For years now, social housing has been a serious bane of contention in the UK, with consecutive governments seemingly loath to invest in construction or build the requisite number of homes for those in need. Interestingly, the coronavirus has also impacted adversely on the social housing sector, particularly when it came to stock increases and rising rental premiums. But what is the state of social housing in the UK as 2021 draws to a close, and what is the market likely to look like in the near-term? How Many Social Housing Properties Exist in the UK? The Regulator of Social Housing has recently published new statistics about the sector, covering both private stocks and local authority registered providers as of March 2021. Basic returns from all registered providers of social housing show that the sector provides a total of 4.4 million homes across England, with this revealing a nominal 25,000 net increase in social homes during the year. Herein lies the first issue, as the net increase in total social housing is failing to keep up with rising demand, with this a longstand issue that has persisted for years now. This issue is exacerbated by the fact that while low-cost home ownership homes increased, the number of social rent homes fell. Given that the latter properties are often occupied by those who are among the most vulnerable in society, this is a significant problem for the government to manage. Interestingly, supported housing makes up to 13% of the total stock, with 7% comprising low-cost ownership and remainder belonging to general needs and rental properties. Rising Rents in the Social Housing Space Of course, there’s a marked difference between supporting housing requirements and general social properties for rent, with the former reserved for those with ongoing care needs and likely to be fitted with an air flow mattress and similar accessories. If we remove these from the equation, however, we can see that social rents increased across the board through the reporting period, peaking at 2.7% and in line with the cap of CPI+1. This followed incremental falls in rent across the sector over the previous four years, while the rise will be of considerable concern at a time when inflation in the UK is projected to reach 4% despite increased economic growth. Of course, we must also factor in the fact that the protections afforded to social housing tenants during lockdown (when landlords were temporarily prohibited from enforcing evictions) have now been removed, placing potentially vulnerable people in a precarious position in an uncertain climate. The Last Word Despite these short-term concerns, the biggest issue in the social housing sector remains the imbalance between supply and demand, especially in the general needs and not-for-profit space. Sure, both private and local authority providers have continued to develop and acquire homes in the year ending March 2021, with nearly 25,000 low cost rental homes and 14,000 affordable ownership properties joining the stock. However, this remains below the level of demand in the UK, despite the fact that for-profit providers continue to increase their own stock at a disproportionate rate. Once again, the government faces a huge challenge in terms of its private and public sector new-build capabilities, especially if it’s to meet the demand for social rental properties and adequately meet the needs of those who cannot afford a home of their own.

North Midlands housebuilder Harron Homes has completed land purchase on an exciting new phase at its Brambles development in Retford, near Nottingham. The new phase will see 109 new properties built, joining the 113 already on the development, allowing more opportunities for buyers to purchase a home. As well as the new properties coming to Retford, Harron Homes will also be contributing £1.3 million to local services and infrastructure. The location of the development means homes at The Brambles are increasingly in demand, with strong transport links due to its placement on London Road and proximity to Retford train station. It has also established a strong community bond, with a mix of residents from first-time buyers stepping onto the property ladder and retirees looking to find their forever home. There will be a variety of four and five bedroom detached homes to suit different budgets and tastes, the smallest is the Birkwith at 1102 square feet and the largest is the Edlingham at 2215 square feet. All the properties include parking with a garage, a minimum of one en-suite, a utility room, downstairs cloakroom and a spacious kitchen-diner. Exciting additions with the new phase will be the Tonbridge and the Ingleton, both of which are four-bed detached properties. “The Brambles surpassed our expectations in terms of its popularity and we are delighted that we are able to start a new chapter at this fantastic location. We hope to continue welcoming new residents to this idyllic spot in Nottinghamshire and see the community spirit grow even further,” said Helen Robinson, Senior Sales Manager at Harron Homes North Midlands.

