As of the 6th of September 2021, all housebuilders within the new-build industry will find it considerably easier to procure Homes England land as the new Delivery Partner Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) has been officially launched.
Replacing the old Delivery Partner Panel 3 (DPP3), the new DPS will transform the way in which Homes England acquires housebuilders and disposes of land. The switch to a dynamic purchasing system allows all types of housebuilders to apply to join Homes England’s list of “preferred developers” at any time as opposed to having to wait until the list is renewed every four years as was the case previously. Valued at £20bn, this is the biggest DPS of its kind and spells the beginning of Homes England’s most expansive procurement push to date.
Stephen Kinsella, the Chief Land and Development Officer for Homes England released the following statement: “This marks a significant step forward in the way we work with developers to build homes. The flexibility of the DPS means that housebuilders can apply to join when it suits them, or when they see a relevant site on our Land Hub. “We’ve also simplified the application process, so whether you’re a large, nationwide housebuilder, or a small local developer, it will be easier for you to access land you want to build on. We encourage all housebuilders interested in working with us to monitor our recently updated Land Hub and apply to join the DPS when they see a site of interest.”
This new DPS can also be used by local authorities and housing associations as a “procurement-compliant solution” for finding housebuilders – a move that will generate work throughout the industry. Housing Minister RT Hon Christopher Pincher MP has praised the launch of the new DPS stating ““This Government is making great progress in building new homes and we are keen to continue delivering the homes this country needs. We welcome this change which will support SMEs while providing more opportunities for home ownership to hard-working people across the country.”
The introduction of the new DPS makes the application process more proportionate as it depends on the size of the sites being bid on by a developer. This makes it more accessible for smaller developers. The application process includes a section for applicants to express interest in types of sites and locations that they’re looking to develop.
