At Thriving Investments, reaching 5,000 homes built or in construction is a moment worth celebrating. Walking through our developments, hearing from residents, and seeing communities take shape reminds us why we do what we do – and how far a partnership-driven, long-term approach can take you.
This milestone isn’t just about numbers. It’s a chance to reflect what brought us here – the innovations that unlocked new possibilities, the collaborations that made complex projects possible, and the focus on sustainability and affordability that keeps our work rooted in real impact.
Above all, it reflects our commitment to tackling the UK’s housing shortage – delivering high-quality homes through a range of investment platforms and tenures – and creating thriving communities that meet local needs.
As we look back on this journey, there are five key lessons that stand out – insights that continue to shape how we think about the future of housing, and guide how we grow, adapt, and create meaningful outcomes for residents, investors, and the wider housing market.
1. Innovation is essential to viability
Delivering quality, affordable homes at scale requires creativity – not just in design or delivery, but in financial and operational structures.
Through innovative investment models, we help use institutional capital for good; to power local economies, meet market needs, and unlock financial returns. Our early fund in Scotland pioneered approaches now applied across England, showing how creative thinking can unlock real impact.
That same mindset continues to inform our work today: rethinking traditional capital structures, testing new funding mechanisms, and creating solutions that benefit investors, developers, and residents alike.
2. Scale delivers strength and stability
Moving from hundreds to thousands of homes under management brings more than scale – it brings efficiency and resilience. Scale enables us to control costs, streamline delivery, and leverage buying power, ensuring each fund can perform sustainably while continuing to meet affordability goals.
Yet growth can’t come at the expense of purpose. Our track record shows our commitment to developing and stewarding communities that truly meet the needs of residents and stakeholders alike.
As we target the next 5,000 homes under management (and beyond), the focus will be on using that scale to deliver consistency – embedding systems, technology, and partnerships that make long-term stewardship even more effective.
3. Diversifying sources of deployment unlocks opportunity
There is no single route to delivering homes that meet local needs. Our success to date has come from working with a broad spectrum of partners – from large-volume housebuilders to SME developers and housing associations – each bringing something unique.
This diversity gives us access to opportunities across geographies, price points, and tenures; helping maintain momentum through market cycles. For example, our Picture Living fund delivers high-quality, single-family homes for rent at a regionally diversified scale, with 84% of homes located outside London and the South East – tackling the UK’s housing deficit in communities often overlooked by investors.
Continued diversification will be key: from institutional partnerships and joint ventures to more local authority collaborations – ensuring that both investor needs and community demand are met.
4. Partnership makes the model work
Delivering housing at scale only succeeds when public and private sectors pull in the same direction. Our partnerships span local authorities, pension funds, developers, and registered providers, aligning around shared goals of viability, placemaking, and long-term impact. Partnerships don’t just unlock land or funding – they provide the foundation for local, long-term solutions to tackle the housing crisis.
As viability pressures increase, partnerships becomes even more critical – and our collaborative model will continue to evolve in order to bring together the right expertise, capital, and local insight. Data shows that urban and commuter regions with strong local partnerships achieve higher rental yields and occupancy rates, demonstrating the tangible value partnerships bring.
5. Affordability is the anchor
At the heart of every decision is one guiding question: are we helping people access the right home, at the right price, in the right place? From discount market rent schemes in Scotland and Manchester to shared ownership models and private rental homes, affordability remains the common thread across all our funds.
Our commitment ensures that residents not only have a home but a place that supports health, comfort, and financial security – generating meaningful social impact for communities. By integrating regional rental demand data into pricing and tenure decisions, we will continue to demonstrate that institutional capital can play a responsible role in addressing the housing shortages without compromising on quality or return.
The thread that ties it all together: our purpose
Across all five lessons runs one consistent theme: our purpose. Every innovation, partnership, and scale decision is guided by our guiding principles, creating homes and communities that are right for people while balancing commercial, environmental, and social outcomes.
As we move forward, this purpose will continue to shape our strategy, ensuring that the next chapter of growth delivers both strong performance and meaningful impact across the communities we serve.