A group of London’s leading community‑focused housing associations has confirmed that its members will start construction on over 1,000 new homes across the capital this financial year, with more than five hundred more homes being completed, as London continues to face acute housing pressures. Of the homes being delivered, hundreds will be social homes right across the capital – the homes that London needs the most.
The announcement comes from The L12, a grouping of housing associations operating in 31 of London’s boroughs. Together The L12 members have delivered almost 7,000 homes over the past decade, accounting for around one in five new social rented homes built in the capital during that period.
Despite ongoing economic pressures affecting development across the capital, The L12 said its members remain focused on delivering homes where they are most needed. More than 50 per cent of the homes starting on site this coming year will be for social rent, responding to borough housing waiting lists which now total 336,000 households — the highest figure for over ten years.
The homes and communities The L12’s members are building are community-led, shaped in partnership with Londoners to meet their needs now and in the future. As well as this, The L12 is also actively seeking partnerships with major developers and SMEs to bring forward Section 106 affordable housing, calling for housing associations to be engaged earlier in the design process to ensure schemes deliver better long‑term outcomes for local people.
Alongside new delivery, The L12 members are continuing to invest in retrofit and upgrade programmes, improving the safety and energy performance of existing homes and helping residents reduce energy costs.
Anne Waterhouse, Chair of The L12 and Chief Executive of Wandle Housing Association, said: “We are committed to build more in London, we are building in London, and we’d like to do more with the support of Government”.
Kate Franklin, Vice-Chair of The L12 and Chief Executive of Gateway Housing Association said: “Our members are rooted locally and committed to continuing to build, improve and care for homes even in tough conditions. A safe, affordable home remains the foundation for opportunity, wellbeing and thriving neighbourhoods.”
Beyond bricks and mortar, The L12’s members provide wraparound community support, including wellbeing services, employment and skills initiatives, apprenticeships, and supported housing for people with complex needs, helping older people, disabled residents and those at risk of homelessness to live independently and safely.
The group welcomed recent government measures that have improved financial certainty for housing associations, allowing members to refocus resources on new delivery, regeneration and community investment across London.
However, they are calling for further action to sustain delivery at scale in the capital. This includes higher grant rates for organisations delivering predominantly social rent in London, faster access to safety funding, support for remediation in buildings below 11 metres, and grant funding and VAT reform to unlock regeneration of existing homes.
Together, these measures would strengthen financial resilience, accelerate housing delivery and ensure that all Londoners, regardless of where they live, can access safe, secure and affordable homes.