“The housing crisis calls for urgent solutions, and only through collaboration and innovation can we create effective strategies to develop more high-quality, affordable housing.”
This was the key message at this years’ Housing Forum – National Conference. The annual conference – celebrating its 25th anniversary this year – brings together senior and influential housing figures from all sections of the housing and construction industry.
Focusing on ‘Delivering homes for the future’, the conference seeks to address directly the enduring lack of new homes and tackling safety and sustainability in our many underperforming existing homes and their environment. The Housing Forum play a unique cross sector role in making the case for housing to the new government.
Anna Kiho, Head of Residential, and Olivia Jackson, Head of Regeneration, were there on the day and have together a round-up of key topics and themes to look out for in 2025:
“There’s finally recognition in Government that housing must be a national priority.”
Anna’s #Residential recap:
- The day saw the usual discourse around the housing crisis and the familiar challenges and barriers our industry faces. However, a key shift this year was the sense that genuine progress could be on the horizon. There’s finally recognition in Government that housing must be a national priority. The attitude of “It is what it is” is no longer acceptable. Both the government and the broader system have a huge role to play in solving this crisis, and it looks like the message has finally hit home (pardon the pun). With the Budget just around the corner, it will be interesting to see if this recognition translates into meaningful action—watch this space.
- All of us in the industry, and also as individuals, need to lead the charge in fundamentally changing the way we talk and think about homes. Natalie Tate, Strategic Communications Manager at Joseph Rowntree Foundation, presented the “How to Talk About Homes” framing toolkit produced in partnership with FrameWorks UK, Joseph Rowntree Foundation and Nationwide Foundation. The message is clear: we need to shift away from viewing homes merely as wealth-building assets and start seeing them as essential to a decent life. It’s not about ‘units’, ‘properties’, or ‘assets’. It’s about HOMES—places that provide stability, security, and dignity.
“What will be the ‘Ozempic’ of the housing crisis?”
- Investment in delivering more affordable homes will not only alleviate the housing crisis but also stimulate economic growth, allowing funds to be reallocated to other essential services. Some powerful numbers were shared: Cllr Grace Williams (LB Waltham Forest) highlighted just how deeply the crisis is felt in London, where 1 in 50 Londoners are now homeless, including 1 in 21 children. Boroughs are spending a staggering £3 million per day—that’s £90 million per month—on temporary accommodation. Tristan Carlyon, Head of Research & Analysis at the National Housing Federation, shared compelling research from Shelter and the National Housing Federation, showing that building 90,000 social rented homes would inject £51.2 billion into the economy. The evidence is undeniable—what’s needed now is full government commitment to prioritizing the housing crisis. With the Budget looming, we hope to see real movement, and soon, all of us will be busy designing and building beautiful, healthy, and affordable homes.
- In the session, “Making the Case for Housing,” a thought-provoking question was posed: “What will be the ‘Ozempic’ of the housing crisis?” The recent proposal by the Health Secretary that investing in weight-loss drugs could boost the economy by helping people return to work offers a parallel. We need that kind of forward-thinking from the government—direct investment in tackling an acute crisis to create a ripple effect of positive change in the bigger picture. It’s a step in the right direction… kind of..
Olivia’s #Regeneration reprise:
- The Housing Forum’s message was cautiously optimistic in the calm before Wednesday’s budget but had several key messages which the government have hopefully heard: we need a renewed focus on grant funding, estate renewal, and, critically, placemaking. We can’t just throw up homes and tick a box—we need to create places where people want to live, where communities can thrive. . To do this we need a true understanding of the people we are building for and we need to stop talking about the problems and start focussing on the solutions.
- As Anna rightly points out – We need to stop thinking about ‘units’ or ‘properties’ and start talking about homes for all —places where people feel rooted and secure and where all parts of our community can afford to thrive. Only when we start raising up the currently silent voices in temporary accommodation will we be able to achieve long-lasting economic growth and stop spending money propping up an already broken system. Affordable housing –not just housing – is critical.
- What came through loud and clear is that the current financial model isn’t working. If we’re going to solve this crisis, we need to think differently. Partnerships will be critical to moving forward, and we’ll need to be more flexible in how we structure these. It’s about bringing more capital into the equation and finding creative solutionsto deliver on the ambitious targets which central government has set. There were some enlightening insights from Catherine Raynsford – Director of investment and Partnerships at The Hyde Group – sharing how the Hyde Group are beginning to develop productive relationships with private investors. Fundamentally however change on the scale that we need to see will be hugely dependant on the government guaranteeing stable, index-linked affordable rents A fundamental hope from the whole panel is that the new government have listened to this plea and that this will be reflected in Wednesday’s budget.
This year’s Housing Forum national conference highlighted both the ongoing challenges and the promising shifts in addressing the housing crisis.
There was a sense of optimism in the air—progress is finally being acknowledged at the governmental level, with housing taking its rightful place as a national priority.
From the shocking statistics on homelessness and the crippling costs of temporary accommodation to the pressing need for affordable homes and strategic planning, the message was clear: we must act now. The demand for innovative solutions, such as rethinking financial models and fostering public-private partnerships, was echoed throughout the day.
Coupled with a call to reframe how we think about homes—not as assets but as essential to people’s wellbeing—the conference underscored the urgent need for collaboration, investment, and decisive action. With the upcoming Budget, we hope these discussions will soon translate into real, tangible progress, setting the stage for a future where we are not only building more homes, but creating communities where people can truly thrive.
