New head of Housing Corporation will concentrate on building homes

26 Feb 04
Jon Rouse, the chief executive of the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment, is to be the next head of the Housing Corporation.

27 February 2004

Jon Rouse, the chief executive of the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment, is to be the next head of the Housing Corporation. Rouse will officially succeed Norman Perry on April 1, but will combine the posts until mid May, by which time the latest in a series of reviews of the corporation is due to be under way.

Perry, who has been chief executive since October 2000, announced he was leaving last November, within weeks of Peter Dixon succeeding Brenda Dean as chair of the corporation.

Although Cabe campaigns for well designed buildings and public spaces, Rouse's first target will be to build more affordable homes. 'My number one priority is to increase numbers,' he said. 'We have to drive up productivity without compromising quality.'

Next month, the government should conclude its end-to-end review of the Housing Corporation. Almost immediately, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister select committee will begin an inquiry.

Rouse declined to speculate on the current state of the corporation but welcomed the opportunity to gather a range of 'stakeholder opinions'. Among these will be the corporation's staff. They are planning a 24-hour strike next week followed by a 48-hour stoppage on March 24 over pay.

Another major task will be to establish a working relationship with Richard McCarthy, former chief executive of the Peabody Trust, who is rapidly building a new empire at the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, with overall responsibility for housing and planning.

'I have an ambassadorial role that will be particularly important during the first six months,' added Rouse. 'We want to build a really strong relationship with Richard.'

Rouse has worked extensively in social housing and regeneration and, prior to joining Cabe in 2000, served on the Urban Task Force. He has also worked at English Partnerships, which helps the Housing Corporation identify sites for new housing. Like Norman Perry, Rouse will sit on the board of EP.

The National Housing Federation welcomed Rouse's appointment. Chief executive Jim Coulter said Rouse had already indicated his support for housing associations to rebrand themselves as social businesses.

PFfeb2004

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