Thursday, 24 May 2012

Inside Housing
Development and construction

Stories with this category.

  • Shapps: housing supply will not meet demand

    23/05/2012

    Housing minister Grant Shapps has admitted developers will struggle to build the number of homes needed across the UK.

  • London mayor announces housing board members

    23/05/2012

    Mayor of London Boris Johnson has announced the members of the board that will oversee his £3 billion housing budget for the capital.

  • Think tank calls for local cash to fund regeneration

    23/05/2012

    Local authorities should be able to lead local regeneration with community budgets, according to a new report.

  • Birmingham rethinks approach to housing policy

    23/05/2012

    The UK’s largest stock holding local authority has named its new cabinet – without a housing portfolio.

  • MPs to scrutinise work on homes for elderly people

    22/05/2012

    Progress made into improving housing for older people in the past three years is to be scrutinised by an all-party parliamentary group.

  • Wales plans to end family homelessness

    21/05/2012

    The Welsh Government has unveiled plans to end family homelessness by 2019 in its housing white paper published today.

  • Birmingham signs £6.7m affordable homes deal

    18/05/2012

    Birmingham Council has become the third local authority – and first outside London – to sign its contract under the Homes and Communities Agency’s £1.8 billion affordable homes programme.

  • Peabody names winner of design competition

    18/05/2012

    Architecture firm PCKO has won a competition to design a 150-home development for housing association Peabody.

  • No panacea

    18/05/2012

    This week, your intrepid business correspondent braved a hazardous sea crossing and explored hitherto unchartered parts of the globe to visit the self-build pioneers of Holland.

  • Construction summit seeks house building gains

    18/05/2012

    The government is seeking to reduce the cost of building social housing by 20 per cent by improving the efficiency of the construction process.

  • Ageing sustainably

    18/05/2012

    By 2020 China will have more than 260 million people over the age of 65. Here, Jess McCabe gets a glimpse at how the country plans to house some of them in a giant, retirement eco-city

  • Airtight promise

    18/05/2012

    The Passivhaus, which is like a vacuum flask, conserving its heat without much need for further energy, has been marketed as the home of the future and is becoming increasingly popular across Europe. Jess McCabe travels to Hannover to meet its creator, Dr Wolfgang Feist

  • Brazil needs a new approach

    18/05/2012

    Brazil needs a shift in attitude if it is to successfully tackle its growing housing crisis, says Ruban Selvanayagam

  • Fit for the future

    18/05/2012

    Housing providers are pushing boundaries to address the challenges facing the sector, but they must tread carefully

  • HCA to trial self-build with five pilots and £30m fund

    18/05/2012

    The Homes and Communities Agency is set to release a series of pilot land parcels for self-build projects as part of a government push on the low-cost development model.

  • Landlords to float on stock exchange

    18/05/2012

    A consortium of 10 housing associations is to list a company made up of 10,000 social homes on the junior London stock exchange in September.

  • Scissor strategy

    18/05/2012

    Northern Ireland’s long-awaited housing strategy must deliver more homes

  • Simplified green regulations proposed to cut build costs

    18/05/2012

    Social housing developers in Northern Ireland could be allowed to abandon ‘complicated’ green building regulations in favour of a simpler system under plans to save money on building homes.

  • The end of the Q

    18/05/2012

    Why are hundreds of much-loved houses on a popular estate being knocked down by Nottingham Council? Martin Hilditch speaks to some residents who are about to lose their homes.

  • The heart of the matter

    18/05/2012

    Ruth Cooke may have taken on the chief executive’s role at Midland Heart, but, as Gavriel Hollander finds out, she plans to put her employees at the centre of decision making.

  • Utopia revisited

    18/05/2012

    As David Cameron seeks to revive the principles of garden cities with a consultation due later this year, Colin Wiles examines how likely it is that his vision will come to fruition

  • SHG's plans rejected for damaging heritage sites

    17/05/2012

    Southern Housing Group’s plans for a 121-home housing scheme were rejected on appeal after an inspector found they would harm heritage assets.

  • Social landlords hit as housing starts plummet

    17/05/2012

    House building starts in England have dropped with social housing taking the biggest hit as housing association figures plummeted by 21 per cent.

  • Starter’s orders

    17/05/2012

    Grant Shapps has predictably had a go but it’s hard to see the housebuilding figures out today as anything other than awful.

  • Kier on track following contract wins

    17/05/2012

    Kier has reported it is on track to meet its 2012 expectations after securing more than £400 million of construction work over the past five months.

  • Report calls for new generation of garden cities

    17/05/2012

    Local and national government should help to unlock land for a new generation of garden cities by reducing the risk for investors, according to a report published today.

  • Councils will need more green deal incentives

    17/05/2012

    Additional incentives will be needed to encourage local authorities to adopt the green deal, according to a report commissioned by the government.

  • Government policies 'are failing housing'

    17/05/2012

    The government’s housing policies are failing to mend Britain’s ‘broken housing market’, according to a damning report from three leading housing bodies.

  • London mayor sets up procurement panel

    16/05/2012

    Social landlords will be able to use a procurement panel set up by the Mayor of London.

  • Southwark plans 1,000 council homes by 2020

    16/05/2012

    Southwark Council announced today it has set itself a target to build 1,000 new council homes – averaging 100 a year - before 2020.

  • Housing stalwart gets policy review brief

    16/05/2012

    Housing stalwart and former Inside Housing columnist Jon Cruddas is to co-ordinate Labour’s policy review.

  • Bovis expects profit rise after strong start to 2012

    16/05/2012

    House builder Bovis Homes is predicting increased completions and higher profits for 2012 after a strong start to the year.

  • British housing is ‘cramped and poorly planned’

    16/05/2012

    Much British housing is cramped and fails to meet the needs of its occupants, a study has found.

  • Plans submitted for 1,200 homes on former colliery

    16/05/2012

    A planning application has been submitted for a 1,200 home development on the site of a former colliery near Doncaster.

  • Councils get more time to spend right to buy cash

    15/05/2012

    The government has relaxed rules on how councils must reinvest money from the reinvigorated right to buy following criticism.

  • Going Dutch

    15/05/2012

    Here’s hoping that Grant Shapps found a bit more to do in the Netherlands on Monday than enthuse about self-build and get Kevin McCloud’s autograph.

  • Fifth lender joins government mortgage scheme

    15/05/2012

    A fifth bank has joined the government’s mortgage indemnity programme for buyers of new-build homes.

  • Mayor to decide on dog track plans

    14/05/2012

    The mayor of London has until 25 May to decide whether to allow London & Quadrant to build homes on the site of a former iconic dog track.

  • Self build groups in line for £30m of funding

    14/05/2012

    Grant Shapps has announced a £30 million pot to promote self-build will go to groups building homes at the same time.

  • Welsh government sets 12,500 home building goal

    14/05/2012

    The Welsh government has set a target of building 12,500 new homes in the country by 2016.

  • Housing Heroes Award winners unveiled

    11/05/2012

    The winners of the 2012 Housing Heroes Awards have been announced at a ceremony in London.

  • Organised chaos

    11/05/2012

    The second law of thermodynamics and the financing of new housing are not, at first glance, subjects that lend themselves to easy analogy. But bear with me for a moment…

  • Housing association to lead £196m estate overhaul

    11/05/2012

    Ealing Council has chosen a housing association for the £196 million regeneration of the Havelock Estate in Southall.

  • Wakefield builds own homes

    11/05/2012

    Wakefield and District Housing has become the latest landlord to embark on a self-build project using its own workforce.

  • Unfair blame

    11/05/2012

    Social landlords, as readers of Inside Housing know only too well, are facing a whole host of challenges.

  • Peabody submits £120m plans

    11/05/2012

    Housing provider Peabody has submitted a planning application for a £120 million regeneration scheme on an estate in South London.

  • G15 hits back at IDS attack on dog track plans

    11/05/2012

    The chair of the G15 umbrella group has hit back at Iain Duncan Smith’s attack on a housing association for failing to include social rented homes in a proposed new development.

  • Outsourcing model to fund new build

    11/05/2012

    A new repairs outsourcing model has been developed that could increase the borrowing power of councils and finance new house building projects.

  • Backing for MPs call to lift council debt cap

    10/05/2012

    Councils and housing bodies have backed the call from a group of MPs for the government to reconsider the local authority borrowing cap.

  • Public overestimate scale of land development

    10/05/2012

    Most members of the British public overestimate how much of England’s land has been developed, according to a new poll.

  • Landlord secures rating to seek institutional funds

    10/05/2012

    A housing association believes it can attract direct investment from pension funds and life insurance companies after securing a credit rating.

  • Barratt ups building goal after strong start to 2012

    10/05/2012

    Barratt Developments has increased its forecast for the number of homes it will build this year following a strong start to 2012.

  • Housing 'left out of Queen's speech'

    10/05/2012

    The Queen’s speech has provoked mixed reaction from the sector as housing was largely left out of the government’s priorities for the next parliamentary session.

  • Builder reports growing interest in housing market

    09/05/2012

    Galliford Try has reported that buyers are returning to the housing market and mortgage availability appears to be improving.

  • Planners approve L&Q's dog track plans

    09/05/2012

    Controversial plans to build a housing estate on the site of a former iconic dog track in London have been given the green light.

  • Finance report fuels right to buy concerns

    09/05/2012

    A report from a cross-party group of MPs has raised doubts over the viability of the coalition’s reinvigorated right to buy programme.

  • Partner could be sought for Aylesbury plans

    09/05/2012

    Southwark Council is looking for a long-term partner to realise its plans for the Aylesbury Estate.

  • MPs attack lack of social homes on dog track site

    08/05/2012

    MPs have criticised London & Quadrant for not including social rented homes in its controversial plans for a housing estate on the site of a former iconic dog track.

  • Chelsea’s Battersea plans include affordable homes

    08/05/2012

    Chelsea Football Club has pledged to include affordable housing in its plans for a new stadium on the site of Battersea power station in west London.

  • More public land to be sold for house building

    08/05/2012

    The government has pledged to make more public land available for house building after identifying enough sites to meet its initial 100,000 home goal.

  • Housing market slows as economic fears grow

    08/05/2012

    Surveyors have revised their housing market expectations to predict further price falls after a brief spell of optimism last month.

  • Vampire diaries

    08/05/2012

    The maths involved in the CLG committee’s new report on the financing of new housing supply is depressingly simple.

  • Think tank calls for London welfare changes

    08/05/2012

    A think tank has called for welfare reforms to be altered in London to address the housing problems faced in the capital.

  • Collapse of building firms raises job loss fears

    08/05/2012

    Industry bosses in Scotland have warned that urgent action is needed to prevent job losses in the construction sector.

  • Council seals £150m PFI deal to build new homes

    08/05/2012

    A London council will build more than 300 new homes after finalising a private finance initiative housing project.

  • MPs urge government to scrap council borrowing caps

    07/05/2012

    MPs have called on the government to rethink the ‘unnecessary’ cap on council borrowing as a way to increase investment in new housing supply.

  • Labour victory in Wales

    04/05/2012

    Labour has made big gains right across Wales, emerging as the only major winner of the night.

  • Boris wins second term as mayor of London

    04/05/2012

    Boris Johnson has won the London mayoral election after a close run fight with Labour’s Ken Livingstone.

  • One week left to complete our development survey

    04/05/2012

    There is only one week left to fill in Inside Housing’s development survey, being run with H+H, and stand a chance of winning £500 of Marks & Spencer vouchers.

  • Liverpool mayor promises to address housing need

    04/05/2012

    The newly elected mayor of Liverpool has promised to deliver housing for the city.

