If current trends persist, Scotland is set to face a homelessness crisis of alarming proportions by 2040, according to a new report by full-service law firm Shakespeare Martineau. The study has forecasted a 90% increase in homelessness applications to more than 4,100 annually, while at least 7,000 households could be
Responding to the Government’s housing announcements, Cllr Louise Gittins, Chair of the Local Government Association, said: “We are pleased the Government has acted on our call to increase Affordable Homes Programme funding. We have made the case for councils to be empowered to build more affordable, good quality homes quickly
The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP Investments) has teamed up with Kennedy Wilson, a global real estate investment company, to establish a joint venture (JV) in the UK single-family rental housing sector. This ambitious venture aims to build a portfolio valued at approximately £1 billion, with CPP Investments contributing
Mohamed Gaafar, CEO and Co-Founder of GRYD Energy: “The time has come for the new government to take a firm stance on the FHS and commit to making the country’s housing fit for the future. The FHS is a crucial piece of legislation that will raise the environmental standards of
Birchgrove has launched its fourth development and first in Greater London with the opening of Ayrton House in Mill Hill, North London. This new development offers 60 purpose-built one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments on the site of a former medical research institute. Residents can enjoy communal amenities such as a
Commenting on the latest Halifax data showing UK house prices in September rose 4.7% compared with a year ago – the strongest rate since November 2022, Daniel Austin, CEO and co-founder at ASK Partners, said: “We are continuing to see a consistent month-on-month rise in house prices, which signals a potential
Liverpool City Council is set to seek a development partner to help transform a prime waterfront spot into Liverpool’s newest residential community. A report to Cabinet on Tuesday, 10 September, is recommending the Council embarks on a competitive procurement exercise to appoint a high calibre development partner to lead on
A new report, The Economic Footprint of Home Building, produced in association with United Trust Bank, shows that last year home building in England and Wales generated £53.3bn of economic output and supported 834,000 jobs, underlining the economic potential of delivering the homes the country needs. Hitting the new Government’s
The Renters’ Rights Bill is progressing through Parliament with pace, with the Second Reading of the legislation happening on 9 October, and Propertymark’s recent webinar on the widely anticipated new law helped alert property agents as to why it will prove to be one of the ‘biggest changes to the
Maidstone Borough Council (MBC) Planning Committee last night approved plans for the redevelopment of the Former Royal Mail Sorting Office site, at Maidstone East, for mixed-use development which is predominantly residential. The development will include 180 apartments, 1,863 square metres of commercial and/or community space and around one acre of
If current trends persist, Scotland is set to face a homelessness crisis of alarming proportions by 2040, according to a new report by full-service law firm Shakespeare Martineau. The study has forecasted a 90% increase in homelessness applications to more than 4,100 annually, while at least 7,000 households could be forced into temporary accommodation – an 89% surge. The City of Edinburgh is anticipated to have the largest share of households in temporary accommodation in Scotland, comprising two thirds (66%) of the total nationwide. Highland follows, accounting for 32% of all such households in the country. Grant Docherty, partner and head of Shakespeare Martineau in Scotland, said: “This is a wake-up call. We cannot allow these projections to become a reality. “Scotland abolished the Right to Buy scheme, which gave council house tenants the opportunity to buy their rented home at a discounted price, in 2016 – leading to a 4% increase in the country’s social-rented homes stock in the six years that followed. “However, despite this, these figures show that it is crucial the public sector and housing associations work together to provide stable, accessible and affordable accommodation. The government also needs to ensure support services for vulnerable groups are properly funded. “The cost of doing nothing will be catastrophic – not just for the individuals affected but for society as a whole.” Utilising the latest National Records of Scotland population projections, Shakespeare Martineau – supported by socio economic experts at Marrons – has built a national and regional picture of Scotland’s housing need in 2040. Supplementing this is government data on homelessness applications and the number of households living in temporary accommodation, as well as under-occupation statistics. By 2040, Scotland’s 16+ population is expected to grow by 4% to more than 4.7 million people. Notably, Edinburgh and Lothians emerges as the fastest-growing region – anticipating 15% growth to more than 871,000 – while Highlands and Islands will witness a 3% decline in its total population. To meet the burgeoning demand, at least 352,500 homes need to be constructed across the country by 2040. Edinburgh and Lothians leads the way in housing need, with demand for more than 111,500 homes. In contrast, South of Scotland demands the least, with a requirement of 16,830 properties. The first-time buyer demographic is anticipated to grow by 1% to more than 1.3 million, with Edinburgh and Lothian expected to experience the most positive growth at 11%. Highlands and Islands stands out with the most significant decline, projected at 7%. Nationally, the later living demographic is set to witness a 27% increase, with Edinburgh and Lothians experiencing the greatest surge (39%) and Scotland South demonstrating the slowest growth (19%). Meanwhile, the student-age demographic is set to make up 7% of the total 16+ population in Scotland’s university cities. Dan Usher, economics director at Marrons, who specialises in housing need evidence, said: “Citing pressure on homelessness services, rising property prices and high levels of temporary accommodation, the Scottish government and 12 of the country’s 32 councils have declared housing emergencies – signalling that intervention is needed. “In examining the data, it becomes evident there is a pressing need for strategic collaboration between the public and private sectors to address the growing demand for affordable housing, as well as a real opportunity for purpose-built homes tailored for last-time buyers. By capitalising on this, we not only cater to the specific needs of this demographic but also unlock the potential to release much-needed family homes back into the market. “Building a range of homes to suit many different needs is not only a priority but a necessity. It creates more choice, aids first-time buyers onto the property ladder, gives expanding families additional space; helps the ageing population downsize and live in homes more suitable for their needs, and adds to the supply of affordable housing.” To read the full report, please visit https://tinyurl.com/ScotlandHousing2040. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Responding to the Government’s housing announcements, Cllr Louise Gittins, Chair of the Local Government Association, said: “We are pleased the Government has acted on our call to increase Affordable Homes Programme funding. We have made the case for councils to be empowered to build more affordable, good quality homes quickly and at scale and this will boost councils’ ability to build desperately-needed affordable housing for local communities. “It has become increasingly impossible for councils to replace homes as quickly as they’re being sold through the Right to Buy (RTB) scheme. The LGA has long-called for reform to RTB and these positive measures will support the replacement of sold homes and to stem the continued loss of existing stock. “A 5-year rent settlement is a step in the right direction in providing certainty for councils on rental income, but to really strengthen and provide stability to Housing Revenue Accounts, a minimum 10-year rent settlement is needed, alongside restoration of lost revenue due to the rent cap and a review of the self-financing settlement of 2012. This would better support long-term business planning to ensure councils can deliver high quality homes and associated support for their tenants. “Councils stand ready to work with the Government to increase affordable housing and help people on council housing waiting lists and record numbers stuck in temporary accommodation.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP Investments) has teamed up with Kennedy Wilson, a global real estate investment company, to establish a joint venture (JV) in the UK single-family rental housing sector. This ambitious venture aims to build a portfolio valued at approximately £1 billion, with CPP Investments contributing £500 million and Kennedy Wilson investing £56 million. CPP Investments will hold a 90% stake in the JV, while Kennedy Wilson will hold 10%. The JV is focused on delivering energy-efficient, new-build homes in rapidly growing communities that feature excellent connectivity, quality local amenities, and strong employment and educational opportunities. To fuel the portfolio’s growth, the partnership will collaborate with housebuilders across the UK. Initial properties include units from two developments already secured by Kennedy Wilson: Barratt Redrow’s site in Norwich, where the first phase of homes is already being leased, and Miller Homes’ project in Stevenage, with homes set for completion by Q2 2025. With a pipeline of projects valued at over £360 million and a potential of 4,000 units once fully deployed, Kennedy Wilson is well-positioned to drive the JV’s expansion. Tom Jackson, Head of Real Estate Europe at CPP Investments, commented:“Private capital can be instrumental in addressing the lack of high-quality rental housing in the UK. This investment aligns with our broader real estate strategy of pursuing scalable opportunities in high-quality assets with stable cash flows. Through this JV with Kennedy Wilson, we are creating a pathway to strong returns for CPP’s 22 million contributors and beneficiaries.” Kennedy Wilson will manage the JV and receive standard management fees, drawing on its expertise in professionally operated rental housing, with a portfolio of over 60,000 units across the US, UK, and Ireland. The company’s established residential platform features a vertically integrated team for investment, asset management, development, and operations. Mike Pegler, President of Kennedy Wilson Europe, added:“Our partnership with CPP Investments represents a significant step in delivering essential rental homes for UK families. The structural challenges in the UK rental housing sector present a compelling investment opportunity, allowing us to grow our portfolio at scale and generate steady, risk-adjusted returns in this critical sector.” This JV not only targets a substantial growth in professionally managed rental housing but also brings forward the promise of a scalable, high-quality rental portfolio to meet growing demand across the UK. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Mohamed Gaafar, CEO and Co-Founder of GRYD Energy: “The time has come for the new government to take a firm stance on the FHS and commit to making the country’s housing fit for the future. The FHS is a crucial piece of legislation that will raise the environmental standards of new homes and ensure the housing sector’s energy supply is more resilient, affordable and sustainable for all. “It’s very concerning to see the new Labour government wavering over the strength of legislation proposed about the environmental standards of new homes. “The previous government delivered so many mixed messages over decarbonisation standards for UK homes. This has caused significant uncertainty for asset owners, landlords and developers and fuelled inaction across the sector. “The new government’s green growth agenda cannot be realised without an unapologetic commitment to the Future Homes Standard. This will give the property sector the clarity and stability it needs, and deliver a clear message that the future of Britain’s housing will be driven by innovation and no longer plagued by inertia. “The Future Homes Standard will certainly bring challenges for developers – as new regulatory measures do for any sector – but this is an essential piece of legislation to ensure Britain’s new building stock is futureproofed and primed for a clean, energy efficient future. “Until now, the government has heavily focussed on the decarbonisation of homes through subsidies for retrofits. This is an important piece of the puzzle, yet with Starmer’s bold ambition to build 1.5 million homes in five years, he must put robust regulatory measures in place to ensure those new homes are built for a net zero future – and won’t have to be retrofitted with the right technology in a matter of years. “If we don’t build homes today that are futureproofed with low carbon systems, we’ll be retrofitting them in 5-10 years down the line at a much higher cost. Let’s do it once and do it right.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Birchgrove has launched its fourth development and first in Greater London with the opening of Ayrton House in Mill Hill, North London. This new development offers 60 purpose-built one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments on the site of a former medical research institute. Residents can enjoy communal amenities such as a restaurant, club room, licensed bar, wellness suite, and landscaped gardens. The acquisition of Ayrton House in September last year marked the beginning of Birchgrove’s expansion into Greater London. The company is also moving forward with plans for additional developments, including a 50-apartment complex in Chiswick, West London, where planning permission has been secured, and another in the Hampton Court Estate near Hampton Court Palace in Richmond. Honor Barratt, Chief Executive of Birchgrove, said: “Birchgrove is going from strength to strength and we’re excited to have our fourth development now open, particularly as it is our very first in London, where we know demand for senior living is especially high. “It’s a common misconception among some sectors that once they get older, people want to move to the country or live by the seaside. Surveys frequently show that many retired people want to live in the bustling Capital with all its cultural attractions and this is particularly true for those who’ve lived there a long time. “We know from previous research that many older Londoners live in homes far too big for them, with over-75s in the Capital typically having at least twice the number of bedrooms they need. “In a city with such a tight housing market, freeing up some of these homes could contribute to improving the overall housing situation across many demographics. “Many older people would be interested in moving to smaller properties if more suitable local options were on offer. By providing a thriving community as we open our first London development, we’re hoping we can attract more of these people into our development and eventually, roll out more London communities for those who want to continue to live in the Capital but without the burden of maintaining a property too large for them.” A report released by Age Concern in September last year revealed there were 1.4 million people aged over 60 living in London and that this group was the fastest growing demographic in the Capital. Of these, 59% felt positive about living in London, rising to 64% of those aged 75 and over. The report also found that many Londoners had deep connections to the area, with 76% reporting being happy with their family and community connections and only 16% often feeling lonely. The report also found that 70% of older Londoners owned their own home. However, many of those homes are underoccupied and could be put to better use if older Londoners had more suitable options for downsizing. Previous research carried out by Professor Les Mayhew of the International Longevity Centre and Bayes Business School found that over-75s in the capital had more than twice the number of bedrooms they needed, while those aged 65-74 had 70% more bedrooms than necessary. Birchgrove’s new Mill Hill apartments are exclusively available to independently minded people in later life. In keeping with other Birchgrove developments, all of the residences are future proof, with level-access bathrooms, wider-than-standard doorways and lifts. In addition, all Ayrton House apartments have been fitted with Nobi smart lights. These AI-driven intelligent lights are designed to detect, help prevent and even predict falls among occupants. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Commenting on the latest Halifax data showing UK house prices in September rose 4.7% compared with a year ago – the strongest rate since November 2022, Daniel Austin, CEO and co-founder at ASK Partners, said: “We are continuing to see a consistent month-on-month rise in house prices, which signals a potential upward trend for the remainder of the year. The market is showing strong signs of resilience, even amid broader uncertainties. Much anticipation surrounds Labour’s plans to stimulate the housing sector, particularly regarding the construction of new homes and unlocking the planning system. If effective initiatives are announced in the coming months, they could provide the market with an additional boost, driving further growth and confidence in the sector. “In the property investment world, rent values have seen sustained growth, positioning real estate as reasonably valued in comparison to gilts and presenting growth potential. In the realm of commercial real estate, we have seen values hit the bottom and confidence return. The market has picked up with opportunistic acquisitions of prime properties in prime locations. “As a debt provider, we hope to support well-capitalised borrowers who understand their product and are looking at the best sites in prime locations with potential to add to their asset value. Following this strategy, we aim to bolster developers’ initiatives with the flexible underwriting approach that is necessary for navigating a changing market. This will enable us to continue to offer opportunities for the growing number of private individuals opting to invest in property debt.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Liverpool City Council is set to seek a development partner to help transform a prime waterfront spot into Liverpool’s newest residential community. A report to Cabinet on Tuesday, 10 September, is recommending the Council embarks on a competitive procurement exercise to appoint a high calibre development partner to lead on creating a new neighbourhood as part of the city’s famous International Festival Gardens site, which was originally opened in May 1984. The ambition is to significantly boost the city’s housing supply with a diverse range and mix of housing types, including affordable properties, together with local amenities, creating a thriving new community in this prime south Liverpool location, which is well connected and within 10-minutes of the city centre. The scheme, which is a flagship project outlined in the city’s draft housing strategy, will connect with and enhance its natural surroundings and biodiversity and provide a high standard of desirable and multi-generational living for all. Significant remediation and enabling works were recently completed in January 2024 to enable development, and since that time a team of experts have been curating an ambitious, and deliverable development brief which will provide an essential framework to market the site. Clear objectives are outlined which state the council’s intentions to make the 28-acre site a sustainable, healthy and inclusive neighbourhood which has a strong identity and high design quality. If the report is given the green light, the initial phase of the procurement process will begin in October, with a view to securing a partner towards the middle of next year. The development brief will form the central part of a procurement process, seeking viable expressions of interest from developers with a proven, successful track record in delivering transformative schemes at pace, which are built on strong community engagement. Montagu Evans will be running the procurement process on behalf of the Council. It is expected that the contract with the successful development partner will be finalised in Autumn 2025 once thorough due diligence has been undertaken. • You can read the full Cabinet report here. THE REMEDIATION : Remediating the Festival Gardens site has been a three-year project, which began in 2021. It was a mammoth excavation programme, moving almost 450,000 cubic metres of soil and waste of which more than 95 per cent was recycled, including 100,000 cubic metres of earth being used to create the city’s newest park – the Southern Grasslands which opened in August 2023. The remediation won a national brownfield award in recognition of the complex and sustainable nature of activity which was carried out to ensure the viability of the next phase in the transformation of Festival Gardens. Additional works have also been carried out which include laying drainage and constructing a substation to provide a power supply for the future development. This 28-acre site includes a unique 8-acre area of landscaped amenity space, with the other 20 acres now primed and ready for development. The remediation was led by the Council’s principal contractor VINCI Building. The improvement works to the site that