Planning permission has been secured for 152 much-needed affordable homes for key workers alongside a flexible community centre, delivering on Southwark Council’s commitment to support the essential workforce in a prime SE1 location. Under the partnership between landowner Southwark Council and developer Bouygues UK, the project will provide affordable homes
New research from Landlord Studio reveals the toll MTD is taking on the UK’s landlords, as they increasingly look to rely on letting agents to make sense of the shift New research from Landlord Studio, the property accounting and compliance software company, finds that almost a quarter (22%) of UK
A joint venture between Countryside (part of Vistry) and L&Q has welcomed Chelmsford City Council’s Planning Committee resolution on 30th June 2026 to grant outline planning permission for Zone 2 of the Chelmsford Garden Community. This decision represents a significant milestone in delivering one of the UK’s most ambitious new communities
Andy Burnham’s flagship council housebuilding plan risks becoming a “postcode lottery”, according to new analysis by specialist lender Together, with shortages of available public land in the right locations. The Prime Minister in waiting has said Labour will “oversee the biggest council housebuilding programme since the postwar period” using vacant
Eastleigh Borough Council has launched the search for a design and build contractor to deliver a major new residential phase at its flagship One Horton Heath development in Hampshire, creating one of the largest local authority housing opportunities currently available in the UK. Valued at approximately £100 million, the contract
The Ministry of Defence is preparing to reshape one of the UK’s largest public sector property services programmes, with plans to split its next-generation military housing maintenance contracts into separate specialist packages worth a combined £6.6 billion. The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO), which manages the Ministry of Defence’s extensive estate,
Octopus Capital, a leading UK specialist real estate investor, has officially opened its first Scottish affordable housing investment at The Pines, Wallyford, East Lothian. This news marks two significant milestones: its first development in Scotland, and its 1,000th affordable home delivered through the Octopus Affordable Housing Fund (OAHF). The opening ceremony at The Pines, EH21 8TN,
Plans have been unveiled to transform Swansea’s long-vacant Civic Centre into a vibrant mixed-use waterfront destination, delivering new homes, commercial space and a landmark visitor attraction while preserving one of Wales’ most distinctive examples of Brutalist architecture. Urban Splash has launched a public consultation on proposals to regenerate the prominent
Pye Homes has announced an exclusive Stamp Duty offer worth up to £10,000 on select properties for sale at Welborne Garden Village near Fareham in Hampshire. The housebuilder will pay Stamp Duty fees of up £10,000 for families who reserve one of its Welborne Garden Village homes in July.* The
The latest research from LegalforLandlords has found that landlord possession claims, widely used as a proxy for Section 8 activity, are on course to increase by 6.1% this year as landlords adapt to life after the abolition of Section 21., resulting in 87 letting agent brands signing up for Section 8
Planning permission has been secured for 152 much-needed affordable homes for key workers alongside a flexible community centre, delivering on Southwark Council’s commitment to support the essential workforce in a prime SE1 location. Under the partnership between landowner Southwark Council and developer Bouygues UK, the project will provide affordable homes for key workers including social workers, teachers, fire-fighters, police and NHS staff, enabling them to live closer to the communities they serve, reducing travel times and offering an improved work-life balance. It will also support recruitment and retention for the services that residents rely on. Landmark affordable housing development Located, at the junction of Abbey Street and Druid Street, with close proximity to London Bridge and Bermondsey stations, the site represents a significant opportunity to deliver new affordable housing in one of London’s most sought-after locations. The development will be the first delivered under Southwark Council’s emerging Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Guidance, and the first under the Key Worker Living Rent GLA policy. This scheme sets a blueprint for future affordable housing delivery in the borough and London more widely. The homes will be at Key Worker Living Rent and will be available to key workers with a combined household annual salary of between £26,000–£75,000 per year. Community first The development includes the delivery of a new community centre, featuring a large flexible double-height space and a number of smaller support spaces. The centre will be available for all members of the community for a range of events, activities and for hire. Southwark Council and the local community will work to secure an independent operator to manage the space closer to the time of opening. Beyond