LOCARLA

Wednesday: 17/09/2025 / News

Daily News: 17/09/2025

The Regulator of Social Housing has issued a C4 grading to Tandridge District Council following an inspection that uncovered very serious failings, with fundamental changes required to address the issues. GOV.UK

Peabody has reported an 18% fall in its annual surplus, with figures showing £47m for the year to 31 March 2025 compared to £57m the previous year. The housing association attributed the drop to higher spending on maintenance and investment in existing homes. Housing Today (register)

Northern Ireland’s social housing crisis is worsening, with only 41 new social homes started since April 2025 against much higher targets, despite 404 completions. The latest Housing Bulletin also reports rising homelessness, adding to mounting pressures. Belfast Telegraph

United Infrastructure’s subsidiary, Social Infrastructure, has secured an £8.2m contract from Phoenix Community Housing to deliver energy efficiency upgrades across South London homes, while Jewson Partnership Solutions has won a materials supply contract with Ongo to support its day-to-day repairs and long-term investment programmes, with a new base in Scunthorpe established to deliver the contract and ensure timely material supply. FMJ, Housing Digital

Barratt Redrow’s costs to remediate building safety defects have now exceeded £1bn, while Galliford Try reported its fifth consecutive year of growth, more than doubling profits and reaching £238m in cash as it hit a 3% margin milestone earlier than expected. Meanwhile, Unite Students’ proposed £700m takeover of Empiric Student Property is under review by the UK competition watchdog. Construction Enquirer, Construction Enquirer, and Business Live

A cross-party group of MPs has backed a nine-point plan by developer Pocket Living that calls for exemptions to ease regulatory burdens on SME housebuilders. Meanwhile, new ONS data shows construction vacancies have dropped by 25% over the past year to 40,000, even as overall sector employment continues to rise. Housing Today (register), Construction News (register)

Royal Greenwich Council has approved three new social housing schemes as part of its drive to deliver 1,750 council homes across the borough. Elsewhere, a developer has unveiled plans for 730 homes and a new school in Kent, while schemes for 450 homes near Northampton and 450 in Witney are progressing despite local concerns. In Somerset, an outline application has been submitted for 325 homes in Crewkerne, with the land put up for sale. Meanwhile, residents will get the chance to question developers behind plans for 242 homes in a national park, with more than half proposed as affordable under a local occupancy clause. In North Yorkshire, Miller Homes has submitted plans for 167 new homes at Kirby Hill. Greenwich London Borough, BBC, Northampton Chronicle, This is Oxfordshire, Chard and Ilminster News, BBC, and The Press

Wednesday: 17/09/2025 / Awards

Contract Awards: 17/09/2025

High-value housing contracts and specialist works continue to reshape the UK social housing sector, with frameworks and local development awards spanning retrofit, accessibility, affordable housing, and estate upgrades.

Driving decarbonisation, Torus has awarded its £75m Contractor Framework – Retrofit Works (Lot 1) to Housing Maintenance Solutions, Next Energy Solutions, Re:Gen North West, ECOApproach, Ecogee, and Equans Regeneration. Running for 48 months across the North West, the framework is backed by the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund and will accelerate large-scale retrofit programmes, creating strategic partnerships with accredited installers to deliver funded and non-funded works.

Supporting independent living, West Lindsey District Council has appointed OBAM Domestic Lift Services for the £360k Supply and Installation of Stair Lifts, Step Lifts, Through Floor Lifts and Modular Ramps. This 48-month contract in the East Midlands will deliver essential accessibility adaptations, enabling residents to remain in their homes safely with tailored mobility solutions.

Expanding affordable housing, Fife Council has engaged Campion Homes for the £9.08m Affordable Housing Evershed Drive project. Over a 24-month period in Scotland, the contract will see the design and build of 40 new affordable homes, strengthening local housing supply and meeting demand for high-quality, energy-efficient residences.

Advancing its housing pipeline, Wolverhampton City Council has awarded a £3.33m call-off at Showell Circus (Task 6) to Morro Partnerships, with the 13-month project delivering new bungalows and supporting infrastructure as part of the authority’s housing development framework. Building further momentum, the council has placed a £680k contract at Langdale Drive (Task 5) with J Harper & Sons for the construction of two two-bedroom bungalows over an 8-month term. Strengthening this programme even more, a £598k call-off at Fane Road (Task 4) has also been awarded to J Harper & Sons, bringing forward two one-bedroom bungalows and boosting small-scale affordable housing delivery in the West Midlands.

Expanding regional capacity, South Kesteven District Council has contracted Lindum Group for the £1.93m Wellington Way Housing Development (Call-off). Over 19 months in the East Midlands, the project will deliver 11 new homes, including terraced houses and apartments, offering a mix of one and two-bedroom units.

Strengthening estate improvements, Hounslow London Borough has appointed GreyLine Builders for the £1.92m Roofing and Additional Works at the Clayponds Gardens Estate. This 12-month contract in Greater London covers flat roof and window replacements, balcony and walkway resurfacing, concrete repairs, and external decorations across multiple residential blocks in South Ealing.

Wednesday: 17/09/2025 / Tenders

Contract Tenders: 17/09/2025

Fire safety, compliance, and large-scale improvement contracts dominate today’s social housing procurement landscape, with councils and housing groups setting out major opportunities for long-term partnerships.

Driving forward essential infrastructure upgrades, Nottingham City Council has released a £840k contract for the Provision of Pipework Inspection, Renewal and Repair of Water Services. Running for 48 months across East Midlands housing stock, the agreement covers remedial works to underground pipework, stop taps, points of entry and section 75 notices in collaboration with Severn Trent Water, ensuring compliance and timely rectification for council-managed homes.

Marking one of the largest tenders in the pipeline, Norwich City Council has opened competition for a Compliance Services Contract worth £29.25m over 60 months. The wide-ranging scope spans statutory inspection, testing, servicing, maintenance and upgrades across communal systems including fire alarms, warden call systems, ventilation, legionella risk assessments, and lightning protection, making it a pivotal procurement opportunity for suppliers specialising in long-term housing compliance frameworks.

Adding weight to national frameworks, YPO (Yorkshire Purchasing Organisation) in collaboration with ESPO (Eastern Shires Purchasing Organisation) is preparing a £6m PIN – Fire Safety Equipment and Associated Services framework to be procured over 48 months UK-wide. This multi-lot structure covers fire safety equipment supply, servicing, risk assessments, sprinkler systems, alarm monitoring, and MoD-specific requirements, with both direct award and further competition routes planned under this mixed supply and services contract.

Strengthening its building safety agenda, Leicester City Council is consulting the market on its PIN – Passive Fire Protection (PAN3426), a £2.5m opportunity over 24 months. The planned contract will cover compartmentation works and fire door replacements across council housing, representing a vital compliance initiative aligned with statutory housing safety standards. In a parallel move, the council has also announced a PIN – Fire Risk Assessments & Compartmentation Surveys (PAN3432) valued at £1.5m across a 36-month term. This project centres on comprehensive fire risk assessments and detailed compartmentation surveys, to be delivered alongside the council’s internal teams, creating strong opportunities for specialist consultants and fire safety contractors to influence early planning and delivery models.

Expanding service delivery, Sovereign Network Group has issued a PIN – Communal and Window Cleaning estimated at £24.5m over 36 months. Covering estates across the South East and South West, this market engagement exercise highlights the growing demand for large-scale facilities management in the housing sector, focusing on resident satisfaction and estate presentation.

In Wales, Cardiff Council has launched a £21m Nelson & Loudoun High-Rise Residential Re-Cladding Project. The 24-month programme will deliver full recladding, curtain walling, window and door replacements, AOV systems, and associated MEP upgrades across two 16-storey tower blocks, representing one of the most significant fire safety and remediation projects in the region’s housing sector.

