Half of LPAs fail to discharge planning conditions within statutory timeframe – HBF/Paragon Bank
Only half of planning condition applications are being determined within the statutory eight-week timeframe, according to new research from the Home Builders Federation (HBF) and Paragon Bank Development Finance.
MHCLG takes over Homes England’s Section 106 Affordable Housing Clearing Service
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has taken ownership of Homes England’s Section 106 Affordable Housing Clearing Service. In an update on the service’s page, MHCLG said its function had transferred from Homes England. The national housing and regeneration agency had been managing the database, connecting housebuilders with housing associations to address the problem of uncontracted and unsold affordable homes, since its inception in December 2024.
BEYOND ’27 LIVE – Early bird offer available until November 16
BEYOND ‘27 LIVE, NHBC’s home building conference, returns to Coventry’s CBS Arena on March 4 2027. Attendees can hear from industry-leading voices across five stages, explore the latest low-carbon technologies at the Future Home Explorer and discover practical insights to help stay ahead of industry change.
Government introduces Remediation Bill to parliament
The government has introduced the Remediation of Unsafe Cladding Bill to parliament. The Bill, announced as part of the King’s Speech in May and part of the government’s “mission to fix the building safety crisis”, brings forward a new legal duty on those responsible for the safety of their buildings, such as freeholders, “to identify, assess, and fix issues without delay”. Anyone who obstructs this process “could face criminal penalties”, according to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG).
Vistry’s Stephen Teagle to retire from business
Vistry’s Stephen Teagle is to retire from his role next year, with L&G Affordable Housing’s Catherine Raynsford succeeding him. According to the partnerships-led housebuilder, Teagle, Vistry’s chief executive, partnerships and regeneration, indicated his wish to retire earlier this year, with the changes forming part of a “planned succession process”.
Future Homes Hub highlights practical guidance during National Heat Pump Week
The Future Homes Hub has highlighted the growing body of guidance and shared learning available to help housebuilders deliver low carbon homes at scale, as the industry marks National Heat Pump Week this week. With the Future Homes Standard set to drive an increase in heat pump adoption across the sector, the Hub has pointed to its range of practical guidance, tools and lessons learned from early adopters.
Bellway grows volumes but forecasts lower completions for 2027
Bellway has grown its volume output and profits, “despite ongoing challenges across the housing market”, it said today (October 13). But it is expecting lower completions for 2027, given its lower opening order book and “ongoing pressures on customer demand”. For its full year results for the year ending July 31 2026, the housebuilder reported a 10.8% rise in total housing completions to 9,695 homes against the equivalent period last year, at an average selling price of £324,404, up on 2025’s £316,412.
Councils show growing reliance on Planning Performance Agreements – HBF/Paragon Bank
Local authorities are struggling to meet planning deadlines despite collecting £200 million in additional fees from developers, according to the Home Builders Federation (HBF). In research from HBF and Paragon Bank, a Freedom of Information (FoI) request reveals that councils, between 2022 and 2025, received an average of almost £600,000 each through Planning Performance Agreement (PPA) fees.
BSR improvement and other issues discussed at HMI
The Building Safety Regulator can “genuinely point to a profound turnaround” in its performance, but the industry must continue to work with it, according to Lord Andy Roe, chair of the Building Safety Regulator (BSR). Speaking at the Housing Market Intelligence Conference in London, Roe said that if any one entity involved in the process of ensuring safer homes are built – government, the BSR and industry – “loses faith in the other”, then no-one would deliver.
Conservatives pledge to cut home building costs by up to £50,000
Shadow chancellor Andrew Griffith has pledged to cut the cost of building a new home by up to £50,000 by scrapping the Future Homes Standard and other development and planning costs. At the Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham today (October 5), the shadow chancellor said his intended housing moves were part of the Conservatives’ “most ambitious deregulation project in a generation”.
