International real estate advisor Savills reports that more than £900 million was invested in the UK Build to Rent (BTR) sector in the third quarter of 2026, taking year-to-date investment to more than £4 billion – above the level recorded at the same point in any previous year. In each of the past three years, Q4 has accounted for the largest share of annual investment. With a full quarter still to come, 2026 already ranks as the sixth highest year on record, suggesting that the sector is well placed to achieve a new annual investment record. Operational assets continue to attract significant investor interest, highlighted by Border to Coast Pensions Partnership’s acquisition of a portfolio of 866 Single Family Housing (SFH) homes from Leaf Living, which was founded by Blackstone and Regis. With a combined value of c.£400 million, the Savills advised acquisition represented the largest single transaction in the UK SFH sector so far this year. According to the advisor, development funding activity was concentrated outside London, with almost £300 million committed to suburban SFH schemes across five regions in England, highlighting the sector’s growing geographic reach. Royal London also agreed to forward fund 111 houses and 173 apartments in Newton Heath, Manchester, although the funding environment for city centre development remains challenging. Savills research also shows that rental growth was exceptionally strong during the summer. The Renters’ Rights Act came into force in May and has led to an acceleration in rents across England. England’s largest cities recorded stronger rental growth in the three months to August 2026 than their respective historic averages. Birmingham was the exception, where high levels of rental supply limited landlords’ ability to raise rents. This pattern extended across much of the country, with 72% of English local authorities recording stronger-than-average rental growth during the summer. Guy Whittaker, Head of Build to Rent Research at Savills, comments: “The acceleration in rental growth seen over the summer is likely to reflect a one-off adjustment in rents, rather than a sudden increase in tenant demand. Under the new legislation, landlords can no longer accept offers above the advertised rent. As a result, many have taken the opportunity to rebase asking rents to ensure they reflect prevailing market values.” Piers de Winton, Head of National Residential Investment & Single Family at Savills, adds: “Investment during the first nine months of the year provides encouraging evidence that 2026 could be a record year for the UK Build to Rent sector. Single Family Housing has been a particularly strong driver of activity, with investors continuing to pursue opportunities, underpinned by long term demand for high quality family homes. The growing scale and geographic reach of transactions also demonstrates the increasing maturity of the SFH sector and its ability to support delivery across a broad range of UK markets. “Importantly, this capital is helping to increase the supply of professionally managed homes at a time when demand significantly outpaces availability. Continued investment in the sector will have a vital role to play in delivering the housing urgently required in the UK.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Sir Michael Lyons, one of the UK’s leading figures in regeneration and local government, is set to retire at the end of January 2027 after more than 25 years leading ECF, a major national placemaking partnership, having guided the organisation since it was established in 2002. ECF brings together Homes England’s National Housing Bank, L&G and Muse. The partnership works alongside local authorities and combined authorities to create successful communities where people thrive economically, socially and sustainably. Under Sir Michaels leadership, ECF has grown into one of the country’s leading vehicles for large-scale, housing-led regeneration. During that time, ECF has worked with local authorities to support major regeneration in locations such as Liverpool, London, Plymouth, Salford and Wakefield and has overseen a doubling of ECF’s capital base twice over, to £200m in 2018 and £400m in 2024. That capital is now supporting a further wave of delivery, targeting around 17,000 more homes and a further one million square feet of commercial space by 2036, across developments in places like London, Wolverhampton, Hull, St Helens and Bradford. As chair, Sir Michael has played a key role in the regeneration of Salford, which ECF has delivered in partnership with Salford City Council. The £1bn two-decade programme has delivered more than 1,000 mixed-tenure homes and 770,000 sq ft of commercial space across Salford Central, alongside new public spaces. Sir Michael has held a series of senior roles across local and national government during a career spanning more than five decades, including leading a series of influential government reviews. He served as chief executive of Wolverhampton Borough Council, Nottinghamshire County Council and Birmingham City Council, and was knighted for services to local government in 2000. His 2004 review of public sector relocation identified scope to move 