  • A charitable case for relief

    04/05/2012

    Exemptions from CIL are available but it’s advisable to check the details, says Mark Burrows, associate at Penningtons Solicitors

  • A few more hurdles

    04/05/2012

    Tenants are eager to take advantage of the revamped right to buy, but problems for councils remain

  • Affordable housing slashed as L&Q presses on with dog track plan

    04/05/2012

    Council officers will recommend that a controversial plan to build a housing estate on a former iconic dog track is approved, after slashing the developer’s affordable housing requirement.

  • HCA to trial modelling approach

    04/05/2012

    The Homes and Communities Agency is set to pilot a new approach to development which could cut millions from annual house building and management costs.

  • Making it pay

    04/05/2012

    Procurement red tape is costing the housing sector dear

  • MPs to seek clarification over £43bn historic grant

    03/05/2012

    MPs will next week call for clarification on the status of historic government grant as a potential means to free up billions of pounds worth of investment in social housing.

  • Model village wins next stage of planning battle

    03/05/2012

    An energy-efficient community has moved a step closer as the second phase is given planning permission.

  • Contractor reports 'solid start' to 2012

    03/05/2012

    Morgan Sindall has reported a ‘solid start’ to the year, ahead of its annual general meeting today.

  • Poll finds support for Livingstone's housing plans

    02/05/2012

    Ken Livingstone is the London mayoral candidate who offers most to the housing sector, according to an online poll.

  • New homes for Edinburgh

    01/05/2012

    Edinburgh Council is seeking a developer for a £80 million contract to build around 800 new homes.

  • Colour charts

    01/05/2012

    As voters across England, Scotland and Wales prepare to go to the polls, we assess the key battlegrounds for housing

  • Stat attack

    01/05/2012

    It’s Communities and Local Government questions – so it must time for a barrage of contradictory statistics.

  • Dromey: House builds down 26 per cent

    01/05/2012

    The shadow housing minister has accused the government of failing to build the homes it promised.

  • Public spending cuts drive down housing starts

    01/05/2012

    Social housing construction starts suffered a sharp fall in the first quarter of 2012, according to new figures released today.

  • London must grow

    30/04/2012

    If London is to stop exporting its population it will need to grow outwards, argues Colin Wiles.

  • House prices rise for second consecutive month

    30/04/2012

    House prices across England rose for the second month in a row in April, according to housing market information company Hometrack.

  • Scottish Government adds to shared equity fund

    30/04/2012

    The Scottish Government is making an extra £13 million available for its shared equity schemes to help more first time buyers.

  • HCA official hints at early date for spending review

    27/04/2012

    The government might bring forward its next spending review, a Homes and Communities Agency official has said.

  • Social housing registrations down 54% on last year

    27/04/2012

    The gap between private and public sector house building has widened still further after new figures showed a huge decrease in the number of registrations for new social housing homes in March.

  • A vote for housing

    27/04/2012

    Housing finally ignited as a major political issue in the run-up to the London mayoral elections this week. Carl Brown investigates how some of the main contenders plan to tackle the issue

  • Back to the future

    27/04/2012

    A return to the principles of garden cities would help create sustainable communities fit for the 21st century

  • Boom of the builders

    27/04/2012

    The government must turn to house building as it seeks to battle back out of recession.

  • Give the regions a chance

    27/04/2012

    Central government is distancing itself from regional policy, which is why Liverpool’s first elected mayor will have a vital role to play, says Ann O’Byrne

  • LGA criticises ‘unrealistic’ and ‘restrictive’ right to buy plans

    27/04/2012

    The government’s proposals on how councils can keep and use receipts from future right to buy sales in the local area have been labelled ‘unnecessarily restrictive’ by the Local Government Association.

  • Locally sourced

    27/04/2012

    None of the candidates for London mayor have really addressed the problems highlighted by Newham this week, argues Stuart Macdonald.

  • New housing projects fail to meet demand

    27/04/2012

    Housing starts in 2012 will be fewer than half the number needed to meet demand, according to a construction forecast.

  • SNP and Labour battle over Glasgow’s housing problems

    27/04/2012

    Glasgow’s housing crisis has become a key battleground as the Scottish National Party bids to end 31 years of Labour Party rule in Scotland’s biggest city.

  • Striking a balance

    27/04/2012

    Housing associations can use cash reserves to help spark economic revival - however they must be sensible about doing so

  • Barratt CEO: 'Public sector must deliver more land'

    26/04/2012

    The chief executive of Barratt has called on the public sector to bring more land forward for housing development to prevent the ‘overwhelming’ housing crisis getting worse.

  • Report: ‘Build rules must be simplified’

    26/04/2012

    Procurement processes in the housing sector are ‘onerous and costly’, thanks to overzealous interpretations of European Union procurement rules, according to a report.

  • Plans for first Welsh bond scuppered

    26/04/2012

    Plans for a Welsh social housing bond have suffered a setback after two participating landlords joined a rival bond issue.

  • Chink of light

    26/04/2012

    A small dip in the GDP and suddenly there is an opportunity to put housing back on the agenda.

  • Thousands of new homes for Northern Ireland

    26/04/2012

    Plans to build 4,600 new social homes across Northern Ireland have been announced by social development minister Nelson McCausland.

  • Economic argument

    26/04/2012

    In the last of our series of articles from the leading London mayoral candidates, Boris Johnson sets out his plans for housing

  • Builder proposes retrofit alternative to zero carbon

    26/04/2012

    A leading house builder has called on the government to scrap plans to make homes zero carbon from 2016 in favour of a levy to improve existing stock.

  • Public housing starts set to fall 22 per cent in 2012

    26/04/2012

    Public housing starts are set to reduce by 22 per cent in 2012 and by a further 5 per cent in 2013, according to a forecast by the Construction Products Association.

  • Taylor Wimpey positive despite mortgage fears

    26/04/2012

    House builder Taylor Wimpey has reported a strong start to the year, despite concerns about mortgage availability.

  • Public land release programme comes under fire

    25/04/2012

    Speakers at a Town and Country Planning Association event have questioned whether releasing public land is an effective way to encourage the development of homes.

  • Construction 'key' as UK enters double dip recession

    25/04/2012

    The construction industry holds the key to kickstarting the faltering economy, according to leading industry figures.

  • Design summit to engage communities in housing

    25/04/2012

    Housing minister Grant Shapps is planning a design summit to overcome local communities’ objections to new housing schemes.

  • Crisis talk

    25/04/2012

    It’s time for radical action to tackle London’s housing problems, argues Green Party mayoral candidate Jenny Jones

  • Committee calls for Welsh house building target

    25/04/2012

    A Welsh Government committee has called for an affordable housing target for the country.

  • Earls Court land sale to go ahead despite protests

    25/04/2012

    Hammersmith & Fulham Council is on the verge of ploughing ahead with a controversial re-development at Earls Court.

  • Homelessness charity founder dies

    24/04/2012

    The founder of a charity for the homeless supported by the construction and property industry has died at the age of 89.

  • Builder warns lending rates are hurting Newbuy

    24/04/2012

    Buyers are being put off the government’s Newbuy scheme by the ‘disappointing’ lending rates on offer, a house builder has warned.

  • Build for victory

    24/04/2012

    Brian Paddick, the Liberal Democrat candidate for London mayor, explains his approach to housing in the capital

  • Planners revisit 100-year-old overcrowding strategy

    24/04/2012

    A pamphlet of ideas to tackle overcrowding is being relaunched today, a hundred years after its publication.

  • Having a good home is top priority in Scotland

    24/04/2012

    Scots rate having a good home as more important than being rich, according to a survey by Oxfam Scotland.

  • Ministers urged to delay tougher efficiency goals

    23/04/2012

    The government should scrap plans to increase the energy efficiency of new homes next year because of a lack of progress in meeting current goals, a think tank has claimed.

  • Constructing a cure

    23/04/2012

    Ahead of the mayoral election next week, Labour candidate Ken Livingstone sets out his plans for housing

  • Seddon wins £60m affordable housing contract

    23/04/2012

    England’s largest housing association has awarded a £60 million contract to Seddon Construction to build 700 new affordable homes.

  • Johnson targets pension fund investment in homes

    23/04/2012

    Boris Johnson has pledged to ‘bang the heads together’ of pension funds to try to get them to invest in housing.

  • Less is less

    20/04/2012

    Today’s Inside Housing brought with it the perhaps less-than-surprising news that social landlords think they will be able to build fewer subsidised homes if there is less subsidy.

  • Next phase of £100m development underway

    20/04/2012

    Plans are underway for the third phase in a £100 million housing development in Liverpool to begin this summer.

  • Grant Shapps in HMR 'Luftwaffe' attack

    20/04/2012

    The housing minister has compared the housing market renewal programme to German bombing raids for its impact on homes and communities in the north and midlands.

  • Developing landlords face extinction

    20/04/2012

    Landlords will slash the number of affordable homes they build if there is a further cut to government subsidy in the next comprehensive spending review.

  • Housing used to woo voters in London mayor race

    20/04/2012

    The Liberal Democrats have set out the most ambitious house building plans among the main candidates standing in the London mayoral election.

  • It’s time to pull together

    20/04/2012

    Politicians may be focused on the upcoming elections, but the housing sector should take a longer view.

  • Landlord in self-build pilot

    20/04/2012

    A Liverpool-based housing association could save up to £20,000 in construction costs per home by using its own in-house build team.

  • Liverpool candidates promise new homes

    20/04/2012

    Thousands of new homes are being promised in the battle to become Liverpool’s first directly elected mayor next month.

  • Property bodies seek to reclassify rent

    20/04/2012

    Sections of the property industry have called for councils to allow market rent to be treated as ‘affordable’ through the use of section 106 agreements in order to attract investment.

  • The flag bearer for Cornwall

    20/04/2012

    The campaign for a devolved Cornwall appears to be gaining pace. Lydia Stockdale looks at the housing problems driving it forward.

  • Warning over development community levy threat

    20/04/2012

    Councils’ levies on new developments are being set too high to make the building of affordable housing viable, developers have warned.

  • Government launches guide to help boost self-build

    19/04/2012

    People are being encouraged to build their own homes under plans announced by the government to double self-build rates.

  • Mayoral candidates clash over affordable homes

    19/04/2012

    A row has erupted over the development of affordable homes between the two main candidates vying to become the next mayor of London.

  • Land transfer paves way for estate regeneration

    19/04/2012

    A council has approved in principle the transfer of land to a developer to kick start the regeneration of one of its estates.

  • London mayor: 2

    18/04/2012

    The London mayoral race is throwing up some interesting new ideas on how to tackle the housing crisis in the capital – but will they make any difference?

  • Landlord chooses contractors to build 1,100 homes

    18/04/2012

    Affordable housing in the midlands and north of England has been given a boost by the Sanctuary Group’s appointment of two contractors to build 1,100 homes over the next four years.

  • Mayoral candidate plans to offer half price homes

    18/04/2012

    One of the candidates in the race to become London mayor has promised to create a secondary housing market in the capital with homes for sale or rent at half market rate.

  • Anchor to invest £95 million in building scheme

    18/04/2012

    Housing and care provider Anchor is planning to spend £95 million building three ‘care villages’.

  • London mayor: 1

    17/04/2012

    How much of a role will housing play in the election for the politician with the second most say over housing in England?

  • Council beats affordable homes target

    17/04/2012

    As demand for housing increases across the country, one local authority is celebrating after building a record number of affordable homes.

  • Council brings 2,000 empty homes back into use

    17/04/2012

    An empty homes initiative in Kent has brought more than 2,000 empties back into use in seven years.

  • Paddick housing plans for London revealed

    17/04/2012

    Brian Paddick has pledged to build 360,000 new homes in the next ten years if he is elected Mayor of London.

