Housebuilder Awards 2026 winners revealed
Barratt Redrow was declared Large housebuilder of the year at The Housebuilder Awards 2026 last night (November 12), as the industry came together to honour the champions of the UK new homes sector. Barratt Redrow, Britan’s biggest housebuilder according to the latest Housing Market Intelligence Report, impressed the judges across seven categories. It scooped the Best sustainability initiative award for Bollo Lane in Acton, with its contracts manager Sean Regan winning the Housebuilder Star Award for excellence in his role and commendable community work.
NHBC to publish new Technical Standards in January
NHBC will release the latest edition of its Technical Standards in January 2027. The NHBC Standards, according to the new homes warranty and insurance provider, “define the technical and performance requirements for the design and construction of new homes registered with NHBC and provide guidance on how these can be achieved".
Persimmon on track for volume and profit growth
Persimmon expects to deliver another year of volume and profit growth despite tough conditions, it said today (November 12), with its private forward sales up 3% during its third quarter. But it also highlighted the impact of cost pressures on near-term profit. During the period from July 1 to November, the volume housebuilder’s private forward sales position edged up from £2.09 billion during the equivalent period last year to £2.15 billion. It said it was “well positioned” to deliver its planned 2026 growth to around 12,500 homes. Persimmon has exchanged or completed on 77% of this year’s expected open market private delivery.
Cameron Homes becomes B Corp housebuilder
Cameron Homes has become, it says, the first Midlands housebuilder to achieve B Corp status. The Staffordshire-headquartered housebuilder has been verified by global non-profit organisation B Lab alongside other businesses from Tara Group– Keon Homes and Chasetown Civil Engineering. Achieving B Corp status means the company has reached high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability.
Taylor Wimpey lowers full year completions
Taylor Wimpey has downgraded its full year completions, with group adjusted operating profit likely to be at the “bottom end” of expectations, as “subdued” market conditions continue. In a trading update for the period to date for the year ending 31 December 2026, the volume housebuilder said today (November 11) that, reflecting current trading activity, it expected UK completions excluding joint ventures to be at around 10,500 homes, against the 10,600 to 10,800 homes stated in July.
Govt responds to Older People's Housing Taskforce Report
The government has issued a long-awaited response to the Older People's Housing Taskforce Report of 2024, agreeing with its analysis “of the main issues impacting older people in the housing market” but rejecting the taskforce’s recommendation of a joint unit between MHCLG and DHSC (the Department of Health and Social Care). The Older People’s Housing Taskforce, chaired by professor Julienne Meyer and formed in April 2023, looked at the provision of greater choice, quality and security of housing for older people. In one of ten recommendations, the taskforce stated in its report of November 2024 that a jointly sponsored unit between MHCLG and DHSC could be an arms-length body, with leadership at national and local levels and governed by an independent board, “including investors”.
Gleeson cautions on Your First Home pause
Gleeson anticipates a “weaker” first half, it said today (November 6), as it expressed concern over the long run-up to the government’s equity loan scheme, Your First Home (YFH). Issuing a trading update ahead of its AGM, the housebuilder and strategic land promoter commented that it welcomed YFH and its “significant potential to assist Gleeson’s target demographic of first-time buyers looking to buy a new home at an affordable price”.
Urban Splash to pay £46.5m remediation costs to govt
Urban Splash must pay £46.5 million to the government for building safety remediation following a tribunal decision. The first-tier tribunal judgement on remediation contributions comes after the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) brought proceedings against the Manchester developer, almost three years ago.
Baker Estates’ Graham Hutton becomes md
Baker Estates has promoted Graham Hutton to managing director. Hutton, the South West SME’s deputy managing director, takes over from founder Ian Baker, who now becomes Baker Estates’ executive director.
Vistry begins downsizing process
Vistry has begun the process of downsizing the business and reducing staff, with managing directors and their teams confirmed and its new structure set to be operational from January. In a trading update covering the period from July 1 2026 to the present day, the partnerships housebuilder said it had “continued to take decisive action to create a smaller, more focused and disciplined business”. This follows its statement on September 24 that it would shrink its regions from 25 to 12 to deal with losses. Today (No
