Last updated: 11 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 £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.
-
£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.
-
£1.3 billion for infrastructure, including around £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.
-
£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.
-
£46 billion of economic activity, supporting local economies
- The homes built last year generated an additional £420 million in council tax.
- 734,000 jobs supported, including around 9,000 apprentices, graduates or trainees
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:
-
£230 million for Affordable Housing
- Around a third of all of Wales’ new Affordable Homes are delivered by residential home builders each year.
-
£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.
-
£32 million for infrastructure, including around £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.
-
£5 million in spending for open spaces and leisure facilities
- This would build around 24 community games areas or 40 football pitches.
-
£1.1 billion of economic activity, supporting local economies
- The homes built last year generated an additional £10.4 million in council tax.
-
18,000 jobs supported, including more than 200 apprentices, graduates or trainees
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 £46 billion in economic activity, supported 734,000 jobs, invested £9 billion in Affordable Housing, and provided over £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, 21,600 homes were built in 2024/25, supporting:
- £973 million for Affordable Housing
- £612 million in spending in local shops
- £135 million for infrastructure, including £61 million for new and improved schools
- This could fund 3,500 local school places.
- £19 million in spending for open spaces
- This could build 102 community games areas and 169 football pitches
- £4.8 billion in local economic activity and 76,000 jobs, including 900 graduate and apprenticeship positions.
In the West Midlands, 20,700 homes were built in 2024/25, supporting:
- £933 million for Affordable Housing
- £587 million in spending in local shops
- £130 million for infrastructure, including £58 million for new and improved schools
- This could fund 3,400 local school places.
- £19 million in spending for open spaces and leisure facilities
- This could build 98 community games areas and 162 football pitches
- £4.6 billion in local economic activity and 73,000 jobs, including 900 graduate and apprenticeship positions.
In the East of England, 26,000 homes were built in 2024/25, supporting:
- £1.2 billion for Affordable Housing
- £737 million in spending in local shops
- £163 million for infrastructure, including £73 million for new and improved schools
- This could fund 4,200 local school places.
- £23 million in spending for open spaces and leisure facilities
- This could build 123 community games areas and 204 football pitches
- £5.8 billion in local economic activity and 91,000 jobs, including 1,100 graduate and apprenticeship positions.
In London, 32,700 homes were built in 2024/25, supporting:
- £1.5 billion for Affordable Housing
- £926 million in spending in local shops
- £204 million for infrastructure, including £92 million for new and improved schools
- This could fund 5,300 local school places.
- £29 million in spending for open spaces and leisure facilities
- This could build 155 community games areas and 256 football pitches
- £7.3 billion in local economic activity and 115,000 jobs, including 1,400 graduate and apprenticeship positions.
In the South East, 34,900 homes were built in 2024/25, supporting:
- £1.6 billion for Affordable Housing
- £988 million in spending in local shops
- £218 million for infrastructure, including £98 million for new and improved schools
- This could fund 5,700 local school places.
- £31 million in spending for open spaces and leisure facilities
- This could build 165 community games areas and 273 football pitches
- £7.7 billion in local economic activity and 123,000 jobs, including 1,500 graduate and apprenticeship positions.
In the South West, 21,100 homes were built in 2024/25, supporting:
- £948 million for Affordable Housing
- £597 million in spending in local shops
- £132 million for infrastructure, including £59 million for new and improved schools
- This could fund 3,400 local school places.
- £19 million in spending for open spaces and leisure facilities
- This could build 100 community games areas and 165 football pitches
- £4.7 billion in local economic activity and 74,000 jobs, including 900 graduate and apprenticeship positions.
In the North East, 8,300 homes were built in 2024/25, supporting:
- £375 million for Affordable Housing
- £236 million in spending in local shops
- £51 million for infrastructure, including £24 million for new and improved schools
- This could fund 1,400 local school places.
- £8 million in spending for open spaces and leisure facilities
- This could build 39 community games areas and 65 football pitches
- £1.9 billion in local economic activity and 29,000 jobs, including 350 graduate and apprenticeship positions.
In the North West, 25,200 homes were built in 2024/25, supporting:
- £1.1 billion for Affordable Housing
- £714 million in spending in local shops
- £157 million for infrastructure, including £71 million for new and improved schools
- This could fund 4,100 local school places.
- £23 million in spending for open spaces and leisure facilities
- This could build 119 community games areas and 197 football pitches
- £5.6 billion in local economic activity and 89,000 jobs, including 1,100 graduate and apprenticeship positions.
In Yorkshire and the Humber, 18,100 homes were built in 2024/25, supporting:
- £814 million for Affordable Housing
- £513 million in spending in local shops
- £113 million for infrastructure, including £51 million for new and improved schools
- This could fund 2,900 local school places.
- £16 million in spending for open spaces and leisure facilities
- This could build 86 community games areas and 142 football pitches
- £4 billion in local economic activity and 64,000 jobs, including 800 graduate 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…
Build the homes Wales needs and unlock hundreds of millions in community investment
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A new report from the Home Builders Federation (HBF), The Social and Economic Impact of Home Building in Wales, has revealed the substantial contribution the p…
Methodology
The figures used are based on figures within the HBF 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 (‘ONS’) 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 (‘PDR’), and other changes to the dwelling stock minus demolitions. In Wales, the figure for new dwelling completions is used, primarily due to data availability.
