Northern Growth Envoy named chief civil servant at MHCLG
Tom Riordan has been appointed permanent secretary at the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government and will take up the role on 21 September.
Riordan, the former chief executive of Leeds City Council, was named the government’s first Northern Growth Envoy last October, in a role that had initially been expected to last for 15 months.
The role saw him report jointly to the Treasury, Department for Transport, and Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, working across Whitehall and alongside metro Mayors to coordinate regional development.
Riordan was tasked with spearheading plans to create an inter-city growth corridor across the North, modelled on the Oxford–Cambridge Arc, as then-chancellor Rachel Reeves looked to strengthen Labour’s economic offer to the region.
During his time as head of Leeds City Council, he was involved in attracting Channel 4, Burberry, the Bank of England, and the UK Infrastructure Bank to the city, along with international events like the Grand Départ of the Tour de France.
He also oversaw the arrival of First Direct Arena, expanded the city centre across the South Bank, and worked to facilitate the openings of the Trinity Leeds and Victoria Gate shopping centres, as well as investment into an ongoing programme of social housing and infrastructure to support the East Leeds Orbital Route.
His move to lead MHCLG now places one of the North’s most experienced local government figures in a department central to the government’s ambitions around housing, planning, devolution, and regional growth.
Riordan said: “It’s a privilege to be taking up such an important job to help ensure the whole country benefits from more affordable and safe homes, well run public services and strong regional growth.
“This feels like the right job at the right time as the government devolves power, given how much I’ve valued working in local and regional government, and applying that learning to improving national policy.”
Angela Rayner, secretary of state for housing, communities, and local government, said: “Few people have done more than Tom Riordan to champion devolution, good growth, and strong local leadership – which makes him the perfect appointment at a critical time.
“I’m delighted he’s joining MHCLG and look forward to working with him as we get on with building the homes we need, improving local places and giving communities more control over their future.
“I’d also like to thank Dame Sarah Healey for her leadership of the department and Will Garton for his support as Interim Permanent Secretary in recent months.”
Cabinet secretary, Dame Antonia Romeo, said: “Tom’s wealth of experience in central and local government, combined with his time as the Northern Growth Envoy and CEO of Leeds City Council, makes him ideally suited to lead MHCLG’s crucial policy agenda delivering devolution and growth in every postcode.”
