HCA names new chief executive

Nick Walkley has been appointed as the new chief executive and accounting officer of the Homes and Communities Agency. He has been chief executive of Haringey Council for the past four years and was previously chief executive of Barnet Council. The government recently published its review of the HCA, which aims to focus the agency more on enabling housebuilding. Communities secretary Sajid Javid said the HCA has a big role to play in driving forward the government’s housebuilding ambitions. Walkley led the transformation of Haringey Council, restructuring the authority, streamlining management arrangements and stabilising high-risk services. He also helped bring in £1bn of funding towards the regeneration of Tottenham. Walkley said: “I am incredibly passionate about addressing the housing shortage to give more people the opportunity to have a home of their own. We need to develop new partnerships and bring fresh ideas to the industry and local government to unlock increased housing supply and transform the market. “I am excited by this opportunity to establish a new operating model for the HCA so we work flexibly with local places around the country to deliver the government’s ambition to increase housebuilding.” • To send feedback, e-mail alex.peace@estatesgazette.com or tweet @egalexpeace or @estatesgazette