High standards achieved in terms of cleanliness and environmental impact
Keep Scotland Beautiful (KSB) has awarded all associations within a housing group's ownership the highest environmental grade possible.
KSB assessors joined Wheatley Homes staff and tenants to inspect neighbourhoods, focussing on cleanliness of back courts and open spaces as well as foyers and stairwells.
The scores highlight the significant positive impact of Wheatley’s national environmental targets (NETs) and the shared responsibility in maintaining vibrant living environments.
Since partnering with KSB in 2016, this marks the first year that every Wheatley community, spanning central Scotland and Dumfries and Galloway, has achieved this prestigious five-star standard.
In Glasgow, Wheatley communities in the north east scored an 82.4%, north west received a score of 81.5% and 82.2% in the south of the city. In Dumfries and Galloway, Wheatley Homes communities scored 83.4%, Wheatley Homes East communities received a score of 87.2% and Loretto Housing an 82.3%.
Alan Glasgow, group director of housing, said: “We all want our communities to be places people are proud to live in and this recognition shows the difference all that hard work makes.
“This is the first time that every Wheatley RSL has received five-star ratings from Keep Scotland Beautiful and that’s great to see. I’m incredibly proud of the efforts of environmental staff as this award is a tribute to all their hard work and dedication throughout the year to make sure our neighbourhoods always look their best for our customers.”
Paul Wallace, head of operations with Keep Scotland Beautiful, said: “We were so impressed to see excellent commitment and pride of all the staff and tenants involved who are working hard to improve and make their communities better.
“Our work with Wheatley, through a bespoke version of our National Award for Environmental Excellence has spanned a number of years. It provides a framework for continual improvement, recognising and awarding best practice in environmental management, maintenance, waste management and community engagement.
“We very much look forward to continuing our support of the work being done by Wheatley and to sharing this with others across the sector.”
It comes as a survey revealed Wheatley delivered more social rent homes than any other housing provider in the UK in 2024-25, building 563 homes for social rent in the last year.
In addition, the group completed 281 homes for mid-market rent, for households with a gross annual income of up to £46,000 and who have no priority for social housing but cannot afford to buy their own home.
Steven Henderson, Wheatley Group chief executive, said: “Being named the UK’s biggest builder of homes for social rent once again is a real badge of honour and reflects Wheatley’s strong commitment to tackling the housing crisis.
“Over the past decade, we've built more energy-efficient homes for social rent than any other organisation in the UK, transforming communities and giving thousands of families a safe place they’re proud to call home.
“However, we won’t stop here. By working closely with the Scottish Government and our local authority partners, we are already on track to deliver nearly 700 social and mid-market homes in this coming financial year.”
Wheatley also saw a sharp rise in the overall delivery of new flats and houses, with 844 homes completed in 2024-25 – up 142% on the previous year.
Wheatley’s new-build programme is delivered by its Registered Social Landlords – Wheatley Homes Glasgow, Wheatley Homes East, Wheatley Homes South and Loretto Housing.
