{"id":10075,"date":"2026-02-05T12:30:46","date_gmt":"2026-02-05T12:30:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.locarla.com\/insight\/?p=10075"},"modified":"2026-02-05T12:30:46","modified_gmt":"2026-02-05T12:30:46","slug":"thursday-05-02-2026-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.locarla.com\/insight\/daily-news\/thursday-05-02-2026-news\/","title":{"rendered":"Thursday: 05\/02\/2026 \/ News"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"blue-color\">\n<h6>Daily News: 05\/02\/2026<\/h6>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">B3Living has expanded its housing stock after acquiring 337 homes from Notting Hill Genesis, with the majority let at social rent and around 20% comprising leasehold and shared ownership properties. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.b3living.org.uk\/about-us\/news\/development\/337-new-homes-join-b3living\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">B3Living<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Blend Funding Plc completed a \u00a325m bond drawdown for Ongo Homes, the first trade on BondAuction, while Arbour Housing announced an \u00a38m retrofit for 600 homes in Armagh, Banbridge, and Craigavon, supported by Ulster Bank. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/thehousingfinancecorp.com\/blend-completes-25m-retained-bond-sale-to-ongo-homes-via-bondauction-inaugural-trade-priced-within-one-business-day-of-drawdown-notice\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Housing Finance Corporation<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsletter.co.uk\/business\/growing-a-housing-stock-that-is-fit-for-the-future-northern-ireland-housing-association-to-invest-over-ps8-million-in-retrofitting-600-homes-with-sustainable-improvements-5502777\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">NewsLetter<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Ombudsman has criticised Clanmil Housing for showing \u201capathy\u201d in its handling of a complaint about a tenant\u2019s anti-social behaviour, finding failings in how the issue was investigated. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk\/news\/northern-ireland\/ombudsman-slams-housing-association-apathy-over-anti-social-behaviour-claim\/a86665014.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Belfast Telegraph<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dacorum Borough Council has approved a new Investment Plan for the Dacorum Investment Partnership, setting out proposals to deliver new affordable homes and support regeneration across key areas of the borough. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dacorum.gov.uk\/home\/all-news\/2026\/02\/04\/new-investment-plan-approved-to-deliver-affordable-new-homes\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dacorum Borough Council<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The government has launched a consultation on proposals to create a Greater Cambridge development corporation, a regeneration body aimed at accelerating growth and delivering thousands of new homes, jobs, and infrastructure across Greater Cambridge and the Oxford-Cambridge corridor. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/news\/new-regeneration-body-to-boost-jobs-homes-and-infrastructure-across-greater-cambridge\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">GOV.UK<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">HG Construction has secured a \u00a373m contract to deliver a purpose-built student accommodation scheme in Wembley for developer YourTRIBE. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.constructionnews.co.uk\/contracts\/hg-construction-wins-73m-wembley-pbsa-contract-04-02-2026\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Construction Wave<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">South Coast Insulation Services has ceased trading after a government retrofit funding cliff under the ECO scheme wiped out its order book. Meanwhile, FK Group Ltd and two subsidiaries have delayed administrator appointments for up to two weeks, following earlier incorrect reports about their position. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.constructionenquirer.com\/2026\/02\/05\/eco-funding-cliff-edge-sinks-insulation-contractor\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Construction Enquirer<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.constructionnews.co.uk\/financial\/administrations\/three-fk-group-firms-file-new-administration-notices-04-02-2026\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Construction News (register)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In November 2025, builders\u2019 merchants\u2019 like-for-like total value sales fell 0.4% year-on-year, with unadjusted sales down 5.1% and volume down 8.5%, while prices rose 3.7%. In contrast, specialist plumbing and heating merchants saw a 2.7% rise in like-for-like value sales, though unadjusted value and volume fell 2.2% and 6.5%, with prices up 4.6%. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/bmbi.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/BMBI-November-2025-Report-MASTER.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Builders Merchant Building Index<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/phmi.co.uk\/app\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PHMI-November-2025-Report-MASTER.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Plumbing &amp; Heating Merchant Index<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">S&amp;P Global Construction PMI rose to 46.4 in January from December\u2019s five-and-a-half-year low of 40.1, suggesting the downturn is moderating. However, overall activity remains subdued, with modest growth only in infrastructure and public works, and headline workloads improving slightly from -8% in Q3 2025 to -6% in Q4. Meanwhile, labour costs for MEP workers in London are rising sharply amid the data centre boom, while brick deliveries fell 6.7% year-on-year in December 2025. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pmi.spglobal.com\/Public\/Home\/PressRelease\/0e0f8c170ffb476f9630a7c077d7d152\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">S&amp;P Global<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rics.org\/content\/dam\/ricsglobal\/documents\/market-surveys\/rics-uk-construction-monitor-q4-2025.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">RICS<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.constructionenquirer.com\/2026\/02\/04\/data-centre-drain-ramps-up-me-labour-costs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Construction Enquirer<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/statistics\/building-materials-and-components-statistics-january-2026\/construction-building-materials-commentary-january-2025\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">GOV.UK<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The government has approved a carbon-neutral Salt Cross garden village in West Oxfordshire, paving the way for 2,200 homes for around 5,000 people. Developers have also submitted plans for 570 homes near Shrewsbury with a new primary school. A consultation is under way for up to 300 homes near a Bradford beauty spot. Northern Group has proposed 200 homes near Reddish\u2019s \u201cSecret Lake\u201d, and Persimmon Homes will build 109 homes in Horndean, Hampshire. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/articles\/c07x34v0j4jo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">BBC<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.shropshirestar.com\/news\/local-hubs\/shrewsbury\/2026\/02\/04\/massive-shrewsbury-570-home-plan-with-new-primary-school-submitted-for-site-near-historic-battlefield\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Shropshire Star<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/articles\/c338xk34lg7o\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">BBC<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/marketingstockport.co.uk\/news\/developer-plans-200-homes-around-reddish-secret-lake\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Marketing Stockport<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidermedia.com\/news\/south-east\/more-than-100-homes-to-be-built-in-hampshire-village-following-land-sale\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Insider Media<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Daily News: 05\/02\/2026 B3Living has expanded its housing stock after acquiring 337 homes from Notting Hill Genesis, with the majority let at social rent and around 20% comprising leasehold and shared ownership properties. B3Living Blend Funding Plc completed a \u00a325m bond drawdown for Ongo Homes, the first trade on BondAuction, while Arbour Housing announced an [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10075","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-daily-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.locarla.com\/insight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10075","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.locarla.com\/insight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.locarla.com\/insight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.locarla.com\/insight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.locarla.com\/insight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10075"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.locarla.com\/insight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10075\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10079,"href":"https:\/\/www.locarla.com\/insight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10075\/revisions\/10079"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.locarla.com\/insight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10075"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.locarla.com\/insight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10075"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.locarla.com\/insight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10075"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}