Daily News: 09/10/2025
A landmark agreement between the government, regulators, and industry has unlocked 21,000 new homes in North Sussex, ending a four-year delay. It allows 4,000 stalled homes to proceed and enables 17,000 more, while protecting local wetlands and wildlife. GOV.UK
Together Housing returned to a £21m pre-tax surplus for the year to March 2025, up from a £12.5m deficit, though its development output halved over the same period. Housing Today (register)
Kensington & Chelsea RBC will invest £100m from its pension fund to deliver up to 250 homes outside the borough, aiming to ease housing pressures. Meanwhile, Brighton & Hove City Council returned 145 empty homes to use in 2024/25, supporting local housing efforts. At the same time, West Oxfordshire faces the challenge of building 900+ homes annually to meet government targets. In addition, Castle Point Borough Council has released a progress report on its Housing Improvement Programme, while Cotswold District Council has published draft options to address significantly increased government housing targets. LGC, Brighton & Hove City Council, BBC, Castle Point Borough Council, and Cotswold District Council
Lloyds Living has expanded its UK PRS presence by acquiring Start Living, a 610-home portfolio developed via a joint venture between Gatehouse Living Group and TPG Real Estate, marking a key step in its strategy to grow nationwide. TheBusinessDesk.com
Five water companies have secured £556m in additional funding to upgrade infrastructure and boost resilience, following a proposed £2.7bn increase. At the same time, Taylor Wimpey has launched a £40m High Court claim against Ardmore Construction and its parent firms over incomplete remediation works on a North London residential development. Construction Enquirer, Construction News (register)
WSP Group has completed its £281m acquisition of automotive consultancy Ricardo, further strengthening its engineering and consultancy capabilities. Grainger, meanwhile, reported continued rental growth, forecasting a 50% rise in earnings over the next four years. The Construction Index, Business Live
Severe delays to the Gateway Two safety approval processes have stalled over 150 high-rise residential construction projects across the UK, putting Labour’s pledge to deliver 1.5m homes at risk, according to the Construction Plant-hire Association. Construction News (register)
A new report, Planning for Small Sites – Permission Impossible for Small Sites and SME Home Builders, highlights the vital role of small sites (up to 150 homes and under 0.25 hectares) in boosting housing supply by using underused land and enabling faster delivery. Home Builders Federation
Wrexham Council has approved 137 homes on a 12-acre greenfield site off Wrexham Road in Rhostyllen. Revised plans have been submitted to build 230 new homes near the site of a popular Somerset music festival. In Seaham, proposals have been put forward for 211 supported housing apartments at the heart of the Garden Village, while Persimmon seeks permission to build 153 homes on a new estate in Powys. Place North West, Somerset Live, Housing Executive, and Powys County Times