Tuesday: 16/09/2025 / News

Daily News: 16/09/2025

Landlords have continued to invest heavily in maintaining existing housing stock, spending £9.1bn on repairs and maintenance in the 12 months to June 2025, up from £8.2bn the previous year, with a forecast 12-month spend rising a further 3% to £10.3bn. GOV.UK

Thrive Homes and Watford Community Housing have entered formal discussions over a potential merger to form a new customer-focused Community Gateway housing association, aimed at strengthening affordable housing delivery across Hertfordshire and surrounding areas. Thrive Homes

Westminster City Council has rebranded its market sale arm as Westminster Living, with ambitions to generate nearly £1bn in receipts to fund new social and affordable housing delivery. Meanwhile, Places for People has secured a further £19.9m from Homes England to support the delivery of more affordable homes. In Surrey, Runnymede Borough Council (RBC) has committed to purchasing 13 additional properties to help meet social housing demand and provide more homes for families in need. Housing Today (register), Places for People Group, and BBC

Westminster City Council has launched the search for a main contractor to deliver its £80m landmark housing scheme at 291 Harrow Road, marking a major step forward in its regeneration plans. Construction Enquirer

Kier Group reported a 15% rise in pre-tax profit to £78.1m on revenue of £4.08bn, with outgoing chief executive Andrew Davies bowing out on a high. By contrast, Gleeson saw interim pre-tax profit halve but remains confident a restructure will restore margins in the second half of the year. Errigal Facades nearly doubled turnover to £34m, citing contract timings and a strong pipeline, while Springfield Properties is exploring a shift towards rental income in northern Scotland, targeting workers in the power infrastructure sector. Meanwhile, administrators of collapsed contractor Tolent are considering legal action to recover debts owed to the firm. The Construction Index, Housing Today (register), Construction News (register), Scottish Housing News, and Construction News (register)

The RTPI has unveiled Empower 2030, its new five-year strategic plan for 2025-2030, which sets out a vision to elevate the planning profession, deliver greater value for members, and expand its membership base. RTPI

Basildon Council may take over the £130m Craylands estate regeneration to deliver 763 homes with Homes England. Elsewhere, 570 homes in Hornchurch face strong opposition, 300+ homes are planned on Dereham’s edge, 256 homes and a park are proposed on a disused South London golf course, and in rural Kent, a 160-home scheme has advanced with assurances on GP capacity. Yellow Advertiser, This is Local London, Eastern Daily Press, MyLondon, and Kent Live

Sept 2025

Social Housing RMI Business Intelligence & other stuff

Are you sitting comfortably? Then I’ll begin.

Alright la. Our kid and I had a sound time up in Liverpool at the Housing Community Summit, it was boss. I lived there for 3 years from 97‑00 in one of the ‘Bread’ streets. It’s where I sat at a computer for the first time in my life – up until then I had been a scuba diver, and we had no use for chairs.
People asked me, post event, if it was ‘good/worthwhile’ and that’s a no brainer. I’m in a very fortunate position that I don’t need to talk about work. I chat about life, love, hopes, ambitions & dreams – basically retirement. For me it’s a 2-day break to chat with people I enjoy spending time with, so thank you for that.

What I did hear is that some companies are paying £10K a month for ‘AI’ bid software, please don’t. Ours does exactly the same thing (if not better as we know your business), and it’s free with your licence. On that note, please stop sharing licences and asking for discount, we haven’t put our prices up for over 2 years and in the last six months alone we have made all the changes for the Procurement Act 2023 (our competitors haven’t) and added an AI Bid Assistant (our competitors haven’t).
I’m trying to buy a house in London for gawd sakes, give a man a break.

When the team told me what we had in store for you this month, I got giddy with excitement.
So let me hear you scream: “Do you want the first HA Financial Return stats of the year?”
Hell yes, Gaz!
“And do you want the latest EPC stats for Q2?”
Do we ever Gaz, yes!
“And do you want a longer introduction editorial?”

Hello …. Hello …., anyone there?

Well, let’s throw caution to the wind, let the chips fall where they may, and get this repairs, maintenance & construction in Social Housing with additional bits and bobs, show on the road.

‘Blue links‘ for all and ‘green links‘ are behind login so dependent on your licence.

Welcome, welcome, one and all.

Social Housing EPC Analysis

For the full report, click here.

It’s all News to me!

