The challenge from Government is for housing associations to become more efficient and deliver more new homes for less grant without compromising quality of services to customers. This increasing emphasis on delivering cost efficiencies is demonstrated by the introduction of annual efficiency statements and the operating cost index.

The Housing Corporation is limiting the number of housing association Programme Partners through whom development funding will be channelled. This policy has the effect of excluding many in the sector from directly accessing public funds to provide new homes. These combined measures have had the effect of driving consolidation within the sector. This is creating a smaller number of larger organisations with the capacity to provide an increasingly diverse range of products and services and with the scope to achieve greater economy and efficiency. These organisations will also be the best placed to exploit opportunities to deliver new products and services.

As a subsidiary of the Sanctuary Housing Group, ASRA Midlands is now in a much stronger position to work alongside other Group members to collectively deliver the Governments’ agenda on diversity, community cohesion, sustainability, growth and efficiency by accessing resources and sharing expertise and knowledge.