The delivery of Brighter Future Together will be underpinned by a new vision: Homes for the life you want to live.

Brighter Future Together sees Riverside commit to building new partnerships and trust with customers by delivering excellence in services and creating safe homes and communities. The strategy will also centre on developing a high-performing, inclusive workforce with colleagues committed to supporting the creation of places where customers and colleagues alike can feel proud.

Through the strategy, Riverside aims to be best placed to navigate new challenges, including rising regulatory expectations, an ongoing shortage of housing and increasing pressure on the health and care sectors.

Between 2026-2031, the organisation will focus on delivering five strategic goals:

1. Every customer has a quality, safe, affordable and healthy home that they can be proud of.
2. Services are reliable and easy to use, customers have a voice and trust Riverside.
3. Riverside leads the sector in advancing care, support, reducing stigma and promoting inclusion.
4. Riverside staff thrive in an inclusive, high-performing culture and are proud to put the customer first.
5. Riverside delivers as many homes as it can with a commitment to remain financially resilient.

Brighter Future Together marks the first time that Riverside has extended its planning cycle from three to five years, and it has been shaped by the views of over 1,000 customers, colleagues and external stakeholders – the largest-ever consultation exercise undertaken by Riverside.

The strategy is supported by continued investment in homes and services to address the national housing crisis, improve the affordability and comfort of homes and cut carbon emissions. This includes plans to make all homes energy efficient by 2030 and to build approximately 5,000 homes over the next five years, with a further 8,000 expected by 2036.

To ensure progress over the next five years, Riverside’s group board will review the five strategic goals twice a year. In addition, detailed delivery plans for each goal will be drawn up and subject to regular reviews through the Riverside committee framework.

Paul Dolan, group chief executive officer of Riverside, said: “What we have launched this week at Riverside is truly special. We had thousands of customers, colleagues and board members come together to celebrate this truly remarkable milestone at Riverside, building on the brilliant legacy of Riverside’s reputation as one of the country’s leading housing associations.

“This week marks a new era for us and an unwavering commitment to deliver better services, provide high-quality homes, support people in our society who need us the most and create an inclusive and passionate team to deliver for today and far into the future.”

Terrie Alafat CBE, chair of Riverside group board, added: “The team at Riverside should be really proud of our new strategy, Brighter Future Together, which brings to light our five new ambitions under our strategic pillars: homes, customers, care & support and people.

“I’m so impressed by the work that has gone into this strategy – one that is truly customer- and colleague-centric and ambitious for the future of Riverside.”