Glass Express Midlands predicts sustained social housing supply growth through 2026

As new figures highlight growing investment in social housing from local authorities and housing associations, Glass Express Midlands is preparing for increased activity in this sector in 2026. Recent data from BCIS shows that Q1 2025 delivered 200 local authority housing starts and 6,480 starts from housing associations, reflecting a 7.1% rise compared with the same period in 2024. This underscores a continued focus on delivering social and affordable housing across the UK, creating opportunities for suppliers throughout the sector.

Fraser Caithness, Sales Director at Glass Express Midlands, says that the impact of this is already being felt at the Oldbury-based manufacturer. “The growth in the sector has been matched by our success in winning several contracts for local authorities throughout 2025,” Fraser said. “It’s an area where we’ve seen strong activity, and we’ve been able to deliver reliably for our customers, which gives us momentum as we head into 2026.”

Glass Express Midlands’ ability to service the social housing sector is underpinned by its high-volume IGU production capabilities and expanding delivery schedule, enabling reliable distribution to customers across the UK.

Glass Express is also a member of Guardian Select; this exclusive accolade gives its team access to technical expertise and support for complex projects from Guardian Glass – offering unrivalled support to specifiers and installers, alongside its industry-leading quality.

With the wider domestic market expected to remain unpredictable, Glass Express is also anticipating sustained demand for higher-spec units within premium residential projects. Larger expanses of glazing, improved thermal performance, and acoustic glass are expected to continue to be popular with homeowners in 2026.

“As the number of social housing contracts grows, our priority is to support these projects with consistent supply, technical guidance, and premium quality glass – the same values that underpin our service offering for every single one of our customers,” Fraser concludes.