Daily News: 22/01/2026
Churchill Living is partnering with Housing 21 to deliver over 300 social rented homes for older people across five sites, expanding its retirement housing and affordable housing offer. Housing Today (register)
The government has published updated national guidance for new builds, focusing on design quality, climate resilience, and well-connected neighbourhoods with local amenities, while supporting modern living through home working and flexible, adaptable layouts. GOV.UK
The Regulator of Social Housing has confirmed fee increases for 2026/27, with charges rising by 1.8% for large registered providers and by 5% for local authority landlords. Housing Today (register)
Hackney Council reports improved tenant satisfaction with repairs and maintenance but acknowledges more work is needed. Manchester City Council will review its approach to bringing empty homes back into use, as its wider housing strategy remains on track to exceed its target of 10,000 affordable, social, and council homes. London Now, Manchester City Council
An £8.3m retrofit programme will upgrade nearly 650 social homes in the North East over three years via a five-provider consortium, while RPS Group secured a £1.1m contract for gas servicing and repairs across 2,570 council homes for Westmorland & Furness Council. Housing Executive, TheBusinessDesk.com
Up to 3,500 homes in south Birmingham progressed after Lovell was awarded the Druids Heath redevelopment contract. In London, Wates and Mount Anvil will deliver at least 360 council homes across Southwark, while JJ Rhatigan secured a £78m contract to create the city’s first co-living development, converting a 1950s office into 174 homes near the Barbican. TheBusinessDesk.com, The Construction Index, and Construction Enquirer
The government announced a £1.5bn capital programme to repair, refurbish, and maintain museums, libraries, and cultural venues across England, addressing a long-standing repair backlog from years of underfunding. Construction Enquirer
Mears expects its turnover and adjusted pre-tax profit to hit the top end of market guidance after strong trading and contract wins. Meanwhile, seven of the UK’s largest housebuilders face a class action lawsuit alleging anticompetitive behaviour that inflated new-build home prices. Housing Today (register), Housing Today (register)
As of November 2025, the Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS) has installed 120,500 measures in 89,800 households, while the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) delivered around 4.4m measures across 2.6m homes. The government also published the final evaluation of PRS MEES, assessing compliance and impacts to inform future energy efficiency policy. GOV.UK, GOV.UK, and GOV.UK
The report Broken Ladder: The Affordability Gap highlights a worsening home ownership crisis, as the gap between what buyers can afford and actual house prices continues to widen, leaving millions, particularly young and first-time buyers, unable to get on the property ladder. Home Builders Federation
Vistry and Kier secured approval for 289 mixed-tenure homes at Great Haddon, Peterborough. In Plymouth, a £7.3m land deal could deliver around 500 homes, while Bridgwater’s 220-home plans face thousands of objections. Wain Homes submitted plans for 137 homes in Preston, and 103 homes in Chelford are recommended for approval. Peterborough Today, Plymouth Live, BBC, Place North West, and Knutsford Guardian