It’s become normal for the Secretary of State and the Housing Minister to make scheduled appearances at large housing conferences, praise their own record, make a couple of new announcements and disappear as quickly as they came – carefully avoiding awkward questions.

And so it was at the Chartered Institute of Housing conference a couple of weeks ago, where the swarm of housing professionals on Manchester’s streets seemed as large as ever but the mood more subdued. As we know only too well, add in a leadership contest to a Parliament already consumed by Brexit and near paralysis on everything else is inevitable.

The first hint of regulatory change came on the opening day of the conference. Speaking on early morning national radio, Amber Rudd announced a number of new measures to support disabled people – including making new housing more accessible. She wasn’t explicit, but my guess, following a review of Part M BRAC (Building Regulations Advisory Committee), is that we will be consulted on Category 2 of Part M (essentially Lifetime Homes) becoming the minimum standard for new homes. I hope I’m right; the demographic evidence could hardly be clearer. It’s worked in London and it’s the right thing to do as long as there’s a pragmatic understanding that step-free access will not be possible to every new home.

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