Daily News: 20/02/2026
Sovereign Network Group has secured a £200m financing package from Lloyds Bank to accelerate investment in new social homes and upgrade existing properties across London and the South of England. Sovereign Network Group
Housing 21’s resident satisfaction rose to 91% in the Autumn 2025 survey, and it has joined PlaceShapers. Meanwhile, Beyond Housing Ltd reported a six-month surplus of £2.427m, below budget, with a full-year forecast of £5.926m under budget, while Be First (Barking & Dagenham) cut its development forecast by 9%, reducing reliance on council funding. Housing 21, Research Tree, and Housing Today (register)
Preston City Council is taking initial steps to acquire new-build homes from a private developer to expand its stock of council-owned, socially rented, and affordable housing. Preston City Council
Harlow Council unveiled a record £179m Budget 2026 to invest in council housing under its Building Harlow’s Future plan, while West Lothian Council will invest over £65m over the next two years to create new homes and improve existing stock. Meanwhile, Scottish social landlords could face a potential £40m shortfall in rental income over five years if collection performance falls by just half a percentage point. Your Harlow, West Lothian Council, and Scottish Housing News
Public Services Ombudsman for Wales announced proposals to launch two Own Initiative investigations into how social housing providers respond to reports of disrepair, with a focus on damp and mould affecting vulnerable tenants. Public Services Ombudsman for Wales
The London Borough of Haringey has appointed four firms to support the delivery of its £570m Estate Renovation Plan, aimed at improving the comfort and quality of all 20,000 council homes. Haringey London Borough
Dandara has partnered with two registered providers in West Essex to deliver almost 150 affordable homes across the region. Bellway Latimer and Aberdeen Group agreed a £70.5m deal for 139 homes at Springstead Village in Cambridge. Galliford Try secured a £32.8m contract to build 126 homes for Clarion Housing at City Place, Chester. Sovereign Network Group exchanged contracts with Barratt Redrow Southern Counties to deliver 42 affordable homes at Willow Park, Bramley, as part of a Section 106 agreement. Housing Executive, Show House, Construction News (register), and Sovereign Network Group
CORE M&E Maintenance has launched as an independent business following the demerger of IM Maintenance and Technical Services (IMMTS) from IM Mechanical & Electrical Services (IMMES). Facilitate Magazine
The UK building sector shows early recovery, with delayed projects moving forward. Gardiner & Theobald raised its 2026 tender price inflation forecast to 3.0% from 2.5% due to ongoing cost pressures. Construction Enquirer
Bradford City Council approved the City Village regeneration scheme, enabling up to 1,000 homes in the former commercial centre. A major village expansion with 3,850 homes and three schools is pending approval, while a 295-home greenbelt plan faces opposition. Story Homes applied for 155 family homes at Hazelhurst Farm, Worsley, and councillors will decide on 114 new affordable homes in Carlisle. Construction Enquirer, BBC, BBC, Lancashire Business View, and News & Star