Twenty years after the landmark Barker Review of Housing Supply, the Radix Big Tent Housing Commission – chaired by Dame Kate until her appointment to the New Towns Taskforce – has published its recommendations.

The Report, Beyond the Permacrisis – Delivering 1,000 Homes a Day sets out fifteen practical steps to deliver the thousand homes a day that will be needed over the course of the next parliament for the Government to meet its 1.5 million housing target. They include:

• A new cross-departmental Housing Delivery Unit to coordinate housing policy delivery across government and to engage with key stakeholders such as the Bank of England and financial and utility regulators
• A cross-party accord to create policy consensus and improve the delivery of schemes across the UK
• A new approach to the release of public land for housing
• A new role for Homes England so it can act as a master developer

The multi-disciplinary Commission – which includes property professionals, developers, investors, planners, academics and others, and is supported by law firm Shoosmiths – urges the Government to treat housing as national infrastructure.  It states that “the failure to meet decades of housing targets or fully adopt the recommendations of the 2004 Barker Review lies predominantly with flawed governance structures”.  

The report has been very widely welcomed across the sector.

Victoria Hills, Chief Executive of the Royal Town Planning Institute, said:

“This report, which offers clear and sensible recommendations for the future of house building, comes at a critical time as the government considers new national planning policy. It underscores the essential link between homes and infrastructure, adopting a holistic approach to housing and planning – issues we have long championed.

“However, it also serves as a timely reminder that planning reform alone is not a silver bullet for solving the housing crisis. Without a comprehensive housing strategy, greater involvement from local and combined authorities, and improved funding approaches, we will fail to deliver the quality homes needed in the right places.”

Melanie Leech, chief executive of the British Property Federation, said:

“In the 20 years since Dame Kate Barker’s review of UK Housing Supply, it is evident that many of the challenges she identified still remain. However, a key aspect that has radically changed is the arrival of institutional investment into housing – a vital tool previously unavailable to policymakers. By recognising housing as essential infrastructure, and calling for stable, long-term capital, the report aligns with the vision of a vibrant residential investment sector that delivers high-quality, professionally managed homes at scale. The recommendations to streamline planning, ensure regulatory clarity, and facilitate investment create the solid foundation needed to unlock the full potential of institutional capital, benefiting both communities and the broader housing market.

“As the first few recommendations suggest though, perhaps the most important foundation is to have a cross-party long-term ambition to tackle our housing crisis for all the economic and social benefits that delivers. Our sector is certainly ready to support that ambition and there are clear impactful recommendations the Government can bring forward to help us drive towards 1.5million homes over this Parliament.”

Helen Kings, Founder – Kings Residential and Chair-Elect of the Association for Rental Living, said:

“The Housing Commission Report from Radix Big Tent presents a bold, coherent, and practical roadmap for shaping the future of England’s housing landscape. By recommending a balanced mix of short and long-term interventions, the report tackles the housing system as a whole – acknowledging its interwoven complexities rather than treating issues in isolation. Its emphasis on holistic solutions and the need for sustained governance, funding, planning, and delivery offers a real opportunity to achieve meaningful, lasting change.

“Notably, the call for a UK National Housing Strategy, coupled with recognition of the importance of rental tenures, professional management and the pivotal role of institutional investment, could be the game-changer we need. If embraced, this forward-thinking vision has the potential not just to ease the current housing crisis but to lay the foundation for a resilient, sustainable future – one where everyone has a place to call home.”

Ben Beadle, Chief Executive of the National Residential Landlords Association, said:

“We warmly welcome today’s report. Renters across the country are struggling due to a chronic shortage of homes to rent to meet demand. They need more choice. As the Commission notes, both institutional and private landlords have a critical role to play in meeting the country’s housing needs. 

“The Government should also accept the Commission’s call for a plan to improve the justice system alongside the Renters’ Rights Bill. Ministers have pledged to ensure the courts are ready for the changes in the Bill. Its time for clarity about what ‘ready’ means for the sake of tenants and responsible landlords.”

Shelagh Grant, Chief Executive of The Housing Forum, said:

“20 years on from the Barker Review, the problems that it identified with the housing system persist. The Housing Forum is therefore pleased to see this new report from the Radix Commission that sets out clearly the impact of under-supply of housing and identifies mechanisms that could help to overcome them. We’re particularly pleased to see the focus on the role of different housing tenures and what needs to be done to enable the delivery of much-needed affordable homes.”

Read the full news release here.

Read the full report here.