Housebuilders can now apply to join the agency’s list of preferred developers at any time, rather than having to wait until the list is renewed once every four years.
Homes England has launched a Delivery Partner Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) in order to make it easier for housebuilders of all sizes to access land.
This system replaces the Delivery Partner Panel 3 (DPP3), altering the way Homes England procures housebuilders and disposes of land.
Housebuilders can now apply to join the agency’s list of preferred developers at any time, rather than having to wait until the list is renewed once every four years.
This is the biggest DPS of its kind, and valued at £20bn, is Homes England’s largest procurement exercise to date.
Local authorities and housing associations can also rely on the DPS as a procurement-compliant solution for finding housebuilders, making it easier for them to build homes on the land they own.
Initial applications opened earlier this year, and 66 housebuilders have now been appointed to the DPS, of which 24 are SMEs.
Applications to join are now open on an ongoing basis, and housebuilders are being encouraged to apply as and when they see sites of interest on Homes England’s Land Hub.
The application process is proportionate, and depends on the size of the sites that a developer wishes to bid for, making it more accessible for smaller developers.
In addition, during the application process housebuilders can express interest in the locations and types of sites they want to develop.
Homes England has a number of sites that it is planning to issue expressions of interest for via the DPS in the coming months.
This includes a 14-acre site on the Northern Arc scheme in Burgess Hill, which will support around 350 homes, 30% of which will be affordable homes.
The site will be divided into two or three sub-plots, making it particularly suited to SME developers.
Another site soon to be marketed via the DPS is in Cradley Heath, Dudley.
Over the last couple of years Homes England has cleared disused industrial buildings from the site, and it now has outline planning permission for 89 homes.
Stephen Kinsella, chief land and development officer at Homes England, said: “This marks a significant step forward in the way we work with developers to build homes.
"The flexibility of the DPS means that housebuilders can apply to join when it suits them, or when they see a relevant site on our Land Hub.
“We’ve also simplified the application process, so whether you’re a large, nationwide housebuilder, or a small local developer, it will be easier for you to access land you want to build on.
"We encourage all housebuilders interested in working with us to monitor our recently updated Land Hub, and apply to join the DPS when they see a site of interest.”
Christopher Pincher, housing minster, added: “This government is making great progress in building new homes and we are keen to continue delivering the homes this country needs.
"We welcome this change which will support SMEs while providing more opportunities for home ownership to hard-working people across the country.”
