David O'Leary

David O’Leary

Policy Director, Home Builders Federation (HBF)

David represents HBF in policy discussions across Whitehall and beyond to ensure that the future policy environment is favourable to the industry. As well as responsibility for HBF's research, he has produced analysis and policy reports on a range of subjects, including the historic decline of SMEs in the housebuilding sector, the weakness of headline housebuilding statistics, the changing nature of housing supply, the economic benefits of increased housing output and various pre-election policy publications.

David joined HBF in 2013, initially as Deputy Director of External Affairs. After graduating from the London School of Economics, he worked for the Conservatives as an adviser to then Shadow Culture Secretary, Jeremy Hunt MP and subsequently the Shadow Housing Minister, Grant Shapps MP. He has also advised council leaders in London on housing, finance reform and government relations.

The challenge of satisfying a new generation of customers

May 3, 2017

In the light of the latest results of the industry's Customer Satisfaction Survey, HBF policy director David O'Leary looks at the changing face of customer service as a new generation becomes ever more demanding

David OLeary

White Paper signals change in starter homes policy

April 6, 2017

HBF policy director David O'Leary delves deeper into the Housing White Paper and unearths some important, and possibly overlooked, changes in emphasis on Affordable Housing and Starter Homes - or should that be affordable housing and starter homes?

New Additional Dwellings in England 1952-2016

Big housebuilding targets mean big political decisions

June 7, 2017

HBF policy director David O’Leary examines how increasing new homes supply has moved up the agenda among the main political parties. But what would actually need to be done to hit the targets required?

December 17 viewpoint graph

Budget builds on unprecedented progress on supply

Dec. 6, 2017

HBF policy director David O’Leary welcomes the latest statistics on new homes supply and looks at the Budget measures on housebuilding, which continue the mood of positivity

Viewpoint graph Feb 2018

Presenting the industry's case in a watershed year

Feb. 7, 2018

HBF policy director David O’Leary focuses on a series of important issues which are set to impact housebuilders in 2018

Survey suggests patience required on housing challenges

March 7, 2018

HBF policy director David O’Leary looks at the issues raised by the publication of the latest English Housing Survey

Landing the big arguments on developer contributions

April 4, 2018

HBF policy director David O’Leary looks at new research looking at developer contributions towards infrastructure

Time for a positive government narrative on housing supply

May 2, 2018

HBF policy director David O’Leary argues that the government needs to be more positive about its successes with its policies on housing supply

HBF Viewpoint chart 1 JUne 2018

Political musical chairs reveals increasing importance of housing

June 5, 2018

HBF policy director David O’Leary argues that Sajid Javid’s promotion to home secretary and his replacement at MHCLG is another sign that housing has arrived as a pre-eminent political issue

HBF Viewpoint Graph 1 Dec 2018

The most wonderful time of the year

Dec. 11, 2018

HBF policy director David O’Leary delves into the government’s recently released net housing supply statistics