Help to Buy nets taxpayers £1.75 billion - HBF
New HBF analysis of the Help to Buy equity loan book has highlighted a positive financial performance by the home ownership scheme that closed in March 2023. The report, Payback for Good, follows previous HBF analysis of the Help to Buy scheme and shows that at the end of March 2026 213,713 of the 387,278 equity loans issued between 2013 and 2023 had been fully paid back (55%).
HBF Planning Conference – early booking rate ends soon
The HBF Planning Conference - the key event for planners – takes place next month with early booking rate tickets available until August 14th. This year has seen the government publish the detail of the draft reformed National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and, following the recent consultation period, the final document expected imminently.
Mayors to keep share of income tax under devolution
Mayors will be able to keep a share of income tax and business rates revenues, allowing them and their communities to shape decisions on housing, transport and skills training, as part of prime minister Andy Burnham’s devolution plans. Announcing “the biggest transfer of power from Westminster in a generation”, the government said that under the change, places would “keep more of the rewards” of growing their economies to invest in local needs.
TW braces market challenges in first half
Taylor Wimpey delivered a “solid first half performance in a challenging market”, it said today (July 31), with completions slightly above guidance but profit down. The housebuilder has also reduced annual shareholder returns “to reflect the prolonged market downturn” and anticipates full year completions in the “lower half” of its guidance range. During the half year to June 28 2026, the housebuilder’s UK home completions – excluding joint ventures – totalled 4,723. This was down on H1 2025’s 4,894 but higher than the H1 weighting guidance previously given, TW said.
Half of over 65s see stamp duty as “rightsizing” barrier – Radix Big Tent
Half of over-65s see stamp duty as a barrier to moving, according to research by the Family Building Society. The Family Building Society, a member of the Radix Big Tent Housing Commission, also found in its survey of more than 1,800 over-65s that 58% were considering moving to a smaller property in the future. But as well as the stamp duty hurdle, 53% were put off due to a lack of suitable housing options. And 42% wanted more appropriate specialist facilities to enable moving. These findings coincide with a report by the Radix Big Tent Housing Commission, involving the Family Building Society and several cross-sector organisations calling for measures to aid “rightsizing”, with older people switching to homes more suited to their needs in later life.
Modular could ease temporary accommodation crisis – PfP
Modular homes could help the housing crisis and end rough sleeping, according to Places for People (PfP), with the social enterprise wishing to work with councils across England to ease the challenge and build on the modular work the business has already undertaken. According to PfP, some of England's £2.8 billion annual temporary accommodation bill could instead be used to deliver quality, purpose-built modular homes. This could save “hundreds of millions” long term and spare families “months or even years” in unsuitable emergency accommodation.
Govt announces technical education routes
The government will offer 14-year-olds early access to technical education and skills training including potentially in construction, as new prime minister Andy Burnham stated that Britain would “value the hard hat as much as the graduation cap”. Announcing a “fundamental change to the education system”, the government said that year 10 students would have the chance to combine core academic subjects with “high-quality technical education” linked to jobs available in their area.
Private home registrations down 5% in Q2 2026 – NHBC
New home registrations continued their downward trend in the second quarter of 2026, according to NHBC, with those for private homes falling 5% against the equivalent period last year. The new homes warranty and insurance provider’s latest statistics show that 19,045 new homes were registered in the private sector during Q2 2026. Meanwhile, registrations in the rental and affordable sector during the period were level with Q2 2025 at 10,117. Overall, registrations slipped 4%.
