Peter Freeman reappointed as chair of Homes England

Peter Freeman has been reappointed as chair of Homes England for a further two years.

Freeman, who completed an initial three-year this month, has had a second term confirmed by housing secretary Michael Gove, which means he will head up the board of the housing development quango until October 2025.

Freeman is responsible for overseeing the strategy of Homes England, which is responsible for the £11.5bn Affordable Homes Programme and other programmes including the £1.8bn brownfield fund.

Homes England in the summer published its long-awaited five-year strategic plan, which outlined a shift in focus towards regeneration, with performance judged by a much wider range of metrics including social value per pound of investment.

>>See also: Homes England to move away from ‘pure’ supply in social value shift

>>See also: Homes England put under government review

In his role as chair, Freeman is responsible for leading the continued development of Homes England into a “commercially focused organisation” that works across the public, private and voluntary sector to deliver homes and helping the secretary of state for levelling up, housing and communities’ (DLUHC) vision for housing.

In a speech in June 2021, Freeman indicated Homes England’s interest in investing in affordable housing institutional investors. He also referenced the agency’s commitment to constructing homes and communities, with a particular emphasis on placemaking.

Freeman co-founded the property development firm Argent with his brother, in 1981. The firm is the developer behind the regeneration of Kings Cross, and the redevelopment of Brindley Place in Birmingham and Manchester’s Picadilly Gardens.

Peter also serves as a founder and director of Mayfields Market Towns, which has a joint venture with Clarion Housing to create a new town.