  • Landlord chosen to develop 200 homes

    17/04/2012

    A landlord will oversee the development of more than 200 homes after a council chose it for a project to regenerate an estate.

  • Fed urges mayoral candidates to tackle housing

    17/04/2012

    The candidates for London mayor have ‘underestimated’ the strength of feeling around affordable housing, according to the National Housing Federation.

  • Builder to report profit boost as sales rise

    17/04/2012

    House builder Telford Homes has reported increased sales and completions.

  • Estates demolition plans face opposition

    16/04/2012

    More than a third of council tenants affected by proposals to demolish two housing estates in London are opposed to the plans.

  • Boris 'would welcome' dog track on L&Q land

    16/04/2012

    Boris Johnson has said he would welcome a move to re-open Walthamstow Stadium as a dog-racing venue.

  • GLA seeks developers for £5bn procurement panel

    16/04/2012

    Developers are being sought for a £5 billion procurement panel which aims to provide a boost to house building in London.

  • Investors seek revised affordable home definition

    16/04/2012

    Liberalising the definition of affordable rent in section 106 agreements will encourage investment in the housing sector, according to a group of property industry bodies.

  • Livingstone plans pension fund investment for London homes

    13/04/2012

    Ken Livingstone has pledged to use pension funds to build more social housing in London if he wins his bid to be elected as mayor of London.

  • A good plan

    13/04/2012

    Forty-five new homes a year for the next 20 years might not sound like much, but their construction in Dawlish, in Devon, will be hugely significant for the rest of England.

  • Neighbourhood plan seen as pro-development

    13/04/2012

    The first community-produced development plan to reach examination stage shows that fears the government’s localism agenda will lead to widespread nimbysim are unfounded, experts claim.

  • The stamp of approval

    13/04/2012

    Councils are expected to allow development wherever possible

  • Dromey: Labour government would keep housing grant

    12/04/2012

    Jack Dromey has hinted that a Labour administration would increase or maintain central government grant levels for new homes.

  • Future Dale Farms 'lurking', group warns

    12/04/2012

    A support group for Gypsies and Travellers has said a recent government progress report does not properly address the problem of a lack of authorised Traveller sites in the UK, meaning incidents like Dale Farm are ‘lurking in the future’.

  • Livingstone reveals manifesto for London

    11/04/2012

    Ken Livingstone has launched his manifesto for London with a pledge to re-establish a development target with an ‘expectation’ that half of all homes built in the capital will be affordable.

  • Construction firm in bid to buy house builder

    11/04/2012

    Construction firm Bouygues has signed an agreement to buy house builder Thomas Vale subject to approval from the European Commission.

  • Contractor agrees £28m regeneration deal

    11/04/2012

    A contractor has agreed a £28 million deal to deliver more than 200 new homes across regeneration projects on three estates.

  • HCA claims it's 'on target' for homes delivery

    10/04/2012

    The Homes and Communities Agency has claimed that it is on course to exceed its housing targets for the 2011/12 financial year.

  • Top of the hill

    10/04/2012

    Twice before governments have attempted to force through improvements to the energy efficiency of existing homes and then backed down. Now the backlash is building again.

  • Planning permission granted for 1,746 new homes

    10/04/2012

    A regeneration project is a step closer after planning permission was granted for 1,746 new homes.

  • Getting up to speed

    10/04/2012

    With little progress on calls for an exemption, developing social landlords need to be aware of new procurement rules, says Bill Hull

  • Take part in our development survey to win £500

    10/04/2012

    As the government’s reforms to house building and development become established we are looking to find out more about the impact of the changes across England.

  • Report: planning reforms will not help housing

    10/04/2012

    The government’s ‘timid’ planning reform will not solve the housing crisis, according to a report published today.

  • £2.5m affordable housing project completed

    07/04/2012

    A £2.5 million project to bring the first wave of affordable housing in a generation to Sandwell, West Midlands, has been completed.

  • Words that count

    05/04/2012

    A close reading of the final National Planning Policy Framework shows that the document has an overwhelming emphasis upon economic growth, writes Colin Wiles

  • An inspector calls

    05/04/2012

    England’s reformed planning system hands councils power over development, so how will the government ensure enough homes are being built? Nick Duxbury investigates.

  • Broadening its horizons

    05/04/2012

    Amicus Horizon is in rude health again following an austerity programme. Gavriel Hollander charts its progress.

  • Landlords rush to claim early grant offer

    05/04/2012

    Social landlords have brought forward the building of thousands of homes to take advantage of the Homes and Communities Agency’s offer of early grant payments.

  • White paper for Wales

    05/04/2012

    The Welsh Government’s housing white paper is an opportunity for the country to explore new models of investment.

  • Non-grant affordable rent landlords revealed

    04/04/2012

    A housing association in Essex has become one of the first landlords to sign an agreement to build homes for ‘affordable rent’ without receiving grant.

  • Construction firm sees turnover pass £1bn

    04/04/2012

    A house builder has seen its turnover surge beyond the £1 billion mark after a strong performance in 2011, according to its latest set of results.

  • Plans for 2,500 new homes submitted to council

    04/04/2012

    A council in south London has moved a step closer to building 600 affordable new homes.

  • Fed calls for time limit on right to buy replacement

    04/04/2012

    The National Housing Federation has called on the government to set a fixed time frame for the replacement of homes sold under the right to buy.

  • Mayor of London takes over HCA powers

    03/04/2012

    The Mayor of London has taken over responsibility for a £1.6 billion development budget and hundreds of hectares of public land.

  • Handle with care

    03/04/2012

    The government must ensure right to buy reform doesn’t undermine the move to self financing, argues Clyde Loakes

  • Council urged to keep social rents and tenancies

    03/04/2012

    A local authority has been told to maintain a commitment to socially rented homes and security of tenure by a commission it set up to assess housing issues.

  • Legal bid launched to save homes from rail threat

    03/04/2012

    A group of councils has launched a judicial review of the government’s decision to press ahead with a £33 billion rail project which could destroy hundreds of homes.

  • House builder buys land for 425 homes

    02/04/2012

    A developer is planning to build hundreds of new homes after agreeing to buy 38 acres of brownfield land.

  • First councils sign up to HCA programme

    02/04/2012

    Two local authorities have become the first to sign contracts to deliver new affordable housing under the Homes and Communities Agency’s 2011-15 programme.

  • A force for good

    02/04/2012

    Council housing self financing has begun, but what will the new era bring? Steve Partridge examines the possibilities

  • Landlord signs £347m deal for 2,400 homes

    02/04/2012

    A deal to build 2,400 homes in Gateshead for a project worth £347 million has been signed by a consortium.

  • Liverpool draws up plans for former HMR area

    02/04/2012

    Liverpool Council has approved a plan to start regeneration in areas of the city affected by the end of the housing market renewal programme.

  • £270m Growing Places cash allocated

    30/03/2012

    The government is to release £420 million of cash for local authorities to invest in infrastructure to help boost businesses, jobs and housing.

  • Council bidding to tear down tower blocks

    30/03/2012

    A council is bidding to ramp up the regeneration of one its estates by demolishing two tower blocks and replacing them with hundreds of new flats and maisonettes.

  • Scottish planning efficiency proposals unveiled

    30/03/2012

    Plans to improve the efficiency of Scotland’s planning system and place it at the heart of economic growth have been unveiled.

  • A new dawn for housing

    30/03/2012

    Another week, another seminal moment for social housing in the UK. At least that is what it feels like at present.

  • Landlords apply to build schools

    30/03/2012

    Housing associations in Wales could begin building schools in a bid by the Welsh Government to overcome national borrowing restrictions and raise cash for housing.

  • Minister’s warning over local plans

    30/03/2012

    Councils that are unprepared for long-awaited planning reforms will have to accept growth in their area, a government minister has warned.

  • New social homes down 41 per cent on last year

    30/03/2012

    The number of new social homes registered in the UK has fallen dramatically in the three months to the end of February, revealing a widening gap between the public and private sector.

  • Out for a discount

    30/03/2012

    The raised right to buy discount cap will be a challenge in areas with lower property values

  • Shapps hints at affordable rents repeat

    30/03/2012

    The housing minister has hinted that the £1.8 billion affordable homes programme could be repeated.

  • Call for affordable housing to be prioritised

    29/03/2012

    Eighty five per cent of the public think affordable housing should be a greater political priority, a survey has found.

  • Bidding opens for £5bn housing frameworks

    28/03/2012

    Bidding has opened for a £5 billion series of housing frameworks which have previously procured 23,000 homes.

  • Olympic homes developer shortlist revealed

    28/03/2012

    Landlords are among three groups bidding to become the chosen team to build 800 new homes on the Olympic Park.

  • Councils urged to recognise housing need

    27/03/2012

    It is up to local authorities to make sure the new planning framework provides the homes England needs, campaigners have warned today.

  • The sound and the fury

    27/03/2012

    The national planning policy framework was published this afternoon. Colin Wiles provides some initial reactions.

  • Developer appointed for Covent Garden scheme

    27/03/2012

    The Covent Garden Market Authority has appointed a developer for the £2 billion regeneration of the area, which is expected to include nearly 3,000 homes.

  • Government publishes revised planning reforms

    27/03/2012

    Councils in England that do not have a valid local plan will be forced to follow the new planning framework from today, the government has said.

  • Builder sees 65% surge in profit as sales rise

    27/03/2012

    A house builder has seen its half-year profit rise by 65 per cent year-on-year on the back of increased sales.

  • Councils await publication of planning framework

    27/03/2012

    The government’s long-awaited overhaul of the planning framework for England is to be published later today.

  • House sales soar as stamp duty holiday ends

    27/03/2012

    The biggest agent for England’s government-backed shared ownership vehicle has seen completed sales nearly double year on year ahead of the end of the stamp duty holiday.

  • Council in bid to let new homes at social rent level

    26/03/2012

    A council has secured extra grants from the Homes and Communities Agency to ensure that new homes in a proposed regeneration scheme can be let at social rent levels.

  • Travellers to be banned from green belt

    26/03/2012

    Gypsies will be banned from camping on green belt land after the government revealed its streamlined planning policy for Traveller sites.

  • Council offering loans to kick start developments

    26/03/2012

    Businesses have been urged to claim a share of a £1.8 million scheme to kick start the housing market in Walsall.

  • Warning to councils over NPPF

    26/03/2012

    Local authorities could face problems with local plans under new planning rules, according to business advisory firm Deloitte.

  • In the spotlight

    23/03/2012

    Housing has a key role to play in the economic and social well-being of the country, says Pat Ritchie

  • Transfer rules put Earls Court plan in doubt

    23/03/2012

    Controversial plans to demolish two estates as part of an £8 billion regeneration scheme are in doubt following the publication of a consultation on right to transfer regulations.

  • Planners concerned by NPPF implementation

    22/03/2012

    Concerns have been raised about the implementation of the national planning policy framework after the chancellor announced it would come into force next week.

  • Ministers urged to ring fence public land

    21/03/2012

    A housing association has called on the government to ring fence some of the public land it has identified for house building for affordable homes.

  • NPPF to be published next week

    21/03/2012

    The National Planning Policy Framework is to be finally published by the government next Tuesday, the chancellor has announced.

  • Building fund needs £150m to reach goal

    21/03/2012

    The government’s aim to create up to 16,000 homes through its Get Britain building fund would have fallen short by 4,000 homes, the Budget has revealed.

  • Government to consult on social housing REITs

    21/03/2012

    The government will consult later in the year on whether real estate investment trusts can play a role in helping to attract funding into the social housing sector.

  • Manchester to set up 7,000 home fund

    21/03/2012

    Greater Manchester will set up an investment fund for up to 7,000 homes under government plans to hand more powers to England’s biggest cities.

