31.10.18
Five-year strategic plan from Homes England will ‘disrupt the housing market’
Homes England has revealed its five-year strategic plan to deliver and face the long-term housing challenges across the country, arguing that it will “disrupt the housing market.”
The public body, which replaced the Homes and Communities Agency at the start of the year, aims to unlock both public and private land in order to build more homes where they are needed. For example, the £1.03bn Land Assembly Fund will “bring forward sites that the private sector cannot.”
The strategy also aims to unlock investment, with the £5.5bn Housing Infrastructure Fund (HIF) hoping to bring forward land for development; increase productivity by supporting the uptake of modern methods of construction (MMC) and by working with the Department for Education and Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government to develop modern construction skills and drive market resilience.
The HIF featured heavily in the Autumn Budget, receiving a £500m boost to bring its total to £5.5bn.
Supporting local areas will also be a key part of the strategy. Homes England said: “Where places have ambition, potential for growth and a clear plan, we’ll combine our tools to partner with them and support delivery.”
It says that it aims to work with more local authorities with “big ambitions” where the potential for development has not yet been unlocked by the market.
Sir Edward Lister, chairman of Homes England, said: “Ultimately, we need to disrupt the housing market.
“It is just the start. This five-year strategic plan sets out our ambitious new mission and the steps we will take with industry to respond to the long-term housing challenges facing this country.
“We plan to be bold, creative and think big. We hope the whole of the housing sector – big and small, up and down the country – will join us for the next five years and beyond.”
Top image: Duncan Andison
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