Greater Manchester is ready to turn the tide on the housing crisis with its comprehensive plan to build new homes, connect communities to new jobs and opportunities, and drive up standards across the rental sector. By driving an increase in new homes across the region, including affordable, social and net
Southwark Council has appointed Bouygues UK as its development partner for the delivery of key worker homes in the borough. The project will deliver approximately 150 affordable homes for key workers including social workers, teachers, fire-fighters, police and NHS clinical staff, enabling them to live close to their workplace, reducing
The Pride in the Job 2025 Quality Award winners have been announced today [Friday 20 June 2025] by the National House Building Council (NHBC). Now in its 45th year and widely considered the ‘Oscars’ of the house-building industry, Pride in the Job celebrates site managers’ dedication to raising standards in house building, showcasing
A development of new affordable homes in Pelton, North Durham, has been commended by local MP, for providing much-needed housing for local people. Luke Akehurst MP visited the new Roseberry Meadows development with affordable housing developer Karbon Homes to see progress being made on the 104 homes, a project he
Insulation specialist Actis has welcomed the £39 billion affordable housing investment announced in this week’s government spending review – but reiterates that offsite construction and training more builders will be key to the delivery of such homes over the coming decade. Actis is a long-time champion of tackling the housing
NFRC (The National Federation of Roofing Contractors) welcomes the government’s announcements in its Spending Review, particularly the commitment to significantly increase funding for the Affordable Homes Programme. The intention to unlock greater private investment in housebuilding through Homes England is also a positive step, provided it is implemented effectively. The
By Tim Foreman, Managing Director of Land and New Homes, LRG: The additional funding for affordable housing is very welcome especially as the demand for affordable housing, and cost of building it, continues to increase. However, delivery of affordable housing would benefit from addressing a wider range of types and
Plans to deliver 127 new homes at Castleton Grange in Eye have been given the green light, as Mid Suffolk District Council’s planning committee approved Phase 2 of the development this week. The homes will be delivered by Persimmon Homes Suffolk and are designed to be zero carbon-ready, aligning with
PfP Thrive, part of Places for People, has announced partnerships with the UK’s leading housing associations to deliver bespoke training programmes designed to address the critical skills shortage in the housing and construction sectors. With demand for skilled workers at an all-time high, PfP Thrive is delivering tailored and comprehensive
Construction company Hobson & Porter has won a major decarbonisation and stock condition works contract with East Riding of Yorkshire Council, which will see the firm install the latest sustainable technology and refurbish hundreds of homes and buildings each year. The work will be worth approximately £15million over a four-year
Greater Manchester is ready to turn the tide on the housing crisis with its comprehensive plan to build new homes, connect communities to new jobs and opportunities, and drive up standards across the rental sector. By driving an increase in new homes across the region, including affordable, social and net zero housing, and by raising the standards of current rental homes, we will fulfil our Housing First ambition to give everyone access to a safe, secure and affordable home by 2038. This week has already seen a renewed focus on driving up housing standards with the unveiling of the first supporters of the Good Landlord Charter – Greater Manchester’s bold twin-track approach to recognising good practice, while holding rogue landlords to account with increased enforcement activity and fines. New analysis shows that our Brownfield Housing Fund, set up in 2020, has provided grants to deliver over 15,000 homes – with an average of just over 45% being affordable housing. This success, linked to our ambitious plans to boost regeneration across Greater Manchester, will support plans to deliver more social housing than is lost across the region. Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said: “If we are serious about securing the long-term success of Greater Manchester, we need to free ourselves from the grip of the housing crisis. “Because of the decisions we’ve taken, Greater Manchester is now building more affordable homes than at any point since the turn of the millennium. “We need to keep building on that momentum until we reach a tipping point where we build more social homes than we lose. “We’re determined to ensure that every person in Greater Manchester has access to the safe and secure home they need in order to thrive.” Unlocking brownfield land Since 2020, Greater Manchester has invested £135.4m from the Brownfield Housing Fund to redevelop underused brownfield land and deliver thousands of new homes. Brownfield land can be difficult to bring forward for development, owing to