Homes England appoints new affordable housing director

Homes England has appointed a new director of affordable housing.

The agency’s current assistant director of affordable housing grants Shahi Islam, has been promoted to the role and will take over in January as the incumbent Jackie Jacob is retiring.

Jacob, who has been at Homes England and its predecessor organisations for 32 years, announced in October that she would be leaving the agency at the end of the year.

Islam has been at Homes England since 2013, serving as assistant director of affordable housing grants at Homes England for the past three and a half years, before which he was head of affordable housing grants and senior manager of programmes and policy.

See also >> Peter Freeman reappointed as chair of Homes England

See also >> Homes England opens next round of bidding for Affordable Homes Programme

Homes England said that it appointed Islam “following a competitive recruitment process”.

Homes England is currently tasked with administering around £16.5bn of funding, including the £11.5bn 2021-2026 affordbale homes programme. The agency in May signalled a shift towards focusing on brownfield regeneration and taking social value more into account when assessing schemes.

Peter Denton, chief executive of Homes England, said: “This is arguably one of the most important roles in housing and is central to driving Homes England’s mission for social equity. Shahi is the ideal candidate to fill it.

“He’s an experienced leader and is well respected across both the sector and within Homes England.

“We’re lucky to have strength and depth in individual expertise and commitment at Homes England, demonstrated daily by people like Shahi, which means that together, we’re a formidable force for good in supporting local homes and regeneration aspirations to become a reality.”

In a LinkedIn post, Islam said: “I am super privileged and proud to take on the role of director of affordable housing at Homes England.

“Delivering more affordable housing alongside regeneration, place and communities is a shared mission - with social justice at the core. I look forward to working with my colleagues, partners and the wider sector.”