Our Annual Review sets out what we did and the difference our work made in 2025/26.
We are a lean efficient organisation employing just three members of staff with very modest overheads. Nearly every penny of our income is spent on activities and work that helps us achieve our vision of putting place-shaping at the heart of decision making.
In the last year, 97 percent of our members actively engaged with us through our webinars, events, meetings and networks. We met senior politicians, including the Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, hosted a series of member visits across the country, and continued to showcase and champion the work of our members.
We inspired, challenged, supported, encouraged and enabled our members to deliver place-shaping work that will benefit residents and communities now and into the future.
We are proud to be the custodians of the place-shaping work of our members and the impact we have as a small organisation.
Learning programme
Campaigning and advocacy
Resources
Networks
Events
Over three quarters of our members attended a webinar and nearly a third came on a member study visit throughout our year of learning.
What we did:
- Ran a series of member study visits to showcase good practice across our three themes of physical, economic and social place-shaping.
- Hosted a series of webinars on the physical, economic and social place-shaping work happening across the sector, including on sustainable and accessible homes, partnerships with health, improving green space, child poverty and supporting residents into work.
- Shared insights from members on their place-shaping work through blogs, videos and conference sessions.
- Followed three PlaceShaping in Action case studies to provide more detailed lessons and real-time insights from long-term place-shaping projects across the country.
The difference it made:
- Provided members with inspiration and insight to help them in their own place-shaping role.
- Supported members to confidently plan and invest in their place-shaping work, knowing it is built on best practice and lessons on what has been effective elsewhere.
- Encouraged members to challenge themselves to go further in their place-shaping role by showing them how others have used their capacity to deliver for their communities.
What our members said:
PlaceShapers plays an invaluable role in helping support leaders, bringing people together to explore possible solutions and build understanding.
"The learning programme delivered clear value for whg and we were delighted to share our Social Justice Strategy and our commitment to tackling inequality, as part of the programme. This year we learnt about community connection, resilience and health through study visits, and member insights have brought practical challenges and opportunities to life.
"Case studies from Leeds Federated, Raven Housing Trust and Worthing Homes, the Building for the Future webinar (with Magna Housing and Habinteg), and a study visit to South Liverpool Homes provided practical insight into accessibility, sustainability, MMC and biodiversity, which sharpened our thinking on place-shaping for long-term impact. The Learning Hub, sustainability library and network meetings have further supported shared learning and application."
Fay Shanahan, Corporate Director, Operations & IT, whg.
A third of our member organisations were represented at the Parliamentary launch of our influential report, Realising the potential of housing associations in places and communities.
What we did:
- Engaged with politicians and stakeholders through member visits and meetings, including the Prime Minister, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, and the Climate Minister.
- Submitted a robust evidence-based case to the Spending Review arguing for a long-term rent settlement, a return to rent convergence, and increased investment in social housing, including flexibility to fund regeneration work.
- Launched a new partnership with Inside Housing – Spotlight on Regeneration – with a series of case studies and comment pieces setting out the current picture on regeneration.
- Launched our new report – Realising the potential of housing associations in places and communities - setting out the changes the government can make to unlock the sector’s full potential.
The difference it made:
- We helped secure a positive outcome for the sector from the 2025 Spending Review, including through demonstrating the importance of investment in regeneration and rent convergence in a visit to Aspire with Darren Jones, who was then the Chief Secretary to the Treasury.
- We built an understanding of the role and impact of the place-shaping work of our members with ministers, including through our relationship with Katie White, the new Climate Minister. In the government’s new strategy - Energising Britain: Your Voice in our Clean Energy Superpower Mission - Katie White said: “In Manchester, I met Debbie and other members of the Southway Housing community, who volunteer to help grow and maintain green spaces around their housing associations, so children can eat fruit on the way to school and biodiversity can begin to thrive outside their door.”
- We helped secure additional flexibility for regeneration in the new Social and Affordable Homes Programme, including through our relationship with Homes England and our Development Network.
- We kick-started a national conversation on the importance of a more strategic approach to regeneration as part of the government’s ambition for a decade of national renewal, including through our partnership with Inside Housing.
What our members said:
The work of PlaceShapers to support members in engaging with government over key sector issues has been invaluable over the last year. A particular highlight for Aspire was a visit by Darren Jones MP, then Chief Secretary to the Treasury, to our Cross Street regeneration programme in Newcastle-under-Lyme.
"This presented the perfect opportunity in advance of the 2025 Spending Review to discuss sector financial capacity, linked to rent convergence and a rent settlement, as well as the challenges of regeneration activity in low value areas and the need for a long-term affordable homes programme commitment."