issues including soil contamination and the need to remove existing structures. These challenges are often expensive to overcome – and can deter developers from building on brownfield sites. In those five years, we have provided grants delivering more than 15,000 homes – with just over 45 per cent on average being affordable tenure types, compared with an average of 20 per cent for all Greater Manchester developments in that time. A fifth of all homes supported by the Brownfield Housing Fund to date are for social rent. Around a quarter of all homes funded through grants have reached practical completion, ahead of schedule. As part of the Trailblazer devolution deal signed in 2023, Greater Manchester agreed an extension to the Brownfield Housing Fund to accelerate building the good, affordable homes we need. This additional funding has allowed us to continue developing on challenging sites across the region. The Brownfield Housing Fund also puts a greater focus on energy efficiency – helping Greater Manchester deliver the net-zero homes we need to reduce emissions and ease pressure on household energy bills. The Fund has also enabled us to deliver key infrastructure and unlock the full potential of brownfield developments – including at Victoria North, the biggest urban regeneration project in the North of England, set to deliver more than 15,000 new homes, employment space, schools, and GP surgeries. Further funding allocations are anticipated for the summer, supplementing those approved previously and the successful delivery of thousands of new homes to date. Paul Dennett, Deputy Mayor and Greater Manchester Lead for Housing First, said: “Through our pioneering Housing First model, we’re ensuring that people with the most complex needs are supported into stable housing with wraparound care. And with the upcoming launch of the UK’s first Good Landlord Charter, we’re raising standards across the rental sector, giving tenants stronger protections and ensuring that everyone in Greater Manchester has access to a safe, secure, and decent home. “The Brownfield Housing Fund has been a vital tool in unlocking land for development, allowing us to build thousands of much-needed homes, while protecting our green spaces. With the right investment, we can deliver high-quality, sustainable, affordable housing across our city-region.” Regenerating our towns and building new homes We are using the power of Mayoral Development Corporations to unlock regeneration opportunities to deliver housing across the city region. These pioneering tools bring together local partners and drive forward our ambitions to build new homes, bring jobs and investment, and support economic growth. They are statutory bodies, set up by the Mayor, designed to speed up development and attract investment within a specific area. They can take on broad powers including land acquisition, planning and infrastructure functions. These include Old Trafford (part of the proposed Western Gateway Mayoral Development Zone), the expanded Stockport MDC and the Northern Gateway MDC (part of Atom Valley). Together, these three alone are expected to deliver 27,250 homes over the next 15 years to help address the housing crisis. We have a proven track record of successfully implementing an MDC in Stockport, where this joined-up approach to regeneration has helped us to deliver well-connected developments, with the right transport links and infrastructure to support thriving communities. Mayoral Development Zones, meanwhile, set out the strategic vision for regeneration over larger parts of the region in which MDCs can sit. Next week (Friday 27 June) will see new proposals discussed by leaders in Greater Manchester for a Mayoral Development Zone to drive forward development in the Western Gateway. The Western Gateway, recognised by the Chancellor for its importance as a key development location, includes Port Salford, Trafford Wharfside, and the Old Trafford Regeneration area, where a Mayoral Development Corporation is proposed. The Mayoral Development Zone will ensure the connections between these major opportunities are understood and the benefits of those links are maximised. Cllr Bev Craig, Portfolio Lead for Economy, Business and Inclusive Growth said: “Greater Manchester is leading the way in delivering new homes, jobs and infrastructure, using our devolved powers to drive growth. “We have pioneered
Southwark Council has appointed Bouygues UK as its development partner for the delivery of key worker homes in the borough. The project will deliver approximately 150 affordable homes for key workers including social workers, teachers, fire-fighters, police and NHS clinical staff, enabling them to live close to their workplace, reducing travel times and offering an improved work-life balance to those providing vital services for their community. The rent levels will be equivalent to London Living Rent levels, calculated by Ward. The housing will be available to key workers with a combined household annual salary of between £26,000-£67,000 per year The site, next to the Arnold Estate near Zone 1, with close proximity to London Bridge and Bermondsey stations, will be the first development project under the council’s emerging Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Guidance. The