  • Osborne commits £420m to local development

    21/03/2012

    The chancellor has promised an extra £420 million of investment to support local development in his Budget speech.

  • Green candidate promises 15,000 homes a year

    21/03/2012

    The Green Party candidate for the London mayoral election has launched her housing manifesto.

  • Mortgage lending up for 7th straight month

    21/03/2012

    Year-on-year mortgage lending increased for the seventh month in a row, according to new figures.

  • Budget to focus on tax and planning reforms

    21/03/2012

    Changes to planning policy and any relaxation of rules governing real estate investment trusts are expected to be the key points of interest to the housing sector in today’s Budget.

  • Bodies call for help ahead of NPPF and Budget

    20/03/2012

    Campaigners have called on the government to deliver new planning guidelines which help deliver truly sustainable developments.

  • Galliford Try reveals £56 million of contract wins

    20/03/2012

    Galliford Try has won £56 million of contracts for housing developments across Greater London.

  • Garden City Blues

    20/03/2012

    The government’s plan to revive the Garden City concept is encouraging news for the housing sector writes Colin Wiles.

  • Cameron backs new town model of growth

    20/03/2012

    The government is to examine the possibility of using the garden city model to create growth without building on the greenbelt.

  • HCA allocates £570m to stalled housing schemes

    20/03/2012

    The Homes and Communities Agency has announced the remainder of the schemes that have been shortlisted for the first phase of the Get Britain building fund.

  • Community land trusts 'could solve' housing crisis

    20/03/2012

    Plans to allow communities to own land are the answer to the affordable housing crisis, according to a recent report.

  • Council body calls for support from mayor

    20/03/2012

    Councils in London have called on the mayor of London to campaign for the scrapping of borrowing limits under the new self-financing system of finance for local authorities.

  • Further cash boost for stalled homes

    19/03/2012

    The prime minister has announced a further £150 million for a fund to kickstart housing developments.

  • House builder backs newbuy scheme

    19/03/2012

    A major house builder has said it will take part in the government’s mortgage scheme which aims to kick start the housing market.

  • All about the money

    16/03/2012

    The Budget must support an economic environment where councils can use their new financial freedom to build homes

  • Associations set to join newbuy scheme

    16/03/2012

    The government’s flagship initiative to kick-start the housing market by offering 95 per cent mortgages could be extended to housing associations as well as house builders.

  • Bank on a big change

    16/03/2012

    Housing revenue account reform means for the first time councils can decide how much to borrow, but they must be on the ball if they are to get the best deal, says Rachel Terry

  • Construct a greener future

    16/03/2012

    Building regulations are being tightened in a bid to protect the environment, says Catherine Parker, solicitor at Trowers & Hamlins

  • Credit where credit's due

    16/03/2012

    With more housing associations approaching the capital markets for funding, credit ratings agencies hold the key to the sector’s financial future. Gavriel Hollander asks Standard & Poor’s to unlock its secrets

  • Experts blast homes ‘giveaway’

    16/03/2012

    Councils could receive as little as £5,000 per home sold under right to buy reforms, thanks to huge discounts announced this week.

  • Streets apart

    16/03/2012

    After the housing market renewal programme was scrapped, regeneration schemes were stopped in their tracks. Despite this, a £35 million government rescue package has not been universally welcomed. Gavriel Hollander travels to Liverpool to investigate why

  • The finance frontier

    16/03/2012

    On 28 March local authorities will boldly go where they have never been before as a new era of self-financing dawns. Keith Cooper finds out if they are ready for their journey into the unknown.

  • Coalition nimbys in NPPF plea to Cameron

    15/03/2012

    A group of Conservative and Liberal Democrat MPs has written to David Cameron urging him to ensure that the controversial national planning policy framework protects rural areas.

  • BOGOF to BOBOF

    15/03/2012

    I’m never quite sure about those ‘buy one, get one free’ offers in the supermarket. So can I really believe in ‘buy one, build one free’?

  • Ikea property arm planning 1,200 homes

    15/03/2012

    The development arm of the retail giant Ikea has submitted plans for 1,200 homes on a multi-acre site close to the Olympic Park.

  • MP calls for compulsory solar panels on new homes

    14/03/2012

    The Conservative MP for Carlisle has called for the fitting of solar panels to be compulsory on all new build homes.

  • Housing developer sees drop in social housing sales

    14/03/2012

    A housing developer saw its social housing completions fall by nearly half while overall turnover was also down 11 per cent.

  • Pressure group to protest outside Shapps' office

    14/03/2012

    A housing pressure group is to protest outside the office of Grant Shapps over plans to introduce the new right to buy.

  • Council in £2.5 million housing pledge

    14/03/2012

    A council is pledging to build at least 210 new homes after agreeing to invest £2.5 million into a development programme.

  • Minister calls for innovation to fund new homes

    13/03/2012

    The Scottish housing minister has pledged to work with local authorities and housing associations to access pension funds and institutional investment to fund house building.

  • Landlord seeks contractors for £300m framework

    13/03/2012

    A landlord is on the lookout for contractors to take part in a £300 million framework to build up to 3,200 new homes.

  • House builders call for VAT cut

    13/03/2012

    House builders have urged chancellor George Osborne to slash VAT ahead of next week’s Budget in order to feed consumer confidence.

  • Surveyors more confident on house prices

    13/03/2012

    Increased interest from first-time buyers could see an end to falling house prices, according to chartered surveyors.

  • Council gives green light to 700 new homes

    12/03/2012

    A council has granted planning permission for more than 700 new homes.

  • Shaky start

    12/03/2012

    If NewBuy really is to be about building new homes rather than just subsidising housebuilders here are 10 questions that need answers.

  • Right to buy to cover 30% of new home costs

    12/03/2012

    The government has set out details of how it intends to ensure a new affordable home is built for every one sold through the revitalised right to buy.

  • First lenders and house builders sign up to Newbuy

    12/03/2012

    The government has named the first house builders and lenders that will offer products under its new build mortgage indemnity guarantee scheme.

  • Councils seek funding freedoms to build homes

    12/03/2012

    Council leaders are calling on the chancellor to ease restrictions on local authority borrowing to enable them to build more homes.

  • Newbuy scheme launched to back 95% mortgages

    12/03/2012

    A mortgage indemnity scheme to help people buy new homes will be launched today.

  • Privates on parade

    09/03/2012

    The Homes and Communities Agency’s affordable homes programme is approaching its first birthday.

  • New council leader makes housing promise

    09/03/2012

    The new leader of Westminster Council has pledged to renew the borough’s housing estates and tackle gang culture.

  • The rumour mill...

    09/03/2012

    The imminent publication of the National Planning Policy Framework is causing anxiety on all sides of the debate, writes Colin Wiles

  • 35 social housing providers yet to sign contracts

    09/03/2012

    Nearly a year after the introduction of the Homes and Communities Agency’s affordable homes programme, a number of social housing providers are still to sign contracts.

  • Bid to build UK’s largest Passivhaus scheme

    09/03/2012

    Norwich-based housing association Broadland plans to build the UK’s largest ultra-energy efficient Passivhaus scheme to tackle fuel poverty.

  • Doing it themselves

    09/03/2012

    Help is at hand for low-income tenants keen to follow the Highland tradition of self-building. Clare Harris reports

  • Lessons learned

    09/03/2012

    The end of the housing market renewal programme offers guidance for the future

  • Pathfinder court battle looks likely

    09/03/2012

    A group campaigning to prevent the demolition of thousands of homes looks set to take its battle to the High Court after it applied for a judge to grant a judicial review.

  • Rich pickings

    09/03/2012

    Social landlords should seek support from a new breed of wealthy philanthropists

  • We’re doing it our way

    09/03/2012

    Despite government cutbacks, Liverpool is using its own version of localism to regenerate the city, says Ann O’Byrne

  • Mayoral candidate outlines housing plans

    08/03/2012

    Liverpool needs to use its land to build more homes and improve the energy efficiency of existing properties, according to Richard Kemp, who will stand for mayor of the city.

  • NPPF unlikely to see significant change

    08/03/2012

    The final version of the controversial national planning policy framework is unlikely to see significant change, senior sector figures have said.

  • Shelter: next London mayor must prioritise homes

    08/03/2012

    The next mayor of London must make housing a priority or risk pushing people out of the capital, a charity has warned.

  • TSA chair calls for royal commission on housing

    08/03/2012

    A royal commission should be set up to recommend a 20-year housing strategy, the chair of the Tenant Services Authority has said.

  • Work starts on council’s 2,000 home building plan

    08/03/2012

    A three-year plan to build up to 2,000 new homes with around £130 million of investment has been launched by a council.

  • Providers consider REIT move to fund building

    07/03/2012

    Social housing providers are considering moving some or all of their stock into real estate investment trusts when the rules on the tax efficient vehicles change later this year.

  • Plans approved for Liverpool regeneration scheme

    07/03/2012

    Liverpool Council has approved outline plans for the regeneration of dock land in the city that will hold 9,000 homes.

  • Minister accepts case for more housing investment

    07/03/2012

    The communities minister has admitted the government would like to invest more in housing, but insisted it will increase social housing stock.

  • Housing association joins rush to bond market

    07/03/2012

    A housing association has become the latest to tap into the capital markets with a £100 million bond issue.

  • Vince Cable called on PM to invest in housing

    07/03/2012

    Business secretary Vince Cable sent a private letter to the prime minister calling for increased support for housing, it has emerged.

  • Pickles praises LEP’s support for house building

    07/03/2012

    Eric Pickles has praised local enterprise partnerships that are using government infrastructure funding to support housing developments.

  • Mayor outlines plan for 16,000 home regeneration

    06/03/2012

    The mayor of London has published a planning framework for an area of south London that could eventually hold 16,000 new homes.

  • Social landlords urged to get back to basics

    06/03/2012

    Social landlords should concentrate on getting the basics right and avoid being ‘flashy’, a leading academic has said.

  • Incentive payments should help first-time buyers

    06/03/2012

    Councils should consider using new homes bonus funding to set up schemes to help first-time buyers get on the housing ladder, according to an influential think tank.

  • Losing the plot

    06/03/2012

    Can cutting red tape for housebuilders deliver the new homes and growth the government needs? Here’s why I’m sceptical.

  • Long-term stability vital for regeneration

    06/03/2012

    A social housing research charity has called for long-term commitment and funding for regeneration across the country.

  • Government allocates £70m of empty homes cash

    05/03/2012

    The government has allocated £70 million of funding to 95 projects to bring more than 5,600 empty homes back into use.

  • Public housing construction orders down

    02/03/2012

    The number of new public housing construction orders was at its lowest point for a decade in the last quarter of 2011.

  • Council signs £76m deal for 447 homes

    02/03/2012

    Barking and Dagenham Council has signed a £76 million public-private partnership deal to build 447 affordable homes for local residents.

  • City living

    02/03/2012

    The twin pressures of high house prices and the rising cost of living in the south east are placing the region’s future in jeopardy. Lydia Stockdale looks at why policy makers are under pressure to act

  • Councils forced to rewrite local development plans

    02/03/2012

    The Welsh housing system faces years of delays and legal wrangling because councils are refusing to sign up to government house building targets.

  • Critics rap Boris over affordable homes deals

    02/03/2012

    Housing associations will accuse the mayor of London of failing to stop councils dropping affordable homes from schemes in return for cash.

  • Divided ambitions

    02/03/2012

    When Eric Pickles axed the regional planning system, one Hertfordshire council seized the opportunity to scupper a neighbouring authority’s development plans. Simon Brandon kicks off our south east special by examining the consequences.

