Timothy Douglas, Head of Policy and Campaigns at Propertymark, said: “The private rented sector needs less selective licensing not more with the additional costs and duplication of rules that it brings. To this end, there are enough laws covering high standards for rented property, but it’s the lack of capacity
Following the publication of the revised NPPF earlier today, Ian Barnett, National Land Director, Leaders Romans Group has provided a comment on: Ian Barnett, National Land Director, Leaders Romans Group (LRG) What a difference a year makes. The NPPF changes announced today provide and new framework for the industry to
A pioneering PropTech startup aiming to address the UK’s housing crisis with an innovative AI-tool integrating Bluesky International’s high resolution aerial imagery, eyes significant growth with a rebrand and funding stream announced. Viability, formerly known as Hesti, launches at a critical time of rapid expansion for the UK’s house building
In the last 12 months, the council has received more than 250 complaints about mould and damp from its social housing tenants Camden Council has forked out more than £4.6m to repair damp, mould and other disrepair issues in its social housing properties in the last year, a new investigation
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’
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
The Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) has welcomed the government’s plans to coordinate decisions on housing and infrastructure at a national level, as outlined in yesterday’s ‘Plan for Change’. Since taking office, the new UK government has committed to building 1.5 million homes in five years and cutting emissions by
Esh Construction appointed by Sheffield City Council to deliver £18.9m Newstead project Work is underway on a £18.9 million zero-gas affordable housing development at Newstead in South East Sheffield. North of England contractor, Esh Construction, is delivering 77 new homes with enhanced sustainability credentials on behalf of Sheffield City Council.
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
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
Timothy Douglas, Head of Policy and Campaigns at Propertymark, said: “The private rented sector needs less selective licensing not more with the additional costs and duplication of rules that it brings. To this end, there are enough laws covering high standards for rented property, but it’s the lack of capacity of local authorities to actively inspect property and enforce these rules that is the main issue. Licensing means councils spend all their time administering schemes, rather than enforcing against rogue, criminal landlords. “The Renters’ Rights Bill offers an opportunity to phase out licensing schemes, provide councils with the resources they need and endorse professional letting agent and landlords alongside the introduction of the Decent Homes Standard and Private Rented Sector Database. However, it would seem that the UK Government is failing to recognise the benefits of doing this and not providing local authorities with the much-needed investment they need to enforce the wide range of legislation that already exists.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Following the publication of the revised NPPF earlier today, Ian Barnett, National Land Director, Leaders Romans Group has provided a comment on: Ian Barnett, National Land Director, Leaders Romans Group (LRG) What a difference a year makes. The NPPF changes announced today provide and new framework for the industry to work to and a flurry of activity on LinkedIn as everyone seeks to understand the key points and how they will affect their projects. The key points are: There have been many grand announcements in my time in planning and development. The priority has always been to build enough houses for the country’s population in the right places in a manner that protects the most valuable landscapes and environmentally sensitive areas. So are the latest announcements in any different to what we’ve all heard before? On paper – yes absolutely. The conviction and tone as well as the content (and indeed the fact it’s announced ahead of when most people expected!) does suggest that this time at least the Government is serious. The new NPPF gives an opportunity for the whole narrative on development and housing delivery to change. Whilst some would like to have seen more in terms of strategic planning, today’s NPPF at least gives a new window of opportunity for many sites that are suitable for development and which have been held up by inefficiencies and lack of resources, meddling local politics and NIMBYism to come forward. Delivering 1.5m houses in the first term is ambitious and unrealistic but it was utterly impossible under the previous planning system. The time for delivery is here and it’s the responsibility of everyone in the industry – developers, landowners, planners and local authorities to do what is needed. The framework is there – but it will take time to bed in and what we need now more than anything after a new NPPF update for the last two Christmases is stability so we can get on with the task ahead. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A pioneering PropTech startup aiming to address the UK’s housing crisis with an innovative AI-tool integrating Bluesky International’s high resolution aerial imagery, eyes significant growth with a rebrand and funding stream announced. Viability, formerly known as Hesti, launches at a critical time of rapid expansion for the UK’s house building industry with the new Government’s recent announcement committing to the creation of 370,000 new homes each year. With a successful funding campaign now secured, Viability is looking to continue the rollout of its AI-platform which leverages cutting-edge technology, accurate property data and Bluesky’s geospatial data to deliver a SaaS platform, particularly aimed at SME home developers. To ensure quality and accuracy for their customers, Viability has turned to Bluesky for the supply of aerial imagery to be streamed via the platform. Henry Mayell, co-founder and Chief Operations Officer at Viability said: “We initially applied satellite imagery to the platform but quickly found that the quality wasn’t sufficient for our customer requirements. As a result of the feedback, we started testing aerial imagery from Bluesky which offered significant improvements in terms of image resolution and accuracy. “Our platform enables developers to assess a site’s potential, understand what constraints there could be, in order to build a picture of risk and run financial analysis. With significant investment at stake it is important they can make decisions based on accurate data.” Ralph Coleman, Chief Commercial Officer at Bluesky added: “Our aerial imagery offers the detail needed for developers to begin plotting optimal scheme designs for potential sites. We are supplying Viability with the imagery via our GeoStream service which launched last year. GeoStream is our new data-as-a-service offering which enables customers who need data from us on a regular basis to access it quickly and easily via an API.” Henry commented: “We are very impressed with the GeoStream service and, from a user perspective, it has proved simple to implement into our platform. It also allows us to clearly overlay Ordnance Survey and Land Registry data over aerial imagery.” The viability of potential sites is a key restricting factor to the housing industry meeting development targets. Regulations are increasing and becoming more complex so a full picture of a proposed site is essential. Viability has also incorporated Biodiversity Net Gain assessments into their platform. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
