Clarion publishes annual ESG report outlining ambitious new targets and record £139m in social value

Clarion Housing Group, the UK’s largest provider of affordable housing, has published a report setting out its performance against a range of environmental, social and governance (ESG) measures.

Published today [6 September], the Making a Difference report highlights the Group’s commitment to creating sustainable homes and places, maintaining strong governance and supporting residents through its charitable foundation, Clarion Futures.

The report has been structured around Clarion’s new sustainability strategy which sets out aspirations for the Group to create net zero carbon homes, to enable the recovery of nature, and to do everything it can to eliminate fuel poverty, all whilst generating more than £3bn in social value by 2050.

In the latest round of funding for the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF), Clarion received £48.9m which will be supplemented by £60m of its own investment in retrofitting homes. Hundreds of Clarion homes have already been upgraded, with the latest investment enabling around 5,300 more to be upgraded in the coming years.

As a result of work so far, more than 70% of Clarion’s existing homes are now EPC C or above and the Group has committed to ensuring that all new homes it delivers will be fossil fuel free by 2025.

In addition, Clarion has developed a set of climate scenarios to test business resilience against the latest climate science and align its disclosures against the recommendations of the Taskforce on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD).

Looking at other strategic priorities, during 2022/23, Clarion Housing Group:

• Generated a record £139m in social value*, bringing the total since 2016 to £814m;
• Built 2,032 new homes with 78% for affordable tenures;
• Supported 2,114 people into work;
• Helped more than 4,300 residents with bespoke money guidance and energy advice;
• Invested £397m in existing homes;
• Awarded £598,984 in grants to organisations supporting Clarion residents and communities.

Demonstrating its commitment to its social purpose, in November 2022 Clarion launched a £500,000 Cost of Living Emergency Fund to support residents struggling with rising energy bills and finding it harder than ever to make ends meet.

This new fund helped support 28 new warm spaces visited by more than 5,500 people struggling to heat their homes. It also funded community food pantries, cooking on a budget classes and free heated blankets, draught excluders and duvets for residents in need.

Clare Miller, Chief Executive of Clarion Housing Group, said:

“At Clarion, we are committed to delivering significant environmental and social impact throughout everything we do. That’s why we’re turning up the dial to ensure that every action we take and every home we build or manage is fit for the future, building a truly sustainable legacy for generations to come.

“There’s no doubt that there will be lots of challenges that we need to overcome to achieve our long-term aspirations, but we’ve also got some great successes to celebrate and we’re committed to achieving our targets to demonstrate how we’re making a difference for our residents and for society.”