果冻影院

The HCA will be known as Homes England from October 2017 and the rebranded body plans a more activist approach to meet the government鈥檚 challenges of building 250,000 homes a year that will open up the housebuilding market. At this year鈥檚 HMI conference in October 2017 at the Barbican Centre in London, Homes England chief executive Nick Walkley pledged to do more to help small-to-medium-sized housebuilders and bring forward large publicly owned sites such as former hospitals or military sites. Citing the HCA鈥檚 joint venture with the English Cities Fund and a 10% stake taken in May this year in a real estate investment trust aimed at developing private rented sector schemes, Walkley said: 鈥淲e will be doing more innovative things. Homes England will be more of an activist in the market. He added: 鈥淲e will seek to a more proactive and meaningful relationship. The launch of Homes England creates an opportunity to renew relationships. Infrastructure is a major challenge.鈥� Mr Walkley also promised a more 鈥減roactive stance on modern methods of construction (MMC)鈥�. Evidenced recently by Legal & General's commitment to modular housing, by opening a factory near York specifically to build modular homes, on the body鈥檚 third generation Delivery Partner Panel to bring forward an 拢8 billion residential-led development programme on public land. The third DPP includes 70 companies ranging from major contractors such as Interserve, Kier, Laing O鈥橰ourke and Wates to medium-sized outfits such as Esh, Seddon and Tolent, and housebuilders including Barratt and Keepmoat. Registered social landlords such as Clarion and London & Quadrant Housing Trust have also been appointed and signs of Homes England鈥檚 renewed commitment are evident in 果冻影院鈥檚 data, which shows that the value of contracts awarded by the body has spiralled this year as bigger projects are tackled. In 果冻影院鈥檚 latest ranking of the industry鈥檚 top 50 clients, the HCA is ranked seventh after letting 拢765.2 million-worth of contracts in the 12 months to Q3 2017. At the same stage in 2016, the then HCA was ranked in 25th position after letting 拢199.4 million-worth of work. The increase has come partly through awarding bigger contracts. 果冻影院鈥檚 research, which only covers contracts valued at 拢250,000 or more, shows that the average Homes England award in the 12 months to Q3 2017 was valued at 拢40.7 million. At Q3 2016, the average award was 拢14.2 million. This illustrates that the agency鈥檚 quest to bring forward larger projects is already making an impact at a time when housing is at the heart of government policy. 鈥淭he focus on housing supply is rising across Whitehall,鈥� concluded Mr Walkley. 鈥淣ow is the opportunity to win the argument but it will need some compromise. We are absolutely committed to diversification of suppliers and the forms of housing. That will mean new entrants and competition. A process that starts with protectionism is doomed to fail.鈥� For the housing industry, a time of great change is about to begin.