Former BBC chair led several influential government reviews into housing and regeneration during career
Michael Lyons will retire from his role as chair of the English Cities Fund (ECF) at the end of January 2027.
The former BBC chair has been the chair of regeneration vehicle ECF since it was established in 2001. It is a joint venture between Homes England, Legal & General and Muse Developments.
ECF doubled its capital base to £200m in 2018 and £400m in 2024, which it said will support its target of delivering around 17,000 more homes by 2036.
The partnership described Lyons as playing a “key role” in the regeneration of Salford, delivered alongside Salford City Council. The £1bn two-decade programme has built more than 1,000 mixed-tenure homes, as well as commercial space across Salford Central and new public spaces.
Lyons also previously served as chief executive of Wolverhampton Borough Council, Nottinghamshire County Council and Birmingham City Council, and was knighted for services to local government in 2000.
His 2004 review of public sector relocation identified scope to move 20,000 civil service posts out of London and the South East.
Later, his enquiry into local government introduced the concept of “place-shaping”, arguing that councils should have greater power and responsibility for the economic and social future of their areas.
He was chair of the BBC from 2007 to 2011, led the Lyons Housing Review on housebuilding 2013/2014, chaired a review of Invest Northern Ireland and chaired the Government’s New Towns Taskforce, whose 2025 report recommended 12 locations capable of delivering at least 300,000 new homes.
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