Patrick Murray has been selected as membership body’s new executive director of policy and public affairs

Patrick Murray has joined the Northern Housing Consortium as its executive director of policy and public affairs.

Murray joins from the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, where he worked on key housing policy areas including the Affordable Homes Programme and a review of Homes England.

The NHC, a membership body which represents the views of housing organisations in the North of England, said Murray has joined at a crucial time, given the impending general election, as the consortium is preparing to develop its next corporate plan.

Patrick Murray, the NHC's new executive director of policy and public affairs

Source: NHC

Patrick Murray has been appointed as the NHC’s executive director of policy and public affairs ahead of the general election

He previously worked for the department of health and social care, where he worked on adult social care market sustainability, strategy and reform.

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He also served as the cabinet member for housing at Oxford City Council between 2006 and 2008.

Murray said: “I’m delighted to join the fantastic team at the NHC. The consortium has a great track record of supporting members to collaborate and influence on key priorities such as developing ways to meet the net zero challenge and making sure housing is at the heart of the levelling up agenda.

“I’m keen to build upon and take forward this work. This year will likely see a critical general election for housing and the north. This presents an enormous opportunity for the housing sector, and the communities we exist to serve. I am determined we grasp that opportunity with both hands.”

Tracy Harrison, chief executive of NHC said that as a general election approaches, Murray will “play a big part in making sure housing and communities in the north are high up on the agenda of the new government”.