development includes the delivery of a new community centre, with a large flexible double-height space and a number of smaller support spaces. The centre will be available for all the community for a range of events, activities and for hire; and the council will be seeking an independent operator to manage the space nearer to the time of opening. Cllr Helen Dennis, Cabinet Member for New Homes and Sustainable Development said: “Key workers are the backbone of any community and ensuring that their work is recognised and their lives made easier is the least we can do to repay the efforts they make every day. I’m really excited and proud that we’re going to be delivering around 150 homes for keyworkers in partnership with Bouygues UK. “Creating affordable housing in London is always a challenge but Southwark Council is dedicated to meeting this challenge head-on as part of our 2030 strategy. The new homes will contribute positively to recruitment and retention of key workers in our borough, shaping a positive future and making lives better.” Subject to planning, construction will start around mid-2026 on the new development, with completion targeted for 2029. Oliver Campbell, MD of Bouygues UK’s development arm said: “We are thrilled to have been selected by Southwark Council as the development partner for this landmark scheme in SE1. Building on our successful collaboration on several projects, including the Tustin Estate scheme where we are delivering nearly 700 new homes, 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 project represents an exciting opportunity to further our collaboration and make a lasting contribution to the future of Southwark, and we eagerly anticipate bringing this vision to fruition. Construction will progress at pace, ensuring that these much-needed facilities are delivered promptly and to the highest standards.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The Pride in the Job 2025 Quality Award winners have been announced today [Friday 20 June 2025] by the National House Building Council (NHBC). Now in its 45th year and widely considered the ‘Oscars’ of the house-building industry, Pride in the Job celebrates site managers’ dedication to raising standards in house building, showcasing best practice and rewarding excellence. Judging is rigorous, with assessment across six key areas: consistency, attention to detail, leadership, interpretation of drawings and specifications, technical expertise and health and safety. Thousands of inspections, with meticulous scoring and detailed verifications, have taken place to determine the 450 winners from a field of circa 8,200 sites, representing the top 5% of UK site managers. Commenting on the awards, Steve Wood, CEO at NHBC said: “Congratulations to all the winners. They have demonstrated the dedication, passion and leadership skills necessary to deliver new homes to exacting construction quality standards. “Thousands of outstanding site managers have made their mark on the industry in the 45 years Pride in the Job has been running. This continued focus on excellence is vital to support the Government’s 1.5 million new homes target and to ensure that all housing is built to the quality owners and occupiers should expect.” Pride in the Job has five categories: small, medium and large builders, plus multi-storey for projects up to seven storeys and high-rise for projects more than seven storeys. The Quality Award winners will now go on to compete for Seal of Excellence and Regional Awards in the autumn, with the national Supreme Award winners unveiled in January 2026. For a full list of the Pride in the Job 2025 Quality Award winners, please visit: https://www.nhbc.co.uk/awards-and-events/pride-in-the-job/2025-award. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A development of new affordable homes in Pelton, North Durham, has been commended by local MP, for providing much-needed housing for local people. Luke Akehurst MP visited the new Roseberry Meadows development with affordable housing developer Karbon Homes to see progress being made on the 104 homes, a project he described as a vital boost for the area. Accompanied by colleagues from Karbon and its main contractor, Esh Construction, the North Durham MP had a first look at a number of the new homes still under construction, being built on the site of the former Roseberry Sports Community College in the village. Luke Akehurst MP for North Durham said: “I’m delighted to see the delivery of new affordable homes that not only provide much-needed housing for local residents, but also help lower energy bills by meeting the highest energy efficiency standards. “Developments like this one are vital for improving our area and giving families a better quality of life.” The £25million development will include 20 two and three bed family homes for affordable rent, as well as 31 apartments and bungalows for residents over 50. For people looking to take their first steps on the property ladder, the remaining 53 family homes will be available for Rent to Buy, a scheme that allows residents to rent before they buy and, as rents are set at 20% less than local market rent, offers the opportunity to save towards a deposit. Paul Fiddaman, Chief Executive of Karbon Homes who joined Luke for the