Increasing Supply Conference

Why attend?   

The conference is an opportunity to: 

Hear about the trends in increasing the supply of affordable housing and how housing associations have been addressing the unique challenges of the last few years.
Explore different types of developments, the evidence on them and how they’ve worked on the ground.
Discuss upcoming legislative changes and tell policy makers what needs to be considered for social housing providers in Scotland.
Understand current issues facing the sector and hear expert opinions.  
Network with other housing associations, co-operatives, and partner organisations
Learn from others and ask questions.

Date & venue

The conference will take place on Thursday 25 June 2025 at The Radisson Blu, Glasgow. The hotel offers a superb location in central Glasgow. Within walking distance of Glasgow Central Station and with Queen Street Station close by the hotel offers easy access by road or rail.

Is the conference for you?

The conference will be of interest to those involved in increasing the supply of social housing as attendees from the Scottish Government and the construction industry.  

It provides an unrivalled networking opportunity for anyone who provides development and related services to housing associations and co-operatives and their customers.  

Sustainability

Our vision for future SFHA events is to produce them to the highest quality while ensuring that they are sustainable and reduce our carbon footprint, where possible.

Ways you could help us reduce our carbon footprint at this event:

Take public transport, cycle or walk
- Did you know a train produces 0.07kg of CO2e per mile compared to a car which is 0.36kg or a short haul flight which is 0.44kg?
Download the conference app to save paper
Bring a refillable water bottle
Use recycling bins provided

Read our full sustainability policy here

Costs & how to book

Delegate rates start at £284 for SFHA members and £396 for non members.

Book two places and bring a colleague for free! *  

We’re offering a group discount: buy two of the same ticket type and another colleague can attend for free.

*Tickets must all be the same type and booked at the same time to receive the deal, excludes residential tickets*

The discount will be automatically calculated on checkout. 

To book your place, use the buy tickets button.

09:00

Registration

Registration will take place on the mezzanine floor of the venue.

10:00

Conference welcome

Join us for the conference welcome in the main room.

10:15

Opening plenary: Re-booting the Affordable Housing Supply Programme

The Joseph Rowntree Foundation funded CaCHE to examine how Government and partners might revitalise Housing to 2040, focusing on one immediate issue, re-booting the Affordable Housing Supply Programme. This session will explore if the system for funding Scotland’s affordable homes is functioning well or does it require constructive disruption to reduce current difficulties and instil a longer-term transformation? We will also look at what policy interventions might support development, what is working for developing housing associations and what is getting in the way?

11:15 Refreshments and networking

11:45

Workshop sessions Block A

A1 Women in Development

We’ve teamed up with WISH to hear from women in development about their career experiences, from being dismissed on construction sites to overlooked in boardrooms. We’ll explore ongoing sexism, improvements, and what still needs to change. What support networks do women value, and how can SFHA foster a more diverse and inclusive sector?

A2 Buy, build, convert, renovate – innovative approaches to increasing supply

This session aims to showcase the range of approaches that Housing Associations are taking to increasing supply – land led development; acquisitions; renovation, empty homes, conversions, and to suggest ways to support the widest range of development activity.

A3 Retaining skills in the Sector

As Housing Associations manage the competing priorities and challenges involved in developing new homes and managing existing stock – the pivot to retrofit - how do we ensure that we retain the skills of development professionals in the sector even if roles may change?

12:45 Lunch and Networking

13:30

Plenary: Planning that supports development

As the UK moves toward more aggressive planning reforms, there’s increasing pressure on Scotland to adopt similar measures to address its housing crisis. Removing planning hurdles could help deliver housing more effectively. The Scottish Government is taking steps with a new housing planning hub to support authorities with expertise and workforce training. This session will explore challenges, opportunities, and whether easing land release rules could help accelerate housebuilding.

14:30 Comfort break

14:45

Closing panel: Positive partnerships within development

Cost pressures and delivery challenges across the affordable housing sector are making it harder than ever to build new homes in Scotland. The synergy among partners on projects is therefore key to problem solving and managing risk. We hear from Homes for Scotland, developing housing associations and contractors about what it means to work in partnership.

15:30

Conference close

We will hear the conference closing remarks.