Daily News: 08/12/2025
Arhag Housing Association Limited has been placed under review by the Regulator of Social Housing due to potential issues with its governance and financial viability. GOV.UK
Sanctuary’s completions fell 42% to 287 homes in the first half of the year, down from 493, with homes on site and in development also decreasing. Meanwhile, Swindon Housing Development Company has been given a “last chance” after posting heavy losses that outweigh income from the council’s solar farms. Housing Today (register), Swindon Advertiser
Edinburgh Council will use a £5m tourist tax fund to build 472 affordable homes between 2026/27 and 2028/29. At the same time, the number of long-term empty homes in the West Midlands has risen over a third to 16,000, prompting calls for councils to have extra powers. Meanwhile, West Northamptonshire Council is considering new housing rules to tackle backlogs and prioritise the most vulnerable amid rising demand. BBC, BBC, and BBC
A Cardiff Capital Region (CCR) fund is driving brownfield regeneration across South East Wales, supporting 2,500 new homes, over 3,000 jobs, and reclaiming space equivalent to 132 football pitches. Housing Digital
Novus Property Solutions has partnered with Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council on a five-year pilot to improve communal spaces, creating safer and greener environments. Facilitate Magazine
Hull-based Tucker Mechanical & Electrical Building Services went into administration, owing suppliers £4.7m. Meanwhile, historic contractor Emanuel Whittaker Ltd has transitioned to an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT). Overall, construction sector business failures doubled in November, with 28 collapses recorded, the joint-highest monthly total since March. Construction Enquirer, Construction Enquirer, and Construction News (register)
Construction input costs in Scotland rose by an average of 4.5% year-on-year and 1.0% quarter-on-quarter in 4Q2025, according to the latest BCIS Scottish Contractors Panel. BCIS
London developers are calling for reforms to unlock a £262bn pipeline of retrofit and redevelopment work across the capital’s ageing office stock. Meanwhile, Housing Secretary Steve Reed acknowledged that a sharp increase in housebuilding is needed to meet the 1.5m new homes target. Construction Enquirer, BBC
The UK risks missing its 2030 and 2050 clean-energy building targets unless the government urgently funds major workforce upskilling, a parliamentary committee has warned. At the same time, an £820m scheme will give unemployed young people a six-week construction training course, with construction identified as a priority sector. Parliament.UK, Construction Enquirer
In 2024/25, Scotland received 17,425 local development applications (excluding processing agreements), down from 21,897 in 2020/21, with the proportion decided within two months falling from 67.8% to 62.9%. The Scottish Government
Greenwich has approved 1,448 homes at the Electric Works scheme in Woolwich, while 626 homes in southwest London were approved with no affordable housing. In Scotland, Persimmon will deliver 332 homes on the former Aberdeen Exhibition Centre site. In England, 400 homes are planned for the East Lancs Paper Mill site alongside road widening, and a 300-home green belt scheme near Swindon is moving forward. Housing Today (register), BBC, Scottish Housing News, Bury Times, and Business Live