Councillors from New Forest District Council (NFDC), including its Portfolio Holder for Housing, visited VIVID’s new housing development in New Milton on Friday to see progress on 17 new affordable homes. The homes are being built on land adjacent to Milton Barns on Gore Road and are being delivered by leading housing association VIVID, in partnership with local contractor Glossbrook. The development will provide 14 houses and 3 flats for social rent. The scheme, which is being delivered with grant funding support from Homes England, was visited by Councillor Steve Davies, who holds responsibility for housing on New Forest District Council’s Cabinet and who serves as one of the local New Milton councillors. He was joined on the visit by fellow local councillor, Councillor Steve Clarke, together with Sophie Sajic, NFDC’s Strategic Director for Housing & Communities. Mike Shepherd, Chief Investment Officer at VIVID, said: “Strong relationships and partnerships with local councils are key to helping us deliver more affordable homes for customers and respond to the growing housing need in our communities. We know how important a safe, secure and affordable home is, so it’s encouraging to see these new homes taking shape in New Milton. As well as providing much-needed housing, we’re helping to create a good place to live where customers can put down roots, feel part of the community and build a positive future for themselves and their families.” Councillor Steve Davies, New Forest District Council’s Portfolio Holder for Housing, said: “This development is a significant achievement and highlights the value of partnership working in tackling local housing need. New Forest District Council has been pleased to work as an enabler, to support VIVID in bringing forward this scheme, helping to create high-quality homes that will make a real difference to residents’ lives. These new homes will provide security, opportunity and a strong foundation for individuals and families to build their future, allocated through the Council’s housing register.” Richard Fooks, Managing Director of Glossbrook Builders added: “We’re proud to be working in partnership with VIVID to deliver this affordable housing development, helping to provide much-needed, high-quality homes for the local community. This project reflects our commitment to building well-designed, sustainable homes that will have a lasting positive impact for future residents. We look forward to successfully delivering the scheme whilst supporting VIVID and their project partners in creating a development that will make a positive and lasting contribution to the local community.” The homes are expected to be completed by April next year, subject to progress on site. The Gore Road development is one of several VIVID’s delivering across the New Forest, helping more local people access affordable homes. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

CBRE Investment Management (“CBRE IM”), on behalf of CBRE UK Single Family Housing Partners (“SFHP”), has completed the acquisition of a 222-home single family housing portfolio in the South East of England from UK housebuilder, Bellway. The transaction represents the seed investment for CBRE IM’s newly launched SFHP strategy, established in partnership with Moda Living. The platform is focused on delivering and operating high-quality, professionally managed family rental homes in structurally undersupplied UK markets, providing investors with access to a growing and resilient residential segment. The portfolio comprises a mix of completed homes and forward-funded development across three sites in established residential markets: Stevenage, Milton Keynes and Burgess Hill. All homes are expected to be delivered by the end of 2027. The sites all have excellent access to high quality transport links, proximity to major employment centres, schooling and attractive local amenities. The developments will deliver predominantly two- and three-bedroom homes, with a layout and specifications aligned to the needs of family renters and long-term occupiers. Homes within the portfolio will be operated by CBRE IM’s partner, Moda Living. Tom James, Head of UK Transactions at CBRE Investment Management, said: “This is an exciting addition to our residential platform and a great first step in growing our single family housing fund, delivering high-quality houses on attractive sites in locations where demand for best-in-class, professionally managed rental housing continues to outstrip supply. Working alongside Moda Living, we are building a platform designed to deliver at scale, both in terms of operational execution and investor outcomes, focused on homes that meet the evolving needs of renters and generate sustainable income over time.” Johnny Caddick, CEO of Moda Living, commented: “These first acquisitions are an important milestone for the platform and reflect the progress we’ve made since launching the partnership earlier this year. “Demand for professionally managed rental homes continues to outstrip supply and, with the backing of committed, long-term capital and Moda’s integrated development and operational platform, we’re well placed to help address that challenge. We’re looking forward to building on this strong start as we continue to grow the platform by utilising Moda’s delivery and operational capabilities – together with the wider Caddick Group land pipeline – to deliver more high-quality homes across the UK.” Ian Gorst, Regional