“Build More Homes More Quickly” Urges Kent Housing Group
“Build more homes more quickly” is the rallying call at the Kent Housing Group Conference 2025; housing sector in Kent and Medway urged to rise to the challenge which has seen the supply of new homes fall short of targets by 24% in past five years.
The Government has committed to building 1.5m homes and is digging deep to provide more money – so now is the time for the housing sector in the region to “stop moaning about a lack of resources, embrace the opportunities and rid us of the collective shame as a nation of failing to build enough decent affordable homes for our people to live in.”
The case for ”good plan-led growth” was made to more than 200 of the region’s senior housing professionals when they attended the Kent Housing Group (KHG) Conference 2025 at the Clive Emson Conference Centre in Maidstone on Thursday 19 June.
KHG Chair Brian Horton said the failure to build enough homes means that the lack of available quality homes to buy or rent has pushed more vulnerable households into either living in substandard accommodation or into homelessness.
“In June 2025 across Kent and Medway there were 3,339 children living in temporary accommodation like bed and breakfasts, with significant negative impacts on their development, wellbeing, education and health as a result,” he said.
“The turnout at this event shows that we have a coalition of the willing in the county. The power to make a difference to the lives of our people is in your hands – we must all rise to the many challenges, seize the opportunities and get building again in Kent and Medway.
“By putting the right homes in the right place, we can help revitalise our local communities and enable our residents to be able to afford to rent or buy the home of their choice, without having to compromise their safety, security or their health.”
This must-attend event for those involved in the housing industry in the region brought the sector together to launch the refreshed Kent and Medway Housing Strategy for 2025-30 – for details see Kent and Medway Housing Strategy 2025-2030, Better Homes: Growth, Wellbeing and Choice
In a series of lively, sometimes passionately worded debates, delegates discussed the challenges, solutions and opportunities involved in accelerating housing delivery, improving housing conditions and creating sustainable communities.
BBC TV News Home Editor Mark Easton chaired the event, and was an enthusiastic cheerleader for better homes to be provided – “you all have the ability to shape the future of housing in Kent and Medway in a positive way. Get it right and the benefits can be huge,” he urged.
Attendees included a mix of professionals from organisations involved in the delivery of public and private sector housing, KHG members, developers, housing associations, planners, architects, contractors, policy-makers, and special interest groups, all coming together to drive progress.
The conference programme reflected the themes of the new Kent and Medway Housing Strategy for 2025-30 under the headings Accelerating Housing Delivery; Infrastructure First; Affordability; Working Together for Safer Homes; and Health and Wellbeing. For details of the programme visit https://indd.adobe.com/view/98b90bca-22d1-45ba-aa7d-25ec0a80a1b2
As the KHG launches its refreshed strategy for 2025-2030, the conference played a key role in convening and tasking a coalition of the willing to deliver this exciting plan-led growth agenda.
Sponsor’s view
KHG delivered the annual event in association with law firm Birketts, who also delivered an eagerly-anticipated workshop on the Renters’ Right Bill which is due to come into law this autumn, with Birketts calling it “the most fundamental change in the private rented sector in 35 years”.
Steven Kay, Joint Head of Residential Development at Birketts, said: “The future of housing is an important issue for the county, given Birkett’s strength and depth in real estate as well as a number of other areas of law, including infrastructure and all aspects of property development, we bring expertise to the conference and be part of the conversation about the region’s housing future.”
Other sponsors were Case Management Solutions Group, Cenergist, ControlFlow, DHA Planning, Lee Evans Partnership, London Fire Solutions, mhs homes, Potter Raper, Quinn Estates, South East Consortium, Team Safety Services, and Wave Community Bank.
Kent Housing Group
The Kent Housing Group is the ‘collective voice’ of the housing sector in Kent and Medway. It has representation from all 12 Kent local authorities, Medway Council, 13 housing associations, Kent County Council and Kent Public Health. KHG also has representation from organisations who work in partnership with social housing landlords, including the Kent Housing and Development Group, Homes England, the National Housing Federation, the National Landlords Residents Association and the South East Housing and Development Group. Visit www.kenthousinggroup.org.uk
