New Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

The Cabinet Secretary, with the approval of the Prime Minister, has approved the appointment of Jeremy Pocklington as the new Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG).

Jeremy succeeds Dame Melanie Dawes who left the Civil Service in February, and has been acting Permanent Secretary since her departure. 

Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP said:

Jeremy’s appointment as Permanent Secretary at MHCLG is excellent news for the department and the government.

He is a highly talented and dedicated senior civil servant who has been a great support to me since I became Secretary of State and most recently as we work intensively to respond to Covid.

I look forward to working with him in the months ahead to deliver on the Department’s priorities.

The Cabinet Secretary, Sir Mark Sedwill, said:

I am delighted that Jeremy has been appointed as the new Permanent Secretary at MHCLG. He has done an excellent job as Acting Permanent Secretary and will provide much needed leadership continuity to the Department as we support the government in navigating the challenges ahead.

Commenting on his appointment, Jeremy Pocklington said:

I am delighted to have been appointed as the new Permanent Secretary at MHCLG.

It’s an honour to be leading the Department as we respond to the nation’s current challenges and support those who need our help most.

MHCLG has a critically important agenda to level up all parts of our country, support local government and deliver the homes the country needs.

I look forward to building on the Department’s welcoming and inclusive culture and working closely with all our stakeholders to deliver for the government and the public.

Jeremy will take up his post with immediate effect.

Further information

Jeremy became MHCLG’s Director General for Housing in August 2018.

He has been Acting Permanent Secretary since his predecessor, Melanie Dawes, left the Civil Service in February.

Before that he was Director General, Energy and Security at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). Prior to this he was Director General of Markets and Infrastructure Group at the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC).