If last week proved anything it is the pace at which politics can move. But most political change is a long time in the making. So while the nation goes to the polls in June, on 4 May – 30 years on from the abolition of the met counties – the electorate in six city regions will vote in mayors with new powers and resources, not least over housing and planning.

The fact that housing has featured heavily in the mayoral campaigns is perhaps unsurprising given that the national housing crisis is most acute in the city region combined authorities. On day one in office, the new mayors will be faced with the pressing problems of affordability, poor standards in the private rented sector, increasing homelessness and declining homeownership.