Landlords are already stepping up to meet the ambitions of the government’s consultation on the new Decent Homes 2 standard, with investment in improvement works up 26% in the last year, according to new data from market-leading procurement specialists Procure Plus. Key features of the proposed Decent Homes 2 standard include: Even though the Decent Homes 2 standard remains under consultation, landlords are already taking proactive steps to futureproof their housing stock, focusing on quality, safety, and long-term condition to improve the lives of tenants. In 2024/25 alone, Procure Plus supported landlords in delivering: By using Procure Plus’ procurement frameworks, these upgrades were achieved at costs significantly below market base rates, enabling landlords to reinvest savings into additional works. For example, market prices in 2024/25 saw kitchens cost £6,700 per unit on average, while Procure Plus secured a base price of £4,026 for its clients. Similarly, bathrooms averaged £4,010 per unit on the market, compared to a Procure Plus base price of £2,794. Landlords are also intensifying their focus on damp and mould programmes, with 6,603 ventilation measures installed and 32,470 properties assessed through condition surveys, helping to better prioritise maintenance and target future improvements more effectively. Procure Plus also revealed that 92% of its Decent Homes work was delivered by Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), demonstrating its ongoing commitment to supporting local businesses and generating local economic and social value. Matt Jarratt, Operations Lead of Procure Plus, said: “Decent Homes 2 sets out a clear vision, and landlords have already started delivering on it. We’re seeing a strong commitment from the sector to make homes warmer, safer and healthier. “This increase in activity shows how cost-effective, transparent procurement frameworks empower landlords to go further, tackling disrepair, damp, and new regulatory standards while also supporting local businesses and generating lasting social value. “Despite ongoing pressures affecting the supply chain this year, from increased shipping costs to uncertainty around American tariffs, Procure Plus remains confident in providing competitively priced solutions, and we’ll continue working closely with suppliers to ensure stability and value for our clients and the sector.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

The Guinness Partnership, one of England’s largest housing associations, held an event to celebrate the topping out of the final phase of their Leaside Lock development in Bromley-by-Bow, London. The event was attended by The Guinness Partnership’s Kevin Williams, Group Director of Development and Commercial Services who was joined by Chris Wallace, Construction Director and Ian Russell, Project Director, both from the appointed contractors Lovell Partnerships, and other members and partners of Guinness’s development team.  Leaside Lock is a development consisting of 965 homes in total, which have been completed over three phases, with this third and final phase consisting of 321 homes, 135 of which will be affordable rent. The homes will be a mix of one, two and three bedroom apartments along with six, three bedroom town houses. The homes at Leaside Lock have been designed with sustainability in mind, with photovoltaic panels providing affordable and sustainable energy for communal areas, which alongside the combined heat and power system, enables increased energy efficiency and reduced monthly outgoings.  The development offers amenities for residents which include an on-site gym, a convenience store, café, concierge, residential roof terraces, games room, communal workspaces and bike storage. There will also be 40,000 sq ft of commercial space and a new urban square and park. The homes are being delivered with the support of funding from the Mayor of London, under a GLA Strategic Partnership agreement.     Kevin Williams, Group Director of Development & Commercial Services at The Guinness Partnership said: “The topping out of the final phase at Leaside Lock is a significant milestone in bringing more new high-quality affordable homes to East London. We would like to thank the contractors Lovell Partnerships, Greater London Authority, the council, and other partners who have helped to deliver these homes for the capital.”  Lorraine Casey, Regional Managing Director – London at Lovell Partnerships said: “Lovell is absolutely delighted to share in the achievement of this significant milestone with Guinness. The fantastic progress made by the site team to reach ‘topping out’ has only been possible through genuine collaboration and partnership. We are immensely proud of our efforts in working with Guinness to deliver the high-quality affordable homes that the community deserves, and of the training and employment opportunities that we are also providing to genuinely change lives.”  Phase 1 began in April 2019 and residents began moving into Phase 1 homes in February 2022. Phase 2 started March 2021 and completed in May 2024. Residents began moving into Phase 2 homes in June 2024. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Cordale Housing Association, a subsidiary of Caledonia Housing Association, has officially completed a significant housing development at Dalquhurn Lane in Renton, delivering 25 high-quality new homes for the local community. A handover ceremony to mark the completion of the £5.4 million development was held on site, with new tenants Angela McKenzie and Lynda Mitchell alongside Jackie Baillie MSP, and representatives from West Dunbartonshire Council. Construction began in October 2024, with AS Homes delivering the development, which includes 15 two-bedroom homes, eight three-bedroom homes, and two four-bedroom homes. Supported by over £2.6 million in Scottish Government grant funding, these properties provide much-needed, energy-efficient and sustainable homes for families in the area. Julie Cosgrove, Chief Executive of Caledonia Housing Association, added: “We are pleased to support Cordale Housing Association in bringing new affordable homes to the Renton community.  This is a development we committed to making happen a number of years ago and are delighted to welcome tenants to their new homes today.  As ever, partnership working has helped deliver this and it’s important to express our gratitude and celebrate our achievements together with West Dunbartonshire Council and the Scottish Government. We have not yet completed the regeneration of this site, and I look forward to working with West Dunbartonshire Council and Scottish Government to develop the next phase.” Angela McKenzie, who is moving into one of the new homes, said: “I am thrilled to be moving into my new home. It will make a big difference to me and my family. The standard of the home is excellent, and I want to thank everyone at Caledonia and Cordale. I’m pleased to be able to downsize from my existing home which allows a family to move in to make new memories.” Lynda Mitchell, who has just received the keys to her new family home, said: “It is good for me and my kids to move to a larger family home within the same area. I am really pleased with the quality of the housing development and cannot wait to move in and start afresh.” Màiri McAllan, Cabinet Secretary for Housing, said: “The completion of the Dalquhurn Lane development in Renton marks a significant milestone for Cordale Housing Association and West Dunbartonshire Council. This project has delivered 25 high-quality, energy-efficient social rented homes, supported by £2.6 million from the Scottish Government’s Affordable Housing Supply Programme. Everyone deserves a safe and warm home, and these properties will serve the local community for generations.” “We have a strong track record in affordable housing.  We have supported the delivery of more than 139,000 affordable homes since 2007, with more than 99,000 of those being for social rent. We remain focused on delivering 110,000 affordable homes across Scotland by 2032. At least 70% of these will be for social rent and 10% in our rural and island communities, backed by £768 million of investment in 2025-26.” Jackie Baillie MSP said: “I am absolutely delighted that these much-needed new homes are now available for local people. There is massive demand for high-quality affordable homes in our communities and a huge waiting list for properties. These fantastic new homes, delivered by Caledonia Housing Association, will go some way to helping provide this vital housing supply.” Convener of Housing and Communities, Councillor Gurpreet Singh Johal, West Dunbartonshire Council, said: “I am delighted that tenants have begun to settle in their new homes in Renton. “Sustainable, affordable homes are much needed and with the Council’s ambitious house building programme alongside developments through partner housing associations like Caledonia, we are delivering for our residents.” Paul Kelly, Managing Director of AS Homes Scotland, said: “This development is a strong example of how government, local councils, housing associations and builders can work together to deliver sustainable, energy-efficient homes that meet the needs of families for generations to come. We’ve had the pleasure of partnering with Caledonia Housing Association on several projects across Scotland, creating high-quality homes and helping to build stronger communities. We wish all the families moving into this development the very best as they settle into their new homes.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

The Guinness Partnership, one of England’s largest housing associations, held an event to celebrate topping out at their Northolt Road development in Harrow, North London - a development which will provide 191 new affordable homes.  The event was attended by The Guinness Partnership’s Group Chief Executive Catriona Simons, who was joined by Tom Copley, Deputy Mayor of London for Housing, and the London Borough of Harrow’s Mayor, Cllr Anjana Patel.  They were also joined by London Assembly Member for Brent and Harrow, Krupesh Hirani; Roxeth ward Councillor Jerry Miles; the Borough’s Chief Planning Officer Viv Evans along with members of his team; Managing Director Ben Searle from the appointed contractors, Howarth Contractors Ltd; Guinness’s Group Director of Development & Commercial Services Kevin Williams and other members and partners of Guinness’s development team.  The development consists of 123 shared ownership and 68 London Affordable Rent homes – a mix of one, two and three bedroom apartments, close to the underground station and just one mile south of central Harrow, with its amenities, shops and overground station.  The homes are being delivered with the support of funding from the Mayor of London, under a GLA Strategic Partnership agreement.      Catriona Simons, Group Chief Executive at The Guinness Partnership said: “The topping out at Northolt Road is an important step towards delivery of our 191 new, high-quality affordable homes in Harrow that will make a real difference to people’s lives. We are grateful for the significant investment by the Mayor of London, and for the continued support from Harrow Council, and Howarth Contractors Ltd, who we are working with to build these new affordable homes in northwest London – and of course our teams on site who are making it happen.”    Tom Copley, Deputy Mayor of London for Housing, said: “City Hall has invested more than £15m in this all-affordable new development and I am delighted to see The Guinness Partnership move closer to delivering the high-quality homes that Londoners urgently need at prices they can genuinely afford. The Mayor and I will continue working with boroughs and housing providers across London to support good growth like this as we build a fairer, better London for everyone.”  Councillor Marilyn Ashton, Deputy Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Planning & Regeneration said: “The council is focused on providing high-quality new homes to meet the needs of our residents, as well as the growing demand for housing in Harrow.  The topping out ceremony represents a key milestone in the delivery of 191 much needed, new and high-quality homes for South Harrow.  Our regeneration plans for Harrow are ambitious and we welcome the contribution The Guinness Partnership and Howarth are making to those plans.”  Ben Searle, Managing Director at Howarth Contractors said: “We are thrilled to be working with The Guinness Partnership on this all-affordable development and reaching this significant milestone in the construction. It’s a proud moment to mark the topping out at Northolt Road, Harrow and continue this journey of providing 191 much needed homes for the residents in the London Borough of Harrow. We are now looking forward to handing over the first homes for occupation in Spring 2026.”  Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Work has started on a new housing development that will provide more affordable homes in Gloucester. Gloucestershire-based housing association Bromford has begun work at its site in West Lodge Drive in the city, where it will be providing 35 new homes. The site is the former home of Holly House NHS care home but has laid empty since the buildings were demolished in 2013. The housing association was granted permission for the development last year and its in-house construction team started work on the new homes this month. The new homes will be a mixture of two-, three- and four-bedroom homes, all of which will be for social rent, the most affordable form of social housing rent. Bromford has been the country’s biggest builder of social rent homes over the past five years. Project Manager Louisa Fryer said: “It’s fantastic to see work getting underway on our latest development in Gloucestershire. These 35 affordable homes will make a real difference for local families and individuals who are looking for quality, secure housing in Gloucester who may have been priced out of the private rental market. We’re proud to be providing these much-needed affordable rental homes and look forward to welcoming customers into their new homes when they’re completed next year.” This month Bromford announced it had secured a site in Gloucester city centre where it will be building 113 affordable homes, while earlier in the year the housing association purchased an 11-acre site on the outskirts of Gloucester to build 95 homes. Bromford is the largest housing association in Gloucestershire with more than 10,000 homes. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Representatives from government bodies, local councils and development partners gathered in the parish of Martlesham on 16 May to celebrate the opening of 47 new homes for local people in East Suffolk, providing much-needed affordable housing for the area. Hastoe Housing Association has worked in partnership with East Suffolk Council, Martlesham Parish Council and Homes England to deliver the new homes, which constitute Hastoe’s largest land-led development to date. All homes have been built to Hastoe’s New Build Standard, which substantially exceeds Building Regulation Standard. The homes include Future Homes Standard construction elements to reduce carbon emissions, and feature air source heat pumps, double glazing, LED lighting, increased insulation levels and electric vehicle charging points for every home. The development site also includes lots of open space and a small play area for residents. There is a newly created path and a 28-space car park to improve access to the nearby parish play park. Martlesham Parish Councillor Jane Hall said: “Martlesham Parish Council fully supports a vision for a well-integrated Martlesham community, containing a variety of well-designed housing types which meet the needs of residents of all ages and build on Martlesham’s strength as a welcoming, safe and peaceful place to live, with a strong sense of community. Developments such as this help to achieve this vision. We are delighted to welcome our new Hastoe residents and wish them every happiness as they move into their stunning new homes.” East Suffolk District Councillor Mark Packard said: “This is exactly the kind of affordable housing we need in Suffolk; excellent design and a high-quality finish. Once the residents have settled in, it will be important for them to build a community; I’m sure the Parish Council will help them to do this.” James Hick, Affordable Housing Delivery Manager at Homes England, said: “As the government’s housing and regeneration agency, increasing the supply of quality affordable homes remains one of our key objectives and we are committed to supporting stakeholders of all sizes to achieve their ambitions. It is great to see that funding from the Affordable Homes Programme has enabled this development and provided much-needed new homes in Martlesham.” Lindy Morgan, Hastoe Board Chair, said: “As our largest land-led development to date, Martlesham is a very special development for Hastoe. All 47 homes are energy efficient, built to an extremely high-quality finish and benefit from beautiful design which suits the local area. Hastoe’s commitment to this project is now to care for the homes and provide excellent services to our residents, long into the future.” Jenny Riddell-Carpenter, MP for Suffolk Coastal, was also able to visit the site and meet with residents later the same week. She said: “This development is a great example of the kind of truly affordable homes to rent and buy that we urgently need more of. It’s helping local people stay rooted in their community, and I was delighted to see the real difference it’s already making.” Works began on site in October 2023 and completions have taken place over a phased period. Development partners were architects Ingleton Wood, Rose Builders Ltd and employer’s agent Potter Raper. Hastoe invested £9,634,717 in the development, together with a £3,534,000 Homes England grant. In total, the development cost £13,168,717. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Bromford Flagship has received the highest possible governance and viability ratings from the Regulator of Social Housing, following the formal completion of the merger between Bromford Housing Group and Flagship Housing Group earlier this year.   In its interim regulatory judgement published on 14 May 2025, the regulator confirmed a G1 rating for governance and a V1 rating for financial viability. These top-tier ratings reflect the regulator’s assessment that Bromford Flagship has robust governance arrangements in place, complies fully with the Governance and Financial Viability Standard, and possesses the financial strength to manage a wide range of adverse scenarios.   The regulator’s judgement follows an in-depth review of documentation provided since the merger, which completed on 28 February and takes into account the strong regulatory track records of both legacy organisations – Bromford previously held a G1/V1 rating, while Flagship had achieved G1/V2.   Heather Richardson, Chief Risk Officer, said: “This rating reflects the robust foundations we’ve built as a newly merged organisation. It recognises the strength of our governance and financial planning, which are vital to enabling our teams, customers and communities to thrive.”  The G1/V1 outcome signals confidence in Bromford Flagship’s ability to maintain compliance and deliver on an ambitious long-term strategy. Additionally, the merger has created a financially robust organisation with the capacity to invest £4bn in new homes during this Parliament.   This positions Bromford Flagship to deliver 2,000 new homes every year for the next 30 years, with an ambition that 50% will be at social rent – making the organisation the largest builder of new social homes. This aligns with national housing ambitions and supporting the organisation’s commitment to tackling the housing crisis at scale.  Receiving top regulatory ratings reaffirms Bromford Flagship’s capacity to balance financial resilience with social impact, ensuring that its growth is underpinned by strong governance and a clear focus on long-term value for residents. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Great progress is being made at Yorkshire Housing’s latest affordable housing development in Beverley, thanks to a partnership with Strata and Summers-Inman. The first homes at the much sought after Anthem development have been made watertight, marking a significant milestone for the project. With demand for affordable housing higher than ever, the development, which is situated off Minster Way, will see a total of 136 homes built across a mixture of tenures, including social rent, shared ownership and rent-to-buy. It’s hoped the first homes will be ready to move into this summer. Part-funded by Homes England, the development is part of Strata’s Anthem project, with Summers-Inman providing cost consultancy and employer’s agent support.  Summers-Inman has a strong track record with Yorkshire Housing, having worked on a number of previous developments. The company is also involved in several other much needed affordable housing projects across the North of England, supporting developments of all sizes.  Commenting on progress at the Beverley site, Summers-Inman director and specialist housing lead, David Blakey, said: “We were delighted to win this latest project which will make a substantial contribution to easing the affordable housing shortage in the East Riding of Yorkshire, and at the same time creating communities with a real sense of belonging. “We have been able to develop a highly effective working relationship with Yorkshire Housing over many years on schemes throughout the region. Clients appreciate the innovation and expertise we can bring to projects which we have gained on a variety of housing projects working in the capacity of employer’s agent, quantity surveyor, project manager and principal designer, all of which are all familiar territory for us. We hope we will be able to provide our expertise on many more Yorkshire Housing schemes in the future.”  Yorkshire Housing has ambitious plans to build homes in the coming years. So far, almost 3,500 have already been completed, with another 1,200 in the pipeline. Their focus is on providing high-quality, affordable and sustainable developments to make sure more people have a place they’re proud to call home. Sian Webster, executive director of growth and assets at Yorkshire Housing, said: “We’re excited to see our Beverley development come to life and to be working with Strata with support from Summers-Inman to deliver much-needed affordable homes in the area. Demand for high-quality, energy-efficient housing is high, and this project is a great example of what strong partnerships can achieve. “At Yorkshire Housing, we’re committed to building homes that are both affordable and sustainable. We’re looking forward to welcoming the first residents in summer and continuing to work with our partners to tackle the housing crisis in Yorkshire.” Rob Larkin, pre-construction director at Strata, added: “It’s great to be working on another contract with Yorkshire Housing, a valued partner of Strata, to deliver much needed affordable housing to the Beverley area. We believe modern, energy efficient homes should be accessible to anyone, regardless of tenure and this partnership is another important step towards this for the region.