Peter Dixon, the former chairman of the Housing Corporation, has been knighted in the New Year’s Honours List for services to the housing sector.

Dixon is the only property person to be knighted in a list that is dominated by Britain’s Olympic sport stars.

The Housing Corporation ceased to exist in December when it was merged with English Partnerships to create the Homes & Communities Agency, headed by Sir Bob Kerslake.

Richard McCarthy, director-general of housing and planning at the Department for Communities & Local Government, receives a CBE, as does Robert Upton, secretary-general of the Royal Town Planning Institute, Nick Paul, chairman of Advantage West Midlands, and Deborah Shackleton, chief executive of registered social landlord Riverside Group.

Gideon Amos, the chief executive of the Town & Country Planning Association, receives an OBE, as does Val Lowman, head of community development and sustainability at Bovis Lend Lease.

In all, 966 people are recognised in a New Year's Honours List that acknowledges Britain's Olympic heroes, community champions and bravery displayed during the 7/7 bombings.