Housing associations form climate change partnership

Five leading housing associations have joined forces to launch a new partnership, aimed at tackling climate change.

The Greener Futures Partnership (GFP) comprises Abri, Anchor Hanover, Home Group, Hyde Group and the Sanctuary Group.

Over time, the partners intend to work together to procure services, build skills and create jobs, and develop solutions that enable them and the wider sector to build more affordable and sustainable homes, while maintaining existing ones, so they’re safe and secure for residents.

Achieving net zero carbon emissions is one of the biggest challenges, and opportunities, facing the built environment, and housing associations own and manage about 17% of the UK’s housing stock, or about five million homes.

The social housing sector is facing costs of between £13,000 to £25,000 to bring an energy-inefficient home up to an EPC rating of C, not including the investment required to develop new skills and technologies.

‘The GFP was founded on the principle that, by working together to ‘green’ our homes, we can maximise the benefits of sustainable housing for our customers, their communities and society as a whole,’ said Hyde Group chief executive and GFP chair in year one, Peter Denton.

‘Furthermore, we can benefit from the financial, technological and energy efficiency gains that collaboration brings.’

The five housing associations – which have a joint turnover of over £2.3bn – have signed an agreement for an initial 12 months, during which time they will consider future structures and vehicles to support medium to long-term aims around joint procurement and delivery.

However, the initial primary focus will be engagement with key stakeholders, and consultation with customers will be of highest importance.

‘The scale of the carbon zero challenge means that we must do more than just cooperate – we need to truly collaborate, if we are to tackle the issues effectively and at scale,’ added Mr Denton.

‘The Greener Futures Partnership signals the beginning of our commitment to join forces and resources as a sector to support the UK’s shift towards a zero-carbon future, to help the environment and improve the lives of millions of people.’

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