Final Barker-led report calls for ‘housing delivery unit’ and more grant funding

Politicians were also urged to “forge a cross-party accord” to create policy consensus, which would provide builders with clarity and certainty and improve the delivery of large schemes.

The report also called for a “new approach” to the release of public land for housing, and a new role for Homes England so it can act as a master developer, potentially working with development corporations or other bodies.

In September, Homes England announced it had partnered with Barratt and Lloyds Bank to create a master developer for large-scale sites of more than 1,000 homes.

Dame Kate said existing funding pots should be streamlined and that ministers should agree a “prompt” rent settlement that provides income security for registered providers, alongside an “enlarged Affordable Homes Programme” from 2026.

She also called for a return to a “mandatory approach” to strategic planning at the city region level, to free up planners for spatial planning rather than regulatory development management.

Meanwhile, she said a new team should be established within the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) to co-ordinate strategic planning, working alongside other departments and the proposed new delivery unit.

Finally, the report suggested commissioning an independent review of the green belt to find opportunities for growth, including new or expanded towns.

The housing commission, convened by thinktank Radix Big Tent, included property professionals, developers, investors, planners, academics and law firm Shoosmiths.

Its final report stated that the failure to meet decades of housing targets or fully adopt the recommendations of the 2004 Barker Review “lies predominantly with flawed governance structures”.

The commission recognised that new public money will be limited. However, it argued: “Real change to deliver high quality, affordable housing will need to be matched not only with new structures and processes, but with hard, cold cash. More social rent housing will require subsidy.”

It went on to recommend consistent regulation to encourage institutional investment in housing and reforming the current system of Section 106 and the Community Infrastructure Levy with a particular goal to deliver more affordable housing, rather than implementing the previous government’s planned Infrastructure Levy.

Alex Notay, chair of the commission, who took over from Ms Barker in August, said: “There has been a failure to link new housing with infrastructure delivery and also, since the financial crisis, a further decline in the supply of new social rent homes.

“Unblocking the various viability issues addressed in our report – alongside the strategic planning proposals we make – would be transformative.”

Ben Rich, chief executive of Radix Big Tent, said: “This programme is both practical and radical. We commend the priority that the new government has given to delivering housing, but they will need a roadmap such as this if they are to have any chance of meeting their housing and indeed their net zero targets.”

Lisa Tye, commissioner and living sector co-head at Shoosmiths, said: “While my fellow commissioners may not universally agree on every recommendation, we are united in the belief that change is essential to delivering the critical housing and infrastructure that England needs.”

An MHCLG spokesperson said: “We will deliver 1.5 million homes over this parliament, and have already taken decisive action including reforming the planning system, launching the new towns taskforce, and unlocking brownfield sites for development.

“These are the first steps towards making sure everyone has access to a decent, safe and affordable home.

“We will work together with industry, including housing associations, councils and developers to unlock economic growth and give the country the homes it needs.”