Cornerstone Place

What Cornerstone Place does

Cornerstone Place is a UK Certified Social Enterprise, incorporated as Cornerstone Place Ltd and founded in 2019 by Richard Kennedy and David Ball, that delivers social and supported housing under its trademarked 'Impact First Social Housing™' model. The company partners with local authorities, charities and registered housing providers to convert underused small sites and derelict properties into net-zero homes for people at risk of homelessness and other vulnerable populations, taking zero developer profit and retaining assets in the hands of public-sector or charitable owners.

The core product is an integrated development service combining a pro bono initial exploration phase, planning navigation, financial structuring, and end-to-end construction management delivered with implementation partners (R&M Property Group, Triangle Architects, Ward Williams). Homes are built using Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) with triple glazing, rooftop solar PV, air source heat pumps, Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery, and a building management layer monitoring moisture, VOCs, CO2 and energy. Projects are designed as Psychologically Informed Environments (PIE) applying trauma-informed design principles. Project funding is assembled from public grants (Brownfield Land Release Fund, Single Homelessness Accommodation Programme, MHCLG Small Sites Aggregator) and social investment (notably an £844K loan from Social and Sustainable Capital).

The revenue model is a flat 4% project development fee (excluding purchase and finance costs), billed under multi-year contracts, supplemented by grant-funded development activity. The company reports 112 pre-construction homes, 25,724 impact bed nights delivered and 150,595 impact nights under contract, and serves a headcount of 1-10 employees out of a registered office in Haywards Heath with active projects across Northern, Southeast, Southwest and Yorkshire regions of England. Customer engagement is direct B2B, relationship-led, and supported by thought leadership, awards (NatWest SE100, UK Social Enterprise Awards, Homeless Link Excellence Awards) and government policy engagement.

Name

Cornerstone Place

Legal name

Cornerstone Place Ltd

Website

https://cornerstoneplace.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Cornerstone Place is a UK Certified Social Enterprise that partners with local authorities, charities and registered providers to deliver net-zero social housing on small sites at zero developer profit, using Modern Methods of Construction and trauma-informed design for vulnerable populations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Housing Development

NAICS

New Multifamily Housing Construction (except For-Sale Builders) (236116), Residential Building Construction (2361)

SIC

Operative Builders (1531), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Residential Affordable Housing Development & Construction (IMAFABAI)

Keywords

• Social housing development
• Affordable housing solutions
• Modern methods construction
• Net zero housing
• Housing consultancy services

Headquarters

HQ city

Manchester

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Project Development Fees: Cornerstone Place charges a transparent flat fee of 4% of project cost (excluding purchase and finance costs) to cover their services. They deliver all projects at cost with no developer profit, ensuring all surplus goes to the asset-locked partner organization.
2. Grant-Funded Development: Projects are funded through grants such as the Brownfield Land Release Fund (BLRF), Single Homelessness Accommodation Programme (SHAP), and government initiatives like the Small Sites Aggregator scheme. These funds are managed with complete transparency for clients.
3. Social Investment Capital: Cornerstone Place accesses social finance and blended finance (combining social investment with grants) to fill funding gaps, working with partners like Social and Sustainable Capital who provide loan facilities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Cornerstone Place develops social housing on small, underused sites for local authorities, charities, and registered providers through its proprietary 'Impact First Social Housing™' model, delivering 100% social housing for 0% profit. The service spans site identification, financial modelling, planning navigation, and end-to-end construction delivery using Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) to produce net-zero homes. Projects are charged via a transparent flat 4% fee on project cost (excluding purchase and finance), with a pro bono initial exploration phase.

Product overview

Cornerstone Place operates as a certified social enterprise providing 'Impact First Social Housing™' - a single unified model that delivers 100% social housing for 0% profit. The core offering combines site identification, financial modeling, planning navigation, and construction delivery into an integrated service. Key components include a pro bono initial exploration phase, transparent 4% fee structure, and on/off-balance sheet financial solutions. Homes are built using Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) incorporating net-zero technology, triple glazing, solar PV, air source heat pumps, and Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR). The model is specifically designed for local authorities, charities, and registered providers to increase their housing delivery capacity while keeping assets in community hands.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Impact First Social Housing™ A proprietary social housing development model delivering 100% social housing for 0% profit. Cornerstone Place partners with asset-locked bodies (local authorities, charities, registered providers) to transform small, underused sites into net-zero homes for people in housing need, charging a transparent 4% flat fee on project cost.

