Housing Secretary Steve Reed attended a fundraising dinner in October alongside major housing developers who purchased corporate tables, raising questions about transparency in Westminster lobbying. Developers, some of whom paid an estimated £2,000 for seats, stand to benefit from government housing policies overseen by Reed.

Photographs showed Mr. Reed seated at a corporate table with representatives from firms such as Catesby Estates and Hallam Land. At the time, both companies reportedly had active planning appeals under review by the Planning Inspectorate. Catesby Estates also has a proposal for 300 homes in Melksham, Wiltshire, which was rejected by the local council and could ultimately be decided by the Housing Secretary under new planning rules.

The event, held at the Mumbai Square restaurant in London, was organised by Labour Yimby, a pro-housebuilding activist group. It was billed as a fundraiser for two Labour MPs, Naushabah Khan and Kevin McKenna, with Mr. Reed advertised as the headline speaker. Labour Yimby, which advocates for increased housing development, receives financial backing from various construction firms, trade bodies, and large-scale property managers, including significant donations from the Land, Planning and Development Federation (LPDF) and property companies like DB Symmetry.

Weeks before the dinner, Mr. Reed announced changes to planning regulations in November, giving him greater authority to approve large housing developments even if they face local opposition. He cited the need to address the housing crisis and meet the government's target of building 1.5 million new homes. Additionally, days before the event, the Housing Secretary introduced measures to reduce affordable housing requirements for developers in London, a move that followed discussions between government officials and developer representatives.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government stated that no official government business or planning decisions were discussed at the fundraiser. The spokesperson added that Mr. Reed had no involvement in how the event was advertised, ticketed, or sponsored.

However, the gathering has drawn criticism from political commentators and housing industry figures. Neal Hudson, a housing market analyst, described the optics as "not a great look" for a minister with quasi-judicial powers over planning applications. Councillor Adrian Foster of Wiltshire Council expressed concern that the drive to meet housing targets might overshadow local objections, potentially overwhelming existing infrastructure. A London Labour councillor also noted that such events could undermine efforts to build trust in communities regarding new developments, while social housing groups and homeless charities highlighted their comparatively limited access to the Housing Secretary.

The LPDF affirmed its sponsorship of Labour Yimby events, citing a "clear alignment of objectives" with the group regarding the political case for increased home building.