HBF’s Women into Home Building wins at Women in Housing Awards
The Home Builders Federation ‘s Women into Home Building programme has won an award at the Women in Housing and Housing Heroes Awards 2026. HBF claimed Career Development Initiative of the Year for its initiative at the Housing 2026 conference in Manchester. The annual awards recognise individuals, teams and organisations across the housing sector who have made a significant contribution to improving outcomes for customers and colleagues. They also celebrate innovation and best practice across the industry.
Industry reacts to PM resignation
The prime minister should be credited for his government’s ambition to increase housing supply, Neil Jefferson, chief executive of the Home Builders Federation said today, (June 22), as the industry reacted to the news of Keir Starmer’s resignation. Starmer’s announcement of his departure has triggered a leadership contest to determine his successor. He will remain in office until the contest is complete. Nominations open on July 9, with a new leader expected to be in place before parliament returns in September.
UK’s best site managers recognised by NHBC
NHBC has announced its 450 Pride in the Job 2026 Quality Award winners, chosen after thousands of inspections took place from a field of 7,500 sites. The 450 represent the top 6% of UK site managers.
Barratt Redrow appoints chief financial officer
Barratt Redrow has appointed Rebecca Napier as its chief financial officer. Napier, who will also become executive director of the housebuilder, will take her post from August 3. She is an experienced business leader across finance, strategy, investor relations, transformation and performance.
Seven in ten renters in “deposit trap” – Shared Voice/OwnHomes
Almost seven in ten renters are caught in a “deposit trap”, spending more than a third of their income on housing costs, with fewer than one in five expecting to save enough for a deposit within the next two years, according to research by Shared Voice and OwnHomes. But there is still a desire for people to own their own homes. The report, Renters' Reality: The Housing Attitudes of Non-Homeowners, finds that with rent and living costs consuming a growing share of household incomes, first-time buyers are struggling to build savings towards home ownership.
HBF urges Wales homes delivery to unlock investment
Private housebuilding makes a substantial contribution to Welsh economies and communities, but the Welsh government’s plans show a lack of focus on private housing, according to the Home Builders Federation (HBF). HBF’s new report, The Social and Economic Impact of Home Building in Wales, highlights the “significant opportunities” that could be realised by increasing housing during this Senedd parliament. The publication comes as the newly elected Welsh government commits to ensuring that “everybody in Wales should have the right to a safe home at a cost they can afford”. But HBF pointed out that while the Welsh government had a target to deliver 20,000 new social homes by 2030, there was no commitment for private housebuilding when an additional 23,000 market homes were required during this Senedd term to meet housing need.
Housing figures awarded in King’s Honours List
Ian McDermott, chief executive of Peabody, has been awarded a CBE in the King’s Birthday Honours List, with David Birkbeck, chief executive of Design for Homes, and Rick Willmott, executive chairman of Willmott Dixon, each receiving an OBE. McDermott has received a CBE for services to social housing. He became chief executive of housing association Peabody in October 2021, having previously been chief executive of Catalyst which merged with Peabody in 2023.
Defence Housing Service appoints interim chair
Natalie Elphicke Ross has been appointed interim chair of the Ministry of Defence’s (MoD) new Defence Housing Service. Elphicke, a national expert in housing and housing policy, led the development of the new Defence Housing Strategy for the Ministry of Defence last year. As interim chair, she will lead the transition to the new organisation, “ensuring it is ready to deliver for military personnel and their families from day one”, the MoD said.
Stonewater appoints new chair and chief investment officer
Sheila Collins, chair of housing association Stonewater, is to step down after seven years, with the Leicester-based organisation also appointing a chief investment officer in a newly created role. Collins has elected to leave her post after seven years to be succeeded by former Berkeley divisional chairman Angus Michie. Michie is currently on Stonewater's board as chair of homes and development challenge and assurance panel, chair of Stonewater Developments and chair of Stonewater Commercial.
