Homes England reappoints Nash and Henderson to 2027
Homes England has confirmed that Secretary of State Steve Reed OBE has reappointed Lesley-Ann Nash and Mark Henderson to its board. Both first joined in February 2022 and will now serve until November 2027, giving the agency continuity at senior level. The announcement was published on 23 December 2025.
If you’re new to this, Homes England is the government’s housing and regeneration agency. It operates as an executive non‑departmental public body, which means it works at arm’s length from ministers but within a framework they set. The board decides the agency’s priorities and its members are appointed by the Secretary of State for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
Who has been reappointed matters for the kind of advice the board can give. Lesley‑Ann Nash built a career in investment banking before leading commercial programmes in the Cabinet Office, and now holds non‑executive roles at St James’s Place and Workspace. Mark Henderson leads Home Group, one of the country’s largest housing associations, bringing experience from frontline affordable housing and supported services.
So what does Homes England actually do? In law, it exists to improve the supply and quality of housing, support the regeneration and development of land and infrastructure, and help create sustainable, well‑designed places. Alongside that mission, the agency manages a large land portfolio and significant grant, loan and equity funds to back projects across England.
Public appointments like these follow the Cabinet Office’s Governance Code on Public Appointments, which is regulated by the independent Commissioner for Public Appointments. The code stresses merit, fairness and openness; ministers make the final decision on appointments and reappointments. The government refreshed the code on 30 October 2025.
Continuity on an arm’s‑length board isn’t just a tidy HR detail. A 2023 government review found that keeping Homes England operating as an independent public body helps it take commercial decisions steadily and gives partners such as housing associations and developers the confidence to plan. In short, a stable board can support a stable pipeline of homes.
A quick note on names you might see. Since July 2024, the housing ministry has been called the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. The current Secretary of State is Steve Reed, who has recently written to local authority leaders about the next phase of reforms to speed up growth and housebuilding.
What this means for you as a learner or teacher: use this notice as a reading exercise in how government works. Check who made the decision (the Secretary of State), the term length (to November 2027), and where the body sits in the system (an NDPB with a board appointed by ministers). You can verify those details on GOV.UK.
Finally, keep an eye on the policy backdrop. The Secretary of State’s 16 December letter trailed planning reforms and a consultation on a clearer, rules‑based National Planning Policy Framework. Steady leadership at the delivery agency that funds and enables projects helps connect national policy to local action.