Daily News: 16/12/2025
Cardiff Community Housing Association has secured a £15m revolving credit facility from Barclays to support its growth and strengthen its long-term finances. Slough Council could face financial risk over a £51.7m loan to a loss-making housing company, with any failure to recover adding pressure to its finances. Meanwhile, Brighton & Hove City Council has approved £2m for a comprehensive survey of its housing stock to tackle previously identified failings and improve home standards. Business News Wales, Slough Observer, and The Argus
The Scottish Housing Regulator has published two updated factsheets aimed at tenants and landlords, setting out how to raise serious concerns about social landlords and explaining the regulator’s role and processes in responding to such issues. Scottish Housing News
A CIH report warns that social housing allocation policies in England are making it harder for domestic abuse survivors to access safe, secure homes, especially when rent arrears disqualify households from bidding, leaving many trapped in temporary accommodation. Chartered Institute of Housing
Bennett Construction has won two retirement living contracts from Octopus Capital, including a flagship project at Headley Court, Surrey, converting the former Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre into a 100-apartment retirement village. Construction Enquirer
Watkin Jones posted an £8.7m pre-tax loss amid impairments and slow deal flow but remains optimistic for 2026. Meanwhile, a private equity group behind utilities contractor OCU is eyeing the building services sector, and ISG Construction administrators are pursuing a £7.8m claim against an architectural practice over 2022 project delays. Construction Enquirer, The Construction Index, and Construction News (register)
The Scottish Government’s latest quarterly housing update shows that in the year to September 2025, 18,347 homes were completed (down 8%) and 14,846 new builds started (down 5%) compared to the previous year. The Scottish Government
The Labour government is encouraging young people to pursue construction careers to help deliver 1.5m new homes before the next election and address critical skills shortages in the sector. ITV News
Detailed plans for 335 homes on Hartlepool’s outskirts have been approved, while the first phase of over 100 homes near Truro and 46 affordable homes near Bodmin Moor in Cornwall have cleared initial approvals. In Scotland, planners have recommended a residential-led scheme at Edinburgh Gateway with more than 950 homes and a hotel. Elsewhere, a government inspector will decide on an 800-home appeal near Wainscott, plans for 200 homes in Boston have progressed, Taylor Wimpey has unveiled proposals for up to 150 homes at Butlers Field in Chalfont St Peter, and 120 homes have been submitted on green belt land in Bradford. BBC, The Packet, Scottish Housing News, BBC, LincsOnline, Bucks Free Press, and BBC