Govt launches mayoral planning powers consultation
The government has launched a consultation on planning powers for mayors in England, including a proposal to grant mayors outside London “call in” powers on certain schemes, determining their outcome under “applications of potential strategic importance”. The consultation. which seeks to enact elements of the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026, proposes that mayors “take over key planning applications which impact on local growth", including schemes of more than 150 homes and any building more than 30 metres or taller.
Home building generates £60bn of community investment – HBF
Building new homes in England and Wales generated more than £60 billion of community investment between 2024 and 2026, according to the latest research from the Home Builders Federation. HBF is calling on the government to ensure local authorities have the capacity to manage section 106 contributions which help fund, for example, affordable housing, schools and parks. HBF’s new statistics highlight the “often-unseen benefits” that are a by-product of new housing development through section 106 agreements. Across England and Wales, according to the research, new homes built last year funded 42,000 new school places, more than 1,640 football pitches worth of community space and more than £9 billion in affordable housing.
Barratt Redrow launches new placemaking framework
Barratt Redrow has launched a new placemaking framework, providing a measurable approach to designing healthier, greener and better-connected places across its future developments, according to the housebuilder. Great Places updates existing placemaking principles across the three brands of Barratt Homes, David Wilson Homes and Redrow, bringing them under one group-wide standard to deliver new neighbourhoods with high-quality homes which support healthier lives.
Industry reacts to new NPPF
The industry has been reacting to the publication of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), with the Home Builders Federation calling the new rules “another step towards a more positive planning framework” while expressing the need for action to address wider policy and tax constraints. Others welcomed the new NPPF while also raising viability issues. The sector will hear discussion of the new NPPF as part of HBF’s Planning Conference, taking place on September 9 in Birmingham. As well as examining all aspects of the revamped framework, the one-day conference will look at progress on other changes to the planning system designed to help deliver new homes.
SMEs warn on Building Safety Levy – HBF/Quantum Development Finance
Nine in ten SME housebuilders have warned that the upcoming Building Safety Levy will make more sites unviable, according to new research from the Home Builders Federation (HBF) and Quantum Development Finance. HBF is urging the government to pause the introduction of the levy. The research, based on a survey of SME housebuilders across England, also finds that 36% have already delayed, redesigned or cancelled schemes ahead of the introduction of the levy, applying from October 1.
Govt publishes revised NPPF
The government has published its revamped National Planning Policy Framework today (August 17), confirming a default “yes” for new homes near public transport. Following a consultation on changes to the NPPF which concluded in March, ministers said that under its new planning rules “thousands of new homes” would be built around England’s train, tram and underground stations, connecting communities, creating jobs and “unlocking investment”.
HBF launches ninth cohort of Women into Home Building
The Home Builders Federation (HBF) has opened submissions for the ninth cohort of its Women into Home Building programme, which recently won an award at the Women in Housing and Housing Heroes Awards 2026. The programme, which supports women into site management careers in housebuilding, is being delivered with Pathway CTM in partnership with national and regional housebuilders. Women are encouraged to apply to the fully funded three-week initiative which begins with one week of online training and industry insight sessions, followed by a two-week work experience placement on site.
Planning permissions continue to fall – HBF/Glenigan
Planning permissions for new sites fell to a “new low” in the first quarter of 2026, according to the Home Builders Federation, with consents for new homes during the past 12 months reaching only 58% of the government’s annual target. HBF’s latest Housing Pipeline report, based on data from Glenigan, reveals that in Q1 2026, only 1,220 sites for private housing achieved planning approval across England, the lowest since the series began in 2006. This compares to around 2,000 in 2022 and almost 3,000 in 2017.
Avant Homes agrees deal to defer fire safety payments
Avant Homes has finalised an agreement with the government to postpone its building safety payments. In its financial results covering the 52 weeks to June 30 2025, the housebuilder said it had completed a payment plan agreement with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) relating to its obligations under the Developer Remediation Contract (DRC) in England. This means Avant is no longer expected to undertake or procure works to remediate buildings for which it is responsible under the DRC.
Future Homes Hub updates Whole Life Carbon Conventions
The Future Homes Hub has updated its Whole Life Carbon Conventions to introduce assessments beyond plot boundaries. In a key change, the new Whole Life Carbon Conventions for New Homes adds assessments for roads, utilities and associated works beyond the plot boundary, to overcome the “data block hole” of site infrastructure, aiding the industry in reducing the embodied carbon emissions of new homes developments, the Hub said. The 2026 up
