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Homes England faces ‘full-scale’ review by finance expert
Homes England has been placed under a “full-scale” government review to investigate if it is spending taxpayers’ money efficiently and whether the agency’s role should change.
Tony Poulter, the former long-serving PwC executive, has been charged with leading the probe, which launched this week and is expected to report by the end of the year.
The agency said the review was part of the public bodies review process led by the Cabinet Office that usually takes place every three years. Homes England was last reviewed over six years ago, it added.
It comes at a time of intense focus on housebuilding levels. Many housing associations and large developers are cutting back their delivery plans, while the government has flip-flopped on its 300,000 new homes a year target.
Homes England is one of the government’s largest arm’s-length bodies and is responsible for spending around £16bn by 2028 to boost housebuilding. Its remit includes administering the government’s Affordable Homes Programme (AHP), along with the Greater London Authority.
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The last time the government formally reviewed the body was in 2016, when it was known as the Homes and Communities Agency.
However, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) said Homes England’s work, leadership, structure and objectives had “evolved considerably” since then.
Peter Denton, the former chief executive of the Hyde Group, took charge at Homes England in August 2021 after the sudden exit of Nick Walkley.
Prior to this, the government had appointed Peter Freeman, the co-founder of Argent, the developer, as Homes England’s chair.
A new five-year strategic plan for Homes England, launched last month, reinforced a renewed focus on regeneration.
Yesterday, Inside Housing revealed that grant funding from the AHP can now be used for regeneration projects.
A spokesperson for Homes England said: "This is part of a standard review process led by the cabinet office that all Arms Length Bodies are subject to, and that usually takes place every three years. Homes England’s last review was over six years ago, and as such we look forward to working with the lead reviewer and their team."
Housing minister 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.”
Separately, she told parliament it would be a “full-scale review”, after a number of internal reviews by Homes England in recent years and an in-depth self-assessment.
Mr Poulter had been chosen because of his “expertise in finance”, she added.
The review will look at “whether it is necessary for the role of Homes England to change as devolution to local authorities and mayoral combined authorities expands and deepens”, according to a DLUHC document.
It will also assess if “all of the functions the agency are carrying out are appropriately delivered by a public body and if so Homes England”.
The review will also investigate how the agency works with the DLUHC.
Mr Poulter, who currently sits on the Department for Transport’s board, said: “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 the DLUHC and Homes England to be as effective as possible in meeting their objectives.”
