Daily News: 20/03/2025
The Housing Ombudsman’s March 2025 report names 16 landlords for safety failings, citing 23 complaints on fire, gas, water, electrics, asbestos, and lifts – often linked to disrepair. Cases include a disabled woman without a working lift for nearly two years, highlighting serious human impact. Housing Ombudsman Service
New research by Housemark suggests that social housing providers in the UK could unlock £880m in financial headroom by improving operational efficiency and maximising value within their businesses. Meanwhile, the Welsh Government is providing £90m in low-interest loans to support 277 new affordable homes and improvements to 4,397 existing properties. Housing Executive, Welsh Government
Crest Nicholson reports a stronger-than-expected cash performance, with an improved sales rate in the first 10 weeks of 2025, keeping it on track to meet profit targets. At the same time, United Living Group has acquired Jones, a family-owned power distribution and street lighting contractor, expanding its infrastructure capabilities. Housing Today (register), Construction Enquirer
Pareto FM has been appointed to Fusion21’s Workplace and Facilities Management Framework, securing positions on Lot 1: Total Facilities Management and Lot 4: Building Engineering Services. FMJ
In Q3 2024-25, 17,299 buildings required fire safety remediation, with large landlords responsible for most cases. Encouragingly, 99.9% had fire risk assessments. As of February 2025, 5,014 residential buildings over 11 metres still require cladding remediation, slightly down from the previous month. Additionally, the Great British Insulation Scheme has delivered 64,600 insulation measures across 51,200 households by the end of January 2025, improving energy efficiency across the country. GOV.UK, GOV.UK, and GOV.UK
UK construction orders fell 10% in February 2025 to £7.6bn. Despite a strong market, the residential sector struggles, per Barbour ABI, while tender prices will increase by 15%, according to the latest BCIS forecast. In addition, house building cost inflation has significantly cooled, standing at 1.7% in Q4 2024, down from a peak of 15.3% in Q2 2022, indicating a stabilising market. Builders Merchants News, BCIS, and BCIS
The House of Lords Built Environment Committee has launched an inquiry into new towns and expanded settlements. The modular inquiry will assess their effectiveness in delivering housing and explore how to ensure their success. Parliament.UK
Between October and December 2024, district-level planning authorities in England received 79,000 planning applications, marking a 7% decline compared to the same period in 2023. GOV.UK
Wates has revised its approach to a 1,380-home Essex regeneration scheme after fire safety delays. Despite objections, 500 homes near Chesterfield and 445 in Haydock have been approved. Pickstock Group secured planning for a 355-unit Stratford tower, and Birmingham may see a 29-storey energy-positive co-living tower with nearly 250 apartments, while Redrow plans 220 homes between Crewe and Nantwich. Construction News (register), Derbyshire Times, St Helens Star, Construction Enquirer, Construction Enquirer, and Cheshire Live