Daily News: 07/05/2025
Housing association Karbon Homes has secured £200m in fresh finance to boost the delivery of affordable homes, pledging to ramp up its investment plans across the North East. Business Live
Fusion21 has announced the successful suppliers appointed to its new national Decarbonisation Framework, valued at up to £1.5bn over four years. Wessex Water has awarded places on a major M&E minor works framework to over 40 firms, covering projects across the South West. In addition, Choice Housing has launched a £6m annual framework aimed at enhancing its planned maintenance programme in Northern Ireland. Construction Enquirer, Construction Enquirer, and Insider Media
Mechanical & electrical consultant Black & White Engineering has acquired Irish consulting engineer Homan O’Brien, expanding its presence in the region. Newcastle-based MGM Construction has tripled its turnover to £15m since 2021, with further growth projected. In contrast, Anwyl Group has reported a 5.9% drop in turnover following a strategic shift away from partnership work. The Construction Index, The Northern Echo, and Housing Today (register)
A survey of 1,000 members of the Association for Project Management found that 52% of project professionals are ‘very confident’ the UK will meet its net zero targets by 2050, showing growing optimism in the sector. Meanwhile, construction demand for heavy-side building materials in Great Britain has declined at the start of 2025, according to the latest sales volume survey by the Mineral Products Association. The Construction Index, Builders Merchants News
The UK Construction PMI rose slightly to 46.6 in April from 46.4 in March, indicating continued contraction but at the slowest pace in three months. S&P Global
The Grenfell Phase 2 Report Briefing Note outlines key findings from the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, highlighting areas for improvement in the regulation of social landlords in Scotland, without introducing new recommendations, given existing reforms in England and Wales. Scottish Housing Regulator
Whitehall analysis has revealed that there is almost no evidence to support the UK government’s claim that environmental protections are significantly blocking development, with no data or research found to back the assertion. The Guardian
Plans for a large housing development with 800 homes and a primary school have been submitted to Bridgend County Borough Council. Grwp Cynefin also plans to deliver 300 new homes in North Wales by 2028. In Rotherham, a housebuilder has proposed 260 homes on safeguarded greenbelt land, while a scheme to convert a 1960s Brutalist car park into 110 flats has been approved in Newcastle-under-Lyme. Wales Online, North Wales Pioneer, Rotherham Business News, and Construction Enquirer