This week’s briefing covers planning supply and local plan scrutiny, major contractor results and framework awards, a housebuilder investment, and government comment on indoor-air quality for rented homes.
THIS WEEK AT A GLANCE
- A council loses its five-year housing land supply after a 20% buffer is applied to its housing requirement.
- Planning inspectors have warned a council that parts of its draft local plan may be unsound.
- Daiwa House has acquired a 30% minority stake in Miller Homes from Apollo Funds.
- Galliford Try reports stronger results driven by road-building work and increasing infrastructure turnover.
PLANNING & REGULATION
Five-year land supply lost after buffer applied
Planning Resource reports that a council has lost its five-year housing land supply after a new rule required authorities that planned for significantly fewer homes than the government’s method indicates to add a 20% buffer to their housing requirement. The change led to the council falling short of the five-year supply test under national guidance.
Inspectors raise soundness concerns at local plan examination
Planning Resource also reports that planning inspectors warned a home counties council during initial hearings that elements of its draft local plan may be found unsound. The inspectors questioned whether the plan, which proposes to deliver about 53 percent of its assessed local housing need, had given proper weight to national policy and whether protection of open spaces had tainted consideration of that policy.
BUILD COSTS & CONSTRUCTION
Galliford Try posts stronger results as roads work drives performance
Construction Enquirer reports Galliford Try’s year to 30 June saw turnover rise to £1,931m and pre-tax profit increase 25 percent to £55m. The report says infrastructure, especially road-building, was the main driver with the infrastructure division’s turnover rising to £972m. The company said strong cash generation and a robust order book underpinned its performance.
Midlands public framework winners named after 36-bid contest
Construction Enquirer reports the Constructing West Midlands third-generation framework has appointed 20 contractors for a c. £3bn programme. Major works places include Galliford Try, Kier, Morgan Sindall, Vinci Building, Wates and Willmott Dixon. The framework covers public-sector building projects across education, housing, healthcare and other sectors, with contracts due to be signed from 28 September.
DEVELOPMENT FINANCE & MARKET CONDITIONS
Daiwa House buys 30% stake in Miller Homes
The Construction Index reports that Japanese investor Daiwa House has acquired a 30 percent minority stake in Miller Homes from Apollo Funds. The purchase was announced by the parties in the industry press; the report identifies the buyer percentage and seller as Apollo Funds.
LANDLORDS & INVESTORS
Government highlights ventilation and future Decent Homes Standard dates
Property118 reports Homelessness Minister Florence Eshalomi emphasised the role of ventilation in indoor air quality in a written parliamentary answer. The statement notes recent updates to Approved Document F of the Building Regulations will come into force in March 2027 for non-Higher Risk Building Work. The article also says Awaab’s Law requires social housing landlords to investigate and remedy damp and mould hazards within set timescales, and that the government intends to extend protections to the private rented sector in 2027 and to apply the new Decent Homes Standard to the private rented sector from 2035.
Until next week
PDBC