Find out the latest news from housing associations Abri and Gentoo…

Abri on track for 10,000 homes target

Housing provider Abri is over half way to their target of building 10,000 homes by 2030.

The south of England housing association made the commitment in April 2020 to its ten-year development programme.

It’s one of the largest housing providers in the south with 50,000 homes and assets and 114,000 residents living in them.

Abri built 5,196 homes between 2020-25 with at least a further 4,972 homes expected to be completed in the next five years.

3,895 homes are already under contract in Abri’s current development pipeline which will take them over their 10,000 homes target by 2030.

Since April 2020, Abri has spent more than £1.1billion on its development programme and a total investment of £2.5 billion will be made over the ten-year period to reach 10,000 homes.

“Abri is committed to supporting more people to access a good quality, warm and sustainable home which we know provides a critical foundation for health, wellbeing and prosperity”, said Jo Makinson, Chief Investment Officer at Abri.

“In a challenging market, we are proud to have delivered 5,196 homes, helping thousands more individuals and families achieve a safe place to call their own.

“Thank you to all our colleagues and partners for their dedication and collaboration in reaching this important milestone. Together, we’re not just building houses, we’re creating supportive and sustainable communities where people can thrive.”

Of the 5,196 homes built, 4,490 of these were affordable homes with 2,459 for affordable and social rent and 2,031 homes available through shared ownership.

Over the five years, Abri sold 1,598 homes and completed 811 staircasing transactions to help customers increase the equity in their home. Abri’s in-house construction team has built 266 homes.

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Gentoo spending over £40m to improve homes by end of 2026

Gentoo have announced a £44 million investment programme to improve more than 4,000 homes in Sunderland.

The home improvements will be carried out throughout 2025/26 and include external decoration, roof replacements, new gas boilers and heating system installations, new kitchens and bathrooms, energy efficiency improvements and electrical rewires.

Housing association Gentoo provides more than 60,000 people in Sunderland with homes.

The investment plan focuses heavily on improving the energy efficiency of its properties to achieve EPC C, including fitting loft and cavity wall insulation, low energy lighting, solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, air source heat pumps, heating controls and work to improve ventilation and draught proofing.

Energy efficiency work will be part funded through the Warm Homes Social Housing Fund

The announcement follows the launch of the housing association’s Gentogether partnership, which over the next ten years will deliver £170 million of internal modernisation works to improve thousands of homes, in partnership with PHS Home Solutions, RE:GEN North East and Esh Construction.