It’s been 14 years since the post of housing and communities secretary was held by a woman; Hazel Blears took on what many perceive to be a poisoned chalice in 2007. Only two of the six men who succeeded her have lasted more than two years in the post. Eric Pickles hung on for five and Robert Jenrick managed just over two. Gender shouldn’t matter but, given that the job is largely about housing – a sector in which women are generally well represented – it’s disappointing that the people at the top, notably policy-makers, major developers and metro mayors, are still overwhelmingly male.

Michael Gove, the latest man tasked with finding a solution to the housing crisis and levelling us up, is reportedly on the case. It could have been worse: Gove is energetic and wasted no time instigating a review of the planning white paper cooked up for Boris and Jenrick by their inexperienced team of advisers. Brownie points for that, but if he is to stand a chance of fulfilling his expanded brief, he’s going to need a raft of new ideas, a lot of money and considerable patience.

He would do well to start by reading No Place Left Behind, the final report of the commission into prosperity and community placemaking chaired by Toby Lloyd, Shelter’s head of policy for seven years and former housing adviser to Theresa May. Published by Create Streets Foundation, it is sobering and inspiring in equal measure.

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