Cordale Housing Association was founded, in 1993, on the principle that "we won't build a better standard of housing for people to enjoy their poverty in".

In other words, whilst responding to poor quality housing conditions was and remains a fundamental objective, it was acknowledged that sustainable development would not be achieved unless equal priority was given to the longer-term vision of redressing the social, economic and environmental issues that disadvantaged and stigmatised local residents.

It is against this broad interpretation of sustainability that Cordale Housing Association has evolved into the catalyst for social change in Renton and its surrounding areas, taking a lead role in a number of initiatives that link housing investment with health/addiction, unemployment, education, the arts and community capacity building.