Affordable housing
Delivering genuinely affordable and sustainable homes
Why invest in affordable housing?
There’s a shortage of high-quality, affordable housing across the UK, leaving families struggling to find secure and suitable accommodation.
The UK needs viable funding solutions that are sustainable for the long term to develop affordable, energy-efficient homes for those who need them most.
And there’s also mounting pressure to reach net zero by 2050.
How we’re building affordable, sustainable homes
Jack Burnham, Head of Affordable Housing, has had experience working in the social housing sector for almost 20 years, and discusses the importance of sustainability in the sector and how investing in high quality, affordable homes has a positive long-term social impact.
Our approach to affordable housing investment
To accelerate the delivery of affordable homes, the sector needs long-term patient capital. And that capital must be responsibly managed. We own a Registered Provider of Social Housing, enabling us to own and operate affordable housing across the country in accordance with social housing regulations.
We partner with experienced housing providers and focus on quality and service when we work with all stakeholders. This is so we can target outsized impact for communities, as well as resilient, index-linked income for investors.
Positive social impact
We believe relentless focus on quality and service leads to positive outcomes for all stakeholders.
Committed capital
Owning and operating our own Registered Provider means we can ensure the sector is provided directly with patient capital.
Sustainable
Energy efficient homes with net zero targets in mind and reduced bills for residents.
The team

Jack Burnham
Head of Affordable Housing at Octopus

Peter Merchant
Investment Director

Elizabeth Austerberry
Chair of Registered Provider Board

Georgia Kirby-Watt
Operations Director, Affordable Housing

Catherine Short
Investment Manager
Types of affordable housing we invest in
- Elderly Affordable Housing
- Supported Housing
- Extra Care Housing
- Affordable Rent
- Shared Ownership
- Social Rent
- Intermediate Rent
- Rent to Buy

Read our report ‘Closing the Gap’, a report on Affordable Housing in the UK

“Our customers, partners, and investors want sustainability. And we plan to provide that by investing in affordable homes that’ll remain of good quality long-term and have a huge social impact through their occupation.”
Jack Burnham, Head of Affordable Housing at Octopus Capital

News & insights

16 Apr 2025
CHP partners with NewArch Homes to deliver 220 affordable homes across Essex
Essex-based housing association CHP is delighted to announce a new, long-term partnership with NewArch Homes. NewArch Homes, our registered provider…

18 Mar 2025
Octopus completes transfer of 44 affordable homes in Pinhoe, Exeter
The transfer of 44 affordable homes to NewArch Homes, a registered provider of social housing, has recently been finalised.

18 Mar 2025
Investing in affordable homes for the long-term
At Great Haddon in Peterborough, Octopus is helping to develop affordable homes that people can put down roots in to help meet local demand.

9 Jan 2025
Investment giant Octopus aims to double the size of its affordable housing fund this year
Jack Burnham, Head of Affordable Housing at Octopus Capital, speaks with Inside Housing about the growth of the affordable housing sector and his optimism for the next twelve months.
Coverage in Inside Housing.

11 Sep 2024
Social infrastructure report
To understand the role that social infrastructure plays in long-term asset allocations and further break down the key obstacles in making such…

20 Aug 2024
Addressing the affordable housing shortage
The UK is currently facing a shortfall of affordable homes. However, there are potential solutions at hand, all of which rely on the sector working…

18 Jul 2024
Octopus announces £150m Local Government Pensions Scheme investment into affordable housing
Octopus secures £150m from LGPS for affordable housing, with contributions from Avon, Gloucestershire, Devon, and Clwyd funds to build and retrofit homes.

28 Jun 2024
How private capital can address the affordable housing shortage
Octopus funds 26 new affordable properties in Peterborough. Watch our video to learn more.

21 Jun 2024
Octopus and Golding complete transfer of 180 affordable homes outside Mid Kent
Maidstone-based Golding Homes (Golding) has finalised the transfer of 180 affordable homes to NewArch Homes, a registered provider of social…