Sir Vince Cable to chair new committee of housing experts

The former leader of the Liberal Democrats, Sir Vince Cable, has agreed to chair a new independent committee of housing delivery experts.

The Housing Policy and Delivery Oversight Committee intends to monitor progress and offer constructive analysis and policy suggestions on housing delivery as the Labour government tries to meet its target of delivering 1.5 million new homes by the end of parliament.  

Former business secretary Sir Vince said: “The government has - rightly - put housing at the heart of its growth and social  policy agenda. Our committee will endeavour to give a fair and informed assessment of its progress.”

This committee includes experts across critical aspect of housing policy, from design, planning, financing to building.

It includes Mark Bogard, chief executive of the Family Building Society, which is supporting the committee; Neil Jefferson, CEO of the Home Builders Federation; and Vicky Pryce, chief economic adviser at the Centre for Economics and Business Research.

Ingrid Schroder, director of the Architectural Association School of Architecture, Professor Tony Travers, a director of the LSE London, Luke Murphy, Labour MP for Basingstoke, and the Rt Hon Damian Green, Chair, Social Care Foundation, will also sit on the committee.

Academic expertise and support will be provided by Professor Christine Whitehead of the LSE and Kelvin  McDonald, Director of Studies in Land Economy at Christ’s College, University of Cambridge. 

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Bogard said: “Housing really matters to everyone, every night when they go to bed. But housing policy has been a  shambles for at least 50 years. Judging how politicians, councillors and civil servants are doing, marking their homework, matters to people.”

The committee will meet every six months, beginning in July, to assess progress and issue a  report. It also intends to commission research into housing related matters. 

The aim of the committee is to review the government’s evolving housing and planning policy announcements and access and provide authoritative commentary.

It has already commissioned a report by the London School of Economics and sponsored by the Family Building Society which includes what it describes as “three quick wins” for utilising existing housing stock effectively.

The A More Coherent Road Map 2: Using the Existing Stock More Effectively report suggests scrapping stamp duty for older homeowners, taxing second homes and short lets, and treating private landlords like other businesses.