LOCARLA

Monthly UK Social Housing Update – Feb. 2025

Namaste. I hope 2025 has got off to a good start and that all your ducks are in a row, moving forward, drilling down, and circling back. I know mine are, and it’s quite a commotion. I’ve got ducks everywhere!

On behalf of myself, and the team, we would like to extend a rather embarrassed belated welcome to our Business Licence users. The Monthly Briefing has always been very RMI contract heavy, so we only sent it to the people who were interested in such things. Since then though, we have added ‘Matt’s Gardening Tips’, ‘Balsa Wood Craft Modelling and Me’and ‘Silent Karaoke’. With this additional content we felt it had a wider appeal so wanted to drop it into your inbox. If you do hate it, you can unsubscribe at the bottom of the email for an introductory price of £4.99 (just joking).

I have returned to the office in Nagpur as we are girding our loins for the release of the enhanced ‘Find a Tender Service’, due to go live at 00.01 on February 24th as part of the changes to the Procurement Act 2023. We have seen a massive uptick in the number of tenders published this week as everyone tries to beat the deadline. It’s probably going to be very quiet for a while after the 24th.

Although this will be a major change in the way procurement is managed, being data suppliers, our only concerns are, what does the new data look like, how quickly can we hook up to the API to extract it, and how long it will take to add the new fields and filters to Locarla? We intend to redesign the dashboard to add some of the new data output, such as the KPI’s, which look interesting. We’ll also add a document timeline to the contract notice panel so you can track all notices over the contract lifetime. Our main interest is in analysis so we’re keen to see what we can do with the social value information.

We will be pulling out all the stops to give you an uninterrupted service and will have all the new features online lickety‑split.

This month we have asked Mr. C GPT, our marketing manager, to pen a few words on why we can’t wait to dive into the new data that PA2023 will produce. Also, this month we have some lovely Local Authority maintenance data tables and charts, and if that doesn’t make you weak at the knees, your knees are probably fine.

‘Blue links‘ for all and ‘green links‘ are behind login so dependent on your licence.

Our new and renewing clients in January, thank you so much.

We’ve had a make-over.

The new Locarla front-end went live this month and we’ve added a search for everyone to play with. It’s a bit of fun really as the main tools are behind login, but this search will take you all the way back to 2011. Premium clients, If you’re logged in all the links will be live. Search for notices, clients & winners to your hearts content. People who aren’t our clients often ask if we have a particular contract notice, we added this search so you can check for yourself.
Another highlight is the About Us page where we have displayed every incarnation of the Housingnet/Locarla website since time began.

Procurement Act 2023 ‒

The more data we get, the more accurate we can be.

The UK’s new Procurement Act 2023 is set to reshape the way public contracts are awarded, with a strong emphasis on social value and transparency. These changes present both challenges and opportunities for contractors and suppliers in the built environment, particularly those working in Social Housing.

At Locarla, we are evolving our data services to ensure our clients can fully capitalise on this new landscape. Here’s how:

1.Social Value ‑ More Than Just a Buzzword

Public sector buyers are now required to prioritise ‘maximising public benefit’ in their procurement decisions. This means that beyond competitive pricing, contracts will be awarded based on demonstrable social value‑whether through community engagement, sustainability efforts, or local employment initiatives.
🔎 How Locarla Helps: We provide detailed insights into housing associations, local authorities, and their procurement priorities, helping you understand exactly what social value metrics matter to your buyers. Our platform will help you align your bids with these expectations, increasing your chances of success.

2.Transparency ‑ Unlocking a Competitive Edge

The Act introduces stricter requirements for publishing procurement details, including key performance indicators (KPIs), contract values, and bidder information. This level of openness creates a wealth of new data, which can be leveraged for strategic decision‑making.
🔎 How Locarla Helps: Our enhanced tracking of live tenders, awarded contracts, and buyer performance data will allow you to benchmark your bids, assess competitors, and identify emerging opportunities before your competition does.

