Daily News: 08/07/2025
Peabody has secured a £60m loan from Lloyds Banking Group to improve the energy efficiency of thousands of homes. The investment aims to cut heating demand, lower residents’ energy bills, and reduce the organisation’s carbon footprint. Peabody Trust
Southampton City Council has made progress after criticism over poor housing standards in nearly half of its 18,000 homes. At the same time, Hammersmith & Fulham is leading on fire safety, installing 6,000 free fire doors and offering white goods replacements to further protect tenants. Wheatley Group was the UK’s top builder of social rented homes in 2024-25, delivering 563. BBC, Hammersmith & Fulham London Borough, and Wheatley Group
Cardo has secured a five-year housing repairs and maintenance contract with Wokingham Borough Council, further strengthening its presence in the public sector housing space. The Construction Index
Funding a 1,650-home development remains “the biggest financial risk” to Woking Borough Council, according to its chief financial officer, as the authority continues to face a widening budget gap. BBC
Springfield Properties expects FY 2025 profits in line with forecasts amid revenue growth and a focus on northern Scotland. Meanwhile, Premier Modular pre-tax profit fell 40% due to project overruns and flat turnover. Additionally, the Unite reports strong demand for student housing as 2025-26 university applications rise. Get Living posted a loss after a £411m fire safety provision at the former 2012 Olympics village, highlighting legacy building issues. Project Scotland, Construction News (register), Business Live, and Housing Today (register)
The National Wealth Fund has committed £28.6m to a major carbon capture project aiming to cut up to 40% of the UK’s cement emissions. In parallel, the Scottish Housing Regulator has provided an update on social landlords that have identified Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) in some of their social rented homes. Construction News (register), Scottish Housing News
At the LGA Conference, the Deputy PM launched CHoSS, a fully funded service to boost council housebuilding, co-designed by 10 councils with and without Housing Revenue Accounts. Separately, the Construction Leadership Council is calling for wider adoption of its dispute avoidance pledge, backed by UK clients, consultants, and contractors to address delivery challenges. Local Government Association, Construction News (register)
Plans have been submitted for an 850-home development on green belt land between Pitsea and North Benfleet. Persimmon Homes Severn Valley has also proposed 562 homes near Bristol, while a 380-home scheme with a 66-bed care home has been unveiled at Catlips Farm by the M25 in Hertfordshire. Elsewhere, 108 homes are planned outside an Oxfordshire village to help address a shortage of affordable housing. Echo, Show House, Watford Observer, and Oxford Mail