Places for People’s submission for the Comprehensive Spending Review

2025 is a pivotal year for housing. We’ve welcomed the new Government’s endeavour to transform housing and Communities and the crucial next step is a bold long-term plan which drives the tangible change desperately needed. 

Our recent Comprehensive Spending Review submission made several recommendations to Government which affect our Customers and Communities:

Invest in housing

Greater investment in new and existing social housing is essential. Decades of underfunding has left us with a chronic shortfall of affordable homes, with almost 1.3 million people in the queue for a social home alone.

Housebuilding does more than just put roofs over heads – it creates jobs, boosts the economy, and drives better health outcomes. Greener homes are cheaper to run, too, meaning reduced strain on the welfare system. Investment in new and existing homes – alongside greater financial certainty – must be a central consideration for Government policy going forward given its cross-departmental impact.

Create mixed Communities

We also need a holistic approach to creating Communities where everyone can thrive, with as much focus on the needs of young people and families as older generations or those most vulnerable. The @National Housing Federation is right to call to strengthen the supported and older persons’ housing offer but we also need an integrated and equitable approach to housing, health and social care. Government can do more to help providers like PfP create mixed, inclusive and intergenerational Communities and its recent commitment to new towns is a very welcome step. We know what it takes to plan and build successful new towns and stand ready to partner Government in delivering quality homes in diverse Communities.

Integrate housing, health and wellbeing 

We firmly support an integrated approach to housing and health – in our young and old – to reduce economic inactivity and alleviate NHS strain. Government must do more to embed this in the planning and building of new homes, enabling the creation of Communities centred on health, wellbeing and physical activity. At PFP, we are doing just this with projects such as Gilston in East Herts, a new Community with health, wellbeing and social benefits at its heart. We can help Government realise its housebuilding vision and create integrated Communities for everybody.

Invest in skills

A worsening skills shortage will stop this endeavour in its tracks. We need greater flexibility and innovation around apprentices and welcome the positive steps announced this week. Focusing on Modern Methods of Construction and green skills, for example, can ensure that new housing is sustainable, efficient and able to meet national net zero targets – all whilst providing jobs and futureproofing the workforce. To do this, we need a strong foundation of partnerships with existing skills and training providers – just as our dedicated training academy, PfP Thrive, is driving forward nationally and for our sector.

With over 160,000 children living in temporary accommodation and one in every 200 households battling homelessness, now is the time for ambitious and comprehensive action to tackle the problems that plague our housing landscape and far beyond.

We are ready to work in partnership with Government to deliver the proactive and transformative change needed to fight these problems together. We eagerly await the Comprehensive Spending Review later this year.