Daily News: 11/03/2026
Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council is set to consider a £30.86m investment programme for 2026-27 to improve council housing, focusing on maintaining warm, safe and well-maintained homes for tenants. The proposed funding will support upgrades and ongoing improvements across the council’s housing stock. Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council
Southern Housing has pledged to overhaul its repairs service and strengthen finances as part of a new four-year corporate plan. The G15 member aims to deliver a £30m efficiencies programme to help close a £75m funding gap while improving service standards for residents. Meanwhile, Wheatley Group has reported a 25% increase in housing completions in the first half of the year, alongside improved tenant satisfaction levels. Housing Today (register), Housing Today (register)
The Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) has raised concerns over proposed changes by the regulator that could remove a dedicated standard for competence and conduct, warning that such a move may “downgrade its importance” in social housing governance. HQN
The UK government has delayed reforms to domestic energy performance certificates and display energy certificates until the second half of 2027. The changes were originally scheduled for October 2026 and followed a consultation process that ran from December 2024 to February 2025. Housing Today (register)
Tower Hamlets Council has outlined a pipeline of 52,000 homes through its Future Places programme, bringing together public land, council development, and regeneration sites to accelerate housing delivery. Meanwhile, Birmingham City Council has unveiled a high-rise regeneration vision around HS2 Curzon Street Station that could deliver more than 5,000 new homes alongside a major commercial district. Tower Hamlets London Borough, Construction Enquirer
The latest Plumbing & Heating Merchant Index shows Q4 2025 like-for-like value sales rose 0.7% versus Q4 2024, though volumes fell 3.3%, signalling weaker underlying demand. Meanwhile, the Builders Merchant Building Index reported a 1.2% drop in value sales and a 2.9% fall in volumes over the same period, reflecting ongoing pressure on construction product demand. Plumbing & Heating Merchant Index, Builders Merchant Building Index
A survey by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors found that one in five UK construction firms never measure productivity, with UK companies less likely to track it than international peers, highlighting ongoing efficiency challenges across the sector. Construction News (register)
The Financial Reporting Council has launched an investigation into two accountants linked to the financial reporting and forecasting of Vistry Group’s South Division. Meanwhile, Balfour Beatty reported strong UK construction performance, with margins of 3.5% and a record £22.7bn order book driven by energy sector demand. Construction Enquirer, Construction Enquirer