Chief medical officer Chris Whitty to speak at HMI Conference
The chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty is to address delegates at next week’s Housing Market Intelligence Conference and annual report launch. Whitty will look at the connections between housing and health with particular emphasis on changing demographic trends and our ageing population and what that will mean for the delivery of housing and communities over the next 40 years or so.
Crest’s debt facilities waiver extended
Crest Nicholson has secured a two-month extension to the interest cover covenant waiver on its debt facilities, as discussions with its lenders continue. Today (September 30) the challenged housebuilder said in an update that it remained in “constructive discussions” with its lenders to amend its covenants to “ensure that it has an appropriate level of funding and liquidity going forwards”.
PM announces leasehold reform bill “before Christmas”
The government will introduce a bill on “long overdue” leasehold reform before Christmas, the prime minister Andy Burnham has said, with housing secretary Angela Rayner stating that changes to the leasehold system were “unfinished business”. During his speech at the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool, Burnham said he had not forgotten the government’s “promises to leaseholders”. Making housing a focus of his address, he said: “To the millions of leaseholders across the country, you have my word. The days of you being squeezed for every penny are coming to an end.”
Planning permissions fall to “new low” – HBF/Glenigan
Both quarterly and yearly planning permissions fell to a “new low” in the second quarter of 2026, according to the Home Builders Federation (HBF), underlining the need for a government-supported home ownership scheme as recently announced, HBF said. The latest Housing Pipeline report, based on Glenigan data, shows a 21% drop in the number of new homes receiving planning consent in the last quarter. At 45,315, the number of homes granted permission in England in Q2 2026 is, according to the report, the lowest quarterly total since 2012.
Tara Group launches strategic land business
Tara Group, the parent business of Cameron Homes, has launched Tara Strategic Land, a dedicated strategic land promotion company directed by Cameron Homes’ Kate Tait. Tara Strategic Land, which will work in partnership with landowners and agents, has launched with around 150 sites (60 hectares of land) under promotion or in the planning system. Sites currently under contract include a combination of brownfield land, greybelt sites and agricultural land.
HBF report highlights new build value against renovation costs
Home buyers routinely underestimate the costs of renovation while overlooking “the potential six-figured added value” that new build homes offer, according to the Home Builders Federation.
Govt to launch first-time buyer scheme in Budget
The government has announced it will launch a new equity loan scheme to help first-time buyers purchase a new build home. Ahead of the Labour party conference in Liverpool, the prime minister Andy Burnham said the government would launch the initiative, Your First Home, at the Budget on October 28. The scheme, applying to England, is, according to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), expected to offer 20% government-backed equity loans for first-time buyers with 2.5% deposits who are buying a new build property from a developer participating in the initiative.
Future Homes Hub announces speakers and agenda for 2026 conference
The Future Homes Hub has released the agenda and announced the first wave of speakers for its Future Homes Conference in December. The Hub’s conference programme will focus on the practical action, partnerships and solutions needed to deliver more high-quality homes and places.
NHBC reveals theme for BEYOND ’27 LIVE
NHBC has revealed the theme for its BEYOND LIVE event, returning for its third year in March, with a focus on the challenge of increasing housing delivery while maintaining quality. BEYOND ’27 LIVE, taking place at the CBS Arena, Coventry, on March 4 2027, will carry the theme “Future ready. Quality first” as the industry prepares for new standards, changing customer expectations and the transition to lower carbon homes. NHBC said the event was set to concentrate on how the sector can turn policy and ambition into practical delivery.
Vistry to downsize business
Vistry is to reduce in size, shrinking its regions from 25 to 12 and pulling its South East operations out of the open market as it deals with losses. During the six months to June 30 2026, the mixed-tenure housebuilder reported an adjusted pre-tax loss of £83.3 million against the £80.6 million profit achieved during the equivalent period last year. This reflected discounting of open market stock and around £50 million related to the ceo review, resulting in the decision to downsize.
