Daily News: 14/03/2025
Construction output in Great Britain fell by 0.2% in volume terms in January 2025, marking a consecutive decline following a 0.2% drop in December 2024. Office for National Statistics
Grampian Housing Association has revealed plans to invest over £8.7m in tenants’ homes during the 2025-2026 period. Additionally, Paragon Bank has provided a £2.9m funding package to support a housing development in Kettering, Northamptonshire. Scottish Construction Now, Insider Media
Cumberland Council is seeking contractors for £160m worth of projects and is inviting them to attend its Capital Works Framework event later this month. Meanwhile, Viewpoint Housing Association has partnered with Insurepair, an Edinburgh-based all trades insurance reinstatement specialist, to carry out property repairs across its portfolio. Whitehaven News, Scottish Housing News
One Hyde Park residents dispute Laing O’Rourke’s compensation offer over alleged £35m defects, arguing it’s insufficient, while the contractor says the issue could have been resolved years ago. Housing Today (register)
Firms working on major public sector construction projects in Wales will benefit from enhanced payment protection under a new government initiative aimed at improving financial security within the industry. Construction News (register)
Civil engineering tender prices rose by an average of 1% in the first quarter of 2025, according to a newly established panel by BCIS. At the same time, estimating rates in the BCIS Building Maintenance Price Database saw an average increase of 3.3% in the year leading up to Q1 2025. BCIS, BCIS
Housebuilder Berkeley has warned that building safety regulatory changes are putting significant pressure on new home delivery, potentially overshadowing the benefits of recent government planning reforms. Construction Enquirer
Vastint UK and Countrylarge have secured approvals in Leeds for upper-floor residential at Vicar Lane and 400 apartments at Aire Park. Lendlease’s £1.9bn Birmingham Smithfield scheme gets approval for phase one, including 400+ build-to-rent homes. Blackpool’s £90m regeneration will replace 400 unfit homes with up to 280 new ones. In St Helens, the Watson Street masterplan moves forward with 750 homes and 150,000 sqft of commercial space. Warrington awaits decisions on over 400 homes from Redrow and Story Homes, while Gainford’s £170m Newcastle plan includes a 29-storey residential tower, a hotel, and leisure spaces. Place Yorkshire, Construction Enquirer, BBC, Place North West, Place North West, and Construction Enquirer