Daily News: 17/04/2025
Cardo Group has acquired Breyer Group’s roofing division through an asset purchase agreement after Breyer entered administration. Meanwhile, M Group has made its largest acquisition yet, taking over digital infrastructure firm Telent. Additionally, Belfast contractor Gilbert-Ash is moving to employee ownership via an Employee Ownership Trust. Cardo Group, Construction Enquirer, and Construction Enquirer
Harmony Fire has joined the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea’s fire safety framework, enhancing its presence in housing safety. In Glasgow, Clark Contracts will deliver a £30m, 273-bed student accommodation on Osborne Street for Ambassador Group. FMJ, Scottish Housing News
Southern Housing, one of England’s largest housing associations, has revealed it lost over £36m due to the collapse of contractor Henley Construct, which defaulted on multiple projects before entering administration. Construction News (register)
Claire Kershaw has been appointed as the new CEO of United Living Property Services, bringing her leadership to the forefront of the company’s operations in the property services sector. United Living
As of February 2025, around 4.2m measures have been installed in 2.5m homes through the ECO scheme, while the Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS) has delivered 70,300 improvements across 55,600 households. Despite this, new research shows over 12m homes in England still need EPC upgrades-equating to one home every minute needing energy-related improvements to meet net zero targets. GOV.UK, GOV.UK, and PBC Today
More than 94,000 households-representing around 170,000 people-are waiting for a social home in Wales, with Shelter Cymru warning this equates to 1 in every 14 households and highlights the urgent need for investment in affordable housing. Shelter Cymru
The government has updated its impact assessment, raising the total cost of leasehold reforms from £3.5bn to £4bn following technical corrections. Housing Today (register)
Developers behind the 3,000-home Vauxhall Square scheme plan to increase tower heights following a redesign, 12 years after original approval by Lambeth Council. The change follows the appointment of a new lead architect. Housing Today (register)
Avant Homes has secured approval for a £51m, 230-home scheme near Darlington. In Bedfordshire, 133 affordable homes, including supported living, were approved at Wixams. A 109-home development has been approved near Northallerton. Meanwhile, 400 homes in Elland and 215 near Bracknell face local concerns over infrastructure and traffic. Minor changes to a 139-home plan in Acklam have drawn mixed reactions. Sunderland Echo, Milton Keynes Citizen, The Northern Echo, Examiner Live, Bracknell News, and Teesside Live