MIPIM 2016: Richard Blakeway, London’s deputy mayor for housing, is set to move to Downing Street as a special adviser to the prime minister on housing.
Blakeway, appointed by London mayor Boris Johnson in 2012, will make the move after May’s mayoral election.
In his current role he is responsible for overseeing the mayor’s statutory housing powers, £3bn of investment and around 1,500 acres of land, including the regeneration of London’s Royal Docks.
At Number 10, Blakeway will replace Alex Morton, who has been a special adviser on housing and planning since 2013.
Johnson said: “Richard’s tremendous hard work at City Hall has resulted in a record 100,000 affordable homes being delivered in London over my two terms and the release of 414ha of GLA-acquired land for development.
“He has been instrumental in boosting building and cutting through red tape to release public land and kick-start work on derelict brownfield sites. It is to his credit that last year over 18,270 affordable homes were completed in London, the most since 1981 and the equivalent of a new home built every 30 minutes.”
He added: “Richard will be a real asset to the prime minster and I congratulate him on his new appointment at Number 10.”
Previously Blakeway worked in the House of Commons, including on the Conservative Party’s policy review, and has worked extensively on international development. He is a trustee of the Chartered Institute of Housing and chairs the Homes for London board.
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