20,000 civil service posts out of London and the South East, a target the Government went on to exceed. Later, his enquiry into local government introduced the concept of “place-shaping”, arguing that councils should have greater power and responsibility for the economic and social future of their areas, an idea that continues to shape the debate on devolution. He was chair of the BBC from 2007 to 2011, led the Lyons Housing Review on housebuilding 2013/ 2014, chaired a review of Invest Northern Ireland and chaired the Government’s New Towns Taskforce, whose 2025 report recommended 12 locations capable of delivering at least 300,000 new homes. Sir Michael Lyons will remain in post until the end of January 2027, with his successor set to be announced in due course. Sir Michael said: “It has been an enormous privilege to serve as chair of ECF and to have worked alongside three great partners throughout that time. “We have brought together public purpose, long-term investment and delivery expertise and that approach has allowed us to take on challenges that no single organisation could have addressed alone. “Government deserves credit for taking early risks when the partnership was established. At a time when many public-private partnerships were being swept away, ECF survived because we were determined that there should be a return on the public investment. “I have always believed that public investment should create lasting value for places and communities and, even if realised over the very long term, offer the prospect of a commercial return too. This is what we have achieved at ECF. “I step down with great confidence in the partnership to continue driving positive change in towns and cities across the country.” Pat Ritchie CBE, Chair of Homes England, said: “Sir Michael’s leadership, experience and commitment to long-term investment in regeneration have been central to ECF’s success in creating thousands of new homes and thriving places from Wakefield to Plymouth. “He has been a committed champion of partnership and placemaking, and his influence will be felt for many years as ECF continues its long-term regeneration ambitions. He has been hugely valued by us all at Homes England and we wish him a long and happy retirement.” Tom Roberts, Head of Investment & Development at L&G, said: “Sir Michael has been the driving force behind some of the most significant regeneration projects the country has seen over the past few decades. His belief that lasting change requires patience, partnership and a willingness to invest over the long term has shaped ECF’s approach from the very beginning. “Sir Michael has helped demonstrate that successful regeneration is about creating places with enduring economic purpose, where communities can prosper and future growth can be sustained. We are hugely grateful for his leadership and contribution to ECF’s success, and look forward to continuing his lasting legacy. On a personal level, I am honoured to have worked closely with Sir Michael and am grateful for all that I have learned from him” Phil Mayall, Managing Director at Muse, said: “The opportunity to work alongside and learn from Sir Michael for near two decades has been an incredible honour and one I am incredibly grateful for. “His leadership has left a real mark on ECF and on the places we’ve worked together in partnership to shape. His experience, judgement and genuine commitment to getting regeneration right have been inspiring. “He has not only played a leading role in spearheading the partnership and its continued progress over the years, but also more broadly influencing the way housing delivery and placemaking is approached up and down the country. “On behalf of Muse, I want to thank him for his contribution and years of service to ECF and wish him the very best in his retirement.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

London boroughs have identified sites to build over 50,000 new council homes in the capital if sufficient funding is available, analysis reveals. This would represent an almost 15% increase to London’s council housing stock – a significant boost in the face of London’s worsening housing and homelessness pressures[i]. London Councils says the figure demonstrates boroughs’ commitment to building the next generation of council housing across the capital and to working with the government on this agenda.     The cross-party group, which represents all 32 boroughs and the City of London Corporation, surveyed its members on their submissions to the London Social and Affordable Homes Programme (LSAHP)[ii]. London Councils’ analysis found that: London Councils has welcomed the government’s increased investment in the social and affordable homes programme and the GLA’s confirmation that council-led projects will account for 60% of the homes delivered through the initial LSAHP allocations Boroughs in the capital are proud of their track record in building council homes. The government has itself acknowledged that “London is already showing what can be achieved through fuller devolution when it comes to council housebuilding”, with half of all council homes built in 2024 to 2025 located in the capital. Boroughs are working together  with partners on how best to keep increasing delivery of new council homes, creating good-quality homes and ensuring those homes go to Londoners who need them most. In support of this, London Councils is making the case that further grant funding and other financial measures – including access to low-interest loans – are needed to accelerate progress and maximise delivery of boroughs’ council housebuilding ambitions. Cllr Anthony Okereke, London Councils’ Executive Member for Housing & Homelessness, said: “These figures demonstrate boroughs’ ambitious commitment to building the next generation of council housing across the capital. “London is grappling with the most severe housing and homelessness emergency in the country. Boosting the number of council homes is a key part of tackling this crisis – and London boroughs have a proud track record of delivery in recent years. “Boroughs want to build more. We have identified a pipeline of over 50,000 new council homes we could deliver in the coming years. These are specific development opportunities where we are seeking funding for new council housing. “We have the expertise, we have the vision, we have the determination – we now need the investment to make it happen.” Ahead of the government’s Autumn Budget, London Councils is making the case for additional financial support for council housing, which must sit among a broader sweep of policy reforms tackling housing and homelessness pressures. Policy priorities include: Further targeted grant funding Building on the government’s uplift to the Social and Affordable Homes Programme, further grant funding increases would make more council housebuilding projects viable and accelerate delivery. For example, full delivery of the pipeline of over 50,000 potential council homes in London is estimated to cost £12.3 billion. The current LSAHP is worth £11.7 billion and is designed to fund a range of development organisations including housing associations and private developers, as well as local authorities. Reforming nationally set rules on Housing Revenue Accounts (local authorities’ budgets for managing their council housing) Changes should include an urgent reassessment of the 2012 HRA debt settlement, enabling councils to access low-interest lending, and a London Formula Rent reset that would give boroughs extra flexibility in setting social rents to account for the capital’s high property costs. Reforms such as these would strengthen boroughs’ resources for investing in council housing, including building new homes. Additional funding for acquisitions Boosting London boroughs’ ability to buy existing housing is another vital part of the solution to the housing crisis. London boroughs are making good use of the Local Authority Housing Fund and the Social and Affordable Homes Programme to fund acquisitions. Boroughs’ acquisitions have unblocked stalled sites, converted market housing into affordable homes, reduced reliance on the private rented sector for finding desperately needed temporary accommodation, and supported London’s wider development sector in a downturn. [i] London Councils’ analysis of homelessness statistics shows that an estimated 210,000 Londoners are homeless and living in temporary accommodation. This equates to around one in every 50 residents of the capital. London accounts for more than half of all homeless households in England. In addition, more than 330,000 households are on local authority housing registers (commonly known as social housing waiting lists) in the capital.[ii] The Social and Affordable Homes Programme provides government grant funding for new social and affordable housing. In the capital the programme’s funding is managed and distributed by the Greater London Authority. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

London’s fast-growing co-living sector could benefit from a clearer route through the planning system under proposals contained within the new draft London Plan, potentially helping developers unlock more purpose-built shared living schemes across the capital. The emerging policy introduces an important change for Large-scale Purpose-built Shared Living (LSPBSL), the planning terminology used for developments commonly known as co-living. Under the proposals, co-living schemes would ordinarily continue through the viability-tested planning route and make a payment towards conventional affordable housing. However, developments providing conventional affordable housing on site at the relevant threshold could instead qualify for the Fast Track Route. For developers, investors and design teams operating in the co-living market, the change could provide another option when structuring schemes and their affordable housing provision. The Fast Track Route is designed to provide greater planning certainty for developments meeting the required affordable housing and other policy criteria, reducing the need for the detailed viability information associated with the viability-tested process. The proposal comes as London continues to explore different housing models capable of responding to demand while making more effective use of constrained urban land. Co-living has emerged as one such model, typically combining private living accommodation with considerably larger communal areas and shared facilities. Developments can incorporate lounges, co-working areas, kitchens and dining spaces, gyms, terraces and landscaped areas, with the buildings generally operated under a single management structure. The draft London Plan places considerable emphasis on the quality of these environments. Proposed policy requires shared living developments to focus on communal living, with internal and external spaces designed to encourage social interaction, alongside functional private living areas. Schemes would also need to be carefully located, designed and managed to complement mixed and inclusive neighbourhoods. Management is another important element. Large-scale shared living developments would be required to operate under single management, supported by a management plan addressing the continued quality and maintenance of the building, security, safety and service arrangements. From a built environment perspective, the proposals could have implications extending beyond planning. Greater certainty around co-living development could create opportunities for architects, contractors, consultants, interior designers, landscape specialists and property management businesses as schemes move from feasibility and planning into construction and long-term operation. Co-living is particularly suited to complex urban regeneration and mixed-use developments where residential accommodation can be combined with commercial uses, active ground floors, amenities and new public realm. The draft policy specifically recognises that purpose-built shared living can form part of mixed-use regeneration and redevelopment schemes where locations are well connected to local services and public transport. The wider draft London Plan was published on 16 July 2026 and remains under consultation until 15 October, meaning the policies are proposals rather than adopted planning requirements. If carried through into the final plan, the new approach could give co-living developers a more defined choice over affordable housing delivery while further establishing purpose-built shared living as part of London’s evolving residential and BTR landscape. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

The latest research from House Buyer Bureau has revealed that more than 300,000 homes across England have been sitting empty for at least six months, with the estimated value of this long-term vacant housing stock standing at almost £89bn. House Buyer Bureau analysed the latest available data on the number of vacant homes across England, focusing specifically on those classed as long-term vacant properties, meaning properties liable for council tax that have been empty for more than six months and are not subject to specified exemptions. The research then applied the latest average house price in each region to estimate the potential value of this unused housing stock. The figures show that there are 754,264 vacant homes across England, of which 303,185 are classed as long-term vacant. This means that 40.2% of England’s vacant housing stock has been sitting empty for more than six months. Based on the latest regional average house prices, House Buyer Bureau estimates that these long-term vacant homes represent some £88.6bn worth of residential property currently sitting unused. While increasing the supply of newly built homes remains central to tackling the nation’s housing shortage, House Buyer Bureau says the sheer volume of existing homes sitting empty for prolonged periods highlights another area of housing supply that cannot be ignored. London sitting on almost £26bn of long-term vacant homes London has the highest estimated value of long-term vacant housing stock of any region. There are 47,287 long-term vacant homes across the capital, accounting for 45% of London’s 105,138 vacant properties. With the average London home valued at £544,814, House Buyer Bureau estimates that the capital’s long-term vacant housing stock is worth almost £25.8bn. The South East ranks second by value, where 42,099 long-term vacant homes have an estimated combined value of £16.1bn, followed by the East of England, where 32,123 long-term vacant properties are estimated to be worth £10.9bn. The North West has 42,606 long-term vacant properties with an estimated value of £9.4bn, while the South West’s 28,553 long-term vacant homes are estimated to be worth £8.6bn. Billions in empty homes within individual local authorities At local authority level, some of the most valuable concentrations of long-term vacant housing are found within London. Kensington and Chelsea has 2,030 long-term vacant homes, representing 59.7% of all vacant properties within the borough. Based on the borough’s average house price of £1.256m, this stock has an estimated value of almost £2.55bn. Westminster has 2,279 long-term vacant properties, equivalent to 61.2% of its vacant housing stock, with an estimated combined value of £1.91bn. Camden’s 2,059 long-term vacant homes are worth an estimated £1.66bn, while Southwark has 2,543 with an estimated value of £1.47bn and Lambeth has 2,280 worth an estimated £1.24bn. Outside London, Birmingham stands out, with 7,060 homes having remained vacant for more than six months. Based on the city’s average house price, this equates to an estimated £1.64bn worth of long-term vacant housing. Managing Director of House Buyer Bureau, Chris Hodgkinson, commented: “It’s quite remarkable that we’re constantly talking about the need to build hundreds of thousands of additional homes when more than 300,000 existing properties have already been sitting empty for over six months. Of course, there’s no single reason why a property remains vacant and not every empty home can simply be put back into use overnight. But anyone who works within the property market knows how easily a home can become stuck in limbo, whether it requires significant work, forms part of an estate, has legal complications or simply proves difficult to sell. Building more homes remains absolutely essential, but we also need to make better use of the housing stock we already have. Getting even a proportion of these long-term vacant properties back into circulation would provide additional homes without the need to build them from scratch. For owners, the longer a property sits empty, the more of a liability it can become, particularly once maintenance, security and ongoing ownership costs start to mount. Where the conventional sales market isn’t providing a solution, owners may need to take a more pragmatic approach. Accepting a lower price in return for the speed and certainty of a quick sale can sometimes be the difference between a property remaining empty indefinitely and getting it back into use.” Data tables and sources *Vacant and long-term vacant dwelling data sourced from UK Government – Live tables on dwelling stock, including vacants, using the latest 2024-25 data. The Government defines long-term vacant dwellings as properties liable for council tax that have been empty for more than six months, excluding specified exemptions. *Average house price data sourced from the UK Government – UK House Price Index, using the latest available June 2026 data. *Estimated value of long-term vacant housing stock calculated by House Buyer Bureau by applying the latest average house price at regional and local authority level to the number of long-term vacant dwellings. Full data tables can be viewed online here Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Planning permission has officially been approved for a transformative £41.8 million redevelopment project at Ewenny Road, Maesteg, bringing 192 new homes to a prominent brownfield site that has stood vacant for over 12 years. The project is being delivered by Sylfaen, the commercially driven development subsidiary of Bridgend-based housing association Valleys to Coast, in partnership with housebuilders Tai Derw Developments Ltd, an Edenstone Group company. The site was prepared for development following £3.5 million in remediation funding from Bridgend County Borough Council and the Cardiff Capital Region. Located adjacent to the Oakwood Estate and a short walk from Ewenny Road railway station, the landmark development represents Sylfaen’s first scheme to date and a major milestone in meeting local housing demand across Bridgend. Designed to create a diverse and thriving neighborhood, the mixed-tenure community will comprise 192 homes tailored to various needs, including 35 homes for social rent, 19 affordable rent homes, 54 shared ownership properties and 84 homes for open-market sale. Future residents will also be able to enjoy a community garden, public open spaces, and a fully equipped children’s play area on-site. The scheme will deliver substantial community benefits through a contribution of more than £100,000 to support local initiatives. Revenue generated from the open-market sales will be reinvested to help strengthen Valleys to Coast’s ongoing investment in delivering and maintaining social homes across South Wales. Work on-site is scheduled to commence in October 2026, with the first homes expected to be ready by April 2027. Phased construction will continue through to target completion in 2031. James Griffiths, Managing Director of Sylfaen, said: “For more than a decade, this site has stood empty, but soon it will be a vibrant, thriving neighborhood. By offering a true mix of social rent, affordable ownership, and open market sale properties, we are creating opportunity and meeting a range of local housing needs. “Our goal is to build communities where people can grow, work and belong and we look forward to working closely with key partners and local residents as we turn this long-awaited vision into reality.” As part of its commitment to involving the local community early in the process, Sylfaen is establishing an on-site Community Cabin. The space will act as a base for the development team to answer questions from neighbors and will provide a venue for local councillors to hold surgeries with constituents. Sylfaen is also inviting local residents and customers to help shape the identity of the site by submitting naming suggestions for the development, its six new streets, and its eight house types, honoring the rich industrial heritage of the former Revlon factory. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals