Daily News: 27/10/2025
New laws are now in force protecting social housing tenants from emergency hazards, damp, and mould, ensuring landlords urgently address dangerous homes within 24 hours. The reforms are a lasting legacy of two-year-old Awaab Ishak, who tragically died from prolonged exposure to mould. GOV.UK
S&P Global Ratings has affirmed its ‘A-‘ long-term issuer credit rating on U.K.-based Places for People Group Ltd, with the outlook remaining negative. The agency has also affirmed an ‘A-‘ rating for Chelmer Housing Partnership (CHP), with a stable outlook. S&P Global, S&P Global
Thousands of damp and mould repairs have been required in Leicester City Council-owned homes over recent years, but it is taking the authority months to address the problems. In Aberdeen, unions and organisations have called on the City Council to urgently fill more than 1,800 empty homes amid a housing emergency. Leicestershire Live, STV News
London’s Hackney Council has launched a search for a design and build contractor to deliver 341 new homes as part of the De Beauvoir Estate regeneration scheme, valued at £150m. Housing association Moat has awarded MLL Telecom a three-year contract to modernise its property and personal alarm systems. Construction Enquirer, Housing Digital
Liverpool-based Legacie Contracts saw turnover rise 19.5% to £116.1m for the year to 30 September 2024, expanding its leadership for build-to-rent growth. Meanwhile, Manchester demolition firm PP O’Connor reported a partial collapse of a 12-storey building due to latent structural defects. Construction Wave, Construction Enquirer
The latest BMBI shows August 2025 total value sales fell 5.0% year-on-year, with volumes down 4.1% and prices down 1.0%, adjusted for one less trading day, like-for-like sales dipped just 0.3%. In contrast, the PHMI recorded a 2.6% drop in total value sales, with volumes down 9.2% but prices up 7.3%, resulting in a 2.3% rise on a like-for-like basis. Builders Merchant Building Index, Plumbing & Heating Merchant Index
Changes to the environmental permitting system are set to speed up approvals for new housing and infrastructure, boosting economic growth, according to Environment Minister Emma Hardy. The House of Lords committee urges a high-ranking minister to lead the new towns programme, while Stormont continues to face a “brick wall” in securing borrowing powers for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive. GOV.UK, Housing Today (register), and BBC
Developer Oval Real Estate has secured planning approval for its landmark Albert Bridge House skyscraper in central Manchester, now set to deliver 800 flats, double the original number. Councillors have approved 175 homes on the edge of Melton Mowbray. Beal Homes has submitted plans for 169 homes at Pilgrims Walk in Hessle, expanding the 15-acre, tree-fringed site north of Boothferry Road. Separate plans propose 116 homes on a former quarry and brickworks site in Bradford. Construction Enquirer, BBC, Hull Live, and BBC