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Three leading North East contractors have joined forces with Sunderland-based housing association Gentoo in a landmark £170 million deal to modernise thousands of homes across the city. Esh Construction, Re:Gen Group North East, and PHS Home Solutions (trading as 0800 Repair) have partnered with Gentoo to launch Gentogether—a long-term strategic alliance focused on improving customers’ homes and creating meaningful social value in the region. The internal modernisation contracts, valued at £170 million over the next decade, will see significant upgrades to properties, including electrical rewires and the replacement of kitchens and bathrooms. In the first three years alone, around £36.5 million will be invested to refurbish approximately 3,000 homes. At the heart of the Gentogether initiative is a community-first approach that prioritises customer experience and collaboration. By removing competition between contractors and fostering shared goals, the model is designed to enhance service delivery and long-term impact. The partnership is also projected to generate over £32 million in social value during its lifespan, supporting job creation, apprenticeships, and training opportunities for local people. Gentoo has appointed 4i Solutions as contract consultant to ensure best value is achieved throughout the programme. Peter Akers, Gentoo’s Asset Director, said:“To improve our service to customers, we’re launching Gentogether—a unique approach to partnerships that allows us to collaborate openly and transparently with trusted contractors. This isn’t just about bricks and mortar—it’s about investing in people, skills, and our communities. Our customers will benefit from upgraded homes, and the wider region will see real economic and social gains. I’m genuinely excited about what this partnership will deliver.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

North East Mayor Kim McGuinness has praised a regional housing association for its ongoing programme of home energy upgrades, highlighting the role this work plays in tackling poverty, cutting household bills, and building a greener future.  Mayor McGuinness said: “I am committed to making the North East the home of real opportunity. To do that we must support the thousands of families across our region who are struggling with fuel poverty and make sure everyone has a warm home they’re proud of.   “That’s why it’s great to see organisations like believe housing building sustainable homes and making thousands of energy upgrades to houses in the North East, helping their customers keep more money in their pockets.   “As Mayor, I will scale up our retrofitting industry with more jobs, reinforcing our region as a leader in green energy. That will mean skilled green jobs for local people, upgrading homes across our communities.”   The Mayor made the comments during a visit to believe housing, a not-for-profit landlord which manages more than 18,000 homes across the North East.  During her visit, leaders outlined believe housing’s ongoing work to improve existing homes — which includes ensuring every property meets at least an EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) rating of C which makes them warmer, greener and more affordable to heat for residents.   And they spoke about its delivery of about 200 high-quality, energy-efficient new homes a year, where they are most needed.   This work is central to believe housing’s commitment to providing healthy, affordable homes and goes hand in hand with a wide range of support services for customers and communities, including employability programmes, welfare benefits advice, and community grant funding.  Mayor McGuinness also heard how long-term investment in social housing is helping to create green jobs and boost local economic growth.   She met representatives from RE:GEN Group, believe housing’s delivery partner for energy improvement works, who said that visible, ongoing investment gives them the confidence to grow their skilled workforce — enabling them to continue delivering upgrades and support the region’s transition to a greener economy.  As part of her visit, the Mayor met believe housing customer Val Singleton at her home in Crook, which recently benefited from improvement and decarbonisation works, including a new roof with solar panels and enhanced loft insulation.  Val’s home is one of 3,477 believe housing homes to receive energy efficiency upgrades, part-funded by the government.  “It was lovely to meet Val, whose home is one of many that have already been fitted with energy efficiency upgrades, including solar panels and insulation, not only making her home warmer, but reducing her heating bills too,” said the Mayor.  “We are already making it easier for people in County Durham to get the advice they need to reduce their bills.   “I am working closely with the industry to increase the supply of sustainable social housing, and retrofit more homes across the North East to help more people, like Val, save on their energy bills.”   Alan Smith, Chief Executive of believe housing, said: “We welcome the opportunity to show the Mayor some of our work and to talk about how it supports her missions for the region — creating a stronger, fairer economy, generating job opportunities, tackling poverty, and advancing green energy.  “We also discussed the wider challenges facing the social housing sector and how we can work together with the North East Combined Authority, through the North East Housing Partnership, to do even more to make our region a better place to live and work.”  The North East Housing Partnership is a group of social housing providers and local authorities, working together to support the North East Mayoral Combined Authority to deliver a comprehensive housing plan for the region that drives inclusive economic growth through the delivery of new homes, supports net zero and skills, and helps residents live healthier lives.   Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals