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The Affordable Homes Programme since 2015

Status: Closed Opened: 19 Aug 2022 Closed: 24 Feb 2023 17 recommendations 6 conclusions 1 report

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) is responsible for the Affordable Homes Programme, intended to supply new affordable homes for people to own or rent. The programme is managed by Homes England outside of London and the Greater London Authority within London. Building on previous inquiries into Starter Homes , the regulation …

Clear

Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Twenty-Ninth Report - The Affordable Homes Programme since … HC 684 7 Dec 2022 23 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

4 items
11 Conclusion Twenty-Ninth Report - The Affordable Ho… Not Addressed

We asked the Department about the number of homes designated for social rent, given social...

We asked the Department about the number of homes designated for social rent, given social rent is the most affordable for tenants; and the type of tenure most needed. We stressed the human impact that a lack of homes for social rent has. A lack of homes forces people to …

Government response. The government acknowledges the need for Social Rent homes and mentions existing policies, but disagrees with the recommendation to assess demand.
HM Treasury
13 Conclusion Twenty-Ninth Report - The Affordable Ho… Not Addressed

We asked the Department about the potential impact of the proposed cap on social rents...

We asked the Department about the potential impact of the proposed cap on social rents that it is currently consulting on. The rent cap could prevent housing providers from increasing rents by CPI + 1%, as envisaged.35 Business LDN warn that the Government’s proposed rent cap will leave housing providers …

Government response. The government acknowledges the need for Social Rent homes and mentions existing policies, but disagrees with the recommendation to assess demand.
HM Treasury
18 Conclusion Twenty-Ninth Report - The Affordable Ho… Not Addressed

The Department did not set out to use the Programme to advance the government’s net...

The Department did not set out to use the Programme to advance the government’s net zero objectives. The Department and Homes England did not include any specific targets around net-zero for the 2021 programme. Instead, housing providers must comply with existing and future environmental standards set out in the planning …

Government response. The government will explore the cost and deliverability of additional net zero requirements for a successor programme, while noting existing steps taken in the 2021 programme.
HM Treasury
20 Conclusion Twenty-Ninth Report - The Affordable Ho… Not Addressed

The National Audit Office found that neither the Department nor Homes England modelled the potential...

The National Audit Office found that neither the Department nor Homes England modelled the potential costs of needing to retrofit homes built under the 2021 programme, to meet net zero standards.50 The Department said that the future homes standard, when it is introduced from 2025, will mean that homes after …

Government response. The government will explore the cost and deliverability of additional net zero requirements for a successor programme, while noting existing steps taken in the 2021 programme.
HM Treasury

Oral evidence sessions

1 session
Date Witnesses
22 Sep 2022 Emran Mian · Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Jeremy Pocklington · Ministry of Defence, Peter Denton · Homes England View ↗

Correspondence

1 letter
DateDirectionTitle
12 Dec 2022 — Correspondence from Peter Denton, Chief Executive Officer, Homes England, re Pu…