Daily News: 20/05/2025
The Housing Ombudsman’s May 2025 report highlights severe maladministration in emergency repairs, with delays harming vulnerable residents. Issues include poor triaging, weak communication, and slow responses, often resolved only after Ombudsman action. Landlords like Clarion, L&Q, and Lambeth and Hackney Councils are named, with urgent improvements urged. Housing Ombudsman Service
Bromford Flagship, formed in February 2025, reported a strong start with a £607m turnover and a £135m post-tax surplus. Meanwhile, Great Places Housing Group posted a £27.2m pre-tax surplus for the year to March 2025, with a 22.7% operating margin below its target but above sector norms, and met its financial covenants. Bromford Flagship Ltd, Investegate
New figures show thousands more homes delivered nationwide as Homes England exceeds its 2024/25 targets for homes started, completed, and potential homes unlocked, marking a pivotal moment for housebuilding in England. GOV.UK
Proposed licensing reforms risk reducing supported housing provision further, warns NHF. The trade body urges pragmatic adjustments to avoid unintended cost burdens. Housing Today (register)
Westminster City Council has begun early market engagement for a major £500m programme to overhaul its housing repairs and maintenance services. At the same time, Sevenoaks District Council has launched the search for a development partner to deliver a £125m town-centre regeneration scheme. Construction Enquirer, Construction News (register)
Barratt, the UK’s largest housebuilder, will build all new London developments to Passivhaus standard or higher, boosting energy efficiency. Simultaneously, materials maker Forterra is restarting kiln operations to meet growing demand as market confidence returns. The Construction Index, Construction Enquirer
UK homeowners overestimate builder qualifications, wrongly believing licences and insurance are legally required, exposing a gap with the UK construction sector’s actual regulations. Concurrently, England lags its 1.5m new homes target, with only 225,000 planning consents by March, well below the 367,000 needed annually. The private sector alone can’t meet demand amid market volatility. Federation of Master Builders, Savills
In Essex, a controversial 142-home and care home development near the A12 has been approved despite concerns. East Sussex has proposed 1,700 homes west of Uckfield for a new neighbourhood. Bolton’s Watson Homes plans a £100m regeneration with 415 homes and a hotel. Somerset and Cheshire also have new proposals for 175 homes near Langport Rugby Club and 160 homes plus a care home in Sandbach. Essex Live, The Argus, Place North West, Business Live, and Northwich and Winsford Guardian