Housing Secretary Sajid Javid has launched a new national housing agency, Homes England.

The organisation will act as the successor to the Homes and Communities Agency and aims to help deliver an average of 300,000 homes per year by the mid-2020s.

The new agency will bring together existing planning expertise and new land buying powers. It will develop a commercial approach to acquiring, preparing, managing and developing land in areas of high demand and strategic importance.

In addition, it will focus on using both land and money to support builders of all sizes to increase supply, supporting accelerated construction on a selection of sites.

Speaking during a visit to Alconbury in Cambridgeshire, a former airfield which will comprise of 5,000 new homes, Housing Secretary Sajid Javid said: "This government is determined to build the homes our country needs and help more people get on the housing ladder. Homes England will be at the heart of leading this effort.

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"The development at Alconbury is a prime example of how the agency has worked to deliver thousands of new homes, as well as improve roads and create space for local businesses.

"The new agency will be key in replicating this approach right across the country and will help us build a Britain fit for the future."

Sir Ed Lister, Chairman of Homes England, added: "We will take the lead in delivering better quality homes and great places that set the bar high for others. We will also stimulate demand for Modern Methods of Construction and ultimately disrupt the housing market."

Melanie Leech, Chief Executive of the British Property Federation, welcomed the launch of the new agency.

"We welcome the launch of the new Homes England, and we look forward to working even more closely on the delivery of much-needed new homes across the UK," she said.

"It's clear there is growing momentum behind the government's housing agenda and we are delighted with the continuing policy support for a multi-tenure approach to housing supply, creating great places and the remediation of land. This will be vital if the Housing White Paper and the changes to the NPPF have any chance of making a significant impact on volume and affordability."

(LM)