No. 25/04

Press Release: Wednesday 30 June 2004

The Housing Corporation has today announced a new organisational structure as it gears up to the task of delivering the largest affordable housing programme in its history and regulating the growing housing association sector.

The changes include:

´+¢ the creation of new dedicated field offices for the South West and the South East to respond to need for more affordable homes in those regions

´+¢ the creation of dedicated field director posts for each of the Corporation's five fields - London, South East, South West, North and Central - to provide strong leadership across England, in ensuring our investment and regulation responsibilities are mutually reinforcing

´+¢ within the fields, the creation of investment teams for each of the nine English regions, including a new office in Cambridge to serve the Eastern region;

´+¢ the creation of a policy, research and communications team to provide the Corporation with a distinctive and expert policy voice

´+¢ the creation of an efficiency unit to work with housing associations in providing residents with better quality, better value homes and services

´+¢ the creation of a national procurement team to improve standards of design and sustainability, and to promote the use of reliable, durable modern methods of construction in the provision of new homes

´+¢ the appointment of Neil Hadden, in charge of investment and regeneration, as Deputy Chief Executive to assist new Chief Executive, Jon Rouse, in improving performance across the organisation.

Jon Rouse, Chief Executive stated:

"We are determined to move to this new structure as quickly as possible. We have a huge task ahead in delivering an investment programme of £3.3 billion over the next two years and in regulating a sector that now comprises almost 2 million homes. I am very grateful to the Board for moving so quickly after my arrival to agree these changes.

"The new structure should be seen as part of a wider package of organisational development for the Corporation in our drive to become world class in the way we go about our business on behalf of the tax-payer.

"I am particularly looking forward to working with the five field directors as we respond to the challenge of the Sustainable Communities Plan, providing leadership in each of the housing growth areas, the housing market renewal areas and in respect of special initiatives such as The Northern Way."

Notes to Editors:

1. The Housing Corporation is the Government agency responsible for regulating and investing in over 2,000 housing associations in England. Its biggest ever investment programe of £3.3 billion for 2004-06 will fund over 67,000 affordable homes. 16,000 of these will go to key workers and 25% will use some form of modern methods of construction.

2. For further press information about the Housing Corporation contact Gillian Watson, Head of Communications 020 7393 2095; email gillian.watson@housingcorp.gsx.gov.uk or Rob Davies on 020 7393 2227; email robert.davies@housingcorp.gsx.gov.uk.