  • Fighting his corner

    02/03/2012

    New Labour’s former housing supremo talks house building, localism and ‘that egg’. Lydia Stockdale enters the ring …

  • Unlocking ambitions

    02/03/2012

    A year after becoming a housing association, First Choice Homes Oldham is counting its blessings, as Nick Duxbury discovers

  • Contractor chosen for £28m regeneration scheme

    01/03/2012

    A housing association has chosen a contractor to deliver a £28 million regeneration scheme which will deliver 205 homes.

  • Social housing approvals slump by 46 per cent

    01/03/2012

    The number of social housing units receiving planning permission across Britain almost halved last year when compared to 2010.

  • Housing supply expert questions government plans

    01/03/2012

    The head of a major review into housing supply has questioned whether the coalition government’s strategy will deliver enough homes.

  • Kerslake says government will push on with NPPF

    29/02/2012

    The head of the civil service has confirmed that the presumption in favour of sustainable development will be kept in the National Planning Policy Framework.

  • Margin call

    29/02/2012

    Britain’s housebuilders are starting to do very nicely thankyou. If only the same could be said for housebuilding.

  • Plans submitted for 2,350-home regeneration

    29/02/2012

    Planning application for the regeneration of a large council estate which includes building 2,350 new homes has been submitted.

  • House builder announces leap in profit

    29/02/2012

    A house builder has posted a huge increase in operating profit in a financial statement for the year ending 2011.

  • Fresh concerns raised over stadium plans

    28/02/2012

    English Heritage has again raised concerns about a housing association’s plans to build on the site of a former iconic dog track.

  • Council plans to build 400 homes for market rent

    28/02/2012

    A council is planning to develop 400 homes for market rent on public land in partnership with a housing association and developer.

  • Report attacks local enterprise partnerships

    28/02/2012

    Local enterprise partnerships lack the scale and scope to foster growth in the north of England, according to a think tank report published today.

  • House builder in £1.9bn shareholder windfall

    28/02/2012

    The UK’s second-largest house builder has become the latest contractor to post improved profits for 2011 amid signs of green shoots in the construction industry.

  • Council scraps building plan after homes row

    28/02/2012

    A Welsh council’s plan for development in its area will be scrapped after a row with the Welsh Assembly Government over the number of new homes needed.

  • We'll need more tanks...

    28/02/2012

    The drought is a symptom of climate change and housing providers need to be planning ahead, writes Colin Wiles.

  • First application submitted for 10,000-home town

    27/02/2012

    A planning application has been submitted for the first phase of the biggest new town to be proposed since Milton Keynes.

  • House builder in profit surge

    27/02/2012

    A house builder has reported a significant rise in turnover and profit for 2011.

  • City welcomes first council homes in a generation

    27/02/2012

    The first new council home to be built for a generation in Edinburgh was handed over last week.

  • Supported housing boost in HCA programme

    27/02/2012

    Nearly one in ten of the homes delivered through the Homes and Communities Agency’s affordable homes programme will be for vulnerable or older people.

  • London borough in promise to keep homes

    24/02/2012

    A London borough has pledged not to sell off any of its council homes as part of a new community investment programme.

  • House builder posts revenue increase

    24/02/2012

    House builder Redrow will not pay a dividend to its shareholders despite an improved financial performance in the second half of 2011.

  • Avoid the levy

    24/02/2012

    Social landlords should be exempt from paying the community infrastructure levy, but they must be vigilant, says Karen Howe

  • Government faces court over demolition plans

    24/02/2012

    A campaign group has issued a legal challenge after the government sanctioned £71 million of public money earmarked for regeneration to be spent demolishing more than 5,000 homes.

  • Now it’s time to take notice

    24/02/2012

    Landlords must ensure they are not caught out by changes to building contract payments, says Kim Teichmann, associate at Thomas Eggar

  • On the double

    24/02/2012

    The latest government figures show we are building less than half the homes we need

  • Power shift

    24/02/2012

    In May 10 cities will vote on whether they want an elected mayor. Here Rhiannon Bury finds out what’s at stake for housing

  • The big bang theory

    24/02/2012

    As local authorities prepare for the brave new world of self-financing, we gather some council heavyweights for a round table discussion on what the future holds. Gavriel Hollander reports.

  • Kier revenues hit by local authority cut backs

    23/02/2012

    Kier has seen a 22 per cent drop in revenue for its maintenance business, which provides services to local authorities and housing associations.

  • Councillors consider free transfer of land for homes

    23/02/2012

    Durham Council is considering giving land for nearly 40 homes to a housing association free of charge.

  • Report calls for action on neighbourhood plans

    23/02/2012

    The Mayor of London should produce best practice guidance on neighbourhood plans, according to a report published by the London Assembly’s planning and housing committee today.

  • Barratt reports 40.5 per cent surge in profits

    22/02/2012

    House builder Barratt has reported a 40.5 per cent increase in profit for the six months to 31 December 2011.

  • Private rented sector review head seeks evidence

    22/02/2012

    The head of a government review of barriers to large-scale investment in the private rented sector has issued a call for evidence.

  • Housing surge boosts construction firm's profits

    22/02/2012

    An increase in house building helped a construction company post soaring profits for the first half of the year.

  • HMR transition fund to be spent on demolition

    21/02/2012

    Councils are spending around 98 per cent of funding designed to ease the end of the housing market renewal programme demolishing homes.

  • Healey admits central build targets were a failure

    21/02/2012

    Former housing minister John Healey has admitted the approach of the last Labour government to building more homes through central targets was a failure and that the party ‘turned over’ too many housing ministers.

  • Lovell profits boosted by Connaught contracts

    21/02/2012

    Lovell has reported a significant increase in profits, which it says has been driven by the transfer of contracts formerly held by stricken rival Connaught.

  • Council approves 2,000 home development

    21/02/2012

    Plans for a development of nearly 2,000 new homes have been approved by a London Council.

  • Government approves PFI funds for estate overhaul

    20/02/2012

    The regeneration of a London council estate is to go ahead after the government agreed £150 million of private finance initiative funding.

  • The National Trust responds...

    20/02/2012

    The National Trust has responded to the claim that it is “clueless” about housing issues, writes Colin Wiles.

  • Scottish builders lose confidence as work declines

    20/02/2012

    Confidence in the Scottish building industry has dropped in the last quarter, according to a survey of 700 construction firms.

  • Ratings cut looms as Moody’s downgrades outlook

    17/02/2012

    Moody’s has downgraded the outlook for creditworthiness of housing associations with credit ratings.

  • A joint enterprise

    17/02/2012

    Local enterprise partnerships are setting the agenda on economic priorities, so why do they have so few housing representatives? Rhiannon Bury visits an LEP in the north east to investigate the vital role landlords can play.

  • Building a better future

    17/02/2012

    The government is making housing the cornerstone of economic recovery, says Grant Shapps

  • Erimus enters £5.6m building venture

    17/02/2012

    A housing association and council are launching an innovative joint venture company to regenerate an area of Middlesbrough abandoned by developers hit by the recession.

  • Liverpool opts for mayor to boost city's housing

    17/02/2012

    The leader of Liverpool Council has pledged to replace and refurbish homes that lost out after the government axed market renewal funding, as he launched his bid to become the city’s mayor.

  • Model village

    17/02/2012

    It’s been more than a decade in the making, but eventually Derwenthorpe will be a great example of an energy-efficient community. Jess McCabe finds out why it’s taken so long to build

  • Swan to bypass housing regulator

    17/02/2012

    Swan Housing Group is to set up a new non-registered company to avoid regulation and boost its profit-making activities to deliver its affordable homes programme.

  • New figures show housing starts are down

    16/02/2012

    Housing starts have fallen by 4.4 per cent, government data published today shows.

  • Council considering legal challenge against HS2

    16/02/2012

    Camden Council will launch a legal challenge if plans for a high speed rail line between London and the midlands go-ahead.

  • £45m regeneration scheme revealed

    16/02/2012

    A £45 million regeneration scheme which boasts plans for 201 new homes is to be put forward for council approval.

  • House building chief to stand down

    15/02/2012

    The chief executive of the National House Building Council is to step down at the end of February.

  • Crying wolf in the countryside

    15/02/2012

    The National Trust and the CPRE are all over the place in their campaign against planning reform, says Colin Wiles.

  • HCA allocates £5m in latest affordable rent deals

    15/02/2012

    Affordable rent contracts worth more than £5 million have been signed by three organisations to build 249 new homes.

  • Council leader frustrated by design bodies

    15/02/2012

    The leader of a council has hit out at ‘arrogant’ design bodies which he believes are hindering a £5.5 billion regeneration scheme.

  • Spurs given green light to drop affordable homes

    14/02/2012

    A council has agreed £400 million regeneration plans which allow a Premier League football club to build a new stadium but drop provision for affordable homes.

  • Pickles decides not to fight planning claim

    13/02/2012

    Communities secretary Eric Pickles will not fight the claim that he acted unlawfully when turning down planning permission for 2,000 new homes.

  • Latest stage of £250m regeneration agreed

    13/02/2012

    The latest phase of a £250 million regeneration scheme which will provide 206 new homes has been given the go-ahead.

  • Council backs stalled housing with cash

    13/02/2012

    A council is pumping £770,000 into a series of stalled developments which can now deliver more than 200 new homes and 380 jobs.

  • Regulations hamper construction carbon targets

    13/02/2012

    The building industry’s prospects on delivering carbon reduction targets and remaining competitive are hampered by a lack of clarity in regulations, according to a new report.

  • Public housing boosts annual construction output

    10/02/2012

    Public housing construction output was at its highest level in 2011 since 1980, according to the latest figures.

  • HCA to re-tender 23,000-home framework

    10/02/2012

    The Homes and Communities Agency is planning to re-tender a framework which procured 23,000 homes in the last two years.

  • À la John Lewis

    10/02/2012

    Housing associations can learn from the retailer’s ability to communicate effectively

  • Report says crime can be 'designed out' of housing

    09/02/2012

    New research claims that the design of new homes and estates could help cut crime levels.

  • Regeneration of Olympics handed to new body

    09/02/2012

    Boris Johnson has announced the creation of a mayoral development corporation that will be responsible for the regeneration legacy of the 2012 Olympics in London.

  • Greenhalgh and Randall to lead red tape cull

    09/02/2012

    A highly controversial council boss and a leading solicitor have been appointed to spearhead a government initiative to combat bureaucracy in housing.

  • £40m committed to Welsh housing and regen

    09/02/2012

    The Welsh Government has renewed its commitment to funding capital projects in Wales by allocating more than £40 million to housing and regeneration.

  • Scottish housing gets £87m boost

    08/02/2012

    The Scottish Government has pledged to provide an extra £87 million for housing over the next four years.

  • MP seeks slice of £9bn EU regeneration fund

    08/02/2012

    Social landlords should pressure the government to spend some of the annual £9 billion which is allocated to European Union projects on regeneration in the UK instead.

  • Scottish government urged to rethink housing cuts

    08/02/2012

    The Scottish Government will debate spending plans for 2012/13 in Holyrood today.

  • Builder sought for 470 home regeneration scheme

    08/02/2012

    A developer is being sought for a 470 home scheme which forms part of a £1.5 billion regeneration project.

  • Spurs in bid to drop affordable housing quota

    07/02/2012

    A Premier League football team which is hoping to build a new stadium and redevelop surrounding areas could be allowed to drop all affordable housing from the scheme.

  • Residents create artworks for £10m redevelopment

    07/02/2012

    A housing association has decorated the hoardings around a proposed development with art created by residents while it waits for a planning decision.

  • Builders appointed to £500m housing framework

    07/02/2012

    Builders have been appointed to a £500million, four-year construction framework involving more than 30 housing associations.

  • Sales and completions boost for house builder

    07/02/2012

    Bellway has reported an increase in sales and a higher proportion of private completions.

  • Landlord agrees £40m deal to help redevelopment

    07/02/2012

    A stock transfer housing association has agreed a £40 million package to help fund 522 new homes in South London.

  • Ringing the changes

    06/02/2012

    Opened last year, Orbit Heart of England’s Sampson Close development in Bell Green is one of the first schemes in the area to meet Passivhaus standards. Here the various partners explain why they are taking this high energy efficiency approach to house building.

  • SFHA calls for release of public land

    06/02/2012

    Public bodies in Scotland should give land to housing associations to help increase the availability of affordable homes, the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations has said.

  • 'The end of social housing' (cont…)

    06/02/2012

    The news that housing associations in the south east will be unable to build larger homes is another step in the slow death of social housing, says Colin Wiles.

  • Union claims right to buy reform is a ‘shoddy scam’

    03/02/2012

    Construction union Ucatt has described the government’s plans to reform right to buy as a ‘shoddy scam’ in its response to a consultation on the proposals.

  • Adactus first to net HCA’s early payment

    03/02/2012

    A northern housing association has become the first to benefit from the Homes and Communities Agency’s pledge to offer early payments for early-start projects under its affordable homes programme.

  • Carbon cut targets slashed for house builders

    03/02/2012

    The government has scaled back carbon reduction targets for house builders that will come into force ahead of the move to ‘zero carbon’ in 2016.

  • Councils angry at regeneration funds claim

    03/02/2012

    Councils have hit back at claims that they misspent government money earmarked for regeneration schemes on major demolition projects.

  • Keep it local

    03/02/2012

    England’s housing minister Grant Shapps has gotten himself into something of a mess.

  • On the merger trail

    03/02/2012

    The trend is growing for bigger housing associations to gobble up smaller landlords by merging. But does bigger always mean better? Carl Brown reports.

  • Right to buy likely to fail says report

    02/02/2012

    The government’s attempt to re-ignite right to buy sales by increasing the discounts available to tenants will fail to deliver the promise of one for one replacements, according to a property analyst.

  • Riot-hit area's regeneration plans to be revealed

    02/02/2012

    Details of a multi-million pound regeneration scheme which promises around 200 new homes in a riot-hit area are expected to be revealed next week.

  • Developer chosen for 700-home project

    02/02/2012

    The Homes and Communities Agency has agreed a deal with a local authority to create around 700 new homes.

  • Non government bodies targeted in land drive

    02/02/2012

    The government is extending the reach of its drive to make land available for house building by targeting organisations outside its direct control.

  • High rents prompt concerns over HRA debt figures

    02/02/2012

    Councils have objected to the rent figures used in the final calculations for the payments they will have to make or receive as part of the move to self financing.

  • HCA identify 18 schemes for development cash

    01/02/2012

    The Homes and Communities Agency has earmarked 18 schemes with plans to deliver 1,300 new homes as the first group to benefit from the £420 million Get Britain Building programme.

  • The president has a problem

    01/02/2012

    The US housing crisis could be an important issue in this Autumn’s presidential election, writes Colin Wiles.

  • Shapps: housing is central to economic recovery

    01/02/2012

    The housing minister has told councils and housing associations that building new homes will be central to improving the country’s economy.

  • £10m boost for affordable housing in Scotland

    31/01/2012

    The Scottish Government has announced an extra £10 million for affordable housing this financial year.

  • Bank predicts house builder recovery

    31/01/2012

    An investment bank has provided a timely boon to the house building market by recommending investors buy shares in leading contractors.

  • Landlord reveals plans for £12m redevelopment

    31/01/2012

    A social landlord has announced plans for a £12 million redevelopment of a housing estate.

  • Government ahead of schedule for releasing land

    31/01/2012

    Housing minister Grant Shapps has told MPs that the government is ahead of schedule in its plans to release public land to build 100,000 new homes.

  • Affordable homes development falling in London

    30/01/2012

    The Olympics is boosting house building in London but development of affordable housing has reduced, according to consultancy Drivers Jonas Deloitte.

  • Strong interest reported for landlord's £88m JV

    27/01/2012

    A landlord has reported strong interest from potential partners to create an £88 million joint venture company.

  • Bigger is not always better, report reveals

    27/01/2012

    Larger developing housing associations perform worse in housing management than their smaller peers, a new report from the Chartered Institute of Housing, seen exclusively by Inside Housing, claims.

  • Councils bite into new homes bonus

    27/01/2012

    More than 70 per cent of councils in England have not spent their share of £200 million new homes bonus cash on rewarding their communities.

  • Failing to cash in

    27/01/2012

    Our investigation into how more than 300 English councils are using £200 million of new homes bonus makes for sobering reading.

  • Forward thinking

    27/01/2012

    This year’s UK Housing Review by the Chartered Institute of Housing takes a look at how coalition government policies are affecting housing trends. Here, Hal Pawson, Steve Wilcox and John Perry give the lowdown on the report

  • Manchester to build 250 homes

    27/01/2012

    Manchester Council will use a £25 million pension fund investment to develop nearly 250 new private rented homes.

  • Righting wrongs

    27/01/2012

    It is vital that new build homes are fit for purpose, says Roger Graef

  • Whose bonus is it anyway?

    27/01/2012

    Councils in England received £200 million in new homes bonuses last year but an Inside Housing survey reveals less than a quarter will plough the money back into housing. So where is the cash being spent and are communities having their say? Rhiannon Bury investigates.

  • German Lessons

    26/01/2012

    The UK has a lot to learn from the German housing and planning system, says Colin Wiles.

  • Scottish Government urged to rethink housing cuts

    25/01/2012

    Housing bodies are calling on the Scottish Government to use extra funds to build more affordable housing as politicians debate the Scottish Budget Bill in parliament today.

  • Community groups to bid for empty homes cash

    24/01/2012

    Community groups will be allowed to bid for money to refurbish empty homes on government and public land, the communities minister said today.

  • Council rejects 116-home plan over affordable units

    24/01/2012

    A council has thrown out plans to redevelop a former factory into 116 new homes as the application did not provide enough affordable housing.

  • Minister to reveal empty homes fund

    24/01/2012

    A government minister is expected to announce a fund for communities to bring empty homes back into use today.

  • Charity calls for council to target empty homes

    23/01/2012

    A housing charity has welcomed plans by a council to build 1,000 new homes but has also pressed for empty homes in the area to be brought back into use.

  • Report says councils 'key' to solving housing crisis

    23/01/2012

    Councils hold the key to helping to solve the housing crisis, according to a report published today.

  • Select committee #fail

    23/01/2012

    The Local Government Select Committee is guilty of a gross failure to understand the links between a dysfunctional planning system and economic failure, writes Colin Wiles.

  • £77m deal signed for 350 homes

    20/01/2012

    A £77m Private Finance Initiative contract for 350 homes has been signed in West Wiltshire following government approval.

  • Coalition slammed over rejection of social rent

    20/01/2012

    The government has come under fire for rejecting social rent in favour of affordable homes.

  • Housing project saved by council intervention

    20/01/2012

    A social housing project delivering 56 affordable homes has been saved following intervention by a local authority.

  • Olympic homes to be split between seven boroughs

    20/01/2012

    Seven London boroughs will be able to nominate social tenants for housing in the athletes’ village following the Olympic Games.

  • Home is where the heart is

    20/01/2012

    Why social landlords should get involved in local enterprise partnerships.

  • Stock transfer councils in plea over RTB receipts

    20/01/2012

    Councils are calling for the government to adapt the new right to buy policy, amid fears authorities that have transferred properties to housing associations will be unable to pay for replacement homes.

  • The green building dream

    20/01/2012

    Back in 2007 David Cameron had just started his march to power, Lady Gaga was finishing off her breakthrough album and, in the housing world, eco-towns were the next big thing.

  • Landlord submits revised plans for 3,600 homes

    19/01/2012

    A housing association has teamed up with a private property developer to provide 1,200 affordable homes as part of a £1 billion rail and road development in Chelmsford.

  • Landlord signs £100m agreement for 500 homes

    19/01/2012

    A landlord and its development partner have signed a £100 million agreement with a council to build 500 new homes.

  • Scottish construction output falls again

    18/01/2012

    The construction industry in Scotland suffered a hit when it was revealed today that output has fallen for the fourth quarter in a row.

  • Housing co-op planning to tackle empty homes

    18/01/2012

    A housing co-operative is looking to remedy the problem of empty houses in its area by transforming unused buildings into affordable housing.

  • Stalled homes get underway after mayor intervenes

    18/01/2012

    A scheme to build 1,350 homes on Homes and Communities Agency land in east London is to go ahead after a deal was agreed between the various partners.

  • Group secures 100% of affordable rent bid

    18/01/2012

    A housing association has been awarded £10.7 million from the Homes and Communities Agency under the affordable homes programme.

  • Presidential hopeful dismisses allocation plans

    17/01/2012

    Plans to overhaul housing allocations are like ‘rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic’ according to one of the candidates for the role of Chartered Institute of Housing vice president.

  • Traveller site provision hit by lack of assessment

    17/01/2012

    The scrapping of regional assessments of housing need has worsened conditions for Travellers, an academic has claimed.

  • Taylor Wimpey forecasts 75% surge in profit

    17/01/2012

    Taylor Wimpey is expecting to report a 75 per cent increase in operating profit next month.

  • Small is not beautiful

    17/01/2012

    We are building the smallest homes in Western Europe. This should be a cause for national soul searching and debate, says Colin Wiles.

  • Bovis social housing completions up by a third

    16/01/2012

    A leading house builder has announced a sharp increase in social housing completions for 2011.

  • Figures show construction falling year-on-year

    13/01/2012

    Construction output flatlined in November and has fallen year-on-year, bleak figures published today reveal.

  • Plans for 1,800 homes move closer

    13/01/2012

    The first stage of the North East’s biggest housing re-development has been given the go ahead, paving the way for 1,800 homes to be built in Newcastle.

  • Tenants asked for views on estate demolition

    13/01/2012

    Hammersmith & Fulham Council has launched a consultation on controversial plans to demolish two housing estates.

  • Crossing the line

    13/01/2012

    The government should be putting its money into homes, not high-speed vanity projects, argues Stuart Macdonald

  • Fears councils will block community powers

    13/01/2012

    Communities could be barred from using new planning powers for years by local authorities that do not support government planning reforms.

  • MP urges Camden to fight high-speed rail project

    13/01/2012

    A former cabinet minister has pressed a London council to take action after the government unveiled plans this week to bulldoze hundreds of social homes to make way for a £33 billion rail project.

  • Rent cap hampers affordable homes scheme

    13/01/2012

    A major private landlord has criticised the Homes and Communities Agency after a council capped the amount the landlord could charge tenants on a new scheme being developed under the affordable homes programme.

  • SALE! (while stocks last)

    13/01/2012

    The government hopes a renewed push on the right to buy will trigger a building boom. Gavriel Hollander examines the latest proposals and asks whether they can deliver

  • Developers invited to give views on red tape

    12/01/2012

    Social housing developers are being invited to tell the government what regulatory and administrative burdens they would like to see axed.

  • Places for People launches second UK retail bond

    12/01/2012

    Places for People is tapping up retail investors on the bond market for the second time in seven months to help fund its capital expenditure programme.

  • Builders undeterred by £420m fund restrictions

    12/01/2012

    The Homes and Communities Agency has said developers of all sizes are interested in the Get Britain building scheme, despite concerns it would favour smaller groups.

  • Affordable homes cash hits £1.6 billion

    12/01/2012

    Two of the UK’s biggest house builders became the latest organisations to sign contracts under the Homes and Communities Agency’s affordable homes programme.

