The numbers tell a stark story.
In 2019, Grosvenor reported that just 2% of the public trusted developers and 7% local authorities. While a recent study shows that this has climbed to 16%, we must ask ourselves: is this really enough?
The fact remains that an overwhelming majority of individuals don’t trust the professionals and organisations within our sector.
For an industry wholly responsible for creating the homes and communities where people build their lives, raise their families, and grow old, this level of distrust is absolutely gutting. And indicates a crisis that demands urgent action.
The Trust Deficit
Behind these statistics lies a deeper truth about how partnership housing has been perceived and delivered. Too often, communities have watched developments appear that feel disconnected from their actual needs, driven by profit margins rather than a genuine desire to create lasting and positive change.
This erosion of trust didn’t happen overnight. And it equally won’t be rebuilt with temporary grand gestures or marketing campaigns.
It requires – and deserves – a fundamental shift in how we approach housing, development, and regeneration. Moving away from profit-driven motives toward purpose-led projects that place people at the heart of everything we do. Because real people deserve real spaces that are built for their lives, not the developer’s idea of what that is.
A Different Way Forward
At SH Partnerships, we believe the path to rebuilding trust lies in three critical areas: transparency, education, and authentically community-focused solutions.
-
Transparency
This means being open and honest – from day one. Not just explaining what is being built, but why it’s being built, how decisions are made, and what the long-term impact will be.
Communities deserve to understand the process, the challenges, and the opportunities that come with development. No hidden agendas, no corporate talk, just candid conversations about creating better places to live, work, and grow.
-
Education
The housing sector is complex. But complexity shouldn’t be a barrier to understanding.
We have a responsibility to share knowledge and explain planning processes, funding mechanisms, and construction methods in ways that make sense to everyone, from boardroom to building site, as well as the homeowners and local communities. When people understand the ‘how’ and ‘why’ behind development, trust ultimately begins to grow.
-
Community-Focused Solutions
Every project should begin with listening – really listening. Not token consultation exercises, but genuine engagement that shapes what gets built and how it serves local needs.
Every area has its own character, challenges, and aspirations. Meaning cookie-cutter approaches don’t work when you’re trying to create places where communities and individuals can truly thrive.
People Over Profit
Unlike private equity-backed models and larger building institutes that prioritise short-term returns, our approach is rooted in long-term impact. We’re not interested in quick wins that leave communities dealing with the consequences for decades to come. Instead, we focus on creating living legacies: homes and spaces that improve lives and build a foundation for generations.
This isn’t just about being nicer or more approachable, though those things matter. But recognising that sustainable, successful development happens when everyone involved – from housing providers and local authorities to residents and local businesses – has a genuine stake in the outcome.
Confidence Through Collaboration
When trust exists, everything changes.
Planning processes become collaborative rather than combative. Communities become partners in shaping their future rather than obstacles to overcome. Housing associations and local authorities can focus on innovation and quality rather than managing opposition and controversy.
Most importantly, the people who will call these places home can feel confident that their needs, their families, and their communities have been truly considered and valued throughout the process.
Building Tomorrow, Today
The journey from 2% to 16% trust shows that change is possible. But we can’t stop there. The sector is still a long way off the pace.
As an industry, we have the opportunity (and responsibility!) to prove that partnership housing can be a force for genuine positive change.
At SH Partnerships, we’re committed to being part of that transformation. Not through bold promises, but through consistent action, transparent communication, and an unwavering focus on creating homes and communities that people are proud to be part of.
Because ultimately, trust isn’t something you can market or manufacture. It’s something you earn, build, and nurture – one project, one conversation, and one community at a time.
