The current adverse economic environment “is likely to impact” on housing association development programmes, the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) has warned.

The RSH, in its latest sector risk profile document today, said housing providers needed to make difficult decisions about investment and development in order to “maintain financial resilience” and continue to provide services to tenants in the current operating environment.

The stark assessment by the regulator follows fears raised by G15 boss Geeta Nanda last week that housing association build rates are likely to be hit in any coming economic downturn, with the sector potentially unable to provide the counter-cyclical boost to housing supply normally expected of it.

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