This dataset is issued by the Welsh Government and is used to assess levels of housing supply across Wales.
Realise the business benefits of HBF membership
Access exclusive HBF member only events and receive discounts on our conferences.
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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:
-
£230 million for Affordable Housing
- Around a third of all of Wales’ new Affordable Homes are delivered by residential home builders each year.
-
£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.
-
£32 million for infrastructure, including around £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.
-
£5 million in spending for open spaces and leisure facilities
- This would build around 24 community games areas or 40 football pitches.
-
£1.1 billion of economic activity, supporting local economies
- The homes built last year generated an additional £10.4 million in council tax.
- 18,000 jobs supported, including more than 200 apprentices, graduates or trainees
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 £46 billion in economic activity, supported 734,000 jobs, invested £9 billion in Affordable Housing, and provided over £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, 21,600 homes were built in 2024/25, supporting:
- £973 million for Affordable Housing
- £612 million in spending in local shops
- £135 million for infrastructure, including £61 million for new and improved schools
- This could fund 3,500 local school places.
- £19 million in spending for open spaces
- This could build 102 community games areas and 169 football pitches
- £4.8 billion in local economic activity and 76,000 jobs, including 900 graduate and apprenticeship positions.
In the West Midlands, 20,700 homes were built in 2024/25, supporting:
- £933 million for Affordable Housing
- £587 million in spending in local shops
- £130 million for infrastructure, including £58 million for new and improved schools
- This could fund 3,400 local school places.
- £19 million in spending for open spaces and leisure facilities
- This could build 98 community games areas and 162 football pitches
- £4.6 billion in local economic activity and 73,000 jobs, including 900 graduate and apprenticeship positions.
In the East of England, 26,000 homes were built in 2024/25, supporting:
- £1.2 billion for Affordable Housing
- £737 million in spending in local shops
- £163 million for infrastructure, including £73 million for new and improved schools
- This could fund 4,200 local school places.
- £23 million in spending for open spaces and leisure facilities
- This could build 123 community games areas and 204 football pitches
- £5.8 billion in local economic activity and 91,000 jobs, including 1,100 graduate and apprenticeship positions.
In London, 32,700 homes were built in 2024/25, supporting:
- £1.5 billion for Affordable Housing
- £926 million in spending in local shops
- £204 million for infrastructure, including £92 million for new and improved schools
- This could fund 5,300 local school places.
- £29 million in spending for open spaces and leisure facilities
- This could build 155 community games areas and 256 football pitches
- £7.3 billion in local economic activity and 115,000 jobs, including 1,400 graduate and apprenticeship positions.
In the South East, 34,900 homes were built in 2024/25, supporting:
- £1.6 billion for Affordable Housing
- £988 million in spending in local shops
- £218 million for infrastructure, including £98 million for new and improved schools
- This could fund 5,700 local school places.
- £31 million in spending for open spaces and leisure facilities
- This could build 165 community games areas and 273 football pitches
- £7.7 billion in local economic activity and 123,000 jobs, including 1,500 graduate and apprenticeship positions.
In the South West, 21,100 homes were built in 2024/25, supporting:
- £948 million for Affordable Housing
- £597 million in spending in local shops
- £132 million for infrastructure, including £59 million for new and improved schools
- This could fund 3,400 local school places.
- £19 million in spending for open spaces and leisure facilities
- This could build 100 community games areas and 165 football pitches
- £4.7 billion in local economic activity and 74,000 jobs, including 900 graduate and apprenticeship positions.
In the North East, 8,300 homes were built in 2024/25, supporting:
- £375 million for Affordable Housing
- £236 million in spending in local shops
- £51 million for infrastructure, including £24 million for new and improved schools
- This could fund 1,400 local school places.
- £8 million in spending for open spaces and leisure facilities
- This could build 39 community games areas and 65 football pitches
- £1.9 billion in local economic activity and 29,000 jobs, including 350 graduate and apprenticeship positions.
In the North West, 25,200 homes were built in 2024/25, supporting:
- £1.1 billion for Affordable Housing
- £714 million in spending in local shops
- £157 million for infrastructure, including £71 million for new and improved schools
- This could fund 4,100 local school places.
- £23 million in spending for open spaces and leisure facilities
- This could build 119 community games areas and 197 football pitches
- £5.6 billion in local economic activity and 89,000 jobs, including 1,100 graduate and apprenticeship positions.
In Yorkshire and the Humber, 18,100 homes were built in 2024/25, supporting:
- £814 million for Affordable Housing
- £513 million in spending in local shops
- £113 million for infrastructure, including £51 million for new and improved schools
- This could fund 2,900 local school places.
- £16 million in spending for open spaces and leisure facilities
- This could build 86 community games areas and 142 football pitches
- £4 billion in local economic activity and 64,000 jobs, including 800 graduate 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 HBF 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 (‘ONS’) 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 (‘PDR’), and other changes to the dwelling stock minus demolitions. In Wales, the figure for new dwelling completions is used, primarily due to data availability.
This dataset is issued by the Welsh Government and is used to assess levels of housing supply across Wales.
Realise the business benefits of HBF membership
Access exclusive HBF member only events and receive discounts on our conferences.