Eastlight was formed in July 2020 following the merger of two affordable homes providers: Colne Housing and Greenfields Community Housing.

Colne was established in Colchester in 1972, managing near 3,500 homes across North Essex and Suffolk. Greenfields was created following transfer from Braintree District Council in 2007, becoming one of just four community gateway housing associations in England.

The providers joined so they could be ‘stronger together’. Their vision was for a bigger, better and bolder partnership approach to help solve housing challenges and unlock eastern potential for residents and communities.

Eastlight is now the largest resident-led housing association in the UK, with 14,500 homes across Essex and the East. We empower residents by listening to their views and working with them across everything we do.

Residents on our Boards and Committees scrutinise business decision-making, and our community empowerment schemes provide local people with the tools they need to make a positive difference.

Building affordable and sustainable homes is evermore important to us, and we are proud to have delivered over 1,000 new homes since 2020.

Equally important is the investment we make in existing stock, reducing our environmental impact and improving the overall performance of our homes.