As the Procurement Act 2023 comes into force, the need for accurate, strategic data has never been greater. At Locarla, we’re committed to ensuring you have the most relevant, up‑to‑date, and actionable intelligence to thrive in the new procurement landscape.
Want to learn more? Get in touch to see how we can help you navigate these changes with confidence

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It’s all News to me!

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Sanctuary has completed the Transfer of Engagements of Johnnie Johnson Housing (JJH), finalising the merger in January. Source: Sanctuary Housing Association. Meanwhile, ten councils in Greater Lincolnshire could be merged into two mega-councils, replacing Lincolnshire County Council, seven lower-tier councils, North Lincolnshire Council, and North East Lincolnshire Council. Source: Lincolnshire Live

Portsmouth City Council has been issued a C3 grading by the RSH after failing to meet consumer standards. Source: GOV.UK

London housing provider RHP Group has expanded its social impact by acquiring 309 homes from L&Q. Source: RHP (Richmond Housing Partnership). Vistry’s Countryside and Notting Hill Developments have sold 285 affordable homes in east London to Notting Hill Genesis. Source: Housing Today

A record £2.65bn will be committed to building or maintaining up to 1,000 flood defences, protecting more than 66,000 properties. Source: GOV.UK. £350m is being invested to increase affordable and social homes and ease council housing pressures. Source: GOV.UK. L&G has secured £130m in commitments for affordable housing, including £100m from London CIV. Additionally, GMPF has invested £100m with L&G to support affordable homes in the North West. Source: Legal & General Group and Legal & General Group. Liverpool City Region plans £259m to improve 26,000 homes and public buildings, with £112m for 18,000 homes. Source: Liverpool City Region Combined Authority. City of Wolverhampton Council will invest £98m for 500 new homes. Source: City of Wolverhampton Council

Homes England and Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority launched a Strategic Place Partnership to boost growth, investment, and regeneration. Source GOV.UK. Vistry and Clarion Housing Group’s Latimer have partnered again to deliver 1,200 homes, including significant affordable housing, at Sherford near Plymouth. Source: Housing Executive. Lovell and LiveWest have agreed on a £300m joint venture to build up to 820 homes in North Devon. Source: Housing Today. ECF and City of Wolverhampton Council are seeking a partner for the City Centre West Build to Rent scheme. Source: BTR News. Ealing Council seeks a contractor for a £125m project featuring a new leisure centre and 300 homes. Source: Construction Enquirer

Two Rivers Housing will close Centigen Facilities Management and bring repairs, grounds maintenance, and cleaning services in-house. Source: Housing Digital

West Midlands mayor Richard Parker plans to retrofit 10,000 homes to tackle fuel poverty. Source: Housing Digital. Meanwhile, Birmingham’s £45m-a-year scheme will upgrade 3,000 social homes annually. Source: HNV Plus. The government is addressing poor-quality solid wall insulation under ECO4 and GBIS. Source: GOV.UK

Between July and September 2024, building work on 29,310 dwellings started, marking a 17% rise compared to the previous quarter. Source: GOV.UK. Regional Crane Surveys highlighted a slowdown in overall construction activity across key cities, though the residential sector remains dominant. Source: Deloitte. A report indicates a continued decline in new homes during Labour’s first six months. Source: BBC. Revealed a 2% drop in residential work between September and December 2024, despite growth in consents. Source: Construction News. There are 5,011 buildings with unsafe cladding being remediated, and a 9.1% increase in brick deliveries in December 2024. Source: GOV.UK and GOV.UK

VINCI Construction completed its acquisition of infrastructure services business FM Conway in January 2025. Source: PBC Today. Meanwhile, Wallace Whittle has acquired Davie + McCulloch, one of Scotland’s oldest M&E engineering firms. Source: Construction Wave

Nearly 7,000 construction firms face bankruptcy due to critical financial pressure. Source: Construction News. Meanwhile, more than 150 jobs were laid off at J S Wright after the company went into administration. Source: Construction Enquirer. Additionally, Seventynine Lighting owed £2.1m after its October 2024 administration. Source: Construction News

Heat pump sales surged by 67% in 2024, driven by the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, though further promotion is needed. Source: BusinessGreen. The 2023-2024 English Housing Survey highlights key findings on housing quality and energy efficiency. Source: GOV.UK

Statistics on social housing sales and demolitions for 2023-24 in England have been published. Source: GOV.UK

Awaab’s Law, effective from October, mandates social landlords to fix damp, mould, and emergency hazards within specific timeframes. Source: GOV.UK. Housemark’s research shows £1.6bn lost in repairs, lettings, and voids in social housing in 2023/24. Source: Housing Executive. Uswitch’s report reveals that over 60% of people have encountered mould in their homes. Source: Uswitch

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England Local Authority Maintenance Statistics

Click here for the full PDF.

Show me the money!

A PDF guide to contract management on Locarla.

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Exciting new procurement opportunities are shaping the future of UK social housing, with major contracts driving planned maintenance, energy efficiency, essential repairs, fire safety, and sustainability upgrades. The National Housing Maintenance Forum (NHMF) is launching two major contracts to enhance housing quality, safety, and sustainability. The £3bn Planned Maintenance, Net Zero Carbon & Passive Fire Safety Framework focuses on refurbishments, fire safety, insulation, and low-carbon heating. Meanwhile, the £1.2bn Responsive Maintenance & Void Property Works Framework supports emergency repairs, cyclical maintenance, and vacant property refurbishments. Lichfield District Council is procuring a £1bn DFG Adaptations Framework for disabled adaptations, home improvement grants, stairlifts, and wet rooms. In line with the UK’s decarbonisation goals, South East Consortium has launched a £1bn Decarbonisation Partnerships Framework, enabling housing providers to implement whole-home energy retrofits, including solar PV, heat pumps, and advanced insulation solutions. Prosper Procurement Ltd has introduced a £1bn Decarbonisation & Investment Works Framework, supporting solar PV and battery storage, heat pumps, insulation, and large-scale housing upgrades. Nottingham City Council is managing a £900m DPS for Energy-Efficient Retrofit Installers, enabling retrofit coordinators, EPC improvements, and heating system replacements. Camden London Borough is tendering a £500m Capital Works Framework, covering fire door installations, M&E upgrades, structural works, and building safety compliance.

Other key opportunities include STAR Procurement’s £400m Materials Framework for construction supplies, plumbing, electrical, and renewable energy components, and ESPO (Eastern Shires Purchasing Organisation’s) £250m Total Facilities Management Framework for repairs, cleaning services, security, and grounds maintenance. Peabody Trust is offering £232.2m for DLO Support Contractor Services, covering plumbing, electrical, heating, roofing, and void refurbishments. LHC’s £165m Roofing Systems Framework covers roof replacements, insulation, and weatherproofing across England. Additionally, a separate £80m framework has been established for Scotland and a £25m framework for Wales, ensuring nationwide coverage. Halton Housing Trust is procuring a £150m Kitchen Supply Framework, supporting kitchen design, unit installations, and supply logistics. Brent London Borough is offering a £17.85m Domestic & Communal Gas Servicing and Repairs contract, covering boiler servicing, gas safety checks, emergency repairs, and heating system upgrades. LHC’s Procurement Pipeline 2025 outlines major upcoming opportunities across England, Scotland, and Wales, including Renewables DPS, Repairs & Maintenance DPS, and Public Buildings Construction & Infrastructure Framework, Windows & Doors Framework, K8 Kitchen Framework.

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The Other League Tables

Along with our main monthly league tables, ❲see below❳, we also produce tables based on the following trades: Retrofit, Asbestos Survey, Fire Risk Assessment, Water/Legionella & Stock Condition Survey. ❲Premium Clients, click here for the PDF❳

Top of the league in each table are ….

Retrofit: Wates Living Space
Asbestos Survey: Acorn Analytical Services (UK)
Fire Risk Assessment: Frankham Consultancy Group
Stock Condition Surveys: Savills (UK)
Water / Legionella: Aquatrust Water & Ventilation

January League Tables

All Trades

The trades we cover; Responsive Repair, Planned Works (Kitchen/Bathrooms, Doors/Windows), Gas Servicing/Central Heating, Voids, Fire Safety & Roofing.