Caledonia sets out ‘significant’ investment and improvement programme

Caledonia sets out 'significant' investment and improvement programme

Julie Cosgrove (Image credit: Caledonia Housing Association)

Caledonia Housing Group has launched a new five-year business plan focused on improving services for tenants, investing in existing homes, and increasing the supply of affordable housing.

Shaping the Future is designed to make a meaningful difference for both current and future tenants at a time when demand for affordable housing continues to rise, and many households face increasing financial challenges.

The plan, covering the period from 2026 to 2031, is built around three key priorities: strengthening services to continue to improve the tenant experience, building partnerships to deliver new homes and community support, and growing the group’s impact across the areas it serves.

It also includes investment in digital transformation, with significant plans to invest in systems and services to enhance responsiveness, efficiency and access for tenants, while creating capacity to support future business growth.

At the heart of the plan is a programme of investment that will positively impact people’s day-to-day lives. This includes more than £30 million of investment in existing homes over the next five years which will have a strong focus on improving energy efficiency and reducing household bills, alongside supporting the Scottish Government’s national policy agenda through the delivery of at least 500 new affordable homes.

The plan also sets out how the Caledonia workforce is vital to the successful delivery of the Shaping the Future priorities, which also includes prioritising responsive and localised services, while progressing the next steps in the group’s digitalisation journey to expand service access, choice and support.

The plan reinforces Caledonia’s commitment to ensuring tenant voices shape services and investment decisions, supported by its network of 24 neighbourhood hubs, which enable teams to respond to local needs and priorities.

Managing over 8,000 homes across eight local authorities, Caledonia has continued to deliver strongly in a challenging environment, and was recently recognised nationally, winning Housing Association of the Year and Community Contribution awards at the 2025 Scottish Home Awards, as well as being considered one of the top 10 Scottish Companies to Work For in the Best Companies Awards.

Alongside investment in homes and services, the group continues to support tenants beyond housing. Through its partnership with Lightning Reach, over 350 tenants have been supported, securing £17,600 in direct financial support and identifying a further £26,100 in previously unclaimed benefits.

Its collaboration with Scarf has delivered vital support to hundreds of households, with £13,000 in direct financial support secured for tenants. Through the delivery of tailored energy advice and practical efficiency measures, this support has helped reduce household energy costs by £140,000 and cut carbon emissions by approximately 175 tonnes - easing financial pressure while contributing to longer-term sustainability.

This sits alongside wider targeted support, including hardship funding for families facing financial crisis, a significant increase in medical adaptations to help tenants live independently, and a community grants programme supporting local organisations and services.

Julie Cosgrove, chief executive at Caledonia Housing Group, said: “At a time when so many individuals and families are facing pressure, our role has never been more important. Our Business Plan is about making sure we continue to deliver safe, affordable homes, reliable services and meaningful support that helps people and communities thrive. Shaping the Future sets out how we will continue to strengthen services for tenants, invest in the homes we already provide, and continue building much-needed affordable homes for the future.

“It also reflects our commitment to listening to tenants, working with purpose-driven partners, and using our size and strength as an organisation to make a bigger difference in the communities we serve. People are at the heart of everything we do at Caledonia, and our Business Plan reflects this as we strive to support our tenants and their families to navigate the challenges they face.”

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