Daily News: 02/03/2026
A new report from the HBF finds that unspent developer contributions held by local authorities in England and Wales have reached £9bn – an increase of £800m since mid-2024 – despite slowing housing delivery and reduced contribution receipts in recent years. Home Builders Federation
The Welsh Government is providing £30.9m to local authorities for town centre regeneration projects. Meanwhile, Housing Network secured £15m from HSBC UK to expand homelessness prevention and supported accommodation services. In Torridge, residents benefit from warmer homes and lower heating costs via a £1.5m energy efficiency project delivered by Torridge District Council and Westward Housing under the Community Regeneration Partnership Scheme. Welsh Government, HQN, and North Devon Today
The Yorkshire Building Society has called on the Labour Party to take action to unlock 2.5m homes, highlighting that there are currently 748,000 empty homes across the UK as an immediate opportunity to address the housing shortage. Birmingham Live
Enfield Council has launched a 10-year Housing Delivery and Placemaking Plan (2026-2036) to boost housebuilding, strengthen neighbourhoods, and secure funding for affordable and council homes. Meanwhile, Halton Borough Council unveiled a five-year strategy to deliver affordable and sustainable homes across Runcorn and Widnes. Enfield London Borough, Runcorn and Widnes World
Mellior Group has been awarded a £21m contract by investor-developer Bentry Capital to convert north London offices into homes as part of the Angel Village development in Islington. The Construction Index
A survey reveals that almost two-thirds of senior council officers in England are experiencing delays in construction projects, with funding uncertainty cited as the main concern despite Labour’s pledge to revitalise building activity. The Guardian
Latest building safety data shows 4,191 residential buildings over 11m in the UK are undergoing remediation monitoring for unsafe cladding as of end of January 2026, up 65% month-on-month. Meanwhile, building control figures for the 12 weeks to February 2026 recorded 108 new-build decisions and 82 new applications, indicating continued regulated development activity. GOV.UK, GOV.UK
A report highlights that no single standard model will work universally for retrofit, arguing instead that place-based, case-by-case approaches are essential for effective delivery. National Retrofit Hub
Refurbishment now leads the regional office pipeline, with analysis from Avison Young showing upgrades account for 53% of planned development across the Big Nine markets in 2026, up from 41% in 2025 and 33% in 2024. Meanwhile, the civil sector across the UK shows strain, with order books at their weakest since 2020 despite workloads edging into growth. Facilitate Magazine, Construction Enquirer
The London Assembly has urged the Mayor of London to engage local communities early in the design stages of residential developments to reduce opposition, highlighting that public visual preferences should be considered in the upcoming London Plan. Housing Today (register)
Blackpool Council’s leader defended plans to demolish 300 homes to address poor-quality housing and support regeneration. In Greater Manchester, Salford City Council officers recommended approval for a 22-storey, 386-unit co-living scheme in Ordsall. Meanwhile, 1,300 homes proposed near the A127 face environmental criticism, and Cameron Homes submitted outline plans for a £150m, 430-home development in Staffordshire. ITV News, Place North West, Echo News, and Express & Star