In this episode of Stonewater’s On the Air podcast, host Paula Palmer explores who social housing is really for in today’s pressured housing landscape. Holly Edwards, Stonewater’s Customer Experience Director, explains how lettings and allocations work, why fairness is so difficult to achieve, and how shortages shape both decision‑making and community sustainability.

Tim Brown from De Montfort University offers a policy and historical lens, discussing the ongoing challenge of fairness for vulnerable applicants and what the UK can — cautiously — learn from European systems.

Mark Kent, Deputy CEO at Local Space, provides insight from the frontline, describing councils operating in “permanent emergency mode,” the rise in temporary accommodation, and how intermediate rent has become a safety valve for a system under strain.

Journalist Peter Apps rounds out the conversation with reflections on the long-term impact of needs‑based lettings, the misconceptions driving public debate, and the importance of reframing social housing as a mainstream public service rather than a last‑resort option.

In this episode of Stonewater’s On the Air podcast, host Paula Palmer explores whether new towns can truly address the UK’s housing crisis. The discussion begins with Lord Richard Best, Co-Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on New Towns, who shares insights from his extensive housing career and emphasizes the importance of linking housing with jobs, transport, and green spaces, while also touching on the need for flexible approaches to green belt reform and sustainable design principles.

Maurice Lange, Analyst at the Centre for Cities, adds an economic perspective, highlighting how proximity to cities drives growth and why location is critical for long-term success, and; finally, Matt Crucefix, Stonewater’s Director of Development (South and West), outlines opportunities for housing associations to influence planning early whilst discussing the challenges around planning reform, the need for collaboration between developers and councils, and how design codes can balance sustainability with affordability.

The discussion centres on how housing providers can rebuild trust through transparency, empathy, and consistent service delivery. David emphasizes Stonewater’s commitment to improving visibility, responsiveness, and honesty in customer interactions, while Jo highlights sector-wide initiatives like the Together with Tenants framework, which fosters meaningful resident engagement.

Joseph offers a powerful tenant perspective, stressing the importance of genuine involvement and the need for housing associations to treat tenants as partners rather than tick-box participants.