Daily News: 26/06/2025
Awaab’s Law will let tenants hold social landlords accountable for failing to fix serious hazards on time. Angela Rayner says a flexible ‘test and learn’ approach will guide its rollout, ensuring tenants are treated with dignity and urgent issues are swiftly resolved. GOV.UK
Salford City Council has approved transferring 135 affordable homes to Derive RP. Meanwhile, Lloyds Living will acquire 108 new sustainable rental homes from Northstone, to be delivered by December 2026. Place North West, Lloyds Living
The NI Public Services Ombudsman has launched an Own Initiative Investigation into the NI Housing Executive. In parallel, West Northamptonshire Council plans to consult tenants on bringing social housing services back under direct council control. Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman, West Northamptonshire Council
Tenant satisfaction is up for the first time in years, driven by better services and repairs under new consumer regulation, says Housemark. Housing Executive
The Construction Skills Mission Board has launched a drive to recruit 100,000 extra workers yearly, backed by Deputy PM Liz Kendall. In addition, the government has responded to the consultation on mandatory electrical safety checks in social housing and is seeking evidence on extending rules to owner-occupier leasehold homes in such blocks. GOV.UK, GOV.UK
Between April 2024 and March 2025, there were 38,308 housing starts and 36,872 completions through Homes England-managed programmes in England (excluding London, except where delivered on behalf of the GLA). GOV.UK
As of May 2025, 5,176 buildings over 11m in England have been identified with unsafe cladding, up 124 from April. In Q4 2024-25, 17,391 buildings were reported under fire safety rules, with 29.1% of landlords responsible for at least one. The Warm Home Discount gave £150 to 3.22m households, while 78,200 energy-efficiency measures were installed in 39,100 homes via the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund. The Green Homes Grant LAD and HUG schemes delivered 21,100 measures to 11,500 homes. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme saw 83,664 voucher applications, mostly for air source heat pumps. GOV.UK, GOV.UK, GOV.UK, GOV.UK, GOV.UK, and GOV.UK
In May 2025, UK construction saw a 47% year-on-year rise in detailed planning approvals, while main contract awards fell by 16%. Project starts increased by 21% compared to the previous three months. Construction News (register)
Balconies on a £41m new-build estate in east London, developed by Bouygues UK, were so poorly designed they “posed a risk to life” from the outset, according to a BBC investigation. BBC
Investment group Svella has agreed to acquire Cubby Construction, rescuing it from potential administration. At the same time, family-run J Coffey Group posted a £5.5m pre-tax profit in 2024, down 14%, despite a £52m revenue drop following the end of a major overseas contract. Construction Enquirer, Construction Enquirer
New regulations will enable more planning appeals to be handled through a faster, simplified process, aiming to improve efficiency and reduce delays. GOV.UK
Plans for 370 homes near Oxford and 185 at Berewood in Waterlooville have been approved, despite concerns over design and parking. In Tewkesbury, outline plans for 2,800 homes have been submitted, while an 800-home scheme with a new railway station in Peterhead has progressed. Also, 233 more homes are planned on the edge of Northampton. This is Oxfordshire, The News, Punchline Gloucester, Aberdeen Live, and Northampton Chronicle