Housing 2025: Positivity, people and pragmatism

For three days, housing professionals, policymakers, developers, community leaders and solutions providers came together to share ideas, debate challenges and map out the future of housing at what is a pivotal moment for the sector. 

There was a tangible sense of energy in the air – all centring on ambition, honesty and a shared determination to move beyond the headlines and make real progress. Against the backdrop of long-awaited government investment – the biggest injection for the sector in several decades – and new regulations on the horizon, the event marked a convergence of optimism and realism for fresh momentum. 

So, what are the takeaway messages?

Confidence is contagious 

After a long period of uncertainty, the sector is finally feeling a surge of optimism. The government’s recent investments announced as part of the Spending Review isn’t just about capital – it’s a powerful signal of intent. 

For years, organisations have struggled with short-term funding cycles and shifting priorities, which made long-term planning difficult. Now, with sustained investment laid out for at least the next decade, organisations have more confidence to plan ahead and make the investments in innovation and people needed to make things happen. 

Across the event, the same message kept coming up: confidence fuels momentum. When those operating in the housing space believe they can deliver, it stands to unlock new partnerships, fresh ideas and faster progress. This renewed certainty feels like a turning point, moving housing from a reactive stance into a proactive one. 

Green goals are becoming real-world wins

The industry has moved firmly from ambition to action – and it’s not just about new builds. Retrofit is no longer an afterthought or niche activity, but has a very specific role to perform in the housing sector of the future. 

The recommitment of the Warm Homes Plan in the Spending Review is a great example of this. Wave 2 projects under the Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund are well underway, while those under Wave 3 have been awarded and progress towards delivery. 

Such initiatives aren’t just about reducing carbon emissions; they’re improving people’s quality of life by making homes warmer, healthier and cheaper to run. At the same time, industry standards will continue to raise the bar for retrofit quality and safety, ensuring that the work done now will stand the test of time. 

1.5 million homes: A bold target or a stretch too far?

There’s no shortage of ambition in the government’s pledge to deliver 1.5 million new homes by the end of this parliament – but a question that keeps surfacing is whether it’s achievable? 

The renewed positivity means the sector isn’t shying away from the challenge, but instead is approaching it with a healthy realism in the air. With the event coming hot on the heels of the government’s long-awaited 10-year infrastructure strategy, there was also clear recognition that it’s not just about homes in silo. The target is bold and ambition matters, but without delivering the physical and social infrastructure to match, there’s a risk delivery will stall – or create a different set of problems. 

It all needs to come together, and delivery at that scale needs so many different things working together in harmony – including funding, planning reform, skilled labour and local political will. The tone remains positivity, but pragmatic at the same time.  

Housing must work for the people who live in it

Housing isn’t just about bricks and mortar -it’s about people, communities and social mobility. Whether it’s making homes more efficient, building new homes at scale or improving tenant services, every policy and project ultimately impacts real lives. 

It’s those people that must stay front of mind for any organisation operating in the housing sector, working to improve their lives and open up opportunities. Forthcoming legislation like Awaab’s Law demonstrate the strive for better homes for all, removing risks particularly for the more vulnerable people in society. 

Housing should be a foundation for wellbeing and opportunity, but that will only become a reality if people remain at the centre of every decision. 

Getting the message right

Underpinning all of this is the need to cut through noise and communicate with clarity and intent in a way that suits your specific audience. For example, net zero, social value and regeneration are all part of the story but come with their own – often technical - languages. The sector speaks these languages fluently, but to bring everyone including the wider public on the journey, then these more technical topics need translating into meaningful, human stories. 

Good communication isn’t just about profile – it’s about trust, transparency and progress. It’s about speaking to the right people, in the right way, through the right channels, at the right time. 

As specialists with deep roots in the built environment, at Cartwright we’re helping organisations every day to shape their messaging, tell their stories – and most importantly connect with the audiences that matter most. 

See how we’ve helped brands in construction – and get in touch to find out how we can do the same for you.