Homes England鈥檚 new regional operating model, coming into effect in April 2026, is designed to deepen local collaboration with local authorities and regional mayors.
Five regional executive directors have been appointed, each with experience in housing, regeneration and place-making.
Danielle Gillespie, currently director of regeneration, partnerships and major projects at Homes England, now becomes executive regional director for the northwest.
Tom Bridges becomes executive regional director for the northeast, Yorkshire and Humber. He joins the agency from Arup, where he is a director and UK government business leader.
Jo Nugent, currently acting executive director of markets, partners and places at Homes England, becomes executive regional director for the Midlands.
Vicky Savage鈥痑s joins the agency as executive regional director for London and east from the London Borough of Camden. Until August 2025 Savage was executive director of development and sales at L&Q.
Kate McBride, currently regional development director for the south at Home England, becomes executive regional director for the south.
It is anticipated the executive regional directors will take up their new roles from March 2026. They will own their respective region鈥檚 development pipeline and sub-regional programmes, from large-scale placemaking and growth partnerships to affordable housing initiatives, the agency said.聽 The teams will also draw from a nationally managed technical office supplying specialist expertise when needed.
Pat Ritchie, chair of Homes England, said: 鈥淚 am encouraged by the strength of regional leadership we have secured, which will empower our teams to better connect investment and land with local priorities.聽 Executive regional directors will bring the full breadth of the agency鈥檚 offer, including our subsidiary the National Housing Bank, to partners and ensure support is tailored to local needs.聽聽
鈥淭his approach positions us to plan confidently for the long term and deepen relationships with mayors, local leaders, housing associations, and developers, building on the 10 strategic place partnerships already in place. From my own experience in local government, I know that when national and local partners work together with clear, shared leadership, we achieve the very best outcomes for local people and places.鈥�
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