The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) is the national housing and regeneration agency for England. It was formed on 1 December 2008 from the amalgamation of English Partnerships, the investment arm of the former Housing Corporation, and the Academy for Sustainable Communities and is responsible for major delivery programmes for the Department of Communities and Local Government. HCA’s role is to create opportunity for people to live in high quality, sustainable homes by providing funding on behalf of Government, for affordable housing. By also bringing derelict land back into use, its aim is to improve standards for the physical and social environment.