The UK government has accepted all 58 recommendations from the Grenfell Tower Inquiry’s final report, outlining plans to implement them in full. Meanwhile, seven organisations linked to the tragedy could face exclusion from government contracts as part of efforts to strengthen accountability. GOV.UK, The Guardian
Quarterly survey for Q3 (Oct–Dec 2024): Landlords invested £3.9bn in building and acquiring new homes, an increase from £3.2bn in the previous quarter. However, the total investment for the year to December 2024 stood at £13.7bn, which is £0.9bn lower than the previous year. GOV.UK
Incommunities Group Ltd has had its credit rating downgraded from ‘A’ to ‘A-‘ by S&P Global Ratings, citing elevated investments as a key factor. The outlook remains negative, reflecting financial pressures on the housing association. S&P Global
Wheatley Homes South has announced a £39m investment over the next three years to improve homes and communities across Dumfries and Galloway. Meanwhile, Moray Council has approved its Housing Revenue Account (HRA) budget for 2025/26 following a special council meeting. In Northern Ireland, the public services watchdog is considering an investigation into the Housing Executive due to a rise in complaints. Wheatley Homes South, Moray Council, and Belfast Telegraph
Kimpton has secured a maintenance contract for Liverpool’s tallest building, adding to its portfolio of over one million sqft on the city’s waterfront. Sisk has begun remediation work on a 1,600-home urban village in Birkenhead, a project led by ION Developments and Wirral Council. Story Homes has exchanged contracts for a new residential site in Stockport, aiming to deliver 112 homes. Furthermore, Carbon Futures has been appointed to the Scottish Procurement Alliance’s Retrofit and Decarbonisation Framework to support sustainability efforts. Insider Media, Construction Enquirer, BDC Magazine, and Scottish Housing News
Taylor Wimpey has increased its fire safety retrofit provisions by £88m due to rising remediation costs in recent tenders. Construction Enquirer
The Construction Products Reform Green Paper highlights the need for a unified regulator to replace fragmented oversight in the construction sector, addressing systemic failures exposed by the inquiry. Additionally, the Feeling Safe study, commissioned by MHCLG, explores residents’ perceptions of fire safety in high-rises, informing the Building Safety Programme’s new safety proposals. GOV.UK, GOV.UK
Planners have approved 323 homes near Bridgnorth. Avant Homes has secured permission for a £68m, 256-home project in Cairneyhill. In Boston, 200 affordable homes have been approved. Keepmoat has submitted plans for 120 homes in Northwich. Conversely, a proposal to replace a B&M store with 115 homes in Manchester has sparked local opposition. Shropshire Star, Scottish Housing News, BBC, Place North West, and BBC