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.
Building Safety Regulator chair to speak at HMI
Lord Andy Roe, chair of the Building Safety Regulator, will address the industry at this year’s Housing Market Intelligence conference in London in October. Lord Roe has overseen an overhaul of the regulator which was initially struggling to clear schemes on time. Lord Roe will tell delegates about the work of the regulator and how it can work with the industry to facilitate approvals.
Bellway on track but outlook “remains uncertain”
Bellway is on track to achieve its intended level of operating profit but it has seen reduced reservations and the outlook beyond its current financial year “remains uncertain”. Giving an update covering the period from February 1 to May 29, the housebuilder said it was set to deliver underlying operating profit for its full year ending July 31 2026 within the previously guided range of £320 million to £330 million. This was despite customer demand “moderating” in recent weeks but bolstered by a forward order book of 5,345 homes as of May 29 2026. This was still down on the 5,759 homes of June 1 2025.
Hill and Homes England buy 10,000 home Cambridge site
The Hill Group and Homes England, backed by its National Housing Bank, have bought the 700 acre Cambridge East site which is set to support the delivery of more than 10,000 new homes, at least 3 million sq ft of commercial space and around 9,000 jobs.
One month delay to planning committee reforms
The government has delayed the introduction of its national scheme of delegation by a month. The scheme, as part of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG)’s reforms to planning committees, will see certain applications passing to officers and others committees. In its response to a consultation on draft regulations and guidance on planning committee reform, MHCLG said it had “pushed back” the implementation date of the changes, including the national scheme of delegation, from September 30 to October 31 2026 “to allow local authorities further time to make the necessary arrangements”.
