Speaking to the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Angela Rayner, Secretary of State for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) not only reinforced the need for all councils to have local plans, but made clear that if local policy was met, planning applications would be ‘fast tracked’ and not frustrated by politics. Richard Beresford, Chief Executive of the National Federation of Builders (NFB), said:  “We are often asked what is meant by ‘removing the politics from planning’ and it is as simple as getting a planning permission if you meet policy. Planning committees deferring or battling policy compliant planning applications harm smaller builders the most, as they do not have the finances to hire expensive consultants and legal teams to turn a three-year battle into a year long one. This doesn’t serve planners well either, who despite being hired as experts to make these judgments, are constantly over-ruled.” Rayner told Kuenssberg, “We’ve told councils, they’ve got to have those [local] plans. If developers follow the framework, the national framework which protects environments, looks at a number of different elements and also follows the local plan, they shouldn’t be stuck in the system for years.” The BBC reported that Conservative shadow Treasury minister, Richard Fuller criticised Labour’s approach and claimed, “Labour seems to be saying that Angela is best, and local people can be ignored.” Rico Wojtulewicz, Head of Policy and Market Insight at the NFB, said: “We are pleased to see NFB’s ‘meet policy, get planning’ recommendation accepted by the Government. Smaller builders delivering up to 100 homes a year, particularly on sites of fewer than fifty, will be the biggest beneficiaries as the change would remove some risks, reduce delays and dampen the discretionary process which plagues the planning process. Far from ignoring local people, local plans create a long-term placemaking framework with local needs at its heart. It fails if it isn’t backed up by a rules-based system. There may be occasions where more scrutiny is required on a large scheme, but this should be a rare occurrence and local politicians who create local frameworks should not then waste council resources and their planner’s time to scrutinise every development. In planning and housing, the Conservative government left Labour a poisoned chalice and although reforms have not come quickly enough to save some companies from leaving the industry, there are clear indications that Labour will create an environment which is consistent, and Angela Rayner is proving that she intends to live up to her government’s promises.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Kush Rawal, Executive Director of Customer Services at Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing, comments: “Social housing is a microcosm of our wider society, and often we work with people experiencing acute challenges impacting the quality of their day to day lives. The cost of living crisis and factors such as health and educational inequalities, financial and food insecurity are some of the issues that impact our residents. The funding pressures faced by public sector bodies and charities continue to create support gaps which housing providers have filled even when these extend beyond our traditional areas of focus. It is important that social housing providers support where appropriate, but we can’t do this alone or without adequate financial support. “Turning specifically to Care and Support, recruitment remains a considerable challenge. There’s already a 20% vacancy across the sector, and the recent employer’s national insurance increase will put further pressure on the viability of services. Despite this, we cannot lose sight of the fact that we have a collective social responsibility to the most vulnerable in our society. Ensuring care and support commissioners are adequately funded will be vital to ensuring these services remain operational. “In 2025 I’d like to see greater funding given to care and support commissioners to enable them to support these important services.” Tom Dodson, Chief Operations Officer at Better Green Living, commented: “As we approach the end of the year, we anticipate significant growth in the retrofitting and refurbishment sector to address the rising demand for premium green working spaces. With hybrid working and studying prevalent across the country, the need for communal spaces has become essential. This growing demand offers an opportunity for spaces to undergo sustainable refurbishment instead of building new spaces from scratch. And with an aligning focus on sustainability amongst the property industry, it’s more important than ever, that our designs are fit for purpose, and we utilise as much of our existing buildings as possible. “The demand for student accommodation is at an all-time high, with 2.2 million students projected to require housing by 2026. This presents a significant opportunity to develop these high-demand hubs. However, to meet this need, the industry must address the existing skills gap. Building a strong and diverse workforce is essential in delivering the retrofit work necessary for the UK’s transition to net zero. This can only be achieved by additional Government support to provide the younger generations with retrofitting training to develop and expand their skills. With the expected rise for