Homes England has announced that its provisional figures for the year show that it has exceeded its annual targets, despite poor market conditions.
As the agency holding the responsibility for housing and regeneration across the country, Homes England works alongside local, regional and national organisations. This has led to achievements such as the completion of more than 32,000 homes, beating the annual target of 29,641.
Other achievements over the course of the year include:
- Facilitating the beginning of the construction of a further 35,000 homes, compared to the target of 32,977
- Unlocking land that has the potential to deliver more than 26,000 additional homes, compared to the target of 25,788
- 87% of the homes completed by Homes England across the year have been rated B or above on their Energy Performance Certificates.
Aside from the specific number of homes delivered, partnerships with housing associations and local authorities are expected to help the agency spend its share of the Affordable Housing Programme 2021-26, which will support plans to ensure that more people can access safe, decent, and affordable homes.
Progress has also been made on Homes England’s remit around placemaking and regeneration, with powers, land, capital and technical expertise being used to support regeneration and housing schemes across places that are of high priority. These places include:
- Birmingham
- Blackpool
- Bristol
- Leeds
- Liverpool
- London
- Plymouth
Chair of Homes England Peter Freeman said:
“The performance demonstrated in these provisional figures is evidence of Homes England’s impact which is being felt across the country, helping to ensure that more people have a home in a safe, sustainable, thriving community.
“The figures also further acknowledge the conclusion of a recent Public Bodies Review of Homes England: there is no doubt in the effectiveness and efficiency of the Agency and that we are crucial to the delivery of government housing, regeneration and levelling up priorities.”
The establishment of three more Strategic Place Partnerships in 2023/24 has also led to more potential developments, with more than 13 million people now being served across South and West Yorkshire, as well as the West Midlands, Greater Manchester and Essex.
Peter Denton, Chief Executive of Homes England, also commented:
“I am hugely grateful for the commitment, passion and hard work of our staff who have worked tirelessly to ensure Homes England met - and in most areas exceeded - its annual targets across 2023/24.
“Thanks to them – and the huge network of organisations we work in partnership with – we made strides in advancing our mission to create more places where people can live, work and thrive, helping more children and young people out of temporary accommodation and ultimately driving greater social justice and equity for society.”
Image credit: iStock
