Daily News: 01/05/2025
Orbit Group has boosted liquidity through a £665m package, which includes £130m in new funding from Santander, ABN AMRO, and Barclays, and an extension of £535m in existing facilities with those banks, along with Virgin Money and NatWest. Similarly, Bromsgrove District Housing Trust (BDHT) secured £100m from NatWest to support investment in homes across the West Midlands. Orbit Group Ltd., HQN
Birmingham City Council is under fire after revealing that around 40,000 council homes still need bathroom and kitchen replacements, sparking criticism over tenant neglect. Meanwhile, Glasgow has hit a record high by allocating 3,500 social housing flats to homeless individuals in the past year. Birmingham Live, Glasgow Live
Mears has secured a £230m contract renewal with Milton Keynes City Council to provide housing repairs and maintenance services over five years. In addition, OCS has been awarded a hard FM contract by the Church of England Pensions Board to manage maintenance and safety services across 1,200 homes for retired clergy and their families. Construction Enquirer, FMJ
Berkeley’s St Joseph and Birmingham City Council have agreed to restart the £2bn Ladywood Estate regeneration, aiming to deliver up to 7,500 homes over 20 years. In Manchester, Unite and Manchester Metropolitan University have launched a £390m joint venture to redevelop Cambridge Halls with 2,300 student beds. In addition, Clarion’s Latimer is delivering the Dyecoats scheme in Leeds, set to provide 1,600+ homes and £300m in social value. Construction Enquirer, Construction Enquirer, and Clarion Housing Group
Persimmon is on track to meet its 2025 homes delivery target, buoyed by strong early-year momentum and a new offer providing buyers with a 15% interest-free equity loan. Business Live
The BMBI reports that total value sales from Dec 2024 to Feb 2025 were down 1.1% year-on-year, despite a 1.8% increase in volume sales and a 2.8% drop in prices. In comparison, the PHMI shows total value sales over the last 12 months fell 1.0% compared to the previous year. Builders Merchant Building Index, Plumbing & Heating Merchant Index
The UK Construction Monitor – Q1 2025 shows that construction workloads remained broadly stable, with a headline net balance of -1, though expectations suggest a slightly stronger outlook going forward. RICS
In Salford, Imco Holdings and Forshaw Group plan to redevelop Riverside Retail Park into 808 new homes, including a 36-storey tower. In Maidenhead, Taylor Wimpey seeks approval for 225 homes near a sewage farm, raising safety concerns. Additionally, plans for 210 new homes are under consideration in Somerset, and 145 new homes in Leicestershire are set for approval. Place North West, Slough Observer, Somerset Live, and BBC