Clarion Housing Group publishes new Social Impact Report

The report is an aggregate of the social impact delivered across the Group and follows the themes of the Sustainability Reporting Standard for Social Housing.

Following its first ESG Report published last year, Clarion has published a new report setting out its performance across a range of measures and demonstrating the social impact it has delivered during 2020-21.

Key highlights

• Generating savings of more than £550m for our residents (£11m per week) by charging subsidised and affordable rents.
• Halving the number of properties that are below EPC D since 2018 and committing to going beyond this in line with the Clarion 2040 standard: a long-term plan to ensure Clarion homes continue to be good quality, affordable and fit for the next generation.
• Supporting 2,558 people into work and placing 215 people into apprenticeships through Clarion Futures, Clarion’s charitable foundation.

In addition, Clarion has raised a total of £950m to date through three successful bond issues to fund the development of new affordable energy efficient homes. Three sustainability-linked loans worth a total of £300m have also been secured in the last three years, where the margin is linked to achieving certain social Key Performance Indicators.

The report is structured around the themes of the Sustainability Reporting Standard for Social Housing (SRS) which was launched in November 2020 by the ESG Social Housing Working Group, comprising Clarion and other housing associations as well as banks and investors.

The SRS looks at 48 criteria across Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) measures such as zero carbon targets, affordability, and safety standards.

Making a positive difference

The Social Impact report also fulfils the requirements of Clarion’s Sustainable Housing Finance Framework and the Certified Sustainable Housing Label to which the Group is accredited. It comes ahead of Clarion’s new sustainability strategy which is set to be published in the coming months and outlines goals for the whole Group that cover the key aspects of its approach to achieving a healthy environment, a resilient society and good governance. 

Clare Miller, group chief executive of Clarion Housing Group, said:

 “As the country’s largest housing association, I am proud to be able to report on the social impact we make in our communities. From helping people into work through to improving the energy efficiency of our homes – our contribution extends far beyond our core role as a social landlord."

“I am pleased to be able to demonstrate our progress in the last 12 months, in which despite the shadow of the pandemic, we have continued to make a positive difference to the lives of tens of thousands of people.”