March saw CHIC and The Housing Forum collaborate to host Housing Horizons 2026 in London, bringing together leaders and decision makers within the social housing sector to discuss the most pressing issues facing the sector and how they can be overcome.
Housing Executive is proud to have been a key sponsor of Housing Horizons, a conference focused on exactly that, casting view to the future of the sector and how tomorrow’s obstacles can be solved by positive collaboration today. Delivered in partnership between CHIC and The Housing Forum, the conference provided a platform for housing providers, local authorities, consultants and supply chain partners to exchange knowledge, share experiences and explore solutions to some of the sector’s most pressing challenges.
A key facet of the event was a local focus, covering issues especially relevant to housing and procurement in London and the Southeast. Breaking down large scale issues through a regional lens meant that professionals had the chance to dissect the challenges that really impacted their day to day, addressing problems that would make a real difference.
Specific obstacles, practical solutions
The day began with delegate networking, setting the tone for a highly engaging and collaborative event. The day long conference brought together professionals from a range of areas, all with the same goal of improving standards, delivering more high quality homes and cultivating relationships between those with different areas of expertise was key to the agenda. The opening plenary featured an insightful interview with Fiona MacGregor, Regulator of Social Housing CEO, which set the strategic context by addressing the evolving regulatory landscape and the increasing expectations surrounding building safety, compliance and performance.
Sessions led by CHIC and The Housing Forum ran side by side throughout the day, addressing a number of issues that would determine the health of the sector moving forward. Discussions on the Procurement Act one year on highlighted the opportunities and challenges in delivering compliant, efficient procurement strategies. Sessions on retrofit at scale and strategic asset management focused on aligning investment with long term business planning, particularly in the context of decarbonisation and meeting Net Zero targets.
The Housing Forum Workshops provided a hands-on, collaborative space for peers to share expertise and break down some of the biggest challenges facing the sector today, such as the construction skills shortage, the practicalities of optimising the Warm Homes Plan at scale and the importance of placemaking in building sustainable communities. Each workshop featured attendees sharing in depth knowledge and entering into open dialogue in order to understand better how these wide scale issues could at least in part be broken down and addressed.
Cohesion is king
Collaboration is the key to success, and this was a sentiment that echoed throughout the conference, from panellists, chairs and delegates alike. The sector today faces pressures from a number of angles, and attendees were clear that leaning on one another for expertise and support was critical. Complex challenges and a constantly shifting landscape require a cohesive approach from the industry, exactly why Housing Horizons was focused on building long term partnerships as a key pillar of the conference.
To further this goal, the exhibition and networking opportunities played an important role in the success of the day. Delegates engaged with a wide range of exhibitors and sponsors, whose innovation and expertise showcased the breadth of solutions available to the sector. Cohesion between providers, consultants and the supply chain is invaluable in the mission to increase the delivery of affordable, high quality homes, and having such a diverse range of professionals under one roof all working towards the same goal is key to the sector’s success. The event concluded with a drinks reception, providing a relaxed environment to strengthen connections and continue conversations initiated throughout the day.
The closing plenary delivered by Mark Easton and Amanda Long reflected on the insights shared and looked ahead to the future of the sector, reinforcing a shared commitment to innovation, best practice and delivering better outcomes for residents and communities.
John Fisher, CEO of CHIC said:
“With evolving regulatory requirements, increasing expectations around building safety and compliance, the drive toward Net Zero and continued pressure to deliver high quality, affordable homes, the landscape has never been more complex.
“We extend our thanks to our delegates and exhibitors whose expertise, innovation and collaboration are essential to shaping sustainable solutions for our communities.
“This conference reflects the core purpose of CHIC, in supporting members through compliant procurement and asset management services that enable landlords to invest in residents homes, deliver services efficiently and create lasting social value.”
Alex Notay, CEO of The Housing Forum, said:
“We are delighted to partner with CHIC as valued members of The Housing Forum on this important event. Partnership and effective collaborative working are core priorities for our members and Housing Horizons 2026 offered fantastic opportunities for sharing best practice, exploring innovation and expanding professional networks. Ultimately this will deliver better experiences for social housing residents and for the community of professionals who work across the sector.”
With the social housing sector facing significant pressure and ever increasing expectations, events like Housing Horizons are integral to breaking down the large scale issues that affect all housing professionals, and therefore their communities. In order to secure the best quality services and homes for residents up and down the country, the sector needs to function as a community itself, and Housing Horizons showed exactly why.
Follow the QR code below to view the official video coverage of Housing Horizons 2026:
