Daily News: 27/11/2025
VIVID has secured £100m in funding from NatWest as part of the bank’s £500m social loan fund, aimed at accelerating the delivery of homes for social rent. VIVID is the first housing association to draw down from this fund. VIVID
Platform Housing Group delivered 662 new homes in the first half of the year, a 47% rise on the previous 451, reflecting continued investment and its strategy to ease housing shortages across its operating areas. Platform Housing Group
S&P Global Ratings has revised Hyde Housing Association’s outlook to stable and affirmed its ‘A-’ long-term rating. Similarly, Link Group Ltd, a Scottish registered social landlord, had its ‘A’ rating affirmed with a stable outlook. Meanwhile, twelve Scottish social landlords were reported as non-compliant with regulatory requirements by the Scottish Housing Regulator. S&P Global, S&P Global, and Scottish Housing News
Budget 2025 reaffirms the 1.5m homes target, boosts funding for affordable housing and garden towns, and allocates £48m to speed up planning, aiming to raise housebuilding by up to 30% by 2029-30. Infrastructure investment remains strong, with a Social Rent convergence decision due in January 2026. GOV.UK
The Welsh Government is allocating an extra £14.1m to boost energy efficiency in social homes, helping tenants enjoy warmer properties and lower bills. In Northern Ireland, Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has launched a consultation on the Decent Homes Standard to improve the quality, safety, and sustainability of social housing. Welsh Government, Department for Communities
Greater Manchester has unveiled an £11.7m plan to address all empty homes across the region. West Northamptonshire Council has pledged to deliver 650 affordable homes a year by 2029/30, aiming to increase this to 750 annually. Meanwhile, Argyll and Bute Council is taking significant steps to tackle the housing emergency, focusing on expanding affordable housing and supporting the most vulnerable. The Manc, BBC, and Argyll and Bute Council
Ardenglen Housing has appointed Consilium Contracting for repairs and out-of-hours services under a 12-month contract starting in January, extendable by a year based on performance. Scottish Federation of Housing Associations
National Timber Group, the UK’s largest independent timber supplier, has entered administration, causing 561 job losses. Unite Group’s £723m takeover of student landlord Empiric has been cleared by the UK competition watchdog. Ardmore Group, the UK’s 48th largest contractor, has received a Companies House warning for late accounts and a compulsory strike-off notice. Construction Enquirer, Insider Media, and Construction News (register)
Hammersmith & Fulham Council has approved plans to transform a 44-acre Earls Court site into a 4,000-home innovation district as part of a 7.5m sqft masterplan. Other recent approvals include 795 homes near Cam (M5), 650 homes in Kingswinford, and 150 homes with 53 affordable units in Horton, Ilminster, while a 230-home Persimmon development in Westhoughton and over 200 new council homes at Battersea Power Station are planned for future phases. Construction Enquirer, Gloucestershire Live, Express & Star, Chard and Ilminster News, Manchester Evening News, and This is Local London