Last updated: 25 Aug 2026
The hidden benefits of home building for communities in England and Wales
Home building delivers more than new homes. Across England and Wales, developers invest billions of pounds each year in Affordable Housing, schools, healthcare, transport, open spaces and other local infrastructure, supporting jobs, strengthening local economies and helping create thriving, sustainable communities.
This research highlights the scale of that contribution and shows how new housing can bring lasting benefits for both new and existing residents.
The key community benefits of home building in England
Across England, 209,000 homes were delivered in 2024/25, bringing billions of pounds of investment to local communities. Our estimates show this includes:
-
Over 拢9 billion for Affordable Housing
- Home builders work closely with local authorities to ensure the Affordable Housing provision is sufficiently designed to meet local needs.
-
拢6 billion in spending in local shops
- With new residents spending money on goods and services in the local economy, the economic value of an area can increase significantly.
- This also improves the perceived competitiveness of specific locations and reduces the costs of mitigating social and environmental problems associated with poor or insufficient housing.
-
拢1.3 billion for infrastructure, including around 拢600 million for new and improved schools
- New schools need to be built alongside new housing to address the increased demand in areas of housing growth.
- This support may come in the form of building new schools, as well as improving and expanding existing facilities.
- These education contributions would fund around 34,000 new school places.
-
拢188 million in spending for open spaces and leisure facilities
- This would build around 1,000 community games areas or more than 1,600 football pitches.
-
拢46 billion of economic activity, supporting local economies
- The homes built last year generated an additional 拢420 million in council tax.
- 734,000 jobs supported, including around 9,000 apprentices, graduates or trainees
It's also important to note that these figures are in addition to any infrastructure delivered onsite.
The key community benefits of home building in Wales
Across Wales, 5,159 new homes were delivered in 2025/26,
delivering hundreds of millions of pounds of
investment in local communities across Wales
.
This level of development is estimated to have delivered:
-
拢230 million for Affordable Housing
- Around a third of all of Wales鈥� new Affordable Homes are delivered by residential home builders each year.
-
拢146 million in spending in local shops
- With new residents spending money on goods and services in the local economy, the economic value of an area can increase significantly.
- This also improves the perceived competitiveness of specific locations and reduces the costs of mitigating social and environmental problems associated with poor or insufficient housing.
-
拢32 million for infrastructure, including around 拢14 million for new and improved schools
- New schools need to be built alongside new housing to address the increased demand in areas of housing growth.
- This support may come in the form of building new schools, as well as improving and expanding existing facilities.
- These education contributions would fund around 800 new school places.
-
拢5 million in spending for open spaces and leisure facilities
- This would build around 24 community games areas or 40 football pitches.
-
拢1.1 billion of economic activity, supporting local economies
- The homes built last year generated an additional 拢10.4 million in council tax.
-
18,000 jobs supported, including more than 200 apprentices, graduates or trainees
It's also important to note that these figures are in addition to any infrastructure delivered onsite.
Calculate the community benefits of your development
Use our home building impact calculators to estimate the positive contribution your development could deliver to the surrounding community, and the annual benefits of development at a local authority level.
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Join the campaign
Use our Power to Belong campaign toolkit to help demonstrate the positive impact home building has on communities in England and Wales.
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The regional impact of home building in England
Home builders are key contributors to local economic growth across England. In 2024/25, new housing developments supported more than 209,000 new homes, generated 拢46 billion in economic activity, supported 734,000 jobs, invested 拢9 billion in Affordable Housing, and provided over 拢1.3 billion for local infrastructure including schools, parks, transport improvements and community facilities.
These investments demonstrate how housing development delivers benefits far beyond new homes and developments, helping create thriving and sustainable communities across every region of England.
Key investment delivered by home builders by region
*Jobs supported excludes graduate and apprenticeship positions, which are shown separately.
In the East Midlands,鈥�21,600鈥痟omes were built in 2024/25, supporting:
- 拢973 million鈥痜or Affordable Housing
- 拢612鈥痬illion in spending in local shops
- 拢135鈥痬illion for infrastructure, including 拢61鈥痬illion for new and improved schools
- This could fund鈥�3,500鈥痩ocal school places.
- 拢19鈥痬illion in spending for open spaces
- This could build鈥�102鈥痗ommunity games areas and 169鈥痜ootball pitches
- 拢4.8鈥痓illion in local economic activity and鈥�76,000 jobs, including鈥�900鈥痝raduate and apprenticeship positions.
In the鈥疻est鈥疢idlands,鈥�20,700鈥痟omes were built in 2024/25, supporting:
- 拢933 million for Affordable Housing
- 拢587鈥痬illion in spending in local shops
- 拢130鈥痬illion for infrastructure, including鈥�58鈥痬illion for new and improved schools
- This could fund鈥�3,400鈥痩ocal school places.
- 拢19鈥痬illion in spending for open spaces鈥痑nd leisure facilities
- This could build鈥�98鈥痗ommunity games areas and 162鈥痜ootball pitches
- 拢4.6鈥痓illion in local economic activity and鈥�73,000 jobs, including鈥�900鈥痝raduate and apprenticeship positions.
In the鈥疎ast of England,鈥�26,000鈥痟omes were built in 2024/25, supporting:
- 拢1.2 billion for鈥疉ffordable Housing
- 拢737鈥痬illion in spending in local shops
- 拢163鈥痬illion for infrastructure, including鈥�73鈥痬illion for new and improved schools
- This could fund鈥�4,200鈥痩ocal school places.
- 拢23鈥痬illion in spending for open spaces鈥痑nd leisure facilities
- This could build鈥�123鈥痗ommunity games areas and鈥�204鈥痜ootball pitches
- 拢5.8鈥痓illion in local economic activity and鈥�91,000鈥痡obs, including鈥�1,100鈥痝raduate and apprenticeship positions.
In鈥疞ondon,鈥�32,700鈥痟omes were built in 2024/25, supporting:
- 拢1.5鈥痓illion for鈥疉ffordable Housing
- 拢926鈥痬illion in spending in local shops
- 拢204鈥痬illion for infrastructure, including鈥�92鈥痬illion for new and improved schools
- This could fund鈥�5,300鈥痩ocal school places.
- 拢29鈥痬illion in spending for open spaces鈥痑nd leisure facilities
- This could build鈥�155鈥痗ommunity games areas and鈥�256鈥痜ootball pitches
- 拢7.3鈥痓illion in local economic activity and鈥�115,000鈥痡obs, including鈥�1,400鈥痝raduate and apprenticeship positions.
In鈥痶he鈥疭outh East,鈥�34,900鈥痟omes were built in 2024/25, supporting:
- 拢1.6鈥痓illion for鈥疉ffordable Housing
- 拢988鈥痬illion in spending in local shops
- 拢218鈥痬illion for infrastructure, including鈥�98鈥痬illion for new and improved schools
- This could fund鈥�5,700鈥痩ocal school places.
- 拢31鈥痬illion in spending for open spaces鈥痑nd leisure facilities
- This could build鈥�165鈥痗ommunity games areas and 273鈥痜ootball pitches
- 拢7.7鈥痓illion in local economic activity and鈥�123,000鈥痡obs, including鈥�1,500鈥痝raduate and apprenticeship positions.
In鈥痶he鈥疭outh West,鈥�21,100鈥痟omes were built in 2024/25, supporting:
- 拢948 million for鈥疉ffordable Housing
- 拢597鈥痬illion in spending in local shops
- 拢132鈥痬illion for infrastructure, including鈥�59鈥痬illion for new and improved schools
- This could fund鈥�3,400鈥痩ocal school places.
- 拢19鈥痬illion in spending for open spaces鈥痑nd leisure facilities
- This could build鈥�100鈥痗ommunity games areas and鈥�165鈥痜ootball pitches
- 拢4.7鈥痓illion in local economic activity and鈥�74,000鈥痡obs, including鈥�900鈥痝raduate and apprenticeship positions.
In鈥痶he鈥疦orth East,鈥�8,300鈥痟omes were built in 2024/25, supporting:
- 拢375鈥痬illion for鈥疉ffordable Housing
- 拢236鈥痬illion in spending in local shops
- 拢51鈥痬illion for infrastructure, including鈥�24鈥痬illion for new and improved schools
- This could fund鈥�1,400鈥痩ocal school places.
- 拢8鈥痬illion in spending for open spaces鈥痑nd leisure facilities
- This could build鈥�39鈥痗ommunity games areas and 65 football pitches
- 拢1.9鈥痓illion in local economic activity and鈥�29,000鈥痡obs, including鈥�350鈥痝raduate and apprenticeship positions.
