Daily News: 06/08/2025
The Mayor of London’s Land Fund will deliver 8,000 new homes five years ahead of the 2030 target, tackling the capital’s housing crisis. Last year, nearly 6,700 affordable social rent homes were completed, the highest in a decade. Mayor of London
Social rent levels have fallen “quite significantly” in real terms over the past decade, according to the Housing Forum, highlighting ongoing affordability challenges in the sector. Housing Today (register)
Harlow Council has achieved a major milestone by reducing outstanding council housing repairs to their lowest level on record as part of its ‘invest in our housing’ mission. Meanwhile, two councils, Babergh and Mid Suffolk, plan to spend millions buying homes to house people facing homelessness. Your Harlow, BBC
Mitie Group completed its £350m acquisition of Marlowe, boosting its building compliance capabilities and creating a “powerhouse in facilities compliance”. Esh Group remains confident about margin growth despite planning challenges. Travis Perkins saw a fall in H1 revenue but expects an improving outlook focused on stabilisation. Torsion Group praised the Building Safety Regulator after gaining Gateway 2 approval for a Leeds student housing project. In the materials sector, Ibstock reports a recovery in brick sales, though pricing remains tough amid strong competition. Construction Wave, Construction News (register), Construction News (register), Construction News (register), and Construction Enquirer
UK construction activity worsened in July 2025, with the S&P Global UK Construction PMI dropping to 44.3 from 48.8 in June. The decline is driven by falling housing activity and weak sector demand, as firms reduce new projects amid economic uncertainty. S&P Global
Brick deliveries rose by 12.8% in June 2025 compared with the same month in 2024. In contrast, concrete sales hit a 62-year low in Q2 2025, raising concerns about weakening business confidence and reduced construction activity. GOV.UK, The Construction Index
Manchester City Council is close to approving Renaker’s £1.1bn New Jackson scheme with 2,400 homes but no affordable housing due to viability concerns. Elsewhere, over 1,600 homes are planned on farmland near Ely, Cambridgeshire. In Wales, a 50-storey skyscraper with 528 flats could become Cardiff’s tallest building if approved. Plans for 450 homes in Kendal and 428 on Staindrop Road, Darlington, are underway. In Earls Barton, 250 homes face objections over infrastructure strain, while Slough councillors have reviewed scaled-back plans for 170 homes near the Grand Union Canal. Place North West, Cambridgeshire Live, Construction Enquirer, The Westmorland Gazette, Darlington & Stockton Times, Northamptonshire Telegraph, and Slough Observer