On Friday 14th February the IPPR has released a new report that has found 1.4m houses have been left unbuilt by developers since 2007. Cllr Adam Hug, Housing spokesperson for the LGA, said: “This report puts a spotlight on one of the key issues the LGA has long-called for Government action on – the need to tackle slow build-out rates from some developers. “In order to deliver the homes we need, Government must work with councils and the housebuilding industry to ensure there is a suitable pipeline of sustainable sites, which once allocated in a Local Plan and / or given planning permission, are indeed built out. Councils approve 9 in 10 planning applications, but people cannot and do not live in planning permissions. Councils must be given greater powers to ensure prompt build out of sites with planning permission,  also should be given the support to ensure they have an up-to-date local plan so they can give certainty to residents and housebuilders’ “Planning is about creating communities linked with the right economic activity and public services, whilst conserving and enhancing the natural and local environment generating a sense of place, culture and local identity. Developments require more than just houses to create thriving, attractive and desirable places and communities in which to live, and often it is the accompanying local and national infrastructure, to be delivered alongside new homes, which is of primary concern for residents.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

The report from the National Retrofit Hub, developed in partnership with Impact on Urban Health, exposes the urgent need to improve energy efficiency in the private rental sector (PRS). With 4.5 million households renting privately in England[1] and a shocking 1 in 4 renters living in fuel poverty[2], the report underscores the stark realities of a housing market failing its tenants and the environment. The report delivers a clear message: without immediate action, the PRS risks falling further behind other housing sectors, leaving millions of renters in cold, inefficient homes. This report explores these challenges and proposes a supported pathway to improved housing that considers the needs of both landlords and tenants Addressing poor living standards and fuel poverty Millions of renters in the private rental sector are living in substandard conditions, with poorly insulated homes leaving tenants exposed to the harsh realities of fuel poverty and inequality. Currently, 1 in 4 renters[3] in England struggle to afford their energy bills, a crisis exacerbated by rising costs and the inefficiency of older properties. Many tenants face daily challenges to keep their homes warm and healthy, while landlords often lack the necessary support to make significant improvements. “This situation highlights a systemic issue” commented Cara Holmes, National Retrofit Hub Technical Programme Manager. “The private rental sector risks falling behind other housing tenures, leaving renters trapped in a cycle of inadequate housing and energy insecurity. Tackling this problem requires a coordinated effort to raise standards, improve living conditions, and ensure fair outcomes for both tenants and landlords.” Supporting Landlords to Drive Energy Efficiency Improvements[CH1]  The report highlights the practical challenges landlords face in balancing their financial goals with the need to improve their properties’ energy efficiency. Many landlords view their properties as long-term investments. As one landlord explained, “I got the property because it was the best investment compared to putting my money into a savings account.” While many are committed to maintaining their properties and complying with regulations, the report reveals that landlords often see regulations as a target to meet rather than an opportunity to exceed. “If I’ve had an EPC assessment on my property and it’s below the requirements, I’d want absolute clarity on what my options are to bridge the gap between where I am and where I need to be,” said another landlord. Financial barriers remain a significant hurdle for many. “I don’t have a mortgage, so extending it isn’t an option. The issue would be interest rates and over how many years,” one landlord noted. The findings underline the importance of providing landlords with practical, accessible solutions to retrofit their properties effectively, ensuring they can balance their investment goals with the urgent need for energy efficiency improvements. A call for bold action The report calls for immediate updates to Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES), setting ambitious yet achievable targets to: However, raising standards alone is not enough. Landlords need a robust package of support to enable meaningful change, including: To ensure tenants are not left behind, the report also calls for stronger compliance and enforcement measures, including: Join the conversation and take action The National Retrofit Hub and Impact for Urban Health invite policymakers, landlords, and industry professionals view the report and take part in conversations about the future of energy efficiency in the private rental sector. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

