Housing minister Grant Shapps has confirmed that he will address the housebuilding industry at this year’s Housing Market Intelligence conference in London on October 12. <br> <br> Shapps will provide the keynote speech at the conference at a time when dialogue between the government and industry over housing and planning policies is seen as vital to ensure new homes supply increases. <br> <br> The minister will be joined by HCA chief executive Sir Bob Kerslake, just ahead of his move to the important role of permanent secretary at CLG (see box), plus Persimmon chairman John White, Council of Mortgage Lenders boss Michael Coogan and many other key speakers including HBF planning director Andrew Whitaker who will be seeking to make sense of the government’s localism policies.<br> <br>