Pat Ritchie will chair Homes England for up to 18 months whilst a new permanent chair is sought, after current chair Peter Freeman steps down at the end of April
Interim chair Pat Ritchie has been a board member at Homes England since 2022.
She previously served as chief executive of Homes England’s predecessor body the Homes and Communities Agency from 2010 to 2013.
Ritchie has also served as chief executive of Newcastle City Council and currently chairs the Government Property Agency.
Deputy prime minister and secretary of state for housing, communities and local government Angela Rayner selected her for the interim role.
Pat’s peers sung her praises
Matthew Pennycook, housing and planning minister, said: ““I am delighted that Pat has accepted the role of interim chair and I am very much looking forward to working with her in the role.
“Pat commands considerable respect in the sector, brings a wealth of experience from previous roles, and is well-placed to ensure the Agency is effectively supporting the government’s ambitious housing agenda.”
Pat Ritchie CBE said: “I am proud to have been asked to step in as interim Homes England Chair during this period of transformation. The agency’s great strength is its people, who are passionate about regeneration and building strong communities, and we are focused on driving delivery to help achieve the government’s housing ambitions.
“It is an honour to lead an organisation I have been so closely involved with for many years. We will work tirelessly with local leaders, housing associations, developers and investors to deliver the homes our country needs, building on strong foundations of place-based working and successful delivery laid by Peter Freeman.”
Former chair Peter Freeman CBE said: “Pat and I have worked closely with colleagues on the board, which I’ve had the privilege of leading for the past four years – she is extremely well placed to take on the role of interim Chair at such a pivotal and exciting moment for the agency.
“Her stewardship with be invaluable to colleagues, government and the sector during such a transformative period, which is already well underway. I wish her the very best for the next chapter at Homes England, along with all those working so hard to deliver the homes and places people need across the country.”
The change in leadership at Homes England follows the change in government last year
Peter Freeman will leave the organisation at the end of the month, whereas former chief executive Peter Denton departed in January, with former Stockport Council chief executive Eamonn Boylan acting as interim chief executive.
Speaking at the time, “the Peters” each commented:
Peter Freeman: “The Agency has a vital role managing many of the government’s interventions to accelerate housing and regeneration across the country by supporting our partners in local government, affordable housing and housebuilding. It has been a privilege chairing the organisation since 2020 and working closely with our partners and incredible staff operating from offices across the country.
“Under Peter Denton’s leadership, despite economic headwinds, the Agency has met its targets and increasingly demonstrated its pivot back to a place-based organisation. I look forward to continuing to lead the Agency until my successor is appointed, and will then focus my attentions on my role as chair of the Cambridge Growth Company.”
Peter Denton: “Our work together at the Agency as “the Peters” has reflected a period of intense activity and achievement for the Agency. We successfully navigated the transition to being a fully-fledged and empowered housing and regeneration Agency delivering strongly, especially in affordable housing, and initiating many catalytic regeneration projects throughout the country.”
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