Embarking on commissions and political reviews may be a thankless task, but it appears some people are gluttons for punishment.

After his investigation into local government finance, which concluded in 2007, Sir Michael Lyons has agreed to take on the job as chair of a Housing Commission for the Labour party.

Announced just before Christmas, the Commission aims to address the problems of the housing shortage in Britain today.

It follows Labour leader Ed Miliband's pledge at the party conference for 200,000 extra homes a year by the end of the next parliament. 

Sir Michael admits another commission ‘wasn't the most obvious thing for me at the moment.' But, he says, he was keen to take on the review because ‘it is about the quality of life for everyone, not just the upwardly mobility of a few' and because of the importance of housing.

‘It has been a forgotten issue for a long time,' he adds. ‘My prime concern is how we build strong communities; and, making this a great country to live in.'

For the moment, the home ownership situation is dire. In 1997, it took the average family three years to save a deposit for a home – compared with 22 years today.

‘How are we going to meet their aspirations to buy?' he asks.

Much has been made of Margaret Thatcher's ‘right to buy' policy which increased aspiration for home ownership and diminished local authority housing supply.

But, there were other side-effects, according to Sir Michael, which receive less attention.

‘We sent a signal to local government that it was no longer responsible for housing. And, we took out a whole swathe of experience without replacing it.'

While the Commission is tasked with meeting Mr Miliband's pledge, Sir Michael admits that level of housing– 200,000 a year – will not solve the housing shortage.