Statutory background
The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) is the national housing and regeneration agency for England, with an annual investment budget of more than £5bn.
The HCA was formed on 1 December 2008 through the transfer of the functions and assets of English Partnerships; the investment functions of the Housing Corporation; a number of delivery programmes from Communities and Local Government and the transfer of the Academy for Sustainable Communities.
We have published the report on the final Financial Statements for one of our predecessors, English Partnerships.
Our role
The statutory objects of the HCA, as listed in the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 are to:
- improve the supply and quality of housing in England
- secure the regeneration or development of land or infrastructure in England
- support in other ways the creation, regeneration or development of communities in England or their continued well-being
- contribute to the achievement of sustainable development and good design in England, with a view to meeting the needs of people living in England.
Our powers
The HCA has the power to, “do anything it considers appropriate for the purposes of its objects or for purposes incidental to those purposes”. We also have a wide range of specific powers relating to the provision, facilitation and acquisition (including compulsory purchase, regeneration, development of effective use of land) of housing and infrastructure; establishing companies; providing financial assistance; providing or facilitating services for communities; and undertaking advisory, training, research and information services.
The HCA cooperates with the Tenant Services Authority (TSA), the new social housing regulator, regarding the provision of social housing. We will provide financial assistance for social housing utilising saved powers from the Housing Act 1996 until the new TSA regulatory regime is in place.
Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO)
The HCA has the power to acquire land and new rights compulsorily. This power is borne from the Acquisition of Land Act 1981 and the Compulsory Purchase Act 1965, which has been modified by the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008. One modification is that the HCA now falls within the definition of ‘statutory undertakers’.
The HCA’s CPO powers originate from the same statutes as the Urban Regeneration Agency and Urban Development Corporation powers.
The HCA’s CPO powers mean all private rights of way and apparatus rights are extinguished and any such apparatus will belong to the HCA. The CPO powers do not apply to statutory undertaker’s rights or apparatus.
As before, any person who suffers loss is entitled to compensation. Compensation is to be determined in accordance with the Land Compensation Act 1961.
The HCA also has the power to acquire land by agreement.
Last updated: 5 June 2009