homes, residents and the wider community will benefit from new landscaping, improved public spaces, a restored Neckinger Street, and a car-free neighbourhood built for sustainability – powered by solar energy and engineered to cut water and energy waste. Next steps With planning permission now secured, Bouygues UK is positioned to commence construction next year, with completion targeted for 2030. This approval accelerates the delivery of affordable housing and reinforces Bouygues UK’s commitment to supporting the communities in which it operates across London. Cllr Alexandra Austin, Executive Member for Public Works and New Homes said: “Keyworkers are the backbone of any community and often go under the radar. Ensuring that their work is recognised and their lives made easier is the least we can do to repay the efforts they make. “We are excited to be working with Bouygues UK to bring these homes to fruition as well as new council homes at Tustin Estate. I’ve no doubt this project will be important for the local community to ensure that people providing vital services have their lives made easier and have good homes to go back to after the efforts they make every day. “The crisis of affordability often makes it difficult for people to live in the places they work, which is why this scheme is important. Tackling the housing crisis in London and creating accessible affordable housing is a big challenge but we’re dedicated to meeting it head-on, shaping a positive future for the borough and making lives better.” Oliver Campbell, Managing Director of Bouygues UK’s Development arm said: “We are delighted to have achieved planning permission for this landmark scheme in SE1. Building on our successful collaboration with Southwark on several major projects, we value our strong partnership with the council. Providing affordable housing for keyworkers is a vital step in supporting those who are indispensable to the wellbeing of the community. This planning approval represents a crucial milestone and demonstrates the viability and importance of this scheme. We are now in a strong position to progress funding and begin construction to deliver these much-needed homes to the highest standards. Construction will progress at pace, ensuring that this vision becomes reality for Southwark’s key workers and making a lasting contribution to the future of the borough.” Craig Sheach, Partner, PRP, Architect on the Project commented “We are very proud to have collaborated with Bouygues UK and Southwark Council on this exciting pilot scheme that will provide desperately needed high quality homes for the borough’s keyworkers. The striking tall building will help improve the safety of the area and mark the re-provided community centre at its base.” The Development team at Bouygues UK has a strong existing relationship with Southwark Council, currently delivering the transformative Tustin Estate regeneration scheme. Their agile partnership model and deep community regeneration expertise make them the development partner of choice for inclusive, community-led schemes. They are are a specialist development and regeneration team operating in London, South East and South West focusing on delivering developments in partnership with the public sector. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
New research from Landlord Studio reveals the toll MTD is taking on the UK’s landlords, as they increasingly look to rely on letting agents to make sense of the shift New research from Landlord Studio, the property accounting and compliance software company, finds that almost a quarter (22%) of UK landlords have considered leaving the rental market altogether, as Making Tax Digital (MTD) piles on administrative and compliance pressure. Despite this, 74% of landlords agree that MTD is actually making it easier to manage their tax, and over half (55%) still expect MTD to increase their profitability overall. The findings also point to a growing role for letting agents, with 90% of landlords agreeing that agents are well-equipped to help them manage MTD requirements. MTD for Income Tax has been mandatory since April 2026 for landlords earning over £50,000 in qualifying income, requiring quarterly digital updates to HMRC alongside an end-of-year finalisation process. The threshold drops further to £30,000 from April 2027, bringing a second wave of landlords into scope within the next year. The confidence paradox While confidence in MTD is high, many landlords are still feeling the strain of rising admin demands. Despite 94% of landlords and letting agents combined saying they are confident in their understanding of MTD requirements, and 95% confident in their ability to implement it, 59% of landlords specifically remain concerned about making mistakes or facing penalties. Letting agents appear well placed to help close this gap, with 51% describing themselves as very confident in their understanding of MTD, compared with just 36% of landlords. This suggests agents can help close the gap between broad landlord confidence and the practical realities of staying compliant. Logan Ransley, Co-Founder of Landlord Studio, said: “Landlords are clearly feeling the pressure of MTD, both in terms of time and cost, and for