In鈥痶he鈥疦orth West,鈥�25,200鈥痟omes were built in 2024/25, supporting:
- 拢1.1 billion for鈥疉ffordable Housing
- 拢714鈥痬illion in spending in local shops
- 拢157鈥痬illion for infrastructure, including鈥�71鈥痬illion for new and improved schools
- This could fund鈥�4,100鈥痩ocal school places.
- 拢23鈥痬illion in spending for open spaces鈥痑nd leisure facilities
- This could build鈥�119鈥痗ommunity games areas and鈥�197鈥痜ootball pitches
- 拢5.6鈥痓illion in local economic activity and鈥�89,000鈥痡obs, including鈥�1,100鈥痝raduate and apprenticeship positions.
In鈥痀orkshire and the Humber,鈥�18,100鈥痟omes were built in 2024/25, supporting:
- 拢814鈥痬illion for鈥疉ffordable Housing
- 拢513鈥痬illion in spending in local shops
- 拢113鈥痬illion for infrastructure, including鈥�51鈥痬illion for new and improved schools
- This could fund鈥�2,900鈥痩ocal school places.
- 拢16鈥痬illion in spending for open spaces鈥痑nd leisure facilities
- This could build鈥�86鈥痗ommunity games areas and鈥�142鈥痜ootball pitches
- 拢4鈥痓illion in local economic activity and鈥�64,000鈥痡obs,鈥痠ncluding 800鈥痝raduate and apprenticeship positions.
Related research and activity
The Social and Economic Impact of Home Building in Wales 2026
17 Jun 2026
An overview of the economic growth and community investment generated by the home building industry in Wales.
The Economic Footprint of Home Building
24 Jul 2026
The study looks at a wide and comprehensive range of economic, social and environmental benefits that day-to-day house building activity generates. It uses sev鈥�
Build the homes Wales needs and unlock hundreds of millions in community investment
17 Jun 2026
A new report from the Home Builders Federation (天美传媒), The Social and Economic Impact of Home Building in Wales, has revealed the substantial contribution the p鈥�
Methodology
The figures used are based on figures within the 天美传媒 housing calculator and based on the most recent data on housing delivery. The housing calculator multiplier is based on publicly available data published by the Office for National Statistics (鈥極NS鈥�) and other Government departments.
In England, data about the net number of additional dwellings is used for both England as a whole and individual regions, comprising new house building completions, gains/losses through conversions (i.e. conversions of a house to flats), change of use via permitted development rights (鈥楶DR鈥�), and other changes to the dwelling stock minus demolitions. In Wales, the figure for new dwelling completions is used, primarily due to data availability.
In Wales, the dataset is issued by the Welsh Government and is used to assess levels of housing supply across Wales.
Estimates of school places are based on the Department for Education's annual National School Delivery Cost Benchmarking exercise. Estimates of community games areas and football pitches are based on Sports England's facility cost estimates.
Realise the business benefits of 天美传媒 membership
Access exclusive 天美传媒 member only events and receive discounts on our conferences.
Featured
Across Wales, 5,159 new homes were delivered in 2025/26, delivering hundreds of millions of pounds of investment in local communities across Wales . This level of development is estimated to have delivered:
-
拢230 million for Affordable Housing
- Around a third of all of Wales鈥� new Affordable Homes are delivered by residential home builders each year.
-
拢146 million in spending in local shops
- With new residents spending money on goods and services in the local economy, the economic value of an area can increase significantly.
- This also improves the perceived competitiveness of specific locations and reduces the costs of mitigating social and environmental problems associated with poor or insufficient housing.
-
拢32 million for infrastructure, including around 拢14 million for new and improved schools
- New schools need to be built alongside new housing to address the increased demand in areas of housing growth.
- This support may come in the form of building new schools, as well as improving and expanding existing facilities.
- These education contributions would fund around 800 new school places.
-
拢5 million in spending for open spaces and leisure facilities
- This would build around 24 community games areas or 40 football pitches.
-
拢1.1 billion of economic activity, supporting local economies
- The homes built last year generated an additional 拢10.4 million in council tax.
- 18,000 jobs supported, including more than 200 apprentices, graduates or trainees
It's also important to note that these figures are in addition to any infrastructure delivered onsite.