  • Barratt profits rise 40 per cent as margins improve

    12/01/2012

    House builder Barratt has reported a 40 per cent increase in profits for the six months to 31 December 2011 compared with the equivalent period of 2010.

  • Housing market renewal areas 'need public cash'

    12/01/2012

    More public investment is needed in former housing market renewal areas before private finance will return, according to a report published today (Thursday).

  • Ready for lift off

    11/01/2012

    House builders must be ready to react if government initiatives deliver a boost to the sector, says property expert Rebecca Kibby

  • Plans for 1,700-home regeneration submitted

    11/01/2012

    Plans for a 1,700-home regeneration scheme have been submitted to an east London council.

  • Record housing completions for house builder

    11/01/2012

    A house builder has revealed that it has delivered a record number of housing completions and that it is on track to meet expectations for the financial year.

  • Rail link puts hundreds of homes at risk

    10/01/2012

    Hundreds of homes face demolition after a high speed rail link between London and Birmingham was given the green light by the government.

  • Travellers' tales

    09/01/2012

    Housing associations and local authorities will need to stand firm against local opposition to new Gypsy and Traveller site provision, says Colin Wiles.

  • House builder expects 50% rise in profits

    09/01/2012

    Leading house builder Persimmon has said it is expecting its annual results next month to reveal an increase in pre-tax profit of 50 per cent.

  • Efficiency concerns prompt calls for testing

    09/01/2012

    A housing body is calling for post-construction checks of the energy efficiency of new homes after tests showed designed levels are not being achieved.

  • Affordable housing registrations falter

    09/01/2012

    The number of registrations for new affordable housing fell in 2011, according to figures published today by the National House Building Council.

  • Councils fear RTB won’t deliver homes

    06/01/2012

    Fears are growing among local authorities that government plans to increase right to buy discounts will fail to deliver replacement homes.

  • Rent control

    06/01/2012

    The government must reduce the emphasis on homeownership and make renting a more attractive option, says Jon Cruddas

  • Shout it from the rooftops

    06/01/2012

    Further planning rules under the Localism Act could increase the need to consult residents, says Ben Halsey, senior associate at Lewis Silkin

  • The end of the world as we know it?

    06/01/2012

    How will the social housing sector fare in 2012? Jess McCabe gathers a round table of industry experts to get their predictions.

  • Charity issues neighbourhood planning warning

    05/01/2012

    Lack of clarity and resources could be a major hurdle to the success of neighbourhood planning, the National Trust has warned.

  • L&Q amends dog track plans following concerns

    04/01/2012

    London and Quadrant has revised its plans for a housing development on a former iconic dog track.

  • Body predicts 5,000 drop in housing starts

    03/01/2012

    A leading construction body is predicting a drop of 5,000 housing starts for 2012 compared to last year.

  • Welsh Govt to raise standards of new homes

    03/01/2012

    The Welsh Government has pledged to raise the energy performance standards in new homes after taking over responsibility for building regulations.

  • First-time buyer numbers hit record low

    29/12/2011

    The number of first-time buyers has hit a record low despite improvements in affordability, according to the Halifax.

  • Reform needed to tackle house building stagnation

    28/12/2011

    A leading think tank has said the government must demand more of developers and warned of ‘stagnation’ in the UK’s house building sector.

  • 10,800-home regeneration scheme a step closer

    23/12/2011

    The first homes in a 10,800-home regeneration schemes have been completed.

  • RTB might not deliver one-for-one replacement

    22/12/2011

    The government will not be able to deliver on its promise to provide a replacement affordable rent home for every sale under the right to buy without additional subsidy, it has been claimed.

  • Details of £420m development fund revealed

    22/12/2011

    The Homes and Communities Agency will seek to recover all investments made as part of its £420 million scheme to kickstart stalled housing projects by 2018.

  • Council agrees PFI housing deal

    21/12/2011

    A northern council has taken a step nearer providing 466 affordable rent homes through a private finance initiative project after reaching financial close on the deal.

  • Another fine mess

    21/12/2011

    Should we now write off any prospect of a solution to the new homes crisis for the rest of this parliament?

  • Planners back MPs' attack on NPPF

    21/12/2011

    Planners have welcomed a report by a committee of MPs which criticised the government’s plans to shake up the planning system.

  • MPs attack government planning reforms

    21/12/2011

    A committee of MPs has slated government plans to simplify the planning system, saying it is inconsistent and unclear.

  • Housing planning permissions down 10 per cent

    20/12/2011

    The number of planning permissions for new homes has fallen by almost 10 per cent compared to last year, new figures show.

  • New homes 'could save councils £56 million'

    20/12/2011

    Building 9,500 new homes for London would save councils £56 million, a think tank has claimed.

  • Warning issued over 'vexatious' village greens

    19/12/2011

    Campaigners exploiting planning rules by claiming beach huts and car parks are village greens to halt developments are costing taxpayers millions of pounds, council leaders have warned.

  • Social housing starts fall by a third

    19/12/2011

    The development of social housing has fallen by more than a third in the three months to November, according to a new report.

  • Rural housing 'can help' affordable targets

    19/12/2011

    The Scottish Government is being asked to consider rural housing initiatives to meet its affordable homes target.

  • Shortlist for Olympic Park homes development

    19/12/2011

    Six developers have been shortlisted to build the first new homes on the Olympic Park.

  • Work starts on £70m development

    19/12/2011

    Construction work has begun on a £70 million mixed-use development in south London.

  • Shortlist announced for London development

    16/12/2011

    Eight developers will fight it out to win the bid for the 35-acre regeneration of the Royal Albert Dock in east London.

  • Landlord secures £25m for affordable homes

    16/12/2011

    A housing association has been given £25 million of public money to build more than a thousand affordable homes.

  • Sale of homes in mixed tenure sites 'subdued'

    16/12/2011

    Constraints on mortgage availability are hitting the sale of homes in mixed tenure sites, a contractor has announced.

  • Birmingham wins £92m HRA debt cut

    16/12/2011

    When the Communities and Local Government department issued its latest indicative settlements as part of the review of the housing revenue account system, Birmingham was one of the clear winners.

  • Developer in rethink on Earl’s Court revamp

    16/12/2011

    A developer has pledged to change its plans for a controversial 5,759-home regeneration scheme after the Greater London Authority warned it would breach 44 policies in the London plan.

  • IDS called on CLG to solve dog track row

    16/12/2011

    The secretary of state for work and pensions called on Eric Pickles to launch an investigation into London & Quadrant’s plans to build on an iconic former dog track, Inside Housing can reveal.

  • PfP Tyneside revamp plans

    16/12/2011

    Places for People has unveiled a £140 million proposal to regenerate a major Tyneside shipbuilding site.

  • Review of the year

    16/12/2011

    What a year. From the economic doom and gloom to the summer’s riots, social landlords have had their work cut out over the past 12 months. Here, Inside Housing looks back at the highs and lows

  • Scare tactics

    16/12/2011

    Landlords must take statutory demands seriously but they are often inappropriately used, says Anna-Liisa Walden

  • Stoke invites bids for £108m PFI scheme

    16/12/2011

    Bidders for one of the last social housing schemes to be delivered through the controversial private finance initiative are expected to submit their proposals next week.

  • Stuck in the mud

    16/12/2011

    Despite the Localism Act being passed, the role LEPs can play in housing remains uncertain, says Liz Jenkins, partner, and Laura Coates, trainee, at Clyde & Co

  • Councils urged to be new force in house building

    15/12/2011

    Councils have been challenged to take advantage of their increased independence through self-financing reform by investing in the building of new homes.

  • £400 million development plans revealed

    15/12/2011

    Affordable housing units and a homeless hostel form part of the plans for a £400 million development in the heart of London.

  • Changes to London Housing Strategy revealed

    14/12/2011

    The Mayor of London has cut the number of core aims in his housing strategy from five to two and is pledging to promote the use of powers to criminalise squatting to free up empty homes.

  • Contractor planning continued used of PV schemes

    14/12/2011

    A contractor has pledged to continue working with housing providers in the solar photovoltaic market despite cuts to the feed-in-tariff.

  • Report backs plans for Walthamstow dog track

    14/12/2011

    There is no evidence to suggest that a new greyhound racing facility is needed on the site of a former iconic dog track, a planning inspector has concluded.

  • The answer to empty homes

    13/12/2011

    The right approach can turn empty homes from a blight into an opportunity, says Will Nixon

  • High street regeneration 'should include homes'

    13/12/2011

    Plans to revitalise Britain’s high streets should include housing, according to retail expert Mary Portas.

  • Seize the moment

    13/12/2011

    The reform of the housing revenue account could be a missed opportunity if councils aren’t given more freedom, argues Alex Thomson

  • Making the case for housing

    13/12/2011

    Establishing the wider benefits of good housing is critical to meeting the challenges faced by the sector, says David Williams

  • Scots unveil £175 million regeneration programme

    13/12/2011

    The Scottish Government has launched a £175 million programme to support regeneration in disadvantaged communities.

  • Controversial council leader to stand down

    12/12/2011

    One of the most influential and controversial housing policy figures in local government is to stand down.

  • Council gives green light for thousands of homes

    12/12/2011

    Portsmouth is in line for a billion pounds worth of investment in regeneration projects, bringing 16,000 new jobs and 5,000 new homes.

  • £42m HCA affordable homes contracts signed

    12/12/2011

    Three more housing associations have signed contracts under the affordable homes programme worth a total of £42.2 million.

  • Regen proposals 'breach London Plan'

    09/12/2011

    A 5,579-home regeneration scheme which includes controversial plans to knock down two housing estates does not comply with the London Plan, the Greater London Authority has said.

  • Timely reminder

    09/12/2011

    The statistics released in the National Housing Federation’s Home Truths report this week warning of an ‘impending housing crisis’ are a timely reminder.

  • Housing market ‘resilient’ despite economic fears

    09/12/2011

    House builder Bellway has reported the market is proving ‘remarkably resilient’ to problems in the wider economy.

  • £1bn pledge for Scottish housing

    09/12/2011

    The Scottish Government has published its updated infrastructure plan, promising a £60 billion mix of public and private investment and borrowing before the end of parliament.

  • £400m building fund mainly a loan

    09/12/2011

    The government’s £400 million fund to unlock a wave of English house building projects is unlikely to include a significant amount of grant money, it has emerged.

  • HCA housing plea to LEPs

    09/12/2011

    The chief executive of the Homes and Communities Agency has written to community business leaders in a bid to prevent housing from being excluded from multi-million pound plans for economic growth.

  • Landlords rush forward affordable homes projects

    09/12/2011

    Nearly three quarters of landlords with the biggest grant allocations under the Homes and Communities Agency’s affordable homes programme plan to bring development forward to take advantage of an early payment incentive.

  • Councillors doubt HRA reform will boost building

    08/12/2011

    Local authority leaders have questioned whether the dismantling of the housing revenue account subsidy system will allow councils to start building large numbers of homes.

  • Groups call on government to fund more homes

    08/12/2011

    Six major organisations representing the Scottish housing and construction sectors have called on the Scottish Government to use extra funds to build new affordable housing.

  • Council expected to top new homes bonus list

    08/12/2011

    Tower Hamlets Council looks set to top the list of local authorities receiving a government housebuilding incentive scheme for the second year.

  • Builder claims mortgage indemnity scheme first

    08/12/2011

    The house building arm of Galliford Try has claimed the first offering of finance backed by the government’s mortgage indemnity scheme.

  • Major housing crisis 'heading for Midlands'

    07/12/2011

    The housing market in the Midlands is ‘heading for a major crisis’, the latest figures show.

