Fourth social landlord joins Future Homes Hub to develop sustainable housing
A Midlands housing association has joined the Future Homes Hub, a non-profit organisation bringing together house builders, the social housing sector and government to develop sustainable homes.
Platform Housing Group becomes the fourth social landlord to join the organisation, following large housing associations L&Q, Places for People and Clarion.
Trade body the National Housing Federation is also working with the Future Homes Hub, as well as more than 40 large house builders, suppliers and Homes England, the government’s housing and regeneration agency.
The hub was established in September 2020 to develop a long-term delivery plan for sustainable homes and construction methods in line with the government’s net zero and environmental targets.
The organisation’s work includes developing technical solutions for regulatory changes, collaborating on skills and supply chain barriers, developing industry-led proposals for policy challenges and creating the basis for measuring sustainability performance.
Platform said the hub addresses the challenges of climate change, resource efficiency, biodiversity and customer well-being, which are central to the housing association’s sustainability metrics. The 50,000-home landlord is aiming to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
The partnership will also strengthen Platform’s ability to measure and monitor whole-life carbon in its developments, it added.
The landlord will collaborate through the Future Homes Hub on initiatives such as Homes for Nature, which aims to embed biodiversity and nature recovery into housing developments.
Elizabeth Froude, chief executive of Platform and member of the Future Homes Hub’s board, said: “We know that the homes and communities we build and manage today will shape future generations. That’s why it’s essential we collaborate, share knowledge and lead with purpose.
“The Future Homes Hub provides a vital forum to accelerate innovation and action across the housing sector and I’m proud to have been part of its journey since day one. At Platform, we are deeply committed to reducing emissions, enhancing biodiversity and delivering homes that are not only affordable but truly sustainable.”
Ed Lockhart, chief executive of the Future Homes Hub, said: “Achieving sustainable growth in new homes is essential to meeting the UK’s housing needs while tackling the climate and environmental challenges of the 21st century and housing associations have a vital role to play.
“Platform’s expertise in developing and managing high-quality, sustainable homes will be a valuable asset to the new homes community as we work together to meet the sector’s climate and environmental goals and create great places for people to live.”
The government is gearing up to publish the Future Homes Standard this autumn, which mandates solar panels and heat pumps on new homes from 2027.
Officials revealed in June that the standard will include solar panels on “the vast majority” of new build homes and claimed this would save homeowners £530 a year on their energy bills, based on the current energy price cap.
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