Homes England unveils new strategic plan, commits to work with local government in “bespoke” way
Homes England, the Government's housing and regeneration agency, has unveiled its next five-year strategic plan, saying it is committed to working with local government in a “bespoke way, tailoring our offer to reflect a place’s capacity and ambitions”.
The agency said more than £16bn in Government is underpinning its plan, which features the following six strategic objectives aiming to engender:
- Vibrant and successful places
- Homes people need
- A housing and regeneration sector that works for everyone
- High-quality homes in well-designed places
- Sustainable homes and places
- Corporate health
The strategic plan says Homes England will "partner with local authorities to plan and deliver housing and mixed-use schemes by using our resources, expertise, experience and buying power to support their needs and those of local communities and stakeholders".
The document also commits Homes England to work with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to ensure its activities support greater devolution where agreed, including exploring innovative partnerships with combined authorities.
Matthew Waters, a partner at law firm Devonshires who acts for investors, local authorities and registered providers, said the strategy marks a "fundamental change in focus for Homes England and most importantly a radical change in where the money will be spent".
He added: "It is an extremely ambitious plan, and with this ambition will come challenges on deliverability. With the focus on placemaking it absolutely makes sense that there is a greater involvement of local authorities; the challenge will be can the essential capacity be provided to enable the activity?"
Waters noted that for housing associations, there were opportunities for the larger and more ambitious but "less of a focus and clear role for others. Some may be wondering where their place is."
However, he noted that it was "a really positive" direction for institutional investors.
Waters added: "Fundamentally investors, local authorities and RPs will need to embrace this plan to make it work.”
Meanwhile, Policy Leader at the National Housing Federation, Marie Chadwick, welcomed the strategy by voicing support for the "renewed focus on regeneration".
She stated that the plan "rightly recognises" the key role housing associations should play in place-making, as well as the importance of sustainability in new communities.
Adam Carey
