Daily News: 08/08/2025
London & Quadrant Housing Trust (‘L&Q’) reported managing 109,935 homes as of June 30, 2025, up from 109,659 in March. They completed 563 new homes in Q1 2025, up from 353 last year. Turnover was £271m, slightly down from £273m in Q1 2024. L&Q Group
Merging councils across Devon could “improve inequalities and provide better value for money,” Exeter City Council reports, recommending a new unitary authority for the city and surrounding area. Meanwhile, Ealing Council has unveiled a housing strategy to tackle rising pressure, with over 7,000 families awaiting secure council tenancies. BBC, Ealing.News
Social housing landlord Notting Hill Genesis has appointed five tier one contractors to deliver repairs and maintenance across its London housing stock under a framework worth up to £1.5bn over 15 years. Construction Enquirer
The City of Lincoln Council spent £80,000 to temporarily rehouse families living in flats deemed at risk of fire, part of £500,000 in unexpected costs incurred over three months this year. BBC
European investor Activum SG has entered the UK student accommodation market by acquiring a 795-bed portfolio valued at £84m. Concurrently, Kensa and Octopus are developing the UK’s first investor-funded ground-source heat pump network, a potential £100bn asset as renewable heat infrastructure grows. TheBusinessDesk.com, Sustainable Times
The administration process for Buckingham Group has been extended by two years, with Grant Thornton approved to continue until 4 September 2027 to manage owed funds. Former Stewart Milne Group workers have received approximately £1m in compensation following the company’s collapse. Simultaneously, North West housebuilder Eccleston Homes reported a £1.2m pre-tax loss for the year ending 31 October 2024, citing a “broken planning system” and high interest rates. Construction News (register), BBC, and Business Live
The Bank of England’s recent interest rate cut from 4.25% to 4%, the fifth since last August, has been welcomed by the construction sector as a confidence boost. Concurrently, construction business failures fell to their lowest monthly level since January, with 20 administrations in July, similar to last year, highlighting ongoing challenges. Construction News (register), Construction News (register)
A council has partnered with infrastructure firm SNRG to deliver a green smart electricity network for an 8,500-home new town, potentially saving housebuilders £4,000 per home and cutting construction costs. Meanwhile, a 352-home co-living scheme, the first at Brent Cross Town’s 6,700-home regeneration, has been approved. Plans for 1,400 homes were resubmitted after initial council opposition, alongside proposals for 600 homes, a 70-bed care home, and a school. Progress continues on 330 homes in a village after an environmental assessment was requested, and nearly 140 homes are proposed for a Romford car park site. Housing Today (register), Housing Today (register), BBC, BBC, Kenilworth Nub News, and This is Local London