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The Regulator of Social Housing issued judgements for seven landlords: Arun District Council was rated C4 for serious consumer failings; L&Q and Saxon Weald were downgraded to G2; Citizen (C1/G1/V2), Hexagon Housing Association (C2/G2/V2), Kensington and Chelsea London Borough (C3), and Stonewater (C2/G1/V2) also received updated ratings. Source: GOV.UK

Riverside secures £250m for estate improvements. Source: Place North West. Sovereign Network Group has raised £250m through sustainability bonds under its EMTN programme and secured a £100m loan from Lloyds to fund large-scale retrofits. Source: Sovereign Network Group, Sovereign Network Group. Glasgow City Council to allocate £115m for new social and affordable homes in 2025/26. Source: Glasgow City Council

Bury Metropolitan Borough Council calls time on social housing subsidiary Six Town Housing after strategic review highlights high commercial and regulatory risks. Source: Place North West. Norwich City Council agrees to liquidate Lion Homes after losses and poor performance tracking. Source: BBC

From 15 September 2025, Pennington Choices became part of Mears Group to support its best‑in‑class compliance strategy. Source: Pennington Choices Ltd. Genuit Group buys ventilation firm Monodraught for £56m. Source: Construction Enquirer

Ardmore Construction Ltd enters administration over fire safety remediation claims. Source: Construction Enquirer

The government names six sites to receive New Homes Accelerator support, speeding up delivery of 36,000 homes so far. Source: Housing Today. Homes England and Vistry Group sign long-term joint venture Hestia with £150m investment to deliver mixed-tenure communities. Source: GOV.UK. Lambeth Council agrees a £250m housing partnership with Vistry to deliver 500+ homes, at least 50% affordable. Source: Housing Today. £120m regeneration boost approved to transform Newcastle’s last major brownfield site into up to 2,500 homes at Forth Yards. Source: GOV.UK. £120m partnership to deliver 440-home scheme in Trafford. Source: TheBusinessDesk.com

Chelmsford City Council seeks developers for £250m residential-led regeneration on former industrial land. Source: The Construction Index. Lewisham Council seeks long-term Strategic Partner to deliver up to £1.85bn residential-led development programme. Source: Lewisham London Borough

As of mid-2025, the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund delivered 87,700 measures across 43,200 households. Source: GOV.UK. The Green Homes Grant LAD and HUG 2 installed 21,900 measures across 11,800 households. Source: GOV.UK. ECO has delivered 4.3m measures to 2.6m households. Source: GOV.UK. Nearly 40m smart meters are installed, 36m in smart mode. Source: GOV.UK. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme received 91,232 vouchers, 97% for heat pumps. Source: GOV.UK. Government‑supported heat pump installations fell 10% to 11,001 in Q2 2025. Source: GOV.UK. GBIS installed 90,900 measures in 71,000 households. Source: GOV.UK. Over 5,200 buildings with unsafe cladding are being remediated. Source: GOV.UK

In July 2025, UK housing project starts rose 24% year-on-year, while main contract awards and detailed planning approvals fell 38% and 47% respectively. Source: Construction News. BCIS reports construction rate increases by 5% in Q2 2025. Source: BCIS. Use of AI in construction projects has jumped from 15% to 75% in two years. Source: PBC Today

Since the start of the Right to Buy scheme in 1980, over 2,036,848 homes have been sold to tenants in England. Source: GOV.UK. Nearly 28,000 affordable homes have been lost due to permitted development rights. Source: Local Government Association. Social landlords have sharply increased the percentage of complaints resolved on time, driven by regulatory pressure. Source: Housing Today. Disabled people at risk of homelessness are rising due to a lack of suitable homes. Source: Sky News

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Housing Association Financial Performance & Insights

For this year’s financial review we have compiled, standardised, and analysed the financial statements of 98 Housing Associations to present clear, evidence-based insights. This year’s review highlights how core financial indicators are evolving, from turnover and surpluses to investment levels and debt positions, capturing the shifts shaping sector performance.

For the full report, click here.

Show me the money!

A PDF guide to contract management on Locarla.

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High‑value frameworks and regeneration schemes shape the UK social housing pipeline this month.

Setting the pace, the PIN – Southern Construction Framework 6 (SCF6) from Devon County Council with Hampshire County Council flags a £4.5bn, 48-month re-procurement from May 2027, covering projects above £1m across London, South East and South West with expanded public‑sector access and lotting by geography and value.

Accelerating decarbonisation, Retrofit, Insulation and Associated Works ‑ EEM0046 by Efficiency East Midlands Ltd (EEM) is a £1.03bn, 48‑month framework spanning England and Wales, offering Midlands and national coverage to deliver insulation, enabling and compliance works across domestic and commercial stock.

