L&G Affordable Homes director departs to join impact investor

In his new role at HSPG he will oversee funding and financial reporting and help shape the strategic direction of the social impact business, alongside co-founders Guy Horne and David Searle.

HSPG owns for-profit provider Park Properties Housing Association (PPHA), which currently operates 501 affordable homes. HSPG has invested £344.4m through PPHA since it acquired the provider in 2020. Last month, PPHA bought 156 homes from house builder Barratt Redrow.

Mr Hewitt said: “I [am] really energised by what Guy and Robyn [Lee, managing director] are building. It’s entrepreneurial, fast moving and full of purpose.

“It was immediately clear that HSPG is not just investing in property. It’s investing in people, communities and long-term social change.”

Mr Hewitt added that there is “a huge need for more capital in the sector if the UK is to deliver the homes it desperately needs”, and that “for-profits like HSPG are well-placed to channel that investment effectively”.

“I’m deeply passionate about providing a stable home environment for families, improving education prospects and supporting social mobility,” he said.

HSPG was founded in 2015 to provide supported and affordable housing. It has housed 10,000 people in affordable homes, partnered with 100 local authorities and invested £900m in the sector. HSPG operates from offices in Manchester and London.

Mr Horne said that Mr Hewitt would bring “a wealth of experience in investment and affordable housing, which will be invaluable as we continue to scale our impact and tackle the UK’s housing and homelessness crisis”.