Daily News: 03/12/2025
Homes England reported 15,581 housing starts and 13,500 completions between 1 April and 30 September 2025, highlighting steady progress in government-backed programmes to increase housing supply in the first half of 2025/26. GOV.UK
Orbit has surpassed its £100m social value target ahead of the 2025/26 deadline, independently verified by HACT, while Mid and East Antrim councillors were briefed that the Northern Ireland Housing Executive invested £62.65m in local maintenance, improvements, and community programmes in 2024/25. Orbit Group Ltd., Northern Ireland Housing Executive
Home Group posted a £32.3m pre-tax surplus in H1 2025, with customer satisfaction rising to 72.2%. Meanwhile, Housing 21 saw 82% employee satisfaction. In addition, West Northamptonshire Council plans to manage 11,000 council homes directly, while Enfield Council is converting 219 private homes to social rent, and Lambeth Council is making strong progress on delivering new genuinely affordable homes. Investegate, Housing 21, West Northamptonshire Council, North London News, and Love Lambeth
An investigation found that councils lost over £60m repurchasing 445 former Right to Buy homes, highlighting the financial strain caused by “yo-yo homes”. Meanwhile, research emphasises that English devolution and combined authorities are crucial for expanding rural affordable housing and supporting sustainable, inclusive rural communities. Big Issue, National Landlords Association
Cross Keys Homes awarded Mears Group a 10-year, £25m/year repairs contract in Peterborough, with a five-year extension option. Torus appointed Fieldway Group to two fire-safety frameworks, supporting planned and reactive servicing across thousands of homes as landlords focus on safety and compliance. Housing Digital, Housing Executive
Vistry has secured South Worcester and Bury St Edmunds sites to deliver 3,500+ mixed-tenure homes, advancing its large-scale development strategy. M&G Investments is investing £1bn via a joint vehicle with an Asian pension fund to deliver 3,000+ multi-family build-to-rent homes in London and regional cities. Vistry Group Plc, Housing Today (register)
Willmott Dixon topped November’s contracts league with a £136m Luton mixed-use development and multiple education projects. Separately, Essex civil contractor E.J. Taylor & Sons filed a Notice of Intention to Appoint Administrators amid restructuring with FRP Advisory, highlighting financial strain. Construction Enquirer, Construction Enquirer
The government has launched a multimillion-pound research fund from a £4m pot to support innovations that cut costs and time in housing and infrastructure through industrialisation and digitisation. Northern Ireland’s construction sector is forecast to rebound in 2026 after a sharp 2025 contraction, driven by improving market conditions. Housing Today (register), Construction News (register)
More than 240 homes approved on the Wadebridge outskirts. Nearly 200 homes in Thornbury. Kellen Homes and Great Places Housing Group to redevelop Mirrlees Fields, Stockport, for 200 homes. Plans for 160 homes on a former POW camp in Derbyshire approved. Kier Property and Mole Valley Council propose £350m Leatherhead regeneration with 480 homes, workspace, leisure, and 10,000sqm of net-zero offices. In Cambridgeshire, a 340-home Sawtry scheme was planned. 316 homes near Gillingham submitted to Dorset Council. The Corringham development of up to 300 homes and a 70-bed care home is recommended. Cornwall Live, Bristol Live, Place North West, BBC, Construction Enquirer, Property Wire, Dorset Echo, and Thurrock Gazette