£103bn in social value at stake if UK delivers 1.5 million homes by 2029

Delivering 1.5 million homes by the end of the decade could generate £103 billion in combined social impact, according to a landmark report launched in Parliament this week – the first in the UK to quantify the broader societal value of housing.

Titled The Impact of a Home, the study introduces a new national framework to measure how housing affects wellbeing, economic resilience and public service demand.

The findings bolster not only the economic rationale but also the moral imperative for accelerating housebuilding targets, say sector leaders.

Developed by built environment consultancy Meeting Place and economists at Loop (part of the Pagabo Group), the report is backed by major industry players including housebuilder Vistry Group and housing association SNG (Sovereign Network Group).

QUALITY HOMES

It offers a place-based methodology that evaluates how good quality homes contribute to a range of outcomes – from education and employment to health and social cohesion – with figures tailored to individual geographies and demographics.

In practical terms, the data suggests the delivery of a secure, permanent home for someone moved out of homelessness in London would result in a £25,693 uplift in social impact.

In a city currently spending around £4 million per day on temporary accommodation, the implications are significant.

Elsewhere, the model estimates a £9,543 boost for an older couple moving to retirement housing in Kent; £2,107 for a family transitioning out of overcrowded accommodation in Manchester; and £1,520 in wellbeing benefits for a child gaining access to a private garden in London.

UNDERSTOOD BUT SELDOMLY MEASURED

Nikki Davies, Chief Executive of Meeting Place, says the report was designed to quantify something widely understood but seldom measured.

“For many of us, a home provides warmth, security, and stability. But until now, there has been no clear metric to articulate the real-world impact of having a good quality place to live,” she says.

“Our research highlights just how vital housing is to individual and societal wellbeing. As we face one of the most severe housing shortages in decades, this new framework allows government, industry and communities to make the case for development not just in economic terms, but in human ones.”

POLICYMAKER TOOL

The framework is being positioned as a tool for policymakers, planners, and housing providers to better advocate for new development – particularly in the face of community opposition and growing political scepticism around housebuilding.

Stephen Teagle, Chief Executive for Partnerships and Regeneration at Vistry Group, adds: “This report powerfully reinforces what many of us know instinctively – that a safe, secure home transforms lives. If we work together to use these insights to their fullest, we can build the future that so many urgently need.”

Joe Marshall, Regional Managing Director (South) at SNG, adds: “The findings align with our Homes and Place standard, which is grounded in the belief that a good home is the foundation for a better life.

“This report provides the evidence to back that up — and shows what’s possible if we invest in quality housing at scale.”