Ministers have ordered a “large-scale review” of Homes England to assess how well the organization is spending taxpayers’ money to boost the delivery of affordable homes.
Former PwC director Tony Poulter has been appointed to lead the first remote external body probe for seven years.
Assisted by a team of officials, it will examine the function and form of Homes England, its operating model and compliance, as well as the results it delivers.
Homes England has £16bn of capital to deploy over the next five years, according to its recently published strategic plan, and owns more than 9,000 hectares of land.
It is one of the UK’s most important independent government-sponsored bodies and, as such, one of the first to be reviewed under a new Cabinet Office unit.
Housing Minister Rachel Maclean said: “Following a series of focused internal reviews over the past few years and an in-depth self-assessment, the Department for Leveling, Housing and Communities has agreed with the Cabinet Office to start a large-scale review of homes. England. Reviews of public bodies are underpinned by broad minimum requirements covering efficiency, effectiveness, accountability and governance.”
The Homes England inquiry will follow relevant guidelines published by the Cabinet Office last year, he added.
Poulter, who spent more than 25 years at accountancy firm PwC, was chosen to lead the review “because of his experience in finance and previous leadership roles in the public and private sectors”, Maclean said.
“He will work with a review team made up of department officials and seconded. In carrying out the review, officers will engage with a wide range of stakeholders across the UK in the housing sector and beyond.”
The government will publish the findings of the review and a response from the department “in due course”.
A spokesman for Homes England said: “This is part of a standard review process led by the Cabinet Office to which all independent bodies are subject, which usually takes place every three years. The latest Homes review England was over six years ago and as such we look forward to working with the lead reviewer and his team.”
