Housing Plus Group welcomes Budget boost for social and affordable homes
Housing Plus Group has welcomed measures in this week’s Budget that will support the delivery of more social and affordable homes and provide some help with household costs
The Government has announced an additional £1.5 billion for the Social and Affordable Homes Programme, a move welcomed by the housing sector.
National Housing Federation said the additional investment would enable housing associations and councils to “go further and build faster” in delivering homes for families in need.
For Housing Plus Group, the announcement supports an ambition already at the heart of its plans for communities across Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin and Staffordshire.
Wayne Gethings, Group Chief Executive of Housing Plus Group, said:
“We welcome the Chancellor’s announcement of additional funding for social and affordable homes. For families waiting for a safe, secure home they can afford, this really matters.
“Across Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin and Staffordshire, we’re already building more homes for social and affordable rent. We plan to deliver around 3,500 new homes over five years, helping more people put down roots in the communities they want to call home.
“But building new homes is only half the story. We also have to keep investing in the homes people live in today, from kitchens, bathrooms and energy-efficiency improvements to repairs and the essential work that keeps homes safe.”
Housing Plus Group currently provides more than 33,000 homes across Shropshire, Staffordshire and Telford & Wrekin. Its development strategy for 2026 to 2031 aims to deliver around 3,500 new homes, including homes for social and affordable rent, rent-to-buy and shared ownership.
Investment in new housing sits alongside significant spending on existing homes. In 2025/26, Housing Plus Group invested £39.6 million in existing homes and £109 million in building new homes.
The Budget also included measures aimed at reducing pressure on household finances.
From January 2027, a £100 Household Energy Payment will be made to households in Council Tax bands A to D in England. The Government has also announced changes around gas standing charges.
These measures are particularly relevant for housing providers because affordability is about more than the rent people pay. Housing Plus Group is continuing to invest in energy-efficiency improvements designed to help make existing homes warmer and more affordable to run.
Wayne Gethings added:
“An affordable home also needs to be affordable to live in. We know household bills remain a real concern for many people, so measures that help customers with energy costs are welcome.
“For us, that goes hand in hand with the work we’re doing to improve the energy efficiency of our existing homes and the support our teams provide to customers who are struggling with their finances.”
Housing Plus Group also provides care and support services, and Wayne Gethings said that housing cannot be considered in isolation from the wider challenges facing health and social care.
The Group’s existing services include providing care to help people stay independent.
Wayne said: “There is plenty in this Budget that we welcome, particularly the focus on increasing the supply of social and affordable homes.
“But there are still significant challenges, not least around the long-term future of adult social care. Good housing, health, care and independence are closely connected. We need a long-term approach that recognises that.
“We create places people are proud to call home. The additional investment announced in this Budget is welcome, and we stand ready to play our part in turning that investment into the homes and communities people need.”