Calculate the community benefits of your development
Use our home building impact calculators to estimate the positive contribution your development could deliver to the surrounding community, and the annual benefits of development at a local authority level.
Featured
Join the campaign
Use our Power to Belong campaign toolkit to help demonstrate the positive impact home building has on communities in England and Wales.
Featured
The regional impact of home building in England
Calculate the community benefits of your development
Use our home building impact calculators to estimate the positive contribution your development could deliver to the surrounding community, and the annual benefits of development at a local authority level.
Join the campaign
Use our Power to Belong campaign toolkit to help demonstrate the positive impact home building has on communities in England and Wales.
Home builders are key contributors to local economic growth across England. In 2024/25, new housing developments supported more than 209,000 new homes, generated 拢46 billion in economic activity, supported 734,000 jobs, invested 拢9 billion in Affordable Housing, and provided over 拢1.3 billion for local infrastructure including schools, parks, transport improvements and community facilities.
These investments demonstrate how housing development delivers benefits far beyond new homes and developments, helping create thriving and sustainable communities across every region of England.
Key investment delivered by home builders by region
*Jobs supported excludes graduate and apprenticeship positions, which are shown separately.
In the East Midlands,鈥�21,600鈥痟omes were built in 2024/25, supporting:
- 拢973 million鈥痜or Affordable Housing
- 拢612鈥痬illion in spending in local shops
- 拢135鈥痬illion for infrastructure, including 拢61鈥痬illion for new and improved schools
- This could fund鈥�3,500鈥痩ocal school places.
- 拢19鈥痬illion in spending for open spaces
- This could build鈥�102鈥痗ommunity games areas and 169鈥痜ootball pitches
- 拢4.8鈥痓illion in local economic activity and鈥�76,000 jobs, including鈥�900鈥痝raduate and apprenticeship positions.
In the鈥疻est鈥疢idlands,鈥�20,700鈥痟omes were built in 2024/25, supporting:
- 拢933 million for Affordable Housing
- 拢587鈥痬illion in spending in local shops
- 拢130鈥痬illion for infrastructure, including鈥�58鈥痬illion for new and improved schools
- This could fund鈥�3,400鈥痩ocal school places.
- 拢19鈥痬illion in spending for open spaces鈥痑nd leisure facilities
- This could build鈥�98鈥痗ommunity games areas and 162鈥痜ootball pitches
- 拢4.6鈥痓illion in local economic activity and鈥�73,000 jobs, including鈥�900鈥痝raduate and apprenticeship positions.
In the鈥疎ast of England,鈥�26,000鈥痟omes were built in 2024/25, supporting:
- 拢1.2 billion for鈥疉ffordable Housing
- 拢737鈥痬illion in spending in local shops
- 拢163鈥痬illion for infrastructure, including鈥�73鈥痬illion for new and improved schools
- This could fund鈥�4,200鈥痩ocal school places.
- 拢23鈥痬illion in spending for open spaces鈥痑nd leisure facilities
- This could build鈥�123鈥痗ommunity games areas and鈥�204鈥痜ootball pitches
- 拢5.8鈥痓illion in local economic activity and鈥�91,000鈥痡obs, including鈥�1,100鈥痝raduate and apprenticeship positions.
In鈥疞ondon,鈥�32,700鈥痟omes were built in 2024/25, supporting:
- 拢1.5鈥痓illion for鈥疉ffordable Housing
- 拢926鈥痬illion in spending in local shops
- 拢204鈥痬illion for infrastructure, including鈥�92鈥痬illion for new and improved schools
- This could fund鈥�5,300鈥痩ocal school places.
- 拢29鈥痬illion in spending for open spaces鈥痑nd leisure facilities
- This could build鈥�155鈥痗ommunity games areas and鈥�256鈥痜ootball pitches
- 拢7.3鈥痓illion in local economic activity and鈥�115,000鈥痡obs, including鈥�1,400鈥痝raduate and apprenticeship positions.
In鈥痶he鈥疭outh East,鈥�34,900鈥痟omes were built in 2024/25, supporting:
- 拢1.6鈥痓illion for鈥疉ffordable Housing
- 拢988鈥痬illion in spending in local shops
- 拢218鈥痬illion for infrastructure, including鈥�98鈥痬illion for new and improved schools
- This could fund鈥�5,700鈥痩ocal school places.
