Recommendation 21

The Department does not expect to deliver the intended benefits of the 2021 programme, and there are significant risks that could mean housing providers build fewer homes than forecast.53 We asked the Department about whether it would be revising its published targets, notably the 2021 programme target of “up to 180,000 should economic conditions allow” when in practice the Department was working to a forecast of 157,000. The Department explained that these were ambitions set out at the start of the Programme. We suggested that the Department could consider annual reporting to Parliament on progress. The Department told us it is content to update the Committee when it next produces a forecast. The Department agreed to the notion of annual reporting but will need to work on its precise form.54 In 2020 we reported on the High Speed 2 programme and made recommendations around the need for greater transparency and for regular reporting of progress to parliament. The Department for Transport accepted our recommendations and has since published very useful six-monthly update reports on progress, in the form of a written statement to Parliament.55 47 C&AG’s Report, para 23 48 Qq 54–55 49 Qq 55–56 50 C&AG’s Report, para 4.16 51 Q 57 52 Written evidence submitted by G15 group, dated September 2022 and written evidence submitted by Business LDN, dated September 2022 53 C&AG’s Report, paras 14,15 54 Qq 85–89 55 Public Accounts Committee, High Speed 2: Spring 2020 update, 3rd Report of Session 2019–21, HC 84, 17 May 2020; Treasury Minutes, Government responses to the Committee of Public Accounts, CP 270, July 2020. 14 The Affordable Homes Programme since 2015