control review panel
Five members of the newly established, Grenfell Tower Inquiry recommended, panel appointed.
Welsh Recharging Electrical Skills Charter progresses
ECA progressing on the ‘asks’ of the Recharging Electrical Skills Charter at the Senedd in Wales.
A brief history from 1890s to 2020s.
CIOB and CORBON combine forces
To elevate professional standards in Nigeria’s construction industry.
Amendment to the GB Energy Bill welcomed by ECA
Move prevents nationally-owned energy company from investing in solar panels produced by modern slavery.
Gregor Harvie argues that AI is state-sanctioned theft of IP.
Heat pumps, vehicle chargers and heating appliances must be sold with smart functionality.
Experimental AI housing target help for councils
Experimental AI could help councils meet housing targets by digitising records.
New-style degrees set for reformed ARB accreditation
Following the ARB Tomorrow's Architects competency outcomes for Architects.
BSRIA Occupant Wellbeing survey BOW
Occupant satisfaction and wellbeing tool inc. physical environment, indoor facilities, functionality and accessibility.
Preserving, waterproofing and decorating buildings.
Comments
[edit] To make a comment about this article, click 'Add a comment' above. Separate your comments from any existing comments by inserting a horizontal line.