Recommendation 12

Homes England told us that, under current plans, it forecasts achieving 14,300 homes for social rent under the 2016 programme, exceeding its target of 12,500 homes. For the 2021 programme, the Department told us it set a sub-target of 33,500 homes for social rent, which it forecasts meeting.32 Shelter argued that the Department should refocus the Programme to deliver more homes for social rent.33 The Department said that ultimately decisions around tenure are for Ministers to make, and it is the role of officials to ensure ministers understand the trade-offs when setting targets. The Department told us that if it did focus the Programme entirely on social rent within a fixed budget, there would be fewer homes built.34