Orbit Homes has announced a leading development programme after unveiling plans for almost 8,500 new homes between 2015-2020.

A survey of top housing association (HA) developers shows Orbit Homes having the second largest development programme between 2015-2020.

The company has planned to build 8,418 homes in that period, with land already secured for over 4,000 of these properties.

The HA, part of the 38,000 home Orbit Group, will develop 5,283 homes in 2015-2018 and 3,135 in 2018-2020, as it increases capacity to achieve 12,000 new homes by 2020.

The survey also shows the developer has the third largest affordable housing pipeline for 2015-2016, with over 1,500 due for completion.


This has seen the company move from tenth place last year.

For 2014-2015, the company is placed as the fourth largest HA developer with 1,593 homes completed, establishing itself as one of the biggest HA developers based outside London.

With the second largest government-backed programme of affordable housing development of any HA and a new £250 million public bond supporting land acquisition and development plans, Orbit states it expects to exceed its 2020 homes target considerably.

Executive Director, Paul High, said: "We have seen our development programme continue to grow over the last 12 months and this is reflected in our position nationally increasing for the number of homes completed and in the pipeline.

"We have completed the fourth highest number of homes in 2014-2015 and we have the third largest pipeline of new homes across all tenures.

"Meeting these targets will be no simple task but having already secured land for half of the homes in the pipeline up to 2020, and our strong funding streams, we are confident of meeting our targets.

"The results of this survey demonstrate that Orbit Homes is a major player when it comes to development and tackling the UK housing shortage."

(LM)