are integral to enabling this exciting development to progress were made possible through a combination of Liverpool City Council, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and Homes England grant funding. Leader of Liverpool City Council, Councillor Liam Robinson, said: “This is a major milestone moment in the evolution of the Festival Gardens site. “The appointment of a development partner will see the completion of the International Garden Festival initiative and marks the final chapter in a 40-year story of a site which originally covered 250 acres. It will also ensure that the UK’s only remaining Festival Gardens are preserved and enhanced for future generations to enjoy. “We know how well-loved this area is and want to make sure that we are doing as much as we can to ensure this prime waterfront land has the potential to be a flagship development that sets the standard for sustainable housing in the UK. “The extensive remediation work is another piece in the puzzle, and we’re now in a position to go out to the market and invite developers to share with us their viable vision which will be transformative for the area and the city as a whole. “It’s an incredibly exciting time and is the next step in making this in-demand, thriving community a reality.” Liverpool City Region Mayor, Steve Rotheram, said: “This is another milestone on the journey to transforming Festival Gardens into a vibrant, inclusive community that will be cherished by generations to come. This isn’t just about building units; it’s about building desirable homes, where families can put down roots, where nature and urban living coexist in harmony, and where the community spirit that defines our region can thrive. “Working with the city council we have done much of the hard graft on remediating the contaminated land, and we’re now ready to work with a partner who shares our vision to turn this prime waterfront site into a beacon of sustainable living. Together, we’ll make sure that this development is something we can all be proud of.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A new report, The Economic Footprint of Home Building, produced in association with United Trust Bank, shows that last year home building in England and Wales generated £53.3bn of economic output and supported 834,000 jobs, underlining the economic potential of delivering the homes the country needs. Hitting the new Government’s 1.5m homes target could deliver £330bn to UKPLC and an extra 350,000 jobs a year The research carried out by Lichfields for the Home Builders Federation (HBF) and produced in association with United Trust Bank (UTB) found that last year, delivering 240k homes generated; And; The findings also demonstrate the huge boost to growth the new Government can release if it can hit its ambitious housing targets. If Labour were to meet its housing targets of 1.5 million homes built over the course of this Parliament, this could result in: Compared to the 1 million homes built under the last government, this equals an additional: The home building industry has largely welcomed the interventions Labour has made on planning, addressing the major barriers to land coming through the system. It is now urging Government to address the other constraints to delivery, particularly on the demand side and is also calling on the new Government to deliver on its commitment to find a solution to the ‘nutrition neutrality’ issue holding up an estimated 160,000 homes. Neil Jefferson, Chief Executive of the HBF said: “As well as addressing some of the major social issues the country faces, building more homes drives economic activity. The house building industry sustains hundreds of thousands of jobs, generates huge receipts for the exchequer and boosts investment in infrastructure and amenities across the country. “Delivering new developments provides energy-efficient, modern homes, and ploughs investment into new roads, schools and community facilities that benefit both new and existing residents. “If Government can deliver on its ambitious housing targets it will reap significant social and economic benefits. The industry welcomes the swift and decisive actions to address the constraints in the planning system, but more is needed to accelerate growth. The lack of affordable mortgage availability means more support for buyers is needed. Creating demand for new homes provides the confidence the industry needs to invest and deliver both private and affordable homes. “The upcoming budget provides an opportunity for the Government to take more positive steps to address the mounting housing crisis and to commit to their pledge to get Britain building again.” Adam Bovingdon, Head of Property Development at United Trust Bank, said: “This important report illustrates the huge contribution the housing industry makes to the UK economy and to the local areas surrounding new housing developments. UTB is a staunch advocate for regional housebuilders and entrepreneurial developers and the important contribution they make to delivering the UK’s housing needs. Our funding supports the completion of around 5600 new homes at any one time, bringing new jobs, new facilities and new money to areas where investment can make a big difference.” Richard Coburn, Senior Director at Lichfields, said: “We were delighted to be asked by the HBF to update our series of economic impact work which we started in 2015. Our research lands at an extremely important time for the house building industry with the new Government seemingly taking all reasonable policy measures to accelerate much-needed delivery of new homes. “Lichfields again has identified the very significant economic contribution made by house building and how boosting supply to achieve the Government’s confirmed aspiration of 300K homes per annum in England will not only help improve access to housing for people across the country but also deliver a significant economic and infrastructure dividend. “It is important that this contribution is properly recognised in planning and investment decisions across central and local government.