Autumn Budget 2025 - Our representation to the Treasury

The Autumn Budget is a key milestone in the Government’s political calendar, setting out priorities for public spending and investment.

Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, is due to present her statement on November 26, at a time when the Labour Party is facing mounting pressure from both Reform and a Green Party growing in popularity with left-leaning voters.

As one of the UK’s leading affordable housing providers, Stonewater takes the opportunity to submit representations to the Treasury ahead of annual Budgets to ensure the voices of our customers and communities are heard.

Our submission for the Autumn Budget 2025 builds on the Government’s Plan for Change and its commitment to deliver 1.5 million new homes, including the ‘biggest increase in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation’.

We welcome this ambition and believe that affordable housing providers like Stonewater are vital partners in making it a reality.

Our recommendations focus on unlocking delivery, supporting innovation, and ensuring long-term sustainability for the sector.

We urge the Government to consider the following key measures:

Progress the long-term rent settlement:

• Publish full details of the next rent settlement and explore a ‘Decent Homes Rent’ model to support investment in existing stock and new development.

Fix the rural housing crisis:

• Ringfence funding within the Social and Affordable Homes Programme (SAHP) for rural housing, recognising higher construction costs and the unique challenges of rural development.

Boost housing delivery through reform and innovation:

• Introduce a zonal planning system to speed up delivery.
• Strengthen the Future Homes Standard and Building Regulations.
• Simplify monetary contributions across developments.
• Support SME developers and contractors.
• Expand apprenticeships and workforce development

 Commit to long-term funding for decarbonisation:

• Extend the Warm Homes Plan for at least 10 years.
• Clarify Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards and reform EPCs.
• Provide flexibility in funding across tenures.
• Improve administration of retrofit programmes via Homes England-led models.

Boost workforce skills with a Green Skills strategy:

• Support retraining and apprenticeships to meet Net Zero goals.
• Invest in local employment programmes to deliver retrofit.

Invest in technology to support customers:

• Fund digital transformation and smart tech to improve services and support vulnerable residents.
• Establish a ‘tech fund’ to enable assistive technologies across housing stock.
• Expand Disabled Facilities Grants and promote integrated housing-health-social care partnerships.

Jonathan Layzell, Chief Executive of Stonewater, commented: “This Autumn Budget comes at an exciting time for the social housing sector, following the funding and support announced in the Spending Review earlier this year.

“The Government have started giving the sector the tools and the investment needed to make a real difference.

“We are ready to deliver and our recommendations in this representation will help unlock that potential.

“With the right support from Government, we can build more homes, improve existing ones, and create thriving communities across the country.”