Chair, Bellway Homes, said: “We are delighted to have completed this portfolio transaction with CBRE IM and Moda as they launch their new UK Single Family BTR Fund. Their investment in Whitehouse Gardens, Milton Keynes, Forster Park, Stevenage, and Fallow Wood View, Burgess Hill demonstrates confidence in the strength of these outstanding new communities. We are proud they have chosen Bellway as their delivery partner, recognising our proven HBF 5-Star homebuilder track record for quality and customer satisfaction. We wish CBRE IM and Moda every success with this exciting new venture and look forward to building on our relationship in the years ahead.” The acquisition follows the recent launch of CBRE UK Single Family Housing Partners, a dedicated single family housing strategy established by CBRE IM in partnership with Moda Living, part of Caddick Group. Backed by an initial £400 million available capital and supported by core, long-term investor capital, the strategy has a clear ambition to grow to £2 billion in value over time. The platform is designed to address the growing demand for high-quality rental homes while providing investors with access to one of the UK’s most compelling residential sectors. TT&G Partners and CBRE advised CBRE IM, and Savills advised Bellway. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Britain is experiencing a boom in professional landlord businesses, with new analysis revealing that the number of companies being formally incorporated has increased by over 1,700% since 2000. The research, from specialist landlord insurance provider Just Landlords, analysed Companies House records and points to a sector that is professionalising at an unprecedented rate, as landlords shift from informal property ownership into structured, incorporated businesses. Just 1,882 new landlord companies were registered in 2000, compared to a record high of 34,128 in 2025.  The pace of growth has accelerated sharply in recent years, with nearly 14,000 new companies registered in the first five months of 2026 alone, and the 2020s already accounting for more new landlord businesses than the entire period from 2000 to 2019 combined. New landlord company registrations by decade: Clark Ross, Managing Director of Just Landlords, comments:  “The scale of this shift is remarkable. We’re seeing clear evidence of the continued professionalisation of the private rented sector, with a growing number of landlords now operating through formal business structures.” While the long-term trend has been one of consistent growth, there are a range of factors that may have encouraged incorporation over recent years, including changes to mortgage interest tax relief, higher stamp duty costs for additional properties, evolving regulatory requirements and a growing focus on long-term portfolio management. The introduction of the 3% stamp duty surcharge on additional properties in April 2016 triggered an immediate surge in incorporations, with registrations jumping by nearly 59% in the following two years as landlords restructured their portfolios to manage their tax position more efficiently. Where are landlord companies growing the fastest? While London remains the single largest market, accounting for nearly a third of all registrations since 2000, the data reveals a striking shift in the regional picture. London’s share of annual registrations has been declining in recent years, as growth accelerates across the rest of the country. The devolved nations have seen some of the most dramatic recent growth, with Scotland’s annual registrations more than tripling since 2020 (+171%), and Northern Ireland (+148%) and Wales (+144%) following closely behind. Scotland now records over 2,100 new landlord companies per year, up from fewer than 400 in 2015. Annual Registration Growth, 2020 vs 2025: Clark Ross, Managing Director of Just Landlords, comments:  “What’s particularly interesting is that growth is no longer concentrated in London alone. Some of the strongest increases have been seen across Scotland, the Midlands and the North of England, suggesting that professional landlord businesses are becoming an increasingly important part of regional housing markets across the UK. “There are a number of factors that may be driving this shift. London’s property values have long made it the dominant market, but the comparatively lower entry costs in regional cities mean landlords can build a more diversified portfolio for the same initial outlay, and potentially see stronger yields in the process. Rising house prices in the South have also pushed more renters into regional markets, increasing demand and making those areas more attractive to professional investors. “At the same time, improved transport links and the lasting legacy of flexible working patterns since the pandemic have made regional cities more appealing places to live, which in turn has strengthened the rental market in those areas. In Scotland and Wales, we’ve also seen significant legislative change in recent years, which may have encouraged landlords to formalise their structures to ensure they’re operating compliantly within those frameworks. “For landlords looking to professionalise their operations, risk management, compliance and specialist insurance become even more important. Professional landlords are investing for the long term, and protecting those investments has never been more important.” 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