Quantifiable outcome

• Each £1 of BLRF funding generates 1.9 impact bed nights
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 May 2025Contributing data and insights to shape the government's Small Sites Aggregator initiative. Providing structured data and analysis to support policy case on Brownfield Land Release Funding, showcasing live projects that demonstrate viability of small site development.
• Rethink Mental IllnesscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 April 2025Working together to develop proposals for up to 14 new supported homes in Sheffield for people living with mental illness. Cornerstone Place supports early-stage development from site identification through to funding structures and construction delivery.
• Bristol City CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 January 2025Supporting Bristol (pilot city for MHCLG Small Sites Aggregator scheme) to take a site through planning to deliver fourteen two- and four-bedroom homes for families in urgent need of safe, stable accommodation.
• Walsingham SupportcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 January 2025Partnership to review property portfolio including homes acquired as part of a merger. Cornerstone Place commissioned to develop plans combining refurbishment of office space with new residential units for autistic people and people with learning disabilities using MMC and PIE principles.
• People and Planet FirstminorOthers · 11 June 2024Accreditation reflecting commitment to sustainability, social responsibility, and environmental stewardship in developing net-zero social housing.
• Rochdale Borough CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 June 2024Multiple partnerships delivering 22+ new homes across two projects in Rochdale. Homes constructed on council-owned land for young people in temporary accommodation. Projects funded by Single Homelessness Accommodation Programme (SHAP). Properties will remain in public ownership, providing long-term social value.
• Stepping Stone ProjectscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLongstanding partnership since before the pandemic. Initially helped access dispersed homes for homeless people under the 'Everyone In Programme.' Currently working on supported accommodation projects including acquisition/renovation and new build of 14 homes using modern building techniques.
• YMCA Trinity GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration began December 2020, first project launched March 2022. Partnership vital in helping YMCA Trinity Group expand housing offerings creatively and in alignment with core values, providing additional housing and support to people they serve.
• Fenland District CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConverted a derelict property (overlooked by local Registered Providers) into nine secure homes for individuals at risk of homelessness. Collaboration described as 'game-changer' by Assistant Director Dan Horn, achieving significant savings while addressing homelessness.
• NatWestminorOthersIncluded in NatWest SE100 Index for second year running (Top 100 UK Social Enterprises). Co-founders listed among Pioneers100 recognizing most pioneering impact leaders in UK.
• R&M Property Group LtdminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConstruction delivery partner for Rochdale projects. Described as providing 'excellent workmanship and always solutions-focused approach' in delivering high-quality MMC homes.
• Triangle ArchitectsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerArchitecture partner providing user-focused design for Rochdale housing developments, contributing to psychologically informed environments.
• Ward WilliamsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerQuantity surveying and project management partner keeping projects on track throughout delivery.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• TopHat: TopHat is a UK-based modular home manufacturer using MMC to produce energy-efficient, factory-built houses. Comparable to Cornerstone Place on construction methodology (MMC, net-zero-ready) and quality/sustainability positioning, but TopHat is a private-sector technology business rather than a social housing delivery partner.
• ilke Homes: ilke Homes is a UK modular housing manufacturer using Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) to deliver factory-built homes at scale. Directly comparable to Cornerstone Place on the MMC construction technology stack and net-zero design principles, but ilke focuses on the for-sale and market-sale residential market rather than social housing.

Broad incumbents

• Optivo: Optivo is a large UK housing association formed from the merger of AmicusHorizon and Viridian Housing, managing around 45,000 homes and developing new affordable supply. Comparable to Cornerstone Place in delivering social/affordable housing for vulnerable populations, but as a broad incumbent with much larger scale.
• Sanctuary Housing: Sanctuary Housing is a major UK housing association providing general needs, supported, and affordable housing across England and Scotland. It shares Cornerstone Place's social housing development activity and supported-housing focus (e.g. for vulnerable adults), but operates as a large, generalised incumbent rather than a specialist.
• Peabody: Peabody is a major UK housing association and developer with a 160,000+ home portfolio and significant new-build pipeline. It operates across the same social housing value chain as Cornerstone Place but as a large, generalised provider rather than a specialist small-sites social enterprise.
• Stonewater: Stonewater is a large UK housing association managing around 40,000 affordable homes and developing new supply, including supported housing for vulnerable groups. Comparable to Cornerstone Place in the supported-housing and social housing delivery mission, though at significantly larger scale and as a broad incumbent rather than a specialist.
• Clarion Housing: Clarion is the UK's largest housing association, managing around 125,000 homes and delivering new social and affordable housing through its development arm. Comparable to Cornerstone Place in the social housing delivery mission, but with much greater scale, geographic reach, and balance-sheet capacity.
• Orbit Group: Orbit Group is one of the UK's largest housing associations, developing new affordable and social housing across the Midlands, south, and east of England. It shares Cornerstone Place's mission of building affordable homes for those in housing need, but operates as a broad regional and national incumbent.
• L&Q: L&Q is one of the UK's largest housing associations, owning and managing over 100,000 homes and delivering new social housing across the country. It is a broad incumbent in the same social housing delivery space where Cornerstone Place operates, but at vastly greater scale and with a generalised rather than specialist focus.

Direct peers

• Habinteg Housing Association: Habinteg is a specialist UK housing association focused on accessible and inclusive social housing for disabled people and other under-served groups. Like Cornerstone Place, it develops niche social housing using innovative construction and design approaches (e.g. wheelchair-accessible standards), operating in a specialist rather than volume-builder niche. Both organisations target vulnerable populations outside the mainstream social housing market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cornerstoneplace

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cornerstone Place