retrofitting projects and a focus on greener solutions in doing so, we continue to stay ahead of the curve.” Simon Vernon-Harcourt, Design & Planning Director at City & Country: “The Labour Party is making great strides in the right direction, and the potential opportunity for enhancement is huge. It will be a massive challenge to change the system given how under-resourced local planning authorities are, and how entrenched the ‘nimby’ culture is in the system. So far, we have heard many soundbites about recruiting new planning officers, but unfortunately, the devil is in the details – something we are currently lacking. There’s a very ambitious housing target above our heads, and to fulfil this, we need the policy of loosening the green belt delivered promptly. This will enable the development of sustainable communities and help create new places for people to live, work, and play. I hope we will start to see a shift next year with the housing market from political point scoring toward tangible action.” Chris Harris, Chief Operating Officer at Dandara: “The Government has positioned housebuilding as a key driver of economic recovery, signalling its commitment to boosting the economy – a goal in which housing plays a crucial role. The UK’s pressing need for new homes makes this focus both timely and essential. Labour’s proposed policy changes, particularly its plans to simplify and expedite the planning process through amendments to the NPPF, could present significant opportunities for SMEs like ours to increase housing delivery nationwide. However, it remains uncertain whether these commitments will translate into actionable outcomes. For buyers, the financial landscape remains challenging. Rising rents, higher mortgage rates, escalating energy costs, and the ongoing cost-of-living crisis are all barriers to homeownership, especially for first-time buyers. In the coming year, I hope to see the Government take decisive action to address these issues and promote greater accessibility to homeownership.” Adrian Watts, Chief Executive at Croudace Homes: “We have suffered in the past from Nimbyism across the country, which has held back housing delivery. Given the stark change to a pro-housing government, it will take some time for Labour to implement significant changes. Whilst the noise so far has been positive, I expect limited progress to be made next year, as the delivery of these changes will not happen overnight. The proposed changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) will help, but without sufficient resources and recruitment within Local Planning Authorities, progress will be too slow to dramatically shift the outlook of these departments. We also need Registered Social Landlords to be in a strong position to contract on S106 housing if delivery is to first be maintained and then increased alongside the rise in housing demand. Finally, with no support for first-time buyers, we will struggle to increase our housing stock and risk leaving a generation behind, stuck in the vicious cycle of renting.”  Craig Carson, Managing Director at Barratt West London, comments: On policy “The Government has inherited a difficult environment from its predecessors. It has a challenge on its hands to even begin to tackle London’s housing shortage, with a target of 80,000 new homes per year in the capital alone. This is clearly an ambitious target but demonstrates a shared vision between Government and housebuilders alike that we absolutely must build more homes. Not only does the Government need to introduce measures that keep the homebuying and selling market moving, it needs to support housebuilders from the very beginning. The National Planning Policy Framework and new towns funding are two immediate positive introductions from the Government. Housebuilding is clearly

Contractor and modular housing manufacturer Boutique Modern has passed its first B Corporation™ (B Corp) reassessment with flying colours. Since becoming a B Corp in 2021, the Sussex-based business has made remarkable strides across all areas of its operations, resulting in an impressive 37% increase in its B Impact Assessment score. The new result of 120.3, up from 87.3, reflects significant improvements in the Newhaven company’s practices around workers, the environment and customer impact. Dick Shone, managing director of Boutique Modern said: “The most important thing to me about B Corp is that every element of our business contributes to our score. “Every role, every process has bolstered our impact, showing how committed we are in every single area of the business. “A good B Impact Assessment score stands at 80-85, according to B Corp UK, so we have really moved the dial.” Back in 2021, Boutique Modern became the UK’s first modular construction B Corp, setting out with the goal of driving continuous improvement and a commitment to sustainable and ethical business practices. Reassessments are carried out every three years. Improvements in the company’s score are evident across all measured categories – governance, workers, community, environment and customers – highlighting a holistic approach to boosting business operations and social responsibility. Boutique Modern attributes its success to diligent efforts in employee welfare, environmental sustainability and customer engagement, which have all seen marked improvements since its initial certification. It has several exciting