Platform increase standing in Biggest Builders Survey

Platform Housing Group, one of the biggest social housing providers in the Midlands, has seen itself climb into the top 10 of a key industry rankings table.

The annual Inside Housing Builders Survey tracks performance of registered providers across the country, taking into account the numbers of social homes delivered as well as how many were started and what the organisation’s pipeline is forecast to be in the coming years.

Platform completed 1028 homes last year, surpassing 50,000 homes in total under its management and putting it 10th overall in the country, up from 11th last year.  It also began work on a record 1645 homes last year and for that, it ranks third across the industry, up from fourth in 2023/2024.

The success has been attributed to decisions to maintain its programme during recent years, despite the economic and regulatory environments that saw other providers pull back on their development plans.  The organisation also boasts a strong financial position, citing a robust structure that means funding is constantly available to purchase land and complete contracts.

The group’s solid backing has also seen it climb the table that ranks providers for their pipeline forecasts for the coming years.  It is on track to deliver 3189 homes in the next two years with 2894 of those sites already secured.  The five year prediction will see Platform deliver 8000 affordable homes in the Midlands.

Elizabeth Froude, Group Chief Executive at Platform Housing Group said: “We’re naturally delighted with the results, especially as they show an improvement on our own achievements in last year’s standings.  The increase again in the number of starts is in itself a great achievement for the team, reaching a record number which is then repeated in the pipeline figures.  The number of completions we managed in a tough environment of developer insolvencies and planning delays is also testament to a driven team that has found ways to deliver.  However, we are wary that the results reflect those larger providers who scaled back on their development to focus resources elsewhere.  At Platform, we felt we had to make sure there was consistency and we asked our Board to share that vision financially and continue funding our development programme.  It’s left us in a strong position going forward and now that the government has answered our calls for funding and certainty, we can work with the partners in our geography on affordable housing need at a greater pace.”

This year will see Platform deliver the first of its 319 homes at the Boots Enterprise Site in Nottingham.  The development is its biggest to date and will include more than 80 homes using Octopus Energy’s Zero Bills tariff.

Gerraint Oakley, Chief Growth and Development Officer at Platform Housing Group said: “We’re really pleased.  It’s proof that working with partners over a long period of time who understand our ethos around delivering good quality homes can pay off.  We’ve got that step up in completions that are now tracking close to our starts on site and that doesn’t happen overnight.  Our ambition is to deliver 1600 homes a year and with a robust financial backing, we want to do more to play our part in solving the housing crisis.”

The majority of all sites started in the last year will be gas free homes whilst it has already delivered homes built in advance of the Future Homes Standard in Lincolnshire.

The group has also seen expansion in areas like the Cotswolds and Coventry whilst in Herefordshire, it recently took handover of an 80 apartment retirement village.