John Healey (Minister of State (Housing and Planning), Department for Communities and Local Government; Wentworth, Labour)

The Public Land Initiative (PLI) was started in June this year as part of the Prime Minister's Housing Pledge. It will produce 1,250 new homes, including around 500 affordable homes, on a small number of sites owned by the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA). This is an important new initiative, not just because it will create much needed new homes, but because it is testing out a different approach to procurement and delivery.

The interest from industry has been significant. 152 organisations attended a seminar organised by the HCA in July before the formal procurement started. This event attracted people from across the sector, including traditional housebuilders, construction and development firms, and registered social landlords. I have placed a full list of companies attending this seminar in the House of Commons Library.

In December I will announce final decisions on the firms that make the panel as direct delivery partners, and the allocated sites. I expect the first builders on site by April and the first 50 of the new homes finished within a year of that.