How we're supporting the social housing sector in an exciting time of change

When Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed a £39 billion pot for social housing in England in her first Spending Review this month, it was the biggest commitment for social and affordable housing in decades. Between 2026 and 2036, an average of £3.9 billion will be allocated each year, which represents a huge 70% increase on the current £2.3bn annual figure in the Affordable Homes Programme. 

At wienerberger UK, we welcome this added investment and recognise the importance of social housing. We wrote about the opportunity in April 2025, when Housing Secretary Angela Rayner announced an initial £2 billion investment in affordable and social housing as part of the Spring Statement. And after supporting the social housing sector for many years, last year we set up a dedicated team, working with those across the industry to set a standard that focuses on improving the quality of the built environment and the lives of social housing tenants.

Much of the debate now comes down to how (and where) to spend the additional allocation. Even with increased funding, the social housing sector is not without its challenges, as we have written about recently. Sustainability, housing quality and the need for collaboration are all key points that need to be addressed if we are to reverse years of neglect and deliver social and affordable housing stock that is fit for purpose, at the scale required. 

Together, they provide a specialist and experienced resource for housing providers and associations, working in partnership to help achieve their vision. With social and affordable housing now firmly on the agenda and spending on the increase, they are working on some exciting propositions that will support the delivery of the Government’s ambitious plans. And the team is set to grow, as we look for a new Social Housing BDM.

John Harris, Head of Sales - Social Housing, speaking on the team’s mission, said: “We’ve been supporting social housing for years but with this investment in a dedicated team, we can apply all of our experience and expertise to offer a valuable consultancy service. As a result, we’re well placed to support the delivery of sustainable social housing, in both new build and retrofit markets."

He continued: “For new developments and re-roof schemes, we’ve built a portfolio of proven solutions for social housing, including the RoofSpec+ design liability guarantee from Sandtoft and OneSpec, our all-in-one, free specification guide, which is designed to streamline the process of specifying products, services and support."

“In retrofits, we have a wealth of experience working with architects, consultants and housing providers to specify building materials that support sustainable progress in social housing."

Expanding on this commitment, Harris introduced a new initiative aimed at tackling one of the sector's biggest challenges: "To address the national retrofit challenge we have launched Renatus “born again” in Latin. A people first approach where our expert inhouse team of architects and designers can support social housing providers to achieve the necessary EPC certification. From survey and assessment through to design and specification, all backed up by the wienerberger warranty, Renatus tackles the retrofit challenge head on, creating healthier and more efficient homes for some of the most vulnerable people in society”.

“We’ve even teamed up Liverpool John Moores University’s School of Civil Engineering and Built Environment to create ‘living labs’, allowing the energy performance of typical housing stock to be continuously measured as different retrofit components are installed, such as heating, solar panels, insulation and roof tiles."

John concluded: “These solutions, together with our experience and expertise across the dedicated team, represent a compelling offer that social housing providers can rely on.”