"I'm confident that opportunities like this, brought together through PlaceShapers and its members, raised awareness about sector asks to support the case for policy decisions subsequently made by the government."
Dan Gray, Executive Director of Place, Aspire.
Thirty five members actively contributed good practice, case studies and insights to the range of resources available for members to access and learn from.
What we did:
- Launched our Learning Hub – a free one-stop shop for members to access resources on physical, social and economic place-shaping.
- Shared new and updated resources in our Communications Library on topical issues such as damp and mould and communicating and engaging with residents.
- Launched our Sustainability Library – bringing together resources including sustainability strategies, insight on government policy, and case studies and stories from our network.
- Supported Greatwell Homes to develop and share a community place-shaping toolkit for housing providers.
The difference it made:
- Provided members with expertise and resources to help them in their own place-shaping role in a way that is cost effective and builds confidence.
- Encouraged members to challenge themselves in the way they carry out and communicate their place-shaping work to ensure it reflects best practice in building relationships with residents and stakeholders.
- Supported members to articulate the impact of their place-shaping work in a way that resonates with politicians, stakeholders and communities.
What our members said
Our partnership with PlaceShapers has been invaluable in supporting us with our place-shaping work, connecting us with likeminded peers in the housing sector that share our passion for shaping strong, sustainable communities and providing us with a plethora of great resources.
"The Healthy Homes toolkit helped us communicate with residents on what they could do to help prevent and treat issues with damp, mould and condensation."
"Having access to a resource which was developed alongside and approved by both the Housing Ombudsman and the Energy Saving Trust, has given us confidence that we’re getting that message right for our customers."
"Our customers have fed back that the resources are clear and concise, and because they’re approved by external bodies, they’re trustworthy."
Alice Gordon, PR Manager, Karbon.
Over three quarters of our members were active in at least one of our member networks throughout the past year.
What we did:
- Convened and ran development, sustainability, chairs, public affairs and communications networks, with topical agendas and expert speakers, including Homes England and the Regulator of Social Housing.
The difference it made:
- Strengthened the credibility and impact our lobbying and influencing by rooting it in the real experience of members and their communities.
- Gave members the opportunity to learn directly from each other on the place-shaping issues that matter to them, for example on how they are finding opportunities for regeneration despite the challenges of the current environment.
- Helped members build their network of supportive place-shaping peers from across the country.
What our members said:
As a member of PlaceShapers, we’ve benefited from the open, practical discussions held across a wide range of events, helping us understand how government policy is affecting communities nationwide.
"As a London-based housing association, we’re committed to making a positive impact locally, particularly as our communities face intense pressures from severe housing shortages and a growing population. The creativity, collaboration, and partnership approaches shared at each event have been genuinely inspiring and have strengthened our own thinking and practice."
"Insightful guest speakers and supportive network chairs have kept us well informed, created space for thoughtful questions, and helped us share timely updates with our Board."
Maureen Adams, Chair, ccha.
Over half of our members were represented at one of our in-person Leaders Events for Chairs and Chief Executives and over 90 percent attended our Annual Conference.
What we did:
- Ran dedicated in-person events for Leaders, focussing on the place-shaping ambitions and challenges of members both now and in the future.
- Held our biggest ever two-day Annual Conference, with over 400 attendees attending 13 sessions over two days. Speakers included residents, politicians and officials, sector stakeholders, sector leaders, and experts across a range of issues.
The difference it made:
- Gave leaders the space to talk about their challenges and ambitions with those who share their commitment to place-shaping, for example on community cohesion and the impact of government policy.
- Provided members with the latest knowledge and advice on relevant place-shaping topics and issues, for example on measuring impact and preparing for the challenges our communities will face in the future.
- Provided actionable place-shaping ideas for members to take back to their own organisations, for example on improving our environment for future generations, building sustainable communities, and regeneration.
- Gave members the opportunity to hear directly from, and ask questions of, stakeholders who can help shape our environment, including the Regulator of Social Housing, Homes England, The Fabian Society, and influential MPs.
What our members said:
“PlaceShapers continues to be an invaluable partner for Gentoo. Over the past year, we’ve benefitted hugely from the breadth and quality of their events, which consistently bring practical insight and genuine sector collaboration.
"I especially valued the recent Leaders event in London which was an inspiring space to explore place-shaping, the profound impact of child poverty, and the ongoing challenges of regeneration. The discussions were thoughtful, the facilitation excellent, and the networking opportunities brilliant."
"Thank you for creating environments that support learning, connection, and shared ambition across the sector. We look forward to continuing the journey together."
Louise Bassett, Chief Executive, Gentoo.