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The Renters’ Rights Bill is progressing through Parliament with pace, with the Second Reading of the legislation happening on 9 October, and Propertymark’s recent webinar on the widely anticipated new law helped alert property agents as to why it will prove to be one of the ‘biggest changes to the rental market’ in over three decades. The message from the webinar was clear: change is coming. The professional body advised property agents that they need to understand the changes in good time to help maintain excellent working relationships with landlords. Led by Timothy Douglas, Propertymark’s Head of Policy and Campaigns, Jan Hÿtch, Lettings Help Line Manager, and Valerie Bannister, former ARLA Propertymark President and current ARLA Propertymark Regional Executive, the webinar explored four key themes around the Renters’ Rights Bill: periodic tenancies, student tenancies, new grounds for possession, and advertising and increasing rents. The three key speakers advised property agents to review their fee structure, mitigate any business risks, and ensure that existing tenancy agreements do not collide with the new legislation that will enable tenants to keep pets at their properties, something many of them cannot do currently. However, this will change once new tenancy agreements are produced after the Renters’ Rights Bill becomes law next summer. They also discussed the future of fixed-term tenancies, longer rent arrears, and periodic tenancies becoming simpler once the new law is enacted. The panel advised anyone unsure of what is being proposed by the legislation to potentially attend one of Propertymark’s upcoming training courses or conferences to assist in furthering their understanding as to how the Renters’ Rights Bill might affect them. Tessa Shepperson, Managing Director of Landlord Law Services Ltd, will be leading a virtual training course titled Preparing for the Renters’ Rights Bill on 31 October to discuss how the Renters’ Rights Bill will affect landlords and agents. Nathan Emerson, CEO at Propertymark, said: “The Renters Rights’ Bill represents one of the biggest evolutions of law for the rental sector in many decades and we hope that our webinar powered letting agents with robust information to help them navigate upcoming changes. “It is vital we see strong stakeholder engagement from across the industry to help shape the new legislation and ensure it is balanced, workable and and fit for the future. We will continue to ensure there is healthy engagement with the UK Government to strike a functional and fair balance between tenants, agents and landlords.” To attend one of Propertymark’s upcoming regional conferences in your area, use this link: Conferences | Propertymark. In order to attend one of the professional body’s training courses, click this link: Estate and letting agent training courses | Propertymark. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Maidstone Borough Council (MBC) Planning Committee last night approved plans for the redevelopment of the Former Royal Mail Sorting Office site, at Maidstone East, for mixed-use development which is predominantly residential. The development will include 180 apartments, 1,863 square metres of commercial and/or community space and around one acre of open green space town centre park which will be owned and managed by the Council. Cllr Stuart Jeffery, Leader of MBC said: “This redevelopment will form part of the Council’s ambitious housebuilding programme. These are very exciting times for the Council, and the town itself. We believe the project will be transformational to that area of Maidstone, bringing genuinely excellent new homes to the town centre. I am also pleased to see a large new open green space included in the design, it will play an important role in the wellbeing of the new residents and businesses.” MBC has been working on the makeup of the site for the past few years, the demolition of the various buildings is almost complete making way for the new development. Cllr Simon Wales, Cabinet Member for Housing and Homelessness at MBC added: “MBC will be acting as lead developer on the site and has already secured £2.1m of Brownfield Land Release Fund monies from the Department for Local Government Homes & Communities, which has helped fund some of the remedial works to prepare it for redevelopment. “Now that the planning permission is in place, the Council can approach Homes England as to the availability of Social Housing Grant monies to help fund much needed affordable housing on the site. We are also discussing the inclusion of a health facility with the local NHS” Simon continued: “The next steps are to procure a contractor for the works, and to refine and finalise the tenure mix for the project, with a view to the build getting under way in around twelve months.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