initiatives in the pipeline, including more low-emission affordable housing projects, to further enhance its impact. These developments will support the company’s ongoing mission to use its business as a force for good. In addition, Boutique Modern is preparing to publish its next Impact Report in early 2025, providing deeper insights into its efforts and results across the past year. Shone added: “As a proudly certified B Corp, Boutique Modern is dedicated to using its platform to promote a more sustainable, inclusive and transparent approach to business. “This reassessment milestone underscores our resolve to drive meaningful change across the construction industry and beyond.” For more information visit: https://boutiquemodern.co.uk/ For further information about Boutique Modern’s B Corp score visit: https://www.bcorporation.net/en-us/find-a-b-corp/company/boutique-modern-ltd Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

The UK government has announced a transformative £3 billion support package to accelerate housebuilding, aiming to deliver thousands of new homes, stimulate economic growth, and create jobs. Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook unveiled the initiative, which provides vital financial guarantees to housebuilders, making loans from banks and lenders more accessible and giving developers the confidence to build at scale. Supporting Builders, Supporting Growth Government guarantees reduce risks for lenders, encouraging them to extend more credit to housebuilders. With access to credit being a significant hurdle for growth in the sector, this initiative seeks to remove barriers, paving the way for a surge in construction projects across the country. The programme forms part of the government’s ambitious target to build 1.5 million homes over the next five years. By unlocking funding, the initiative is set to bring more families onto the property ladder, boost economic activity, and support the development of thriving communities. Doubling Down on ENABLE Build Key to this initiative is the doubling of the ENABLE Build scheme to £2 billion, providing a significant boost to smaller housebuilders. This will help deliver over 10,000 new homes, including student accommodation and specialised housing for older people, in areas where housing demand is highest. For Build-to-Rent developers, the Private Rented Sector (PRS) Guarantee Scheme will reopen by the end of the year, offering nearly £2 billion in guarantees. A broader range of projects will now qualify for these funds, expediting the completion of critical housing developments. The government estimates that these expanded guarantees could help deliver over 20,000 additional homes, further cementing the UK’s commitment to tackling the housing crisis. Industry Leaders Welcome the Initiative Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook emphasised the pivotal role of small housebuilders and Build-to-Rent operators in achieving the government’s housing goals: “SME housebuilders and Build-to-Rent operators are crucial to delivering 1.5 million new homes during this Parliament. The additional support provided by our housing guarantee schemes will enable them to access affordable loans and build thousands of new homes across the country.” Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the Federation of Master Builders, echoed this sentiment, highlighting the importance of supporting small builders: “Small housebuilders face significant financial challenges, and diversifying the housing market is essential to meeting the UK’s housing needs. This increased support is welcome and must reach the builders who need it most.” Louis Taylor, CEO of the British Business Bank, noted the wider economic benefits: “Unlocking finance for smaller housebuilders is critical, not just for housing delivery but also for stimulating economic growth across the UK.” A Brighter Future for Housing With the government’s commitment to ensuring accessible financing for developers and its focus on sustainability, the expanded housing guarantees mark a significant step forward. By empowering housebuilders, the initiative aims to transform housing delivery across the UK, creating better opportunities for families, workers, and communities while driving economic growth. This multi-billion-pound package demonstrates that building homes isn’t just about bricks and mortar—it’s about building a stronger, more sustainable future for all. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Starlight Investments (“Starlight”), a leading global real estate investment and asset management firm, has acquired three build-to-rent (“BTR”) communities under development in Manchester and Basildon, for over £500 million. In Manchester, Starlight will be acquiring two high-rise towers from Renaker, a leading UK developer with a long-standing and successful track record. Manchester has experienced among the highest population and economic growth of all major cities in the UK over the past 10 years, a trend which is expected to continue over the next decade. The first Manchester property being acquired is a 60-storey, 532-suite residential tower currently under construction in the Castlefield conservation area on the bank of the River Irwell. The location is walking distance to several transit connections and easily accessible to the vibrant business, retail and entertainment precincts of Exchange Square and Spinningfields. Upon completion, the property will include a diverse mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments. Extensive high-quality amenities will include an indoor pool, co-working areas, a gym, resident lounges and an outdoor terrace. The second Manchester property is a 40-storey, 517-suite residential tower located in the city’s Greengate neighborhood. The location is a short walk from the Northern Quarter and the Manchester Central Business District (CBD). The property will feature high-quality one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments and will differentiate itself through an exceptional amenity offering including a rooftop terrace, co-working areas, a gym, and resident lounges. The third property being acquired in Basildon is a 492-suite three-block, mid-rise property close to the main train station and part of an area within the city’s £600 million regeneration masterplan. Basildon is a popular commuter city and only a 35-minute train journey into central London. The property will feature one- and two-bedroom apartments and include extensive amenities such as five outdoor terraces, a gym, and co-working areas. All the properties being acquired will contain numerous sustainability features including high-efficiency lighting, solar panels and electric vehicle charging stations. These acquisitions mark a major milestone in Starlight’s European residential asset management platform which, together with previously announced acquisitions, will increase Starlight’s UK portfolio to over 3,300 units. “We are excited to announce the significant expansion of our UK portfolio with a vision to positively impact the communities where we will operate,” said Daniel Drimmer, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Starlight Investments. “These acquisitions reflect our strategy to create dynamic communities and high-quality rental housing in growing markets across the United Kingdom. Our increasing presence in the UK and our relationships with well-respected and established developers positions us strongly to deliver on our expansion strategy in the country’s growing BTR segment.” “We are pleased to have completed these two transactions with a quality and professional global partner, who shares the same vision and values to deliver market-leading build-to-rent communities. We look forward to building on this relationship in the future,” added Daren Whitaker, Founder and Chairman, Renaker. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Construction begins to build the UK’s largest purpose- built village for rough sleepers Once complete, Embassy Village will transform the site below 22 railway arches into accommodation for 40 homeless men with a village hall, outdoor green spaces, mini allotments and a multi-use sports area. The team behind a pioneering homelessness project in Manchester city centre have come together to celebrate a significant milestone moment as work starts on site to build Embassy Village. The purpose-built community for the homeless will provide a long-term and sustainable solution to help address the challenges around the growing number of homeless and vulnerable men within the city region. In 2021 Greater Manchester-based charity, Embassy, joined forces with a pro-bono team led by developers Peel Waters – part of The Peel Group and Capital&Centric, alongside the city’s business community to bring forward Embassy Village and provide 40 new purpose-built homes with wrap-around support for those who need it most. Once complete, Embassy Village will transform the site below 22 railway arches which has been provided by Peel Waters, into high-quality homes with communal outdoor green spaces, including mini allotments to grow vegetables and a multi-use sports area. Embassy will be responsible for the management and operation of Embassy Village. The Greater Manchester based charity launched in 2019 and specialises in reintegrating people back into society, breaking the cycle of homelessness by providing a home, skills training and wraparound support to give them the life skills to be independent. Embassy Village will not be a homeless shelter but will instead be a purpose-built community in which residents will have to commit to six hours of training per week in shopping, cooking and budgeting. The village hall within Embassy Village will be complete with a counselling room, laundry room and communal computers, plus a training kitchen to help residents learn to cook. Since planning consent was granted in 2021, Embassy and partners have been focused on fundraising. Through a £3.5million donation from the Moulding Foundation and further substantial donations from the Garfield Weston Foundation and Benefact Trust, the first phase of the village can now begin which will include the village hall, completion of 24 homes and staff accommodation. Vermont Construction Group has been appointed to build the scheme for no profit and expect to complete phase one of Embassy Village by late 2025. James Whittaker, Managing Director of Peel Waters, Tim Heatley, co-founder at Capital&Centric, and Sid Williams the Co-Founder and Director of Embassy marked the start on site at a special event with the organisations who have offered their services for free to design and plan Embassy Village. James Whittaker, Managing Director of Peel Waters said: “Starting the build of Embassy Village is a very significant moment for us and our partners who have worked on this meaningful project. “From forming the initial concept of using our land for the most vulnerable in our society during a breakfast with Mayor Andy Burnham, to pulling together the huge team of consultants working on a pro bono basis, we are extremely proud of our involvement and continuous support of this amazing project. “Today’s launch event is an important milestone, marking years of hard work and collaboration to deliver the UK’s first purpose-built community village and we want to say a huge thanks to all those who have got involved in supporting Embassy Village so far. “We look forward to completing the build of Embassy Village and seeing the first residents move in, providing much needed housing, training and wrap-around support for some of our most vulnerable members of society; transforming their lives and breaking the cycle of homelessness.” Tim Heatley, co-founder at Capital&Centric and Chair of the Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity added: “Initiatives such as this show how big things can happen when the people and businesses of Greater Manchester come together. A city is judged on how it looks after its most vulnerable and disadvantaged residents and once again our city region is leading the way. Nobody should have to spend a night on our streets, and this project will ensure hundreds of people will have somewhere to call home, with the help and support needed to ensure they don’t end up homeless in the future.” Mark Connor, Founder and CEO of Vermont Group also added: “Being able to commence the Embassy Village today is such an achievement. Homelessness is a huge issue in Manchester as the city has some of the highest numbers of rough sleepers in the country. We all have a collective responsibility to deal with this issue and our work at Embassy Village doesn’t just set out to offer warm homes and a village hall, but to create a real community and support system for people who need it. It’s a huge honour for Vermont to be part of solution in dealing with this issue and watching Embassy Village come to life.” A further £1million is required for the remaining units and to complete phase two of Embassy Village. Embassy is now working with the business community, individuals and the Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity to secure funds for the long-term village running costs. Sid Williams, Co-Founder and Director of Embassy said: “Buying an A-lister tour bus to house homeless people seemed a big vision when we started, and yet here we are not so long later at the start of building an entire village. We couldn’t have done this without the incredible companies, individuals and trusts who have given their support to the project and believed in our vision. “Special thanks go to Matt and Jodie Moulding for their significant financial backing and the teams at Peel Waters, Capital&Centric, the Mayor’s Charity and Manchester City Council for making this happen. Whilst this is a huge moment for the project, the hard work doesn’t stop there and we still need further funds to complete all 40 homes and for the long-term running costs. If you can help by sponsoring a home or supplying materials please get in touch.” Jodie Moulding, Co-founder

The latest research from Yopa, the full-service estate agents, has found that the property market has picked up the pace in the two weeks since the Autumn Budget, with 84,000 more homes listed for sale today – an increase of 11.4%. Yopa analysed* current for sale stock listings across Britain, looking at how many have hit the market in the two weeks since the Autumn Budget and how this level of market activity differs by each area of the nation. The research shows that there are currently some 823,898 homes listed for sale across Britain and 84,065 of those have entered the market since the Autumn Budget alone –  a boost of 11.4% in the number of sellers choosing to make their move. Every region of Britain and every major city analysed by Yopa has seen an increase in for sales stock levels since the Autumn Budget. Regionally, the largest increase has been seen across Scotland at 12.7%, with the North East (+12.3%) and London (+12.2%) also seeing some of the largest increase in for sale stock levels. Wales has seen the smallest influx of new homes listed for sale, although there has still been a 9.5% increase in the last two weeks alone. Of the 15 major cities analysed by Yopa, Glasgow has seen the biggest increase at 13.4%, followed by Nottingham (+13.3%), Edinburgh (+13.2%) and Brighton (+12.5%). CEO of Yopa, Verona Frankish, commented: “There’s always a sense of uncertainty in the run up to a major budget and so it’s hardly surprising that many home sellers may have been sitting on the fence to see just what Chancellor Rachel Reeves had up her sleeve for them. The answer was unfortunately not a great deal and now that the Autumn Budget is done and dusted, we’ve seen a significant increase in the number of sellers entering the market. This is a smart move given the fact that there was no extension to current stamp duty relief thresholds granted and we’re now likely to see an uptick in demand over the coming weeks as homebuyers look to purchase ahead of next year’s 31st March deadline.” Data tables and sources Full data tables and sources can be viewed online, here. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals