Former PwC director Tony Poulter has been appointed to lead the first external probe into the arm’s-length body for seven years.
Assisted by a team of civil servants, he will look at the function and form of Homes England, its operational model and compliance as well as the outcomes it generates.
Homes England has £16bn of capital spend 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 biggest arm’s-length bodies sponsored by the UK Government, and as such one of the first to be reviewed under a new Cabinet Office drive.
Housing minister Rachel Maclean said: “Following a number of focused internal reviews in recent years and an in-depth self-assessment, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has agreed with the Cabinet Office to commence a full-scale review of Homes England. Public body reviews are underpinned by broad minimum requirements covering efficiency, efficacy, accountability and governance.”
The Homes England probe will follow relevant guidance published by the Cabinet Office last year, she added.
Poulter, who spent more than 25 years at accountancy firm PwC, was chosen to lead the review “due to his expertise in finance and previous leadership roles across the private and public sector”, said Maclean.
“He will work with a review team composed of officials from the department and secondees. In conducting the review, officials will engage with a broad range of stakeholders across the UK from the housing sector and beyond.”
The government will publish the conclusions of the review and a departmental response “in due course”.
A Homes England spokesperson said: “This is part of a standard review process led by the Cabinet Office that all arm’s-length bodies are subject to, and that usually takes place every three years. Homes England’s last review was over six years ago, and as such we look forward to working with the lead reviewer and their team.”