visit, said: “We’re really pleased with how the Roseberry Meadows site is progressing, a site that stood empty for a number of years which we’re now turning into new homes to support the local community. “It was great to see the new timber frame homes well underway, a method of construction we’re using more and more to deliver our development programme. In a time where new affordable homes are in high demand, the ability to be able to deliver the same high quality homes but quicker, is a real plus for the region.” Luke also applauded Karbon’s commitment to building new homes that meet the highest energy efficiency standards. All 104 new homes are aiming to achieve the highest energy performance certificate (EPC) rating and will be powered by air source heat pumps, a technology three times more efficient than gas boilers. Electric car charging points will also be fitted across the site. All of the houses are being built using timber frame construction, a method that reduces waste, energy use and time taken to deliver a new home compared to using traditional construction methods. Esh Construction’s Operations Director, Mark Binns, added: “It was a pleasure to welcome Luke Akehurst MP to site and showcase the energy efficient homes that are under construction. The Roseberry Meadows development marks another successful collaboration between Esh and Karbon Homes to provide high quality affordable housing in County Durham.” The development is part-funded through Karbon’s £181 million strategic partnership with Homes England, to develop 2,324 much-needed affordable homes across the North East and Yorkshire by 2028. The scheme is expected for completion in Autumn 2026. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Insulation specialist Actis has welcomed the £39 billion affordable housing investment announced in this week’s government spending review – but reiterates that offsite construction and training more builders will be key to the delivery of such homes over the coming decade. Actis is a long-time champion of tackling the housing crisis while at the same time ensuring that quality and thermal efficiency are of the highest possible standard. This involves embracing technologies and products which speed up the build process while investing in training the next generation of construction professionals says Mark Cooper, UK and Ireland sales director of Actis, whose Hybrid insulation system and two-in-one Eolis HC are popular choices for timber framers and housing developers. “This is described as the biggest cash injection into social housing in 50 years, which is excellent news,” he said. “But with an inadequately-sized construction workforce it’s important that homes which are quicker to build but don’t compromise on quality or thermal efficiency are part of the housing mix. This needs to be in tandem with encouraging more young people to enter the construction industry. “The government’s spring promise of £625 million to train 60,000 construction workers goes a considerable way towards helping with this, but with Checkatrade telling us that the UK needs another 1.3 million skilled workers and 350,000 apprentices to meet housing and net zero targets we must do more to increase the pool of building professionals at all levels.” Offsite-constructed homes can be built up to 30% more quickly than those of traditional brick and block, enabling developers to deliver homes at a faster rate and using fewer man hours per unit. “Many elements, including insulation, take place offsite, in the factory. Our insulation systems take between 25 and 50% less time to install than traditional alternatives, which all helps to speed up the process,” said Mark. “The site crew ‘just’ has to erect everything in the right order with a typical build time of between seven and 12 days, depending on the size of house. “Additionally, quality is far better controlled, and these timber frame homes can be thermally superb, cutting carbon emissions and saving money and resources.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
NFRC (The National Federation of Roofing Contractors) welcomes the government’s announcements in its Spending Review, particularly the commitment to significantly increase funding for the Affordable Homes Programme. The intention to unlock greater private investment in housebuilding through Homes England is also a positive step, provided it is implemented effectively. The allocation of nearly £2.3bn a year to fix crumbling classrooms and a further £2.4bn to rebuild 500 schools presents a significant opportunity for NFRC members to contribute high-quality work to vital public infrastructure. In addition, the pledge of up to £1.2 billion per year in skills training for young people by the end of the Parliament is a critical investment. It will help ensure a pipeline of trained professionals is in place to deliver these ambitious projects. NFRC Director of Membership, Richard Miller, said: “It’s encouraging to see the Government making a strong commitment to social and affordable housing at a time when difficult decisions are being made across the board. “A safe, well-built home is the foundation for a stable life, and this investment will play a key role in making more of these homes available to those who need them. “To ensure this