Thinktank calls for functions of Homes England to be devolved

The Government said it did not plan to abolish the body but its functions would be “more regionalised”.

Re;State - until recently known as Reform - said in a report that housebuilding is at the heart of Government’ policy but efforts to develop, build and regenerate places had for decades stagnated, creating a national housing shortage.

It said that as an increasing number of strategic authorities are formed across England a more decentralised system could be created under the oversight of their mayors, with Homes England’s powers moved closer to where they will be used.

Re:State said Homes England’s functions and responsibilities should all be devolved except where these needed to be at national level.

Responsibility for Homes England’s direct funding and partnerships work should also be devolved to strategic authorities and the National Housing Bank - once functioning - should become a standalone public financial institution eventually merged with the Public Works Loan Board to create an ‘English Municipal Bank’.

This would be an arms-length public investment body able to pool resources and support cross-sector partnerships to promote investment and building.

Homes England’s 9,000-hectare land portfolio should also transfer to strategic authorities as would responsibilities for ensuring the quality and sustainability of new homes

Re:State said that it had made sense to locate Homes England in central government when it was created in 2018, as there was then no other tier of government better positioned to increase housebuilding. 

But the creation of strategic authorities - intended to eventually cover the country - now gave an alternative.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said: “We have no plans to abolish Homes England and it has the full support of ministers.  

“The housing and regeneration agency is working more closely than ever with mayors to plan and deliver our housing agenda as we turn the tide on the entrenched housing crisis, and will move to a more regionalised model so that it is even more responsive to the economic plans of local areas. 

“A new chief executive officer has also been appointed recently to help drive forward the government’s ambitious housebuilding agenda, boost economic growth and deliver 1.5 million homes through our Plan for Change.”

Mark Smulian