Championing innovation, PfH ‑ Procurement for Housing’s Social Housing Emerging Disruptors 5 (SHED 5) Framework Agreement offers £500m over 36 months UK‑wide. Supported by the National Housing Federation, CIH and HouseMark, this fifth iteration will give start‑ups, SMEs and established firms a platform to bring innovative goods, works and services into the housing and public sector.

Improving accessibility, CHIC Limited has released Lifts & Mobility Aids Framework 2025–2029 valued at £416.7m for 48 months UK‑wide, covering supply, install, refurbishment, servicing and maintenance for passenger lifts, stairlifts, through-floor lifts, hoists and related mobility equipment.

Driving regeneration, Chelmsford City Council has announced Chelmer Waterside Residential Development Scheme targets £250m over 71 months to deliver 770–1,000 homes (35% affordable), alongside mixed‑use, remediation and estate management on a landmark waterfront site.

Expanding asset investment, Eastern Procurement Ltd.’s Windows, Doors, Fire Doors & Roofline – EPWDR25 worth £237m for 48 months UK-wide, with lots for supply–only and supply‑and‑fit, with associated works such as asbestos, electrical, roofing, drainage, and insulation for a complete delivery solution.

Securing electrical safety, PIN – Electrical Installations Repairs & Maintenance (EIRM) Term Contracts by Southwark Council signals £140m over 36 months from Sept 2026, appointing two contractors for communal and domestic electrical works, testing, emergency systems, solar/EV, fire alarms, and lightning protection.

Upgrading stock at scale as Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council is procuring Capital Planned Works ‑ H758 valued at £115m over 60 months for kitchens, bathrooms, re‑roofing, facades, estate and garage improvements, and higher‑value voids, delivered under a single principal contractor.

Encompassing key housing improvement works, Magenta Living is launching a £70m Planned Investment Works Framework to enhance its housing stock. The framework includes multiple lots covering energy efficiency, roofing, windows, kitchens, bathrooms, heating, electrical, and external works.

Building long‑term partnerships as Karibu Community Homes Ltd. has announced Repairs, Planned and Compliance contract at a total value of £64.2m, split into three lots repairs & voids; planned & cyclical; and gas & electrical compliance with bidders able to win up to two lots.

Refreshing interiors, Aberdeen City Council has set out Housing Capital Projects 2026–2030 ‑ Internal Works to Houses totals £30m over an initial 24 months (with extensions), covering kitchens, bathrooms, electricals, joinery, finishes and associated making good.

Preparing the market, Great Places Housing Group has Planned Procurement for Repairs and Maintenance Services and Works at a £17.3m total value over 60 months spanning regional lots for multi‑trade, damp, electrical, gardens, drainage, scaffolding and roofing under a Competitive Flexible/Open Procedure.

Tightening fire safety, Karbon Homes is procuring Compartmentation Surveys & Works and General Fire Safety Rectification valued at £13.6m over 48 months, spanning six lots across Karbon’s stock and 54North Homes Ltd. properties, covering surveys, remedials, and rectification.

Modernising building systems, Camden Council’s Rowley Way Estate Heating Infrastructure Works totals £11.4m over 32 months, to replace estate‑wide heating and risers, upgrade internal systems, deliver compliant ventilation, fire‑stopping and associated asbestos works.

Covering a wide range of housing works, Platform Housing Ltd has issued a Tender to engage PIN ‑ Strategic Contractors for a long-term partnership. The scope spans kitchens, bathrooms, roofing, retrofit, fire safety, electrics, decorations, voids, and major repairs, with lot structures to be finalised through pre‑market engagement.

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The Other League Tables

Along with our main monthly league tables, ❲see below❳, we also produce tables based on the following trades: Retrofit, Asbestos Survey, Fire Risk Assessment, Water/Legionella & Stock Condition Survey. ❲Premium Clients, click here for the PDF❳

Top of the league in each table are ….

Retrofit:

Mears Group

Asbestos Survey:

Tersus Consultancy

Fire Risk Assessment:

IFI Group

Stock Condition Surveys:

Property Tectonics

Water / Legionella:

Aquatrust Water & Ventilation

August League Tables

Built Environment Contracts

The trades we cover; Responsive Repair, Planned Works (Kitchen/Bathrooms & Doors/Windows), Gas Servicing/Central Heating, Voids, Fire Safety & Roofing.