Daily News: 29/04/2025
More than 200,000 children in England could be living in short-term housing by 2029, with the cost to the taxpayer projected to rise to £3.9bn, as the number of children in temporary accommodation is forecast to increase by 26%. The Guardian
Home Group exceeded expectations, completing 952 homes in the first nine months of the year, a 7% increase compared to last year, as part of its focus on affordable home ownership. In Edinburgh, councillors approved a plan to pause the lettings policy, enabling the conversion of 120 void homes into temporary accommodation to address homelessness. Leeds Jewish Housing Association achieved a 13.5% rise in customer satisfaction, reaching 82.9% in an all-tenant survey. Housing Today (register), Housing Today (register), and The Scarborough News
Tier one contractor Willmott Dixon has appointed Phoenix Brickwork to support delivery on two of its major building projects, strengthening its supply chain for upcoming construction works. The Construction Index
Property group Watkin Jones expects to report a “small positive” operating profit for the first half of the financial year, supported by two new development partnerships and a sharpened operational focus. Meanwhile, JJ Rhatigan has nearly doubled UK profits on the back of record turnover hitting £154m. Insider Media, Construction Enquirer
The Electrical Contractors’ Association has called for a national electrification taskforce to guide the clean energy transition, with cross-department collaboration on transport, housing, and skills. At the same time, the Construction Products Association forecasts modest growth for the UK construction sector in 2025, citing global uncertainty, especially U.S. trade tariffs, as a key risk. Construction News (register), The Construction Index
Building safety delays are blamed for new housing starts in London reaching a 16-year low, with 23 out of 33 boroughs seeing no new projects in Q1 2025. Delays in Gateway 2 approvals are cited as a major cause. Housing Today (register)
The LGA has urged the UK government to mandate rooftop solar panels on all new homes, pointing out that only 40% of new builds currently include them. This move, they argue, would boost local climate action. In contrast, recent government policy allowing wood-burning stoves in new homes in England has faced criticism due to growing evidence of their negative health and climate effects. Local Government Association, The Guardian
In February 2025, construction firms made up 19.5% of all insolvencies in England and Wales, with 367 construction businesses becoming insolvent, according to data from the Insolvency Service. BCIS
In the year to March 2025, the Planning Inspectorate made 18,346 decisions, with more cases closed than received, indicating improved case-handling efficiency. PBC Today
Nearly 200 new homes are planned for Yeovil’s western edge. Russell LDP proposed 545 homes in Stockport, including a care home and independent living units. A 217-home development near Ingleby school in Teesside could create 160 jobs and boost the local economy by £33m. Plans for 125 homes at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games athletes’ village are also moving forward. Chard and Ilminster News, Place North West, Teesside Live, and Glasgow Times