The five new giants

The Five New Giants of Opportunity sets out a bold, long-term vision for the future of social housing at a time of rapid economic, social and technological change.

The report was introduced at the event by historian and broadcaster David Olusoga, whose keynote response reflected on the role of social housing in Britain’s past and its importance to the country’s future. Drawing inspiration from the ambition of the 1942 Beveridge Report which helped shape the foundations of the modern welfare state, the new publication explores how today’s challenges have evolved and what will be required to meet them in the years ahead.

The report brings together nine essays from leading thinkers across housing, health, design, technology and economics. Each offers a hopeful, practical perspective on what future communities will need and how organisations like Clarion can help shape places where people can thrive. While Beveridge identified the “five giants” of his era, the pressures shaping society today look very different. Climate breakdown, rapid technological change, shifting demographics and widening inequalities are now among the biggest forces affecting people’s daily lives.

Across the essays in the report, these trends are explored as major drivers of change that will influence how homes and communities must be supported in the future. In response, the report sets out five modern “giants of opportunity”: connection, resilience, trust, health and sufficiency. Together, they form a new framework for long-term thinking across the housing sector, encouraging fresh ideas, new partnerships and a renewed focus on what future generations will need from their homes and neighbourhoods.

The launch event brought together members of our Foresight Group, partners, colleagues and board members. We also heard from Clare Miller, David Orr and Niomi Gibson, a Clarion resident and member of the Clarion Futures Board, who spoke powerfully about her experience and her role in shaping the report.