In the last 12 months, the council has received more than 250 complaints about mould and damp from its social housing tenants Camden Council has forked out more than £4.6m to repair damp, mould and other disrepair issues in its social housing properties in the last year, a new investigation has revealed. Data obtained by Legal Expert via Freedom of Information Requests has found that between October 2023 and October 2024, the Council has received 260 complaints from tenants regarding damp, mould and disrepair in its housing stock. In that time, the local authority says it has spent £2,062,017 on damp and mould repairs as well as a further £2,596,087 on other disrepair issues in its properties. Issues of damp, mould and disrepair are in sharp focus across the UK following a report from the Housing Ombudsman released last month which details over 100 severe maladministration cases of damp and mould saying the issue now “dominates half of our casework.” Richard Blakely of the Housing Ombudsman said: “It is clear that landlords are still struggling with timescales. This is despite policies often setting out a clear sequence of actions and existing obligations requiring reasonable resolution times… “This is a topic that now dominates half of our casework and one coming into sharp focus given the government’s intention to introduce Awaab’s Law into both the social and private rented sectors.” Awaab’s Law was first introduced in July 2023 following the tragic death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak in Rochdale, Greater Manchester in 2020. The two-year-old died as a result of exposure to damp and mould conditions and his death prompted a change in the law which requires landlords to fix hazards that pose a danger to tenants’ health with a strict legal time limit. As it stands, the law only applies to properties in the social housing sector. However, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner announced in September that the law will be extended to the private sector. However, with cash-strapped councils fearing imminent bankruptcy, a growingdemand for housing and a cost-of-living crisis, it seems hard to fathom how councils can be expected to tackle the issues facing their properties despite new legislation and policy. Speaking at the Labour Party conference this year, Angela Rayner said: “Many Housing Associations, councils and landlords do good by their tenants and I know how hard they’ve had it after 14 years under the Tories. Which is why I will work in partnership with the sector to deliver the change. I will clamp down on damp and mouldy homes by bringing in Awaab’s Law in the social rented sector this autumn and we’ll extend it to the private rented sector too.” “We will consult and implement a new Decent Homes Standard for social and privately rented homes, to end the scandal of homes being unfit to live in.” LegalExpert.co.uk offers a specialist service for anyone looking for support and advice after being affected by damp, mould or housing disrepair. They operate a 24-hour helpline and live chat service which you can access on their website. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
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
The Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) has welcomed the government’s plans to coordinate decisions on housing and infrastructure at a national level, as outlined in yesterday’s ‘Plan for Change’. Since taking office, the new UK government has committed to building 1.5 million homes in five years and cutting emissions by 81% by 2035. Without a coordinated land use strategy, as outlined by the Government today, the UK risks falling short of these ambitions. Unlike Scotland and Wales, which have national spatial plans in place, England has no overarching framework to coordinate land use, ensuring that new infrastructure, housing, and nature recovery plans work in tandem. Dr Victoria Hills, Chief Executive of the RTPI, said: “The message of the Prime Minister is accurate. Poor planning, which lacks both resources and an overarching, strategic approach, will hold England back from building a positive and sustainable future. “The Government’s ‘Plan for Change,’ however, clearly outlines points made time and again by the RTPI: the need to plan more effectively by creating a system that not only meets housing target but builds connected, thriving communities. Only a plan-led approach can deliver this. “The Plan for Change suggests that the government wants to strategically join up decisions on business growth, infrastructure and housing at the national level. This is something the RTPI has long called for. A National Spatial Framework would ensure that right new homes are built in the right locations, powered by renewable energy, and integrated into a sustainable future.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Esh Construction appointed by Sheffield City Council to deliver £18.9m Newstead project Work is underway on a £18.9 million zero-gas affordable housing development at Newstead in South East Sheffield. North of England contractor, Esh Construction, is delivering 77 new homes with enhanced sustainability credentials on behalf of Sheffield City Council. Designed by Peak Architects, the development will feature 36 one and two-bedroom apartments with communal gardens and balconies, alongside 41 two, three and four-bedroom properties with off street parking and gardens. All homes will be fitted with air source heat pumps instead of traditional gas boilers, as well as enhanced insulation and electric vehicle (EV) chargers. Esh Construction’s Operations Director, Simon Woodward, said: “This project underscores our commitment to delivering more sustainable and future-proofed housing that meets the needs of the community and supports the transition to greener living. “Marking the first affordable homes Esh will deliver for Sheffield City Council, we are proud to be supporting the council’s goal to develop energy efficient housing stock that will reduce the environmental impact and ensure long-term affordability for residents. We look forward to showcasing progress over the coming months.” Sheffield City Council has been awarded £1.3 million of funding from the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority’s Brownfield Housing Fund towards the Newstead development. Cllr Douglas Johnson, Sheffield City Council’s Chair of the Housing Policy Committee, said: “Sheffield City Council is delighted to be pushing ahead with expanding our council housing offering for current and prospective tenants. “Our plans remain to build or acquire more than 1,000 council homes in the next five years – and partners such as Esh Construction are instrumental in helping us achieve this. “Our aim, as always, remains to provide more choice of good quality, environmentally friendly and affordable homes for residents. “The Council continues to face an unprecedented demand for affordable and social housing in the city, and projects such as Newstead being completed will help to meet some of that demand.” While on site, Esh will deliver a range of employability sessions to local schools and colleges, while investing in a local workforce and apprenticeship opportunities through its Constructing Local strategy The scheme is expected to complete in Summer 2026. To find out more about Esh Construction, visit www.eshgroup.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
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
