Our reaction to the Spending Review

Today we've shared our reactions to the government's Spending Review. Here are comments from our Group CEO, Bjorn Howard in response to Rachel Reeves' speech:

“This is a significant day for affordable housing. The increase in funding could be transformational and combined with greater certainty over social rents, it gives our sector more confidence to plan for the long-term. Along with our peers, we’ve called for this level of support to mirror the government’s ambitious 1.5m homes target.

“It’s also encouraging to see this support stretching beyond just extra funding. The long-awaited consultation on rent convergence will provide further reassurance to help housing associations continue to invest in existing homes.

“The next step is to move quickly to put these commitments into action. We’re ready to facilitate progress and partner with the government, developers and investors to create a framework that will channel the support effectively. Together, we can explore a range of delivery methods, such as community land trusts, and direct investment across our communities, including the most rural and deprived areas where demand for affordable housing is often most acute.”