Housing Commission publishes final recommendations

Housing Commission publishes final recommendations – calling for key changes to planning, funding and implementation to meet homes target

This report by the Radix Big Tent Housing Commission, supported by Shoosmiths’ living sector legal experts, presents a critical intervention aimed at addressing England’s long-standing housing crisis. The Commission, chaired initially by Dame Kate Barker, who led the 2004 Barker Review, and later by Alex Notay, proposes bold yet practical steps to deliver 1,000 homes per day to meet the government’s ambitious target of 1.5 million homes by the next Parliament.

Key Recommendations:

1. Housing as National Infrastructure: The Report emphasizes the need to treat housing as critical national infrastructure, ensuring that delivery is prioritized and supported by government resources and policies.
2. Cross-departmental Housing Delivery Unit: Establishing a central unit within the government to coordinate housing policy, engage with key stakeholders (e.g., the Bank of England), and drive coherent housing strategies across various sectors.
3. Cross-party Collaboration: Urging political consensus to ensure continuity in housing schemes across political cycles, reducing disruptions caused by changes in government.
4. Public Land Release: Proposing a more strategic and efficient approach to the release of public land for housing development.
5. New Role for Homes England: Expanding Homes England’s capacity to operate as a master developer, guiding major housing projects.

Key Financial and Market Reforms:

• Institutional Investment: Encouraging more significant institutional investment in housing through tax reforms and regulatory consistency, providing a stable environment for investors.
• Developer Contributions: Reforming the Section 106 and Community Infrastructure Levy systems to deliver more affordable housing.
• Social Housing Subsidies: Recognizing that more social rent housing will require subsidies and consistent funding to address market deficiencies.

Planning and Development Reforms:

• Strategic Planning: Reintroducing strategic, plan-led growth to streamline housing delivery.
• Market Diversification: Supporting SMEs and self-commissioned housing to foster a more diverse and resilient housing market.
• Public Sector Capacity: Rebuilding public sector capacity to improve planning, development, and regulatory frameworks.

Next Steps:

The Report offers a clear roadmap for the government to deliver housing at scale while aligning with infrastructure development and net-zero targets. It highlights the need for a holistic approach, addressing governance, finance, planning, and market structure issues simultaneously.

This report marks a significant opportunity for policy-makers, developers, and investors to unite behind a framework that promises to tackle one of the most pressing challenges in the UK today.

The full Report, Beyond the Permacrisis – Delivering 1,000 Homes a Day, can be read here.

Industry comments

Victoria Hills, chief executive of the Royal Town Planning Institute:

“This report, which offers clear and sensible recommendations for the future of house building, comes at a critical time as the government considers new national planning policy. It underscores the essential link between homes and infrastructure, adopting a holistic approach to housing and planning – issues we have long championed.

“However, it also serves as a timely reminder that planning reform alone is not a silver bullet for solving the housing crisis. Without a comprehensive housing strategy, greater involvement from local and combined authorities, and improved funding approaches, we will fail to deliver the quality homes needed in the right places.”

Melanie Leech, chief executive of the British Property Federation:

“In the 20 years since Dame Kate Barker’s review of UK Housing Supply, it is evident that many of the challenges she identified still remain. However, a key aspect that has radically changed is the arrival of institutional investment into housing – a vital tool previously unavailable to policymakers. By recognising housing as essential infrastructure, and calling for stable, long-term capital, the report aligns with the vision of a vibrant residential investment sector that delivers high-quality, professionally managed homes at scale. The recommendations to streamline planning, ensure regulatory clarity, and facilitate investment create the solid foundation needed to unlock the full potential of institutional capital, benefiting both communities and the broader housing market.

“As the first few recommendations suggest though, perhaps the most important foundation is to have a cross-party long-term ambition to tackle our housing crisis for all the economic and social benefits that delivers. Our sector is certainly ready to support that ambition and there are clear impactful recommendations the Government can bring forward to help us drive towards 1.5million homes over this Parliament.”

Helen Kings, founder – Kings Residential and chair-elect of the Association for Rental Living:

“The Housing Commission Report from Radix Big Tent presents a bold, coherent, and practical roadmap for shaping the future of England’s housing landscape. By recommending a balanced mix of short and long-term interventions, the report tackles the housing system as a whole – acknowledging its interwoven complexities rather than treating issues in isolation. Its emphasis on holistic solutions and the need for sustained governance, funding, planning, and delivery offers a real opportunity to achieve meaningful, lasting change.

“Notably, the call for a UK National Housing Strategy, coupled with recognition of the importance of rental tenures, professional management and the pivotal role of institutional investment, could be the game-changer we need. If embraced, this forward-thinking vision has the potential not just to ease the current housing crisis but to lay the foundation for a resilient, sustainable future – one where everyone has a place to call home.”

Shelagh Grant, chief executive of The Housing Forum:

“20 years on from the Barker Review, the problems that it identified with the housing system persist. The Housing Forum is therefore pleased to see this new report from the Radix Commission that sets out clearly the impact of under-supply of housing and identifies mechanisms that could help to overcome them. We’re particularly pleased to see the focus on the role of different housing tenures and what needs to be done to enable the delivery of much-needed affordable homes.”

Ben Beadle, chief executive of the National Residential Landlords Association:

“We warmly welcome today’s report. Renters across the country are struggling due to a chronic shortage of homes to rent to meet demand. They need more choice. As the Commission notes, both institutional and private landlords have a critical role to play in meeting the country’s housing needs.

“The Government should also accept the Commission’s call for a plan to improve the justice system alongside the Renters’ Rights Bill. Ministers have pledged to ensure the courts are ready for the changes in the Bill. Its time for clarity about what ‘ready’ means for the sake of tenants and responsible landlords.”