Daily News: 30/03/2026
The Crown Commercial Service has launched bidding for its £120bn Construction Works and Associated Services 3 framework, an eight-year agreement running from January 2027 to 2035, which will be accessible to a wide range of public sector clients, including local authorities, housing providers, NHS bodies and emergency services. Construction News (register)
The London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham has begun major upgrade works on more than 500 council homes, aiming to improve housing quality and living conditions for residents across the borough. Hammersmith & Fulham London Borough
The UK government has launched a £165m road fund to unlock stalled housing and employment sites, aiming to remove infrastructure barriers and accelerate the delivery of thousands of new homes and jobs across England. GOV.UK
Peabody Trust has secured a £50m investment approved by Sadiq Khan to deliver over 500 affordable homes across London by 2032. Bernicia has also published a £400m five-year strategy, including £150m to deliver up to 1,000 new homes and £121m for upgrades to existing stock, with a strong focus on energy efficiency improvements. Peabody Trust, Housing Today (register)
Greater London Authority has had its ‘AA’ long-term and ‘A-1+’ short-term ratings reaffirmed by S&P Global Ratings with a stable outlook, reflecting strong financial resilience. Meanwhile, Orkney Islands Council is progressing plans to deliver 14 new council homes to expand local housing supply. S&P Global, Scottish Housing News
Tower Hamlets Council plans up to 10,000 homes around Billingsgate Fish Market; Clarion Housing Group and London Square will deliver 261 affordable homes at the former Leegate Shopping Centre in Lewisham; in Rugby, a £26m scheme will deliver 108 affordable homes; and Thirteen Group has added 105 new homes in Middlesbrough, delivered by Esh Construction. BBC, Clarion Housing Group, Housing Digital, and Housing Digital
The Greater London Authority reports that London has the highest number of households on council housing waiting lists in England, with rising homelessness and very limited new social housing lets placing councils under significant and sustained pressure. London Gov.UK
West Dunbartonshire Council has launched a review of all high-rise lifts across its housing stock following a “brutally honest” report that highlighted delays and issues in recent repair works, including a prolonged lift outage caused by a staff error. Clydebank Post
Stoke-on-Trent City Council housing repair staff are set to go on strike as part of a national pay dispute after workers voted in favour of industrial action in response to a 3.2% pay offer from employers. The dispute involves council craftworkers responsible for maintaining housing stock across the city. StokeonTrentLive
Southwark Council approved a revised Canada Water Masterplan (up to 4,184 homes); in Essex, an 850-home scheme is expected for approval; in Wiltshire, a 650-home phase has been submitted in Chippenham; in North Devon, a 450-home scheme near Barnstaple is recommended; and in County Durham, a 104-home scheme near Cross Lane is under consideration despite objections. Construction Enquirer, Essex Live, Gazette & Herald, Devon Live, and Chronicle Live