To mark New Homes Week (3rd- 9th February) and its theme of Communities, Close Brothers Property Finance and the Home Builders Federation (HBF) have released a video series highlighting the vital role played by SME housebuilders in creating sustainable communities – built around the health and wellbeing of residents as well as safeguarding the natural world. The videos illustrate how SMEs are committed to delivering high-quality, sustainable homes, which enrich people’s lives while improving local infrastructure and wildlife habitats. The SMEs who feature in the series are: SME housebuilders make a valuable contribution to the local economies where they build, hiring local contractors, skilled tradespeople and apprentices to deliver housing schemes. Unlike PLC builders, who typically use centralised supply chains, SMEs support local suppliers and businesses. Many SMEs build in areas where they have personal connections, giving them greater insight into the types of homes and amenities that best serve existing communities in that area. Their smaller size means that they can be agile and adapt projects in line with feedback from the community. Despite the important role SMEs play, their numbers have dwindled in recent decades due to challenging economic conditions; an increasingly bureaucratic planning system and process and regulatory environment that adds significant cost and delays. At the same time, the lack of housing associations in the market to buy the affordable homes that SME housebuilders are required to provide as part of the planning permission is preventing them from delivering developments at all. .. A report from the House of Lords Built Environment Committee shows that the proportion of new homes built by SMEs in England plummeted from 39% in 1988 to just 10% in 2020. The HBF and Close Brothers Property Finance call upon the Government to offer greater support to SME housebuilders. First-time buyers have increasingly struggled to get on the housing ladder. With the close of Help to Buy last year it is the first time in decades there is no Government support scheme in place to help buyers, and  Stamp Duty relief on properties up to £425,000 ends later this year, exacerbating the problem still further. With inflation largely under control, interest rate cuts would help boost the sector, both by cutting costs for SME housebuilders and making borrowing more affordable for buyers. Close Brothers Property Finance and the HBF, along with Travis Perkins, have produced the State of Play report for the last five years which shines a spotlight on the challenges facing SME housebuilders. For each of the years that the report has been produced, planning has consistently been identified as the biggest obstacle to SME housebuilders. Phil Hooper, Chief Executive Officer of Close Brothers Property Finance, says: “SMEs are the backbone of local housing markets. As predominantly family-run businesses operating in the locations where they live, they take a huge amount of pride in the quality and attention to detail of every home they build. But successive failures to address issues within the planning system and current fiscal market conditions mean that these businesses aren’t getting the support that they need, and we now risk losing even more of these companies. Reforming the planning system is certainly a step in the right direction, but we also need to consider how we can level the playing field for SMEs to ensure they can access the same land, infrastructure and financial opportunities as their larger counterparts and finally reverse the years of decline.” Neil Jefferson, Chief Executive Officer of the Home Builders Federation, says:   “SMEs are the lifeblood of all industries, but in house building we have seen them disappear at an alarming rate as a result of the incredibly difficult environment within which they are operating.  Small builders bring choice to the market in terms of the type of homes they build and the locations. It is vital we address the challenges they face to operating their businesses such that they can continue to provide customers with high quality options to buy.” For further information on New Homes Week, visit: https://new-homes.co.uk/new-homes-week/  THE VIDEO SERIES This New Homes Week we have partnered with the Home Builders Federation to create a series of short films featuring SME Housebuilders across the UK, and the work they are doing to build and support local communities. Monday  Today we hear from Colin Palmer at 3West Group, South-West based housebuilder, at their development in Exmouth. Colin talks about employing local suppliers and sub-contractors and how this has equated to around £50m being injected into the South West economy. Tuesday This video shows Mark White of Bargate Homes, talking about the work they are doing to encourage wildlife at their development of sustainable homes in Hampshire.  Mark also discusses supporting the elderly community and children with SEN needs, win the community. Wednesday Today we hear from Laura and Richard Ellam of Pivot Developments.  Laura and Richard met over 20 years ago whilst working on a Scottish oil rig, wanting to leverage their experience in engineering and technology, they set up Pivot Developments in 2020 and since then have been creati low carbon, energy-efficient homes.  Thursday Hear Paul Moran, of Cavanna Homes talk about building “homes, not just houses”, with sensory gardens, play areas, allotments and open spaces they are proud to provide for the community, at this development near Exeter. Friday The last video in our New Homes Week series features the fantastic Lorraine Thomas, founder of View from my Window.  Lorraine is a housebuilder, mentor, coach and property investor, based in South London.  Lorraine’s mission is to make property accessible and life-changing, for her local community, and beyond. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals