Matthew Pennycook MP stated that leasehold remains a barrier to a fair and efficient property market and confirmed that the UK Government aims to ‘get the job done’ by the end of this Parliament, making commonhold the default tenure for new flats. However, he also stated that reform must be phased to avoid legal, administrative and market disruption — meaning the five million existing leases in England and Wales will not end immediately. central part of the reform programme is the draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill, which was published in January 2026. The Bill introduces a new legal framework for commonhold and includes measures to ban the use of leasehold for new flats, building on the existing ban on most new leasehold houses. The UK Government’s position is that leasehold should be stopped from renewing itself, while existing leaseholders should be given clearer routes to take control of their buildings and leave the system when they choose. The draft Bill proposes a new conversion process that would allow a block to move to commonhold where at least 50% of qualifying leaseholders agree. Propertymark supports the ambition to make commonhold a more realistic option, but we have warned that the shift will need careful implementation. Commonhold will involve new documents, new processes, new management arrangements and new responsibilities for homeowners and property professionals. Consumers and agents will need clear guidance and practical support to understand how the system works. Ground rent cap must not leave leaseholders waiting too long The Minister also confirmed that the UK Government intends to cap ground rents at £250 per year, before reducing them to a peppercorn rate after 40 years. Propertymark welcomes the commitment to bring ground rents down, but we have raised concerns about the proposed timeframe. Our evidence to the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee stated that a 40-year transition is too slow to provide meaningful relief for many existing leaseholders. We have also warned that the cap must not allow ground rents that are currently below £250 to be increased to that level where no escalation clause exists. This matters for the market now. Our research found that 78% of agents said leasehold properties with escalating ground rent would struggle to sell, even if priced correctly. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

No motivation for builders to build if they can’t find buyers The Government will miss their target of 1.5m new homes due to a stagnant property market, say leading audit, tax and business advisory firm, Blick Rothenberg. Heather Powell, a Partner at the firm, said: “The latest property statistics published by HMRC are bad news for the Government’s target of 1.5m new homes. They show a stagnant market with low appetite for buying, which means there is no motivation for builders to build.” She added: “Property sales continue to be steady. There has been no major increase in the number of residential or commercial properties sold per year in comparison to the last three years. A huge injection of confidence is required to end the market’s stagnation, but the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, seems to be bereft of ideas on how to generate this.” Heather said: “The Chancellor is going to have to reflect on the impact this will have on Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) receipts, as well as all of the taxes that are collected as a result of property moves – VAT on move costs and refurbishment and taxes payable by the businesses selling to the new property owner.” She added: “This continued stagnation is not surprising. People are worried about the cost of living, job security and the cost of a mortgage and so are not rushing into home ownership – or stepping up the housing ladder. Commercial investors, the buyers of offices, factories and similar buildings have similar concerns – will tenants be found, will they be able to pay the rent, and will the rent received cover interest charged by lenders?” Heather said: “HMRC’s statistics highlighted an increase in the number of sales in March compared to February, which reflects the annual trend as the UK moves into the summer months. But property prices are unlikely to increase significantly over the next twelve months, so buyers will not rush to purchase a property.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

The Hill Group and Pinnacle Investments have exchanged contracts to deliver 1,934 new homes across two landmark developments in the Borough of Brent in London. The joint venture, Dollis Hill Wembley LLP, completed the acquisition of the sites from United Colleges Group (UCG), marking a critical milestone for a project that will provide 84% of Brent’s annual housing requirement under the London Plan. The developments are set to transform former educational sites into high-quality residential communities supported by the Greater London Authority (GLA) and Sovereign Network Group (SNG). A total of 154 social rent homes will be integrated across the schemes, funded in part by the GLA’s Homes for Londoners Fund. Beyond housing, the project facilitates the creation of a new state-of-the-art educational campus for UCG on Olympic Way, Wembley. Construction on the first phase of the regeneration is scheduled to begin in spring 2026. The Wembley development will replace the former College of North West London building at the foot of Olympic Way. The project features linked 18-storey and 30-storey towers, providing 307 apartments. Every home will include a private balcony or terrace, with 85 units dedicated to social rent. The scheme also includes ground-floor commercial space, a concierge service, and secure cycle storage. In Dollis Hill, the Dudden Hill Lane site will be reimagined as a vibrant neighbourhood of 1,627 homes across buildings ranging from four to 28 storeys. The sale of these sites enables United Colleges Group to consolidate its operations into a purpose-built campus on Olympic Way. This new facility will focus on green skills, engineering, and the built environment, ensuring the college’s 130-year legacy in Brent continues in a modern, future-facing environment. Andy Hill OBE, Founder and Group Chief Executive of The Hill Group, said: “At a time when housebuilding has substantially stalled in London, we are working tirelessly with our partners to bring forward new developments, such as these two sites in Wembley and Dollis Hill. Together, we are unlocking the potential of these sites to deliver much-needed homes in the capital, while transforming the area to provide essential community amenities that enable sustainable and thriving new neighbourhoods.” Christopher Turnbull, Managing Director at Pinnacle Investments, added: “Exchanging contracts marks an important step for our joint venture with Hill and reinforces our commitment to investing in high-quality housing of all tenures where it is most needed. These developments will play a key role in meeting Brent’s housing needs while also enabling vital investment in education and skills.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

An outline planning application has been submitted by Bellway for a residential development of up to 260 homes on land south of Godmanchester. Bellway Strategic Land has lodged the proposals with Huntingdonshire District Council, seeking permission to build on a 25-acre site at Dexter’s Farm, located to the east of the A1198. The site sits immediately south of Bellway’s recently completed Whitehill Gardens development, where construction of 59 homes finished in 2025. It forms part of a wider area identified by the council for housing, with the potential to deliver around 520 homes to meet growing local demand. The proposed scheme includes a mix of one to four-bedroom properties, with 30 to 40 per cent earmarked as affordable housing, either for social rent or shared ownership. Plans also include more than six acres of public open space, featuring children’s play areas, walking and cycling routes, and new tree and hedgerow planting. — Advertisement —hss Fergus Thomas, Bellway Strategic Land Director for the Central region, said: “The site at Dexter’s Farm represents an opportunity to not only deliver high-quality new homes in a sustainable location close to our recently completed Whitehill Gardens development but also unlock a wider expansion of the town to meet the area’s housing and infrastructure needs. “Our application includes the provision of land for a new roundabout access onto the A1198, which will serve not just this development but the wider neighbourhood, and will also help to reduce traffic speeds into Godmanchester from 60 to 40mph. “Huntingdonshire District Council is facing a severe shortfall of new housing and there is a particular demand for affordable homes to address the council’s waiting list which has grown by more than 1,000 households in just five years. Our proposals would deliver a range of property types to meet demand from people in a wide variety of circumstances and at different stages in life. “Alongside this, the provision of new public open space and play areas would help to promote active and healthy lifestyles among new residents and the existing community, while new landscaping would create an attractive southern gateway into the town.” If outline planning permission is approved, a further reserved matters application would be required to determine the final number, design, and layout of the homes. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Planning permission has been granted for Alpha House, Wythenshawe’s newest residential development, which will deliver 125 affordable one- and two-bedroom apartments for social rent as part of the town centre’s £500 million regeneration. Alpha House is the third residential site to receive approval, following December 2025 applications for a total of 422 new affordable homes from the developer and Wythenshawe Community Housing Group (WCHG). Earlier this month, C2 The Birtles and Brotherton House both secured planning consent. Originally built in the 1970s as an office building, Alpha House later accommodated a martial arts school and a solicitor’s practice, but its upper floors have remained vacant for over 15 years. The building has now been demolished to make way for the new apartment scheme, which will include 16 wheelchair-accessible homes. The development will offer high-quality, energy-efficient homes with thoughtfully designed outdoor and communal spaces aimed at supporting health, wellbeing, and community interaction. Joe Stockton, development director, said: “Securing the green light for Alpha House, alongside C2 The Birtles and Brotherton House, marks a major milestone in delivering over 400 affordable homes for Wythenshawe, all of which will be available for social rent. The three new communities are central to the wider vision for Wythenshawe, complementing exciting town centre improvements such as the vibrant new food hall, the Culture Hub, and modern workspaces, which have all been designed to strengthen the town centre and benefit the local community.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals