“Build more homes more quickly” was the rallying call at the Kent Housing Group Conference 2025 in the summer so how is the housing sector in Kent and Medway rising to the challenge?

The KHG Conference was a real milestone, marking the launch of Better Homes: Growth, Wellbeing and Choice, the new housing strategy for Kent and Medway. The energy and commitment in the room underlined the importance of our shared ambitions, not just in setting priorities, but in making them happen. 

For more details of the strategy, see the Kent and Medway Housing Strategy 2025-2030, Better Homes: Growth, Wellbeing and Choice on the KHG website.

Since the conference, the KHG team and partners have been working on how best to take the strategy forward. An implementation plan is being developed to turn our ambitions into practical actions, supported by clear responsibilities and timelines. 

This will need to evolve as circumstances change, but our core commitment remains the same: to deliver more homes, improve quality and strengthen the role of housing in supporting health, wellbeing and opportunity across Kent and Medway. 

We know we cannot achieve this alone. That is why, alongside our local work, we have set out a clear and deliverable set of Asks of Government, aligned with national priorities for growth, regeneration, energy efficiency and health. 

These asks highlight the support we need on planning capacity, infrastructure-first investment, long-term funding for affordable homes and action to improve quality in the private rented sector. 

KHG will continue to champion the strategy at every level, ensuring it stays live and relevant, and that our collective voice influences the policy and investment decisions needed to deliver. With the right support, Kent and Medway can be a national exemplar for delivering affordable, safe and sustainable homes at pace and scale.

The Conference

The case for ”good plan-led growth” was made to more than 200 of the region’s most senior housing professionals when they attended the KHG Conference 2025 at the Clive Emson Conference Centre in Maidstone on 19 June.

Delegates heard that the failure to build enough homes means that the lack of available quality homes to buy or rent has pushed more vulnerable households into living in substandard accommodation or – worst still – into homelessness. “In June 2025 across Kent and Medway there were 3,339 children living in temporary accommodation, with significant negative impacts on their development, wellbeing, education and health as a result,” Brian Horton said.

“By putting the right homes in the right place, we can help revitalise our local communities and enable our residents to be able to afford to rent or buy the home of their choice, without having to compromise their safety, security or their health,” delegates were told as they discussed the challenges, solutions and opportunities involved in accelerating housing delivery, improving housing conditions and creating sustainable communities.

Attendees included a mix of professionals from organisations involved in the delivery of public and private sector housing, KHG members, developers, housing associations, planners, architects, contractors, policy-makers, and special interest groups, all coming together to drive progress.

Kent Housing Group

The Kent Housing Group is the ‘collective voice’ of the housing sector in Kent and Medway. It has representation from all 12 Kent local authorities, Medway Council, 13 housing associations, Kent County Council and Kent Public Health.

KHG also has representation from organisations who work in partnership with social housing landlords, including the Kent Housing and Development Group, Homes England, the National Housing Federation, the National Landlords Residents Association and the South East Housing and Development Group.

For more information, visit their website.