News9 December 2022

Clarion publishes 2021/22 Social Impact Report and announces latest SHDF funding bid

Clarion Housing Group, the UK’s largest housing association, has published its 2021/22 Social Impact Report setting out its performance against a range of environmental, social and governance (ESG) measures for the year.

The new report, which was unveiled on Thursday 8 December during a private breakfast event, highlights the Group’s commitment to creating sustainable homes and places, maintaining strong governance and making a difference to its residents.

This year’s 46-page Social Impact Report shows how Clarion continues to meet the Sustainability Reporting Standard (SRS) for social housing. The SRS metric, established in 2020, uses 48 qualitative and quantitative criteria across 12 themes to support and increase private sector investment in social housing.

During 2021/22, Clarion Housing Group:

  • Generated more than £131m in social value;
  • Built a record 2,276 new homes, 86% of which for affordable tenures;
  • Supported 3,717 people into work;
  • Helped nearly 4,000 residents with bespoke money guidance and energy advice;
  • Invested over £364m in existing homes;
  • Awarded £611,031 to organisations supporting Clarion residents and communities.

Clare Miller, chief executive of Clarion Housing Group, said:

“Being a social landlord is about much more than bricks and mortar, and we are immensely proud of how we have invested in people’s lives and the homes and communities in which they live during 2021/22.

“Our core mission has never been more important with rising living costs and a lack of social housing leading to too many people with no place to call home. Our third social impact report demonstrates our continued commitment to making a difference and being a force for good – for people and planet alike.”

Meanwhile, Clarion’s development arm Latimer has this week been named the most sustainable not-for-profit housebuilder in the UK.

The annual ‘Next Generation’ report, an industry-leading sustainability benchmark, named Latimer third among the top 25 housebuilders – and ranked it as the highest housing association developer in recognition of the social, economic and environmental performance of its recent projects.

Clarion has also this week announced it has submitted a bid for the next wave of the government’s Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund. If successful, the bid will enable the 125,000-home landlord to upgrade some 5,300 of its least energy efficient homes across the country.

This bid follows the Group’s success in testing the government’s landmark decarbonisation project last year, as well its subsequent funding award of £5.2m to retrofit hundreds of its homes as part of the programme’s first wave.

Clarion has committed to reporting on ESG every year.

Read highlights from the Social Impact Report and download a copy.