Hyde Group has been awarded the title Housing Association of the Year 2021 at The Whathouse? Awards, as Judges applaud the social housing landlord’s forward-thinking approach to some of the biggest issues facing the housing association sector over the coming years and its leadership position in the vanguard of sustainable development.   

While most big developing housing associations are cutting back development plans in the teeth of multiple and severe sectoral financial strains, Hyde is forecasting an increase on its 650 completions last year of around 15% and aiming to build 13,000 homes over the next 10 years.  It’s achieving this through positive large-scale collaborations, including joint venture arrangements with Barratt, Countryside and Brighton & Hove Council, and by teaming up with other developing housing associations to share costs, risks, and rewards. It is also developing innovative sources of finance, including a £500m ground-breaking deal with M&G to create 2,000 shared ownership homes. 

Hyde is in the vanguard on sustainable development too, as one of the founding partners of the Greener Futures Partnership with four other HAs, designed not only to benefit its own homes and residents but to share learning sector-wide around financing, technological solutions and decarbonisation options. It is already pushing ahead with digital improvements to its development process, including BIM and smart technology, and reducing costs through construction management and a solid contractor framework. 

The Judges said: “Hyde Group is a deserving winner of the title Housing Association of the Year. The social landlord is ensuring it delivers on social value, with innovative and influential research around the societal value created by its social housing tenancies; efforts to reduce homelessness through properties listed on its own specialist website, which other HAs are now contributing to; and a new housing management strategy.”    

The WhatHouse? Awards – dubbed the Oscars of the housebuilding industry – showcases and celebrates the brightest stars in the housing sector, honouring those who build Britain’s best homes.   Now in their 41st year, the glittering ceremony took place at London’s JW Marriott Grosvenor House Hotel, where the winners of the 21 categories were announced. 

Housing Association of the Year Award 

Gold – Hyde Group 

Silver – Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing 

Bronze – Abri