Daily News: 09/01/2026
Breckland Council in Norfolk is set to vote on writing off more than £460,000 owed by its own property investment company, which was established to deliver housing on small council-owned sites, after the firm was unable to repay the debt. BBC
British entrepreneur Mike Ashley has acquired a stake in Grainger, the UK’s largest listed residential landlord, following the company’s conversion into a REIT last September. Housing Today (register)
£19m allocated for new social housing in Inverclyde has been returned to the Scottish Government despite acute delivery shortfalls, raising concerns over unmet housing need, while a separate £1m government-backed fund has been launched in the West Midlands to help prevent homelessness through targeted support. Greenock Telegraph, West Midlands Combined Authority
Viessmann Climate Solutions has joined the four-year, £1.6bn Procure Plus framework to provide low- and zero-carbon technologies for social housing and public buildings, while Sustainable Building Services (UK) Ltd will deliver Leicester and Leicestershire’s Warm Homes energy efficiency schemes under the government’s grant programme. FMJ, East Midlands Business Link
Vistry has partnered with housing association Platform to deliver 213 affordable homes at its Boulton Moor development in Derby, under a significant contract that will form part of the wider mixed-tenure scheme and support the supply of new affordable housing in the city. East Midlands Business Link
Mace has been crowned the construction industry’s annual contracts league champion following a standout year of deal-making that saw it secure more work than any of its rivals, underlining its dominant market position. Construction Enquirer
Barratt Redrow injected £342.7m into Scotland’s economy, supporting housing and jobs. Permasteelisa UK’s pre-tax loss widened despite a 25% turnover rise. Cruden more than doubled profits via land-led affordable housing, while offsite firm Merit collapsed, leaving suppliers £17.4m unpaid. MGL Group’s profit rose a third, Norcon Construction’s revenues hit £45.5m despite lower profits, and ISG’s collapse left over £1bn in debt. Scottish Housing News, Construction News (register), Housing Today (register), Construction Enquirer, Construction News (register), Construction Wave, and Construction News (register)
The BMBI report shows builders merchant value sales up 0.2% and volumes up 0.8% year-on-year, despite a 0.6% drop in prices and unchanged trading days. Builders Merchant Building Index
Fife Council’s 2026-2031 SHIP plans 2,640 affordable homes, focusing on energy-efficient housing, sustainable communities, and addressing local affordability and demand. Fife Council
Nearly 500 homes are planned on an industrial site off Navigation Road, Worcester, under the South Worcestershire Development Plan Review. A committee decision is pending on 300+ homes at Thelwall Heys, Warrington. Councillors are advised to refuse Gleeson’s 163-home scheme near Carlisle, while a 145-home application on Bovingdon’s edge has been slightly scaled back. BBC, Warrington Guardian, Place North West, and Watford Observer