- 拢31鈥痬illion in spending for open spaces鈥痑nd leisure facilities
- This could build鈥�165鈥痗ommunity games areas and 273鈥痜ootball pitches
- 拢7.7鈥痓illion in local economic activity and鈥�123,000鈥痡obs, including鈥�1,500鈥痝raduate and apprenticeship positions.
In鈥痶he鈥疭outh West,鈥�21,100鈥痟omes were built in 2024/25, supporting:
- 拢948 million for鈥疉ffordable Housing
- 拢597鈥痬illion in spending in local shops
- 拢132鈥痬illion for infrastructure, including鈥�59鈥痬illion for new and improved schools
- This could fund鈥�3,400鈥痩ocal school places.
- 拢19鈥痬illion in spending for open spaces鈥痑nd leisure facilities
- This could build鈥�100鈥痗ommunity games areas and鈥�165鈥痜ootball pitches
- 拢4.7鈥痓illion in local economic activity and鈥�74,000鈥痡obs, including鈥�900鈥痝raduate and apprenticeship positions.
In鈥痶he鈥疦orth East,鈥�8,300鈥痟omes were built in 2024/25, supporting:
- 拢375鈥痬illion for鈥疉ffordable Housing
- 拢236鈥痬illion in spending in local shops
- 拢51鈥痬illion for infrastructure, including鈥�24鈥痬illion for new and improved schools
- This could fund鈥�1,400鈥痩ocal school places.
- 拢8鈥痬illion in spending for open spaces鈥痑nd leisure facilities
- This could build鈥�39鈥痗ommunity games areas and 65 football pitches
- 拢1.9鈥痓illion in local economic activity and鈥�29,000鈥痡obs, including鈥�350鈥痝raduate and apprenticeship positions.
In鈥痶he鈥疦orth West,鈥�25,200鈥痟omes were built in 2024/25, supporting:
- 拢1.1 billion for鈥疉ffordable Housing
- 拢714鈥痬illion in spending in local shops
- 拢157鈥痬illion for infrastructure, including鈥�71鈥痬illion for new and improved schools
- This could fund鈥�4,100鈥痩ocal school places.
- 拢23鈥痬illion in spending for open spaces鈥痑nd leisure facilities
- This could build鈥�119鈥痗ommunity games areas and鈥�197鈥痜ootball pitches
- 拢5.6鈥痓illion in local economic activity and鈥�89,000鈥痡obs, including鈥�1,100鈥痝raduate and apprenticeship positions.
In鈥痀orkshire and the Humber,鈥�18,100鈥痟omes were built in 2024/25, supporting:
- 拢814鈥痬illion for鈥疉ffordable Housing
- 拢513鈥痬illion in spending in local shops
- 拢113鈥痬illion for infrastructure, including鈥�51鈥痬illion for new and improved schools
- This could fund鈥�2,900鈥痩ocal school places.
- 拢16鈥痬illion in spending for open spaces鈥痑nd leisure facilities
- This could build鈥�86鈥痗ommunity games areas and鈥�142鈥痜ootball pitches
- 拢4鈥痓illion in local economic activity and鈥�64,000鈥痡obs,鈥痠ncluding 800鈥痝raduate and apprenticeship positions.
Related research and activity
The Social and Economic Impact of Home Building in Wales 2026
The Economic Footprint of Home Building
Build the homes Wales needs and unlock hundreds of millions in community investment
Methodology
The figures used are based on figures within the 天美传媒 housing calculator and based on the most recent data on housing delivery. The housing calculator multiplier is based on publicly available data published by the Office for National Statistics (鈥極NS鈥�) and other Government departments.
In England, data about the net number of additional dwellings is used for both England as a whole and individual regions, comprising new house building completions, gains/losses through conversions (i.e. conversions of a house to flats), change of use via permitted development rights (鈥楶DR鈥�), and other changes to the dwelling stock minus demolitions. In Wales, the figure for new dwelling completions is used, primarily due to data availability.
In Wales, the dataset is issued by the Welsh Government and is used to assess levels of housing supply across Wales.
Estimates of school places are based on the Department for Education's annual National School Delivery Cost Benchmarking exercise. Estimates of community games areas and football pitches are based on Sports England's facility cost estimates.
Realise the business benefits of 天美传媒 membership
Access exclusive 天美传媒 member only events and receive discounts on our conferences.