Recently launched in Southborough is a striking collection of just 10 three- and four-bedroom homes with a sustainable design at Wickham Rise, by award winning housebuilder Shanly Homes. Overlooking the rolling hills of the Kent Weald, this exclusive selection of homes has been carefully designed to cater to a wide range of lifestyles as well as ensuring residents have ample opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors, whilst the thriving nearby high street ensures modern conveniences aren’t far away. Harmoniously designed to aid the surrounding environment, Wickham Rise doesn’t just benefit its new homeowners. Each property has been constructed to incorporate bee bricks and bird boxes helping to provide habitats for some of the UKs most vital pollinators and wildlife. Landscaping to pathways and driveways has been thoughtfully implemented to attract a variety of bumblebees and butterflies whilst Shanly Homes’ partnership with the Woodland Trust will ensure that 20 trees are planted for every house they build, forging new habitats for the much-loved British wildlife to thrive throughout the UK. “We are very excited to launch this new assortment of properties in Southborough. A small scheme, we are certain that Wickham Rise is set to become home to a fantastic new community. With a variety of different house types and layouts there is sure to be a home to suit many needs, from growing families to those looking for somewhere smaller. This combined with the peaceful backdrop of the Kent Weald and vast array of flora and fauna Wickham Rise is certainly worth a look,” said Greg Kaye, Head of Sales at Shanly Homes. Finished to a high-specification, all of the homes with a sustainable design at Wickham Rise offer the best of modern living. Open plan Shaker style kitchen/dining rooms provide a stylish space for entertaining with a range of integrated Zanussi and Siemens appliances and stone worktops means that whipping up a tasty meal is never a hassle. When it comes to hosting BBQs or garden parties, glazed doors effortlessly merge the inside with the out and lead directly onto the turfed private garden. A separate living area provides space for the family to unwind and relax together whilst the upstairs accommodation is exceedingly well thought out. Bedroom one benefits from fitted wardrobes and an en-suite bathroom, while further bedrooms are all well-sized and provide the ideal area to create a home office for those who are now working from home. Every property features private parking and access to an electric car charging point, whilst selected homes come complete with a garage. For keen cyclists, an assembled shed to the rear garden acts as a secure storage space. The town of Southborough has plenty to offer its residents. Just a five-minute walk from home is the thriving London Road, home to Southborough Library, Tesco Express, pharmacy, butchers and hair salons. Southborough Common is a six-minute cycle away and features a cricket ground, duck pond and woodland which is home to woodpeckers, chiffchaffs and a variety of butterflies – perfect for spending time with nature or keeping little ones occupied. For adults, the Hand and Sceptre pub opposite the common provides a welcome watering hole following a long woodland walk.

Bellway is welcoming house-hunters to its new 50-home development in North Bersted. The developer has opened a sales office at Rookery Park, next to Jubilee Recreation Ground off New Barn Lane. Bellway is delivering 35 houses for private sale and 15 affordable properties for local people through rent or shared ownership on the 4.8-acre development site in North Bersted. “Rookery Park has generated a great deal of interest among homebuyers ever since we first announced our plans to build there and we have been inundated with enquiries. More than 300 people have registered their interest in the development and we have already sold a number of homes,” said Kim Caldwell, Sales Director for Bellway Wessex. “The first properties went on the market in September and were being sold remotely from the sales office at our Cathedral Park development in nearby Chichester. Having a sales presence at the development will allow us to welcome visitors to the site so they can see what Rookery Park has to offer. There will be a variety of two, three and four-bedroom houses to cater for buyers at different stages of the property ladder, from first-time buyers to large families.” The homes being built at Rookery Park are part of Bellway’s Artisan Collection, a flagship range of house types that have been designed with decades of input from Bellway customers to create contemporary, high-specification homes. “In the coming weeks, we are going to open a three-bedroom Carver showhome from the Artisan Collection, which will be immaculately dressed by our interior designer experts to give visitors the opportunity to experience what a completed home at the development could look like. As this is a relatively small development there is a limited number of homes available so our advice for prospective homebuyers is to get in contact with us as soon as they can,” added Kim. There is currently a selection of three and four-bedroom homes available with prices starting at £354,995.