Homes England chief executive Nick Walkley to step down

News26.01.219.23 AM by Jack Simpson

Homes England chief executive Nick Walkley is to leave the organisation next month after four years.

Nick Walkley is to step down from his role on 28 February (picture: Andrew Firth)

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Nick Walkley to step down as boss of @HomesEngland, the government’s housing delivery agency, next month after nearly four years in the role #UKhousing

In an announcement the government’s housing delivery agency confirmed that Mr Walkley, who has led the organisation since its inception in 2018, will be leaving on 28 February.

Mr Walkley joined the Homes and Communities Agency in 2017, a year before it was split into two organisations – the Regulator of Social Housing and Homes England.

He was key in setting up the agency, which is responsible for distributing grant to social housing providers, administering the Help to Buy programme and supporting private developers with land acquisition.

In a statement, Mr Walkley said: “I’m very proud of what we’ve achieved and I’d like to thank my colleagues and our many industry partners for their dedication and support. My successor will find an organisation brimming with talent, purpose and heart. Homes England is well positioned to support the country’s economic recovery, and I wish my colleagues the very best.”

Among Mr Walkley’s achievements during his time at the agency was the creation and delivery of the Strategic Partnership Programme, which has seen housing associations handed £1.7bn in more flexible grant to build tens of thousands of homes.

He was also a key negotiator in the partnership Homes England agreed with Japanese modular developer Sekisui House. The £90m deal is aimed at increasing the delivery of modular homes in England.

Peter Freeman, chair of the board at Homes England, said : “On behalf of the board and colleagues, I would like to thank Nick for his outstanding leadership in building a dynamic, commercial delivery agency. The country faces some crucial choices about how we emerge from the pandemic and Homes England stands ready to support the government in stimulating economic recovery and increasing housing supply.”