Glazing industry remains positive despite dilemma over future of social housing

The Labour government has pledged to build 1.5 million homes during its first term, a promise that harks back to the early 1970s when the UK last achieved a comparable scale of housebuilding. In 1970, 300,000 new homes were constructed. A cornerstone of Labour’s plan is social housing, but many housing providers face significant financial barriers to developing the large number of plots they’ve already secured with planning permission.

In addition to funding challenges, councils and social housing providers are grappling with increasing pressure to improve their existing housing stock. As part of the government’s drive to boost energy efficiency, attention is turning to retrofitting aging properties with better insulation and more efficient heating systems. Fire safety is another critical issue, particularly in social housing blocks over 11 metres tall, where concerns about cladding and fire prevention have been mounting.

The National Housing Federation estimates it could cost around £6 billion to address fire safety problems in housing association properties, while the Local Government Association suggests councils may face an even larger bill of nearly £8 billion. The government’s focus on upgrading social housing standards is widely seen as essential. The tragic death of a two-year-old boy in Rochdale, caused by prolonged exposure to damp and mould, has brought the substandard conditions in some social housing into sharp relief. However, funding remains a critical obstacle. On average, each social home may require up to £50,000 over the next 30 years to ensure it meets safety and energy efficiency standards, placing housing associations and councils in a difficult position.

The fenestration sector has a significant stake in these housing developments. Manufacturers and installation firms cater directly to the new build and repair, maintenance, and improvement (RMI) segments of the housing market. The government’s plans to build new social housing and improve existing homes are welcomed by the sector, though there are concerns over whether available funds will be diverted towards improving safety and energy efficiency, rather than building new homes.

For fenestration businesses, however, the outlook remains positive. Their products are integral to both new builds and energy efficiency upgrades. One window fabricator, speaking to Windows Active, commented: “As a business, around 70% of our output is in the trade division, while the remaining 30% is focused on supplying windows and doors for social housing developers and maintenance projects. Over the years, we’ve learned not to rely too heavily on the social housing sector due to fluctuating volumes. But now, I’m more confident in this area as the government’s policies to increase social housing stock and improve existing homes will likely boost demand for our products. It’s a bit of a selfish view, but as a country, we need more social housing, and we urgently need to improve the safety and energy efficiency of the homes people are already living in.”

Despite optimism in the fenestration sector, the broader challenge remains: balancing the need for new housing with the urgent improvements required for the existing social housing stock.