Croydon Cabinet Approves Housing Framework, Rent Rise from April 2026

CROYDON, Croydon Council's Cabinet has approved a new Housing Supply & New Build Framework (HSNBF) designed to accelerate home building and estate improvements, aligning with the Housing Strategy 2024-2029[1]. The framework, approved this month, sets out a structure for delivering new homes, including council housing and affordable homes, while addressing longstanding regeneration priorities across the borough.

The move comes as the council grapples with a significant shortfall between current housing targets and identified need. The Council's Strategic Housing Market Assessment identifies a need for 46,040 new homes by 2036, considerably higher than the current Local Plan target of 32,890[5]. The gap underscores the scale of the challenge facing Croydon as it seeks to increase housing supply, particularly affordable and social housing, for local residents.

What the policy means for Croydon renters and residents

For council tenants, the most immediate change under the new framework will be an increase in social rents. Social rents for Council tenants will rise by 4.8% from April 2026, generating an estimated £4.35 million additional income for the Housing Revenue Account[2]. The council states the additional revenue will be used to fund housing services and improvements, though no specific spending commitments are detailed in the approved documents.

The framework also proposes a significant uplift in affordable housing requirements for new private developments. Croydon aims to increase the minimum on-site affordable housing requirement for new developments from 15% to 30% for sites of ten homes or more outside Opportunity Areas[4]. This would mean that for every new private development of ten homes or more in most parts of the borough, at least three in ten homes would need to be designated as affordable, potentially increasing the availability of housing for local families and key workers.

Regina Road regeneration moves forward

A flagship project under the new framework is the Regina Road housing regeneration scheme. The project is set to commence construction in March 2026, delivering up to 340 new residences including 225 affordable homes (at least 215 of which will be council housing)[3]. The development represents a major step in the council's estate renewal programme, replacing outdated housing stock with modern, energy-efficient homes in the heart of the borough.

Beyond individual schemes, the HSNBF is intended to provide a systematic approach to site identification, funding bids and contractor procurement, with the aim of speeding up delivery times. The framework also supports estate regeneration projects across Croydon, though specific estate names and timelines beyond Regina Road are not outlined in the approved documentation.

Residents and community groups have long called for faster progress on housing delivery and estate improvements, with many areas, particularly in the north and east of the borough, experiencing pressure on housing availability and quality. The council expects the new framework to bring more homes to completion within the next five years, though no specific annual delivery targets are attached to the plan.

The Housing Supply and New Build Framework is now in effect, with the rent increase set to be implemented from April 2026. The Council's next Local Plan review is expected to address the gap between current targets and the identified need for 46,040 homes by 2036.