Homes England launches new land disposal approach

Housebuilders should find it easier to access Homes England land, with the launch of new delivery partner Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS).

Switching to a dynamic purchasing system means that housebuilders can now apply to join the agency’s list of preferred developers at any time, rather than having to wait until the list is renewed once every four years.

Local authorities and housing associations can also rely on the DPS as a procurement-compliant solution for finding housebuilders, making it easier for them to build homes on the land they own.

This is the biggest DPS of its kind and is Homes England’s largest procurement exercise to date, valued at £20bn.

Stephen Kinsella, chief land and development officer at Homes England, said: ‘This marks a significant step forward in the way we work with developers to build homes. The flexibility of the DPS means that housebuilders can apply to join when it suits them, or when they see a relevant site on our Land Hub.

‘We’ve also simplified the application process, so whether you’re a large, nationwide housebuilder, or a small local developer, it will be easier for you to access land you want to build on. We encourage all housebuilders interested in working with us to monitor our recently updated Land Hub and apply to join the DPS when they see a site of interest.’

Initial applications opened earlier this year, and 66 housebuilders have now been appointed to the DPS, of which 24 are SMEs.

Housing minister Rt Hon Christopher Pincher MP, added that the flexibility of the DPS will benefit SMEs and new entrants, commenting: ‘This Government is making great progress in building new homes and we are keen to continue delivering the homes this country needs. We welcome this change which will support SMEs while providing more opportunities for home ownership to hard-working people across the country.’

Information on how to apply to join the DPS can be found here.

In related news, Lea Castle Village, an ongoing Homes England development, has gained Build with Nature accreditation, which is voluntary scheme that sets out standards for high quality green infrastructure at each stage of the planning process.

Photo by Guilherme Cunha