Government sets up review of Homes England

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) has launched a review of Homes England, the Government’s housing and regeneration agency, “to ensure the body is delivering for the taxpayer”.

The organisation was one of 40 government Arm’s Length Bodies chosen for a routine review as part of the Cabinet Office’s Public Bodies Review programme.

Tony Poulter, currently a non-executive member of the Department for Transport board, will lead the review, and will shortly begin speaking to stakeholders including developers, government and councils, DLUHC said.

The review will examine Homes England’s current ways of working, focusing on its structure, compliance and outcomes for stakeholders and customers. How the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities works with Homes England will also be reviewed.

Poulter is expected to finalise the review and its recommendations by the end of the year.

Minister for Housing and Planning Rachel Maclean said: “We remain committed to our target of building 300,000 homes per year, and this review into Homes England will look into how we work together as we continue building the homes this country needs.

“This fits into our wider focus to ensure Arm’s Length Bodies such as Homes England deliver as best as they can while providing value for taxpayers.”

Tony Poulter, a former PWC partner who specialised in infrastructure finance and business consulting, said: “I am very happy to have been asked to lead this review. Homes England has huge responsibilities for delivering housing and regenerating places throughout the country.

“I hope to talk with a range of people and, come to recommendations that will help DLUHC and Homes England to be as effective as possible in meeting their objectives.”