A high-profile team of ‘commissioners’ who will carry out a review of housing policy for the north of England have been announced.

The Northern Housing Consortium (NHC) launches its ‘Lyon’s Review for the North’ this week, with Tom Miskell, the former chief executive of Together Housing, chairing the review.

The commission’s terms of reference include inquiring into the specific challenges facing housing in the north, and developing overall objectives for housing investment in the region.

It will also consider the impact of public sector reforms – particularly in the context of the ongoing devolution agenda.

It will be run through the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Housing in the North, with the NHC acting as secretariat.

The commission will take evidence – which can be submitted online – through to October, before holding sessions in London and northern towns.

Good news for the north – lets hope someone listens as this group of people have a lot to sensible things to say and years of experience in housing:

The commissioners:

  • Tom Miskell – chair of the commission, former chief executive of Together Housing and chair of Pendleton Together
  • Lord Richard Best – crossbench peer and former leader of the National Housing Federation and the Joseph Rowntree Trust
  • Baroness Margaret Eaton – Conservative peer and former chair of the Local Government Association
  • Lord John Shipley – Liberal Democrat peer and former leader of Newcastle Council
  • Professor Tony Crook – town and regional planning professor at the University of Sheffield
  • Geraldine Howley – chief executive of Incommunities and Chartered Institute of Housing president
  • Alison Thain – chief executive of Thirteen Group and chair of the Confederation of British Industry in the North East
  • Philip Whitehead – regional regeneration director at house builder Countryside
  • Clive Barnett – head of housing at the Royal Bank of Scotland
  • John Craggs – deputy chief executive at Gentoo
  • Jo Boaden – chief executive of the Northern Housing Consortium
  • Steve Douglas – partner at consultancy Altair