Daily News: 28/08/2025
Sovereign Network Group (SNG) has boosted its turnover and surplus thanks to additional income from home sales under its strategic asset management programme. Housing Today (register)
Walsall Housing Group has published its 2024/25 Sustainability Report, highlighting progress in improving homes, neighbourhoods, and environmental impact. Meanwhile, Orbit released an updated Sustainability Strategy to better meet housing needs sustainably, and Stonewater retained its SHIFT Gold accreditation in its latest environmental assessment. Walsall Housing Group (WHG) Ltd., LABM, and Housing Digital
Futures Housing Group secured £32m through the Affordable Homes Guarantee Scheme to deliver 114 homes in Daventry and upgrade existing properties. In Bradford, over £30m is being invested by Incommunities and the Warm Homes Fund to improve 2,886 homes. At the same time, Albyn Housing Society is planning 600 new affordable homes with a £10m Bank of Scotland loan. Futures Housing Group, Incommunities Ltd., and Scottish Housing News
Bradford-based charity Staying Put has secured registered provider status for its subsidiary, Solace Housing Association, which will provide accommodation to survivors of domestic abuse and sexual violence. Housing Today (register)
A seriously ill child in South London was placed at risk after Lewisham Council failed to secure suitable accommodation for their homeless family, forcing them to live in damp and mouldy housing far from their hospital. Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman
Social landlords have sharply increased the percentage of complaints resolved on time, with Housemark attributing the improvement to enhanced capacity driven by regulatory pressure. Housing Today (register)
A £105m residential development next to Edinburgh’s BioQuarter will deliver 370 new homes, following funding secured by SHC Capital. Scottish Housing News
South East contractor O’Halloran & O’Brien reported £369m turnover, up 18%, but cited Building Safety Act delays affecting margins. Meanwhile, Bowmer + Kirkland acquired office fit-out specialist Denton in its 30th year. Construction Enquirer, Construction Enquirer
Scotland’s construction pipeline has surpassed £18bn, with a database of more than 1,000 projects planned across the country over the next decade. The Construction Index
Up to July 2025, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme received 91,232 voucher applications, with 97% for air source heat pumps. Meanwhile, the Home Upgrade Grant and Local Authority Delivery schemes continue improving energy efficiency for low-income homes with EPC D or lower across England. By June 2025, around 4.3m measures had been installed in 2.6m households through the Energy Company Obligation. Smart meter adoption is also rising, with nearly 40m installed across Great Britain, 36m (63%) operating in smart mode. Additionally, the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund has delivered around 87,700 measures to 43,200 households under Waves 1, 2.1, and 2.2. GOV.UK, GOV.UK, GOV.UK, GOV.UK, and GOV.UK
A quarter of housebuilders have only a limited understanding of key building regulations. Meanwhile, UK gas bills are over a third higher than pre-crisis levels. E3G says heat pumps could halve costs if government policy changes, while rising UK temperatures are leaving poorly designed homes overheated, raising concerns about children’s health. PBC Today, E3G, and BBC
In Shepton Mallet, 620 homes may require £8.6m for local facilities. Plans for 405 homes are submitted in Dagenham, and Aberdeen will redevelop 372 RAAC-affected homes. Widnes and Ely see 350 and 300 homes proposed, respectively. Preston’s Altura tower will add 218 apartments and office space. At the same time, 200 homes near a Surrey train station face local opposition. Shepton Mallet Nub News, Yellow Advertiser, STV News, Cheshire Live, Cambridgeshire Live, Construction Enquirer, and BBC