Nest, Legal & General, and PGGM have secured their first Build-to-Rent site in central Manchester, set to deliver 494 rental homes. The project aims to unlock defined contribution pension funds and international investment in UK housing, with plans to grow the portfolio to around £1bn. Legal & General Group
Over 300 long-term empty homes in Wolverhampton have been transformed into family homes through council-led initiatives. Meanwhile, Northern Ireland’s Housing Minister Gordon Lyons has outlined the next steps for an affordable rent scheme, aiming to deliver 300 homes for renters priced out of the private market. Wolverhampton City Council, Department for Communities
Edinburgh Council has spent nearly £95.5m acquiring new-build homes from private developers over the past two years, according to FOI data. North Lanarkshire Council is set to invest £90.6m in 2025/26 to enhance housing conditions, while a Bournemouth development is expected to add £24m to the local economy. Scottish Housing News, North Lanarkshire Council, and Bournemouth Echo
Edinburgh’s Granton regeneration has secured nearly £16m in Scottish Government funding to develop affordable, energy-efficient homes-a key part of broader efforts to enhance housing quality and sustainability across Scotland. Scottish Housing News
MPs have been warned that delays in building safety regulator approvals are causing job cuts in the construction industry, hindering progress on housing targets. The CITB has called for training reforms to help meet the 1.5m new homes goal. Moreover, UK councils are moving away from modern methods of construction due to cost and quality concerns, as highlighted in a parliamentary committee hearing. Construction Enquirer, Housing Today (register), and Construction News (register)
The number of UK homes installing heat pumps through government incentives hit a record high last year. However, a report from Edinburgh’s Smart Data Foundry shows that retrofitting costs are unaffordable for many Scots, with only 20% able to afford upgrades for Scotland’s 2045 net zero targets. BBC, Scottish Housing News
The Q4 2024 report shows builders’ merchants’ value sales fell 0.5% year-on-year, with a 2.3% rise in volume sales offset by a 2.7% price drop. In addition, the February 2025 UK Construction PMI highlighted steep declines in housing and civil engineering activity, signalling major challenges in the sector. Builders Merchant Building Index, S&P Global
The latest shows that residential unit approvals increased by 15% in Q4 2024, building on earlier gains to limit the overall decline for the year to just 2%. Furthermore, CBI Wales is calling for a well-funded and innovative planning system to unlock key construction projects that can drive sustainable growth. Home Builders Federation, CBI
A mixed-use development in Chelmsford has been approved for 750 homes, while Watford greenlit a 23-storey tower with 314 homes. Southampton’s £230m waterfront project, featuring 400 flats and a hotel, also gained approval. Plus Dane Housing and Vistry secured approval for 206 affordable homes in Crewe. Salford and Manchester City Councils have unveiled draft regeneration proposals for Strangeways and Cambridge, now open for consultation. Insider Media, Watford Observer, Construction Enquirer, Plus Dane Housing, and Salford City Council