funding delivers real value, it is essential that homes are constructed to a high standard, using quality products and contractors whose workforce is demonstrably skilled. “This is particularly important for roofing, especially now that solar panels will be the default on all new homes under the Future Homes Standard. That policy will only work if solar systems are properly designed and installed by professionals with the right expertise in both PV technology and roofing.” NFRC urges the Government to avoid undermining the impact of these investments through further tax increases on construction businesses in the upcoming Autumn Budget. “Many roofing businesses are already under pressure from rising employment costs,” Miller added. “In our most recent Spring survey, cost of employment was the most cited challenge facing roofing businesses, with 76% of responding Members highlighting the issue. Construction insolvencies remain high, and any further financial strain could put the Government’s housing ambitions at risk, regardless of how much funding is committed.” NFRC eagerly anticipates the forthcoming publication of the government’s ten-year infrastructure strategy. A clear and reliable pipeline of work will be essential to ensure that the promised funding can be delivered effectively and translated into tangible outcomes on the ground. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
By Tim Foreman, Managing Director of Land and New Homes, LRG: The additional funding for affordable housing is very welcome especially as the demand for affordable housing, and cost of building it, continues to increase. However, delivery of affordable housing would benefit from addressing a wider range of types and tenures than the government is currently providing for. Specifically, shared ownership plays a very important role in getting people on to the housing ladder and yet seems to have been largely ignored by this government. The popularity of shared ownership is increasing, partly because today’s first-time buyers are paying almost a third more to get on the property ladder than they were five years ago. Furthermore, in the last decade the number of private renters moving into home ownership fell by 23%. The government’s current stance on housing affordability – not least the increases in Stamp Duty and the freezing of Lifetime ISAs – has resulted in policies that are making it even harder for first time buyers to enter the market. Shared ownership deserves the same level of government-assisted marketing as benefited the now defunct Help to Buy scheme and it seems detrimental to the whole ‘growth agenda’ that the government is ignoring this important tenure. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Plans to deliver 127 new homes at Castleton Grange in Eye have been given the green light, as Mid Suffolk District Council’s planning committee approved Phase 2 of the development this week. The homes will be delivered by Persimmon Homes Suffolk and are designed to be zero carbon-ready, aligning with the developer’s commitment to sustainability and future-proofed living. The new phase will include 25 affordable homes for residents whose housing needs are not met by the open market. Ranging from two to five bedrooms, more than half of the properties will be built as adaptable homes, allowing them to accommodate the evolving needs of families over time. Each home will feature an air source heat pump and be equipped with an electric vehicle charging point as standard. Persimmon will also contribute £2.5 million toward local public services and infrastructure as part of its developer obligations, supporting the wider community as the development expands. Ian Hamilton, Managing Director of Persimmon Homes Suffolk, said: “We have included large areas of open space within the layout design for this phase to create a low-density scheme that provides opportunities for residents to enjoy the green space. “We are delighted that members were able to approve the scheme and allow us to continue building at Castleton Grange in order to meet local demand for new homes.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
PfP Thrive, part of Places for People, has announced partnerships with the UK’s leading housing associations to deliver bespoke training programmes designed to address the critical skills shortage in the housing and construction sectors. With demand for skilled workers at an all-time high, PfP Thrive is delivering tailored and comprehensive training modules for the UK housing and construction sectors and now, it has announced a new collaboration with 26 major industry names, including Havebury Housing, Amulius Housing, Futures Housing Group, Thrive Homes, Saffron Housing, Wates Group, Peabody Housing, East Midlands Homes (EMH), Alpha Living, Platform HG, Plymouth Community Homes, Novus Property Solutions, Gilmartin’s Group, Breck Group, Flagship Group, Notting Hill Genesis, The Guinness Partnership, Alpha Living, Derventio Housing Trust, Anchor , Riverside, Nottingham Community Housing, Warrington Housing Association, and West Kent Housing. Learning partners have also come on board, with the Retrofit Academy, City and Guilds, Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) and Study Academy supporting training and accreditation moving forward. By working together, the partnership will rapidly train new and existing colleagues within the housing sector, ensuring the sector has the expertise needed to maintain homes, meet retrofit targets, and deliver ambitious housebuilding programmes. The initiative will focus on traditional trades, emerging skills and Housing specific learning ensuring the workforce is futureproofed to meet the evolving needs of the industry. In addition to technical training, PfP Thrive will also offer compliance courses, apprenticeships, and leadership development programmes, helping to create a pipeline of skilled professionals at all levels. Tom Arey, Director of PfP Thrive, said: “The skills shortage is one of the greatest challenges facing the housing and construction sectors today. The only way to solve it is through genuine cross-industry collaboration, and that’s exactly what we’ve built with these partnerships and look forward to supporting more organisations across our sector. “By working together, we can equip both the existing and new housing workforce with the skills, knowledge and behaviours the sector needs to thrive. This is about securing the future of our sector, our workforce, and ultimately, the homes we build and maintain.” Operating from 20 sites nationwide, PfP Thrive aims to train over 100 apprentices in its first year, with a new academy and central hub in Derby welcoming its first intake this autumn. For more information about the organisation and its training programmes, visit: https://www.placesforpeople.co.uk/pfp-thrive/. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Construction company Hobson & Porter has won a major decarbonisation and stock condition works contract with East Riding of Yorkshire Council, which will see the firm install the latest sustainable technology and refurbish hundreds of homes and buildings each year. The work will be worth approximately £15million over a four-year period and will see Hobson & Porter refurbishing around 200 council owned homes each year, and significantly improving their energy performance certificate (EPC) ratings to either B or C. The company will also work on homes that the council is currently buying to supplement its existing housing stock. Hobson & Porter has already been tasked with installing 1.5kWp‘in-roof’ solar panels on more than 20 residential streets as well as making efficiency upgrades to the loft spaces. Structural repairs will also be carried out alongside the full refurbishment of a mix of council owned buildings including offices, industrial units and storage depots. This will include replacing reinforced concrete floor slabs for insulated ones, rewiring, installing new heating systems, underpinning, drainage repairs and internal structural work. In addition, Hobson & Porter will be improving communal areas in assisted living schemes and apartment buildings, as well as refurbishing and demolishing a series of garage blocks. Sam Robertson, from Hobson & Porter, said: “East Riding of Yorkshire Council is a longstanding client so we’re very pleased to win this new contract. Having worked on East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s previous frameworks for the last seven years, I am happy we have been recognised as a key partner in delivering this latest scheme, which is testament to our team’s hard work and high standards of workmanship. “It’s particularly rewarding because it involves a wide variety of work, from refurbishing all types of homes, which will make a genuine difference to local people, through to installing the latest sustainable technology. All this will significantly improve the council’s property portfolio across a large swathe of East Yorkshire, as well as future-proofing buildings and homes for future generations of residents, staff and visitors.” Councillor Gary McMaster, East Riding of Yorkshire Council cabinet member for planning, housing and infrastructure, said: “This contract has been designed to ensure that as many of the homes and buildings that we own and run as possible can benefit from modern and sustainable technology. This will ensure that they are fit for purpose for many years to come and guarantees the most efficient and cost-effective use of resources.” Hobson & Porter has a longstanding relationship with East Riding of Yorkshire Council. The company recently started rebuilding two sheltered housing developments in Anlaby and Driffield, which will both offer a mix of one-and-two-bedroom flats with generous open-plan layouts. The homes will be adaptable to meet residents’ needs as they age, thereby helping them to live independently for longer. Hobson & Porter is also working on the energy efficiency-led refurbishment of two supported living developments in Hornsea. Once complete, Meregarth will offer 14, one bedroom apartments and Pybus Court, will provide 13, one and two bedroom apartments that all meet East Riding’s need for suitable supported housing. At the end of last year, Hobson & Porter completed work on a £3.3 million renovation programme at Champney Treasure House in Beverley, which included significant improvements to the much-loved museum, archives, café area, tower viewing point, gardens and art gallery. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