some that pressure is serious enough to make them question whether continuing to let property is worth it. What’s clear is that the support landlords need is often already there. Letting agents have the knowledge and the relationships to make a real difference, but our research shows many landlords simply don’t know how much help is on offer. Closing this gap is going to be essential as MTD rolls out more broadly.” The race to stay compliant is borne out in the numbers. Landlords now spend an average of 13 hours a month – more than a day and a half of work – managing tax and financial admin. Compared with 12 months ago, 53% both say the time associated with this has increased and the cost has risen. On average, landlords estimate that the time they spend on tax and financial admin is worth more than £3,000 a year, almost £64 a week. The admin burden isn’t only being felt by landlords. 89% say rising admin and compliance costs make them likely to raise rents, showing the knock-on effect inefficient back-office processes can have across the rental market. Falling behind on technology The research suggests that while landlords broadly recognise the benefits of digital tax reporting, many are still grappling with having the right tools to manage compliance efficiently. Just 34% use software or digital platforms for tax reporting and record-keeping, while 39% continue to rely on spreadsheets or manual methods. Spreadsheets are technically permitted under MTD, but only with separate bridging software and strict digital links in place, an extra layer of complexity many landlords may not have accounted for. A growing opportunity for agents Landlords identified the biggest compliance challenges as keeping accurate records (38%), the risk of errors and penalties (36%), and the time required for admin (34%). They also recognise that letting agents are well-equipped to help them manage new tax requirements (90%), but with 61% of letting agents themselves admitting that awareness of the support they can offer remains low, there is a clear opportunity to close that gap. Letting agents have the ability to provide landlords with practical support, helping them improve processes, stay organised and reduce the risk of mistakes. There is also strong future demand for digital solutions, with 98% of landlords saying they are likely to invest in tax and compliance software over the next two years, with 44% looking for greater financial visibility. For letting agents, this creates an opportunity to combine their expertise with digital tools, helping landlords stay compliant, reduce admin and manage rental income more efficiently as MTD implementation accelerates. Logan Ransley adds: “Letting agents already hold the rent, expense and ownership data their landlords need to comply with MTD – what’s been missing is a way to get that data to HMRC without anyone re-entering it by hand. That’s exactly why we built Nexus by Landlord Studio. It connects the records an agency already keeps to a secure portal where landlords, or their accountants, can review and submit each quarter. Nexus is available exclusively through participating letting agents, so an agent’s relationship with their landlords becomes a genuine value-add rather than another compliance headache.” To find out more about Nexus by Landlord Studio, visit here. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A joint venture between Countryside (part of Vistry) and L&Q has welcomed Chelmsford City Council’s Planning Committee resolution on 30th June 2026 to grant outline planning permission for Zone 2 of the Chelmsford Garden Community. This decision represents a significant milestone in delivering one of the UK’s most ambitious new communities and marks a major step forward in realising the long-term vision for North East Chelmsford. Zone 2 will bring forward a residential-led, mixed-use neighbourhood of up to 3,500 new homes, alongside a wide range of essential infrastructure including schools, healthcare facilities,employment space, local centres and extensive green infrastructure. Building on the success of the partners’ existing development at Beaulieu, Zone 2 will play a central role in delivering the wider Garden Community, which will provide around 10,000 homes overall, designed in line with Garden City principles to create sustainable, well-connected neighbourhoods. The development will deliver: Together, these elements will create a vibrant, inclusive and sustainable place, where homes, jobs and services are delivered hand in hand with green space and community infrastructure. The application has been shaped through close collaboration with Chelmsford City Council, Essex County Council, Homes England and wider partners, building on years of masterplanning and community engagement. As well as making a substantial contribution to local housing needs, the scheme is designed to ensure infrastructure and community facilities are delivered alongside new homes. A strong focus on community stewardship will also ensure that public spaces and assets are carefully managed for the long term, giving residents a meaningful role in shaping their neighbourhood. Adam Simpson, Development and Project Management Director at L&Q said: “We welcome the Planning Committee’s decision to approve this important phase of the Chelmsford Garden Community. “This marks a significant step forward for our partnership with Countryside. Projects like this are vital, delivering new and affordable homes alongside schools, amenities, green spaces and infrastructure. This isn’t just about tackling the housing shortage but creating the conditions for communities to thrive. We look forward to continuing to work with our partners to bring this new neighbourhood forward.” James Harkin, Head of Strategic Land at Vistry, commented: “Reaching this stage for Zone 2 reflects years of careful planning to create a place that genuinely works for the long term. What sets this scheme apart is its landscape-led approach and the way it brings together homes, jobs and everyday amenities within walkable neighbourhoods. “The vision for three distinct villages, connected by green corridors and active travel routes, will help foster a strong sense of identity and community from the outset. As we move forward, our focus will remain on delivering high-quality places that prioritise sustainability, support local economies and offer residents a better way of living”. The resolution is subject to the completion of planning obligations and legal agreements. Subject to this, development will be delivered in phases over the coming years. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Andy Burnham’s flagship council housebuilding plan risks becoming a “postcode lottery”, according to new analysis by specialist lender Together, with shortages of available public land in the right locations. The Prime Minister in waiting has said Labour will “oversee the biggest council housebuilding programme since the postwar period” using vacant land to reduce costs. However, analysis by property lender Together into data provided by property data platform Searchland reveals publicly-owned brownfield land in England has capacity for at most 187,000 to 207,000 homes. That is less than two-thirds of a 300,000 social and affordable home programme which Labour has previously announced, and that is before accounting for whether each site is genuinely deliverable. The state does not own enough registered land to build the programme on public land alone: a third or more would still have to come from land bought at its current market value. What public land there is, is heavily concentrated. A handful of authorities — led by Birmingham (185 sites, capacity for around 11,500 homes) — account for a large share of the national total. For most of the country, vacant public land is scarce. In around two-thirds of the 20 areas with the deepest housing shortfalls, there is little or no significant public land to build on. Communities in these areas carry some of the largest deficits in the country — yet whether Burnham’s lever can help them depends almost entirely on which council boundary they happen to sit inside. Local authority Region Delivery shortfall Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole South West ~4,550 Greenwich London ~3,880 Newham London ~2,870 Leicester East Midlands ~2,280 Sandwell West Midlands ~2,220 Thurrock East of England ~2,020 Southend-on-Sea East of England ~1,980 Basildon East of England ~1,760 Portsmouth South East ~1,660 Southampton South East ~1,580 Delivery shortfall = homes required minus homes delivered over the latest Housing Delivery Test window. None of the above appears among the 20 authorities with the most public land. Source: Searchland. Much of the largest public landholding sits in authorities that are already meeting or beating their housing targets, among them Leeds, Wandsworth, Waltham Forest, Newcastle and Nottingham. The use of publicly owned land to deliver these targets risks rewarding places that are already delivering, while those falling furthest behind are left with little to build on. Only five authorities — Birmingham, Bristol, Bradford, Lewisham and Kirklees — combine a serious deficit with a serious public-land holding. Ryan Etchells, Chief Commercial Officer, Together said: “Building on vacant public land is a sensible idea, but our analysis shows it can only ever be part of the answer. There isn’t enough public land to deliver a programme this size, and that’s before considering that the places with the greatest need tend to have the least land. As it stands, whether this pledge reaches your community is close to a postcode lottery. “The areas falling furthest behind won’t be rescued by land the state happens to own. They need sites to be assembled and bought, existing land intensified, and the wider public estate brought into play — and all of that needs finance that moves quickly and understands complex, non-standard sites. That is precisely the gap specialist lenders like Together exist to fill. “If the ambition is genuinely national, the plan has to look well beyond vacant public land, otherwise many of the families on today’s waiting lists will be left exactly where they are.” A programme built on vacant public land is, by its nature, a programme of thousands of small, dispersed brownfield plots, the kind that typically take one to 50 homes; precisely the land the volume housebuilders overlook. The homes on public land will overwhelmingly be delivered by small and medium-sized (SME) builders and regional contractors; the type of home-builders who delivered the post-war council-house boom. This is where specialist lending becomes vital. After planning, access to finance is the single biggest constraint on SME housebuilders. Mainstream banks retreated from SME development lending after 2008 and rely on rigid, one-size-fits-all criteria that cannot price the realities of public brownfield land, which include contamination and remediation, non-standard construction, access and ransom strips, phased build-out and planning risk. A small builder typically has its capital tied up in just one or two schemes, so a delay or a “computer-says-no” decision can stall the business entirely. Etchells added: “Making more public land available is an important part of boosting housing supply, but land alone doesn’t build homes. Developers need access to funding that can keep pace with the realities of a project, whether that’s navigating planning delays, drawing down finance in stages or moving quickly when a site becomes available. “In many high-demand areas, developers also need acquisition finance to bring sites together before a scheme can get off the ground. These are often complex opportunities that don’t fit a standard lending model, which is why specialist lenders have such an important role to play. If the funding isn’t there, even the most promising sites can struggle to move from allocation to construction.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Eastleigh Borough Council has launched the search for a design and build contractor to deliver a major new residential phase at its flagship One Horton Heath development in Hampshire, creating one of the largest local authority housing opportunities currently available in the UK. Valued at approximately £100 million, the contract covers the Upper Acre parcel of the 310-acre mixed-use development located to the east of Eastleigh. The successful contractor will be responsible for delivering 424 mixed-tenure homes alongside the supporting infrastructure required to create a sustainable new neighbourhood. The scope of works extends well beyond housebuilding, incorporating the construction of new roads, utilities, drainage infrastructure, landscaping, public open spaces and associated civil engineering works that will support the long-term growth of the wider community. The Upper Acre package represents the second major residential phase within the ambitious One Horton Heath masterplan, which will ultimately deliver around 2,500 new homes together with schools, employment space, community facilities and extensive green infrastructure, creating a significant new settlement for the region. Construction activity is already well underway across the wider development. Wates is currently delivering the first residential phase at the Lower Acre parcel, which comprises 381 new homes, while major infrastructure works serving the overall scheme have either been completed or remain under construction. This investment has established the essential transport, utility and site infrastructure needed to enable subsequent phases to progress efficiently. Planning permission for the Upper Acre development has already been secured following reserved matters approval earlier this year, allowing the procurement process to move forward without delay. Eastleigh Borough Council intends to appoint a contractor in January 2027, with construction expected to commence the following month. The first homes are scheduled for completion in September 2027, while the final properties are anticipated to be handed over by May 2030. For the construction industry, the project represents a significant opportunity across multiple disciplines, including residential construction, civil engineering, highways, utilities, landscaping, building services and public realm delivery. The scale of the development is also expected to generate substantial opportunities throughout the regional supply chain, supporting local contractors, consultants, manufacturers and specialist trades. As local authorities continue to address housing demand through strategic masterplanned developments, One Horton Heath stands as one of Hampshire’s most significant residential-led regeneration projects. The latest procurement marks another important milestone in delivering a high-quality, mixed-tenure community designed to provide new homes, supporting infrastructure and sustainable placemaking for future generations. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The Ministry of Defence is preparing to reshape one of the UK’s largest public sector property services programmes, with plans to split its next-generation military housing maintenance contracts into separate specialist packages worth a combined £6.6 billion. The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO), which manages the Ministry of Defence’s extensive estate, has launched a market engagement exercise to gather industry feedback ahead of procuring the new Service Family Accommodation (SFA) contracts. The proposed strategy marks a significant departure from the current procurement model. Rather than bundling all maintenance activities into a single contract, the DIO is considering separating planned maintenance and capital regeneration works from day-to-day responsive repairs and maintenance. The move is intended to create greater competition, encourage specialist expertise and provide improved opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to participate in the delivery of services. The new contracts will cover the maintenance of military family homes across the UK, including responsive repairs, planned refurbishment programmes, capital improvement works, statutory compliance services and grounds maintenance. Together, the programme represents one of the largest long-term property maintenance opportunities currently being prepared within the public sector. For the construction, facilities management and property services industries, the revised procurement approach could significantly broaden the supply chain, allowing contractors with specialist capabilities in refurbishment, planned maintenance, compliance and building services to compete for dedicated workstreams. The DIO is currently seeking industry feedback on a range of issues, including contract structure, procurement routes, pricing mechanisms, lotting arrangements and preferred forms of contract before finalising its strategy. The proposed contracts are expected to commence in March 2029 and run until February 2036, with options to extend until February 2039, creating a potential 10-year programme of works that will provide long-term certainty for successful delivery partners. A series of supplier engagement activities has already been scheduled, including online briefing events later this month, enabling prospective bidders to contribute to the development of the procurement model before formal competition begins. The preliminary market engagement will help shape the final procurement strategy, with questionnaires due to be submitted by the end of July. Interested organisations have until October to participate in the wider engagement process, while the formal procurement is expected to commence in early 2027. The review reflects the Ministry of Defence’s wider ambition to modernise the management of its residential estate, improve service delivery for military families and create a more flexible procurement model capable of delivering better value, increased innovation and stronger collaboration across the UK’s construction, maintenance and property services sectors. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Octopus Capital, a leading UK specialist real estate investor, has officially opened its first Scottish affordable housing investment at The Pines, Wallyford, East Lothian. This news marks two significant milestones: its first development in Scotland, and its 1,000th affordable home delivered through the Octopus Affordable Housing Fund (OAHF). The opening ceremony at The Pines, EH21 8TN, was attended by representatives from Octopus Capital, developer Dandara, and investor Scottish National Investment Bank (SNIB) and sector representative body Homes for Scotland. The development represents OAHF’s first deployment into Scotland, extending its mission to deliver high-quality, affordable homes beyond England and Wales. The investment has been made through the Octopus Affordable Housing Fund, which deploys long-term capital to accelerate the delivery of affordable homes across the UK. Octopus Capital is among a small number of UK investors to reach the 1,000-home milestone, underlining the scale and pace of its commitment to addressing the UK’s housing gap. The Pines is a development in the town of Wallyford in East Lothian, approximately 6 miles to the east of Edinburgh. The development comprises 87 homes in total, with Octopus Capital providing 28 two, three, four and five bedroomed mid-market rented homes, all let within the Local Housing Allowance rental levels. The homes have been delivered by Dandara, one of Scotland’s leading housebuilders, and the development has been supported by the Scottish National Investment Bank (SNIB), which invests long term, patient capital, for a fairer more sustainable economy. Its Place mission supports stronger communities and better local economies across Scotland. The development provides well-connected homes, forming part of a thriving community, and supported by excellent local amenities and strong transport links. Jack Burnham, Head of Affordable Housing at Octopus Capital, said: “Reaching 1,000 homes is a landmark moment for the Octopus Affordable Housing Fund and Octopus Capital, and we’re delighted it coincides with the handover of our first homes in East Lothian just 15 minutes from Edinburgh. The Pines is our first development in Scotland, and a demonstration that our model — deploying long-term capital in partnership with great developers, investors and property managers — can provide high-quality affordable housing for communities across all of the UK. We’re proud to be among the first group of investors to pass the 1,000 home milestone, and we’re looking forward to building on this foundation in Edinburgh and beyond.” Lee Ogg, Managing Director of Dandara Scotland, said: “It’s a real privilege for Dandara to become the first housebuilder in Scotland to support Octopus Capital’s ambition to help address the significant shortage of high-quality new-build rental homes across the country, and to mark this important milestone alongside them. Working closely with our Partnerships team, we have focused on creating a flagship development that showcases what can be achieved when the private and public sectors work together. These well-connected homes will form part of a thriving community, supported by excellent local amenities and strong transport links.” Mark Munro, Chief Investment Officer, The Scottish National Investment Bank, said: “Delivering the first home in Scotland is an important milestone and the start of bringing intermediate rent at scale into the market. Alongside the fund reaching 1,000 homes, it highlights how patient, long-term capital can support the delivery of high-quality, energy-efficient affordable housing. “As a commercial investor focused on long-term impact, we are delighted to have played a part in supporting a development that contributes to a stronger and more sustainable housing market.” Jane Wood, Chief Executive of sector body Homes for Scotland, said: “We are delighted to welcome Octopus Capital into the Scottish market and to see the Scottish National Investment Bank’s increasing role in unlocking much-needed housing delivering concrete results. As the country’s housing emergency continues, The Pines will make an important contribution to delivering the high-quality, affordable and sustainable homes of all tenures that Scotland urgently requires.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Plans have been unveiled to transform Swansea’s long-vacant Civic Centre into a vibrant mixed-use waterfront destination, delivering new homes, commercial space and a landmark visitor attraction while preserving one of Wales’ most distinctive examples of Brutalist architecture. Urban Splash has launched a public consultation on proposals to regenerate the prominent seafront site in partnership with Swansea Council. The ambitious redevelopment would see the former civic headquarters repurposed rather than demolished, creating a sustainable new neighbourhood that combines residential, leisure, retail and business uses. At the heart of the proposals are up to 140 new waterfront apartments, complemented by cafés, bars, flexible workspace and approximately 15 commercial units. The scheme would also deliver around 59,000 sq ft of retail and business accommodation alongside a striking 20,000 sq ft aquarium, designed to become a major visitor destination and further strengthen Swansea’s tourism economy. The project is backed by £20 million of UK Government funding and forms a key component of Swansea Council’s wider waterfront regeneration strategy, which aims to reconnect the city centre with Swansea Bay through carefully planned mixed-use development, improved public spaces and enhanced visitor attractions. For the construction and property sectors, the scheme demonstrates the growing importance of adaptive reuse and retrofit-led regeneration. Rather than replacing the existing building, Urban Splash intends to retain and refurbish the Civic Centre using a fabric-first approach that preserves much of the structure’s embodied carbon while extending the life of the building for future generations. Originally completed in 1982 as the headquarters of West Glamorgan County Council, the Civic Centre has remained largely vacant since council operations relocated, leaving one of Swansea’s most prominent waterfront buildings significantly underutilised. By retaining the existing structure, the redevelopment is expected to reduce demolition waste, minimise carbon emissions associated with new construction and make more efficient use of existing materials, aligning with the industry’s increasing focus on sustainable development and whole-life carbon reduction. The proposals also reflect the continued evolution of mixed-use regeneration, where residential accommodation is integrated with employment space, leisure facilities, hospitality and public amenities to create active, year-round communities that support long-term economic growth. A planning application is expected to be submitted later this year following the completion of the public consultation process. If approved, the redevelopment would transform a landmark but underused civic building into a thriving waterfront destination, creating new homes, attracting investment and reinforcing Swansea’s long-term regeneration ambitions while demonstrating how thoughtful refurbishment can unlock the potential of significant existing buildings without the need for wholesale demolition. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Pye Homes has announced an exclusive Stamp Duty offer worth up to £10,000 on select properties for sale at Welborne Garden Village near Fareham in Hampshire. The housebuilder will pay Stamp Duty fees of up £10,000 for families who reserve one of its Welborne Garden Village homes in July.* The exclusive offer is an ideal opportunity for those looking to buy a property in this idyllic location, 300 metres from nature, within 444 acres of parks and woodland, less than eight miles to the nearest beach, and just 10 minutes’ drive from Fareham railway station, which offers direct trains to Cardiff, Southampton, Portsmouth, Brighton and London Waterloo. This limited-time incentive follows the opening of Pye Homes’ showhomes and show apartments as it unveiled an exclusive collection of six Audley apartments, which feature two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and allocated parking. The Audley apartments are perfect for home buyers who are interested in downsizing but still want every modern convenience in a beautiful setting. Pye Homes is crafting 210 of the 6,000 new homes at Welborne Garden Village, which will also include a Village Centre featuring independent shops, pub/hotel, GP surgery, pharmacy and eventually four new schools. Over 50% of the development’s land will be dedicated to public open space, with additional outdoor spaces including the 30-acre Welborne Park, a community orchard, allotments, sports fields, and play areas. Welborne is now open for prospective buyers to visit the Pye Homes customer lounge, tour the showhomes and show apartment, and experience the new neighbourhood for themselves. *For more information and the Stamp Duty incentive terms and conditions, visit www.welborne.co.uk/event To find out more about The Audley apartments and the collection of homes now available at Welborne Garden Village, and to register for an appointment, visit www.pyehomes.co.uk/developments/welborne/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The latest research from LegalforLandlords has found that landlord possession claims, widely used as a proxy for Section 8 activity, are on course to increase by 6.1% this year as landlords adapt to life after the abolition of Section 21., resulting in 87 letting agent brands signing up for Section 8 support in the eight weeks since the RRA came into force. LegalforLandlords analysed the latest possession claim data covering private landlord possession* claims in England. The analysis compares quarterly and annual trends, with private landlord possession claims used as a proxy for Section 8 activity, although some cases may fall outside the Section 8 framework.* A Section 8 notice allows a landlord to seek possession of a property where specific legal grounds exist, such as rent arrears, anti-social behaviour, damage to the property, or other breaches of the tenancy agreement. Since the Renters’ Rights Act came into force in May 2026 and removed the Section 21 no-fault eviction route, Section 8 has become the primary mechanism through which landlords can regain possession of their properties where a tenancy issue arises. The latest figures show that Section 8 possession claims from private landlords reached 7,629 in Q1 2026, marking a quarterly increase of 11.1% compared to Q4 2025 and an annual rise of 4%. Based on historic trends up to and including Q1 2026, LegalforLandlords forecasts that private landlord possession claims could reach approximately 30,516 across 2026, representing an annual increase of 6.1%. Agents seek Section 8 expertise The growing importance of Section 8 comes as landlords continue to face lengthy possession timelines. The latest available court data shows that the median time from claim to repossession now stands at 26.4 weeks. As such, in the eight weeks since the RRA came into force, LegalforLandlords has signed partnership agreements with 87 letting agent brands, all of whom are looking explicitly for Section 8 support. Sim Sekhon, Group CEO at LegalforLandlords, commented: “Section 21 has gone and Section 8 is now front and centre of the possession process. What we’re seeing is the market rapidly adapting to that reality. In the eight weeks since the Renters’ Rights Act came into force, we’ve welcomed 87 letting agent brands into Section 8 support and professional services partnerships. We don’t believe that’s a short-term spike. It’s a reflection of how quickly agents and landlords are recognising that the rules of the game have changed. This isn’t simply a compliance issue. It’s a landlord protection issue and, increasingly, a landlord retention issue for letting agents. When a tenancy breaks down, landlords don’t want uncertainty. They want clear guidance, the right evidence, the correct process and the confidence that everything has been handled properly. Getting a Section 8 claim wrong can be costly, particularly when possession cases can already take months to progress through the courts. The opportunity for agents is significant. The most successful agents in this new environment won’t simply be those who find tenants. They will be the agents who can protect landlords when problems arise, through better advice, stronger partnerships and a clear understanding of the possession process. Section 8 is no longer just a notice. It has become a core part of landlord protection, and agents are putting the right support in place because they know the old market has gone.” Vital things for landlords to know about Section 8 notices Ultimately, Section 8 remains a powerful possession tool, but one that requires careful preparation, robust evidence and strict compliance with the legal process. Data tables and sources Full data tables can be viewed online here Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals