He was warden of Nuffield College, Oxford, from 2006 to 2012, and was the first chair of the National Housing and Planning Advice Unit from June 2007 until November 2009. In June 2007, when interviewed on the state of the UK housing market he was quoted as saying, "It might settle back a little, or remain relatively flat for a bit, but I don't think there's any fundamental overvaluation. Over the next few years it might keep on edging upwards."
From 2006 to 2012, he held the position of warden at Nuffield College in Oxford. He was also the first chair of the National Housing and Planning Advice Unit from June 2007 until November 2009. In a 2007 interview about the UK housing market, he predicted that it would stabilize or remain relatively flat for a while but didn't believe there was any fundamental overvaluation. He also anticipated that prices would continue to rise in the coming years.