  • Council called on to ditch 1,000-home plan

    07/12/2011

    Campaigners have called on a council to reconsider a decision to sell land to developers planning to build 1,000 homes.

  • Social housing 'most needed' tenancy in Britain

    07/12/2011

    More people across Britain believe that there is a greater need to develop social housing than homes for sale or private rent.

  • £60m redevelopment of 200 homes

    07/12/2011

    Architects practice Conran and Partners has won a competition to design a site for more than 200 new homes in Lambeth in south London.

  • Olympic neighbourhood revealed

    06/12/2011

    A new neighbourhood of almost 3,000 new homes which will grace the Olympic Park in 2013 has been revealed.

  • Asking the questions

    06/12/2011

    Housing was under scrutiny in the House of Commons and on prime time TV yesterday and the comparison did not flatter the mother of parliaments.

  • Shapps defends end of stamp duty holiday

    06/12/2011

    Housing minister Grant Shapps has defended the government’s decision to end the stamp duty holiday.

  • Watchdog to probe housing statistics

    05/12/2011

    An independent government watchdog will write to senior ministers at the Communities and Local Government department after concerns were raised over recent government housing statistics.

  • House builder wins £17m for affordable rent homes

    05/12/2011

    The first major house builder has signed its contract with the Homes and Communities Agency as part of the affordable homes programme.

  • Delayed reactions

    02/12/2011

    Market traders appear to have been the only people surprised by the chancellor’s autumn statement, says Gav Hollander

  • Planning framework could face legal challenges

    02/12/2011

    The wording of new planning guidelines could spark legal challenges over the meaning of key terms, senior housing figures have warned.

  • Local authorities share £430m building bonus

    02/12/2011

    Councils will receive £430 million of incentive payments for allowing the development of homes in the second year of the new homes bonus scheme.

  • A heavy blow

    02/12/2011

    The Treasury and the Office for Budget Responsibility published 396 pages on the UK economy this week.

  • Building a better future

    02/12/2011

    The housing strategy provides the basis for a successful, stable and fair housing market for years to come, says Grant Shapps

  • Council to bring 3,000 empty homes back into use

    02/12/2011

    A Yorkshire council is planning to use its new homes bonus to bring as many as 3,000 empty homes back into use.

  • Councils broach mortgage market

    02/12/2011

    A growing number of councils are looking to become mortgage lenders in a bid to enable first-time buyers to get on the property ladder.

  • Endangered species

    02/12/2011

    Just a single affordable home was started in the east of England in the first six months of the financial year - Rhiannon Bury tracks down the region’s sole success.

  • Getting stuck in

    02/12/2011

    The Localism Act successfully completed its passage through parliament last month, putting residents at the heart of local decision making. So how will it affect the way landlords do business? Rhiannon Bury attends a round table of experts to find out

  • Council agrees £113 million PFI deal

    01/12/2011

    One of the last remaining social housing schemes to be funded by the private finance initiatives has moved a step nearer after Oldham Council signed a £113 million deal.

  • Leaders warn of worsening social housing crisis

    01/12/2011

    Social housing leaders believe the sector is in crisis and the situation is likely to get worse.

  • Expert warns new homes breach fire standards

    30/11/2011

    A leading expert on fire safety in social housing has questioned whether new build properties are meeting sufficiently high standards.

  • Scots see surge in affordable housing starts

    30/11/2011

    Affordable housing starts in Scotland were up 24 per cent in the third quarter of 2011, despite the fact that starts overall were down.

  • Private house builders agree affordable rent deals

    30/11/2011

    Two private sector developers were among the 10 providers to sign contracts with the Homes and Communities Agency last week as part of its affordable homes programme.

  • Home help

    29/11/2011

    With more and more providers announcing their Homes and Communities Agency housing contracts each week, it’s been interesting to hear where the money’s going.

  • Borrowing forecasts rise as economy falters

    29/11/2011

    Chancellor George Osborne has increased UK government borrowing forecasts and reduced growth predictions in his autumn statement today.

  • Chancellor ‘ignored’ housing in autumn statement

    29/11/2011

    The National Housing Federation has attacked the chancellor for ignoring the housing sector in his new infrastructure investment plan.

  • Home Group sets out plans to build 4,000 homes

    29/11/2011

    One of the country’s biggest housing providers has set out plans to build 4,000 homes over the next four years, part funded by government money.

  • Nationwide figures buck house price trend

    29/11/2011

    House prices increased slightly this month, according to figures published today by Nationwide.

  • Campaigners secure £18m for Welsh homes

    28/11/2011

    The Welsh Government will spend an extra £18 million on housing after sector representatives successfully campaigned for greater investment.

  • Exeter plans to develop 12,000 homes

    28/11/2011

    Exeter City Council has been given the green light for its 12,000-home development strategy.

  • Back to the land?

    28/11/2011

    The government should look to the 1930s for innovative ways to encourage self build, says Colin Wiles

  • Housing to gain from £30bn infrastructure fund

    28/11/2011

    The social housing sector could be in line to benefit from a multi-billion pound government deal to encourage pension funds to invest in infrastructure projects.

  • Hometrack finds house prices continue to fall

    28/11/2011

    The steady decline of house prices shows no sign of abating, according to the latest survey of the market.

  • Shapps defends timing of housing strategy

    28/11/2011

    The housing minister has defended the timing of the housing strategy, which was released the day before disastrous house building figures.

  • Paying your way

    25/11/2011

    Another week, another major government announcement looms into view.

  • Welsh landlords asked to raise building goals

    25/11/2011

    The Welsh housing minister has asked registered providers to increase their targets for house building to help alleviate shortages in Wales.

  • Canada Life steps into loan vacuum

    25/11/2011

    A major institutional investor has pledged to step into the vacuum created by the end of long-term bank lending to the social housing sector.

  • Filling the void

    25/11/2011

    The housing strategy sets out firm plans to bring empty homes back into use

  • Genesis eyes deals to manage 1,500 private homes

    25/11/2011

    Genesis Housing Group is finalising deals which could see it managing more than 1,500 private rented homes within months.

  • Low private rents stifling housing supply

    25/11/2011

    A report on the state of the private rented sector has warned that current low returns for landlords are restricting the supply of housing.

  • Planning blow risks 16,000 affordable homes

    25/11/2011

    Councils could be forced to sacrifice 16,000 affordable homes after the government said they should ‘reconsider’ existing planning deals.

  • Public registrations take a dip

    25/11/2011

    There has been a sharp fall in public sector house building over the past two months, according to the latest registration figures.

  • Sector leaders warn of house building crisis

    25/11/2011

    Figures on affordable housing starts published this week have been described as a ‘disaster’ and ‘alarmingly low’ by social landlords.

  • Something borrowed

    25/11/2011

    The coalition’s underwriting of mortgages echoes similar measures in Scotland, says David Bookbinder

  • Strategic move

    25/11/2011

    Affordable housing figures reveal the scale of the challenge the housing strategy must address, says Stuart Macdonald

  • ‘Ghost streets’ handed £35.5m regeneration fund

    24/11/2011

    Thirteen of the most run down areas of England have been chosen to receive £35.5 million of regeneration funding.

  • Housing strategy dismissed as ‘nonsense’

    24/11/2011

    A high-profile directly-elected mayor has dismissed the coalition government’s housing strategy as ‘nonsense’ .

  • Welsh associations increase investment in homes

    24/11/2011

    Welsh housing associations have increased their investment over the last year by more than 15 per cent, according to a study commissioned by Community Housing Cymru.

  • Empty strategy

    23/11/2011

    The government’s housing strategy for England was released on Monday with much fanfare.

  • Developers backtrack on affordable homes pledges

    23/11/2011

    Private developers are tearing up agreed planning applications to submit new ones with lower affordable homes quotas in a bid to take advantage of a council policy.

  • Councils 'must' show build plans to keep RTB cash

    23/11/2011

    Local authorities have been warned that they must show the government they can build the necessary replacement housing themselves if they want to retain receipts from improved right to buy sales.

  • Extra £15m pledged to Welsh housing

    23/11/2011

    The Welsh Government has committed an extra £15 million to housing through its infrastructure investment plan.

  • Report calls for development on green belt

    23/11/2011

    Councils should be allowed to build homes on green belt land if the local community is in favour, a report has said.

  • The difference a day makes

    23/11/2011

    When Grant Shapps and David Cameron told us on Monday that ‘builders aren’t building’ I hadn’t realised that they meant it quite so literally.

  • What’s in a name?

    22/11/2011

    The housing strategy for England has finally arrived, but what does it mean for the sector?

  • Affordable housing starts down 97 per cent

    22/11/2011

    Affordable housing starts in the six months to September 2011 have fallen by 97 per cent when compared to the same period last year, according to the latest government figures.

  • Video: Tower block demolished

    22/11/2011

    A tower block which was an ever-present part of the Motherwell skyline for more than 40 years was turned to dust in just five seconds.

  • Dromey fears strategy will hurt housing sector

    22/11/2011

    The government’s plans to rejuvenate the housing sector have been attacked by a shadow minister who said they were modest measures which would cause more hurt than help.

  • Councils face compulsory early section 106 reviews

    22/11/2011

    Councils could be forced to review section 106 agreements on stalled sites after just two years, under government plans.

  • CLG reveals details of mortgage indemnity scheme

    22/11/2011

    The government has released more detail on its new build mortgage indemnity scheme hours after announcing the policy.

  • Housing bodies issue warnings over strategy

    22/11/2011

    Senior housing bodies have issued warnings over the impact of the government’s housing strategy, which was released on Monday.

  • Self builders to benefit from £30m investment

    22/11/2011

    The government is putting £30 million into encouraging people to build their own homes to drive the development of 100,000 homes over the next decade.

  • MPs told of build-to-let 'solution' to housing crisis

    22/11/2011

    The only solution to the UK’s housing crisis is to encourage institutional investors into the market, a group of MPs was told yesterday.

  • Council views sought on £29bn debt hand out

    22/11/2011

    The government has launched a consultation with councils ahead of the introduction of controversial self-financing reforms.

  • Landlord wants right to buy extended to RSLs

    21/11/2011

    A housing association has called on the government to extend right-to-buy to registered providers in the wake of the release of the housing strategy.

  • Two cheers for the strategy

    21/11/2011

    The government’s housing strategy gets a lukewarm reception from Colin Wiles

  • Can they fix it?

    21/11/2011

    It must be trebles all round in the boardrooms of the major housebuilders as they celebrate the details of today’s housing strategy. Where does that leave the rest of us?

  • Further £50 million to address empty homes

    21/11/2011

    The government has announced an extra £50 million of funding for empty homes in areas where it is a particular problem.

  • Review to examine bars to institutional investment

    21/11/2011

    The government will launch an independent review into investment in the private rented sector as it seeks to spark institutional investment.

  • Housing strategy receives mixed reaction

    21/11/2011

    Reaction to the government’s housing strategy has been mixed with some welcoming it while others have attacked it as being ‘far from radical’.

  • Cash for communities that approve development

    21/11/2011

    Communities which accept house building will be held up as an example of government plans for localised development, according to the housing strategy.

  • Cameron unveils ‘radical’ plan to revitalise housing

    21/11/2011

    Prime minister David Cameron has unveiled the government’s long awaited housing strategy pledging to unlock the housing market and ‘get Britain building again’.

  • Housing strategy to be backed by £400m fund

    21/11/2011

    David Cameron and Nick Clegg will today unveil a £400 million fund to kickstart development schemes which have stalled due to lack of finance.

  • HCA affordable homes contracts top £1 billion

    18/11/2011

    Contracts worth a total of £1.21 billion have now been signed under the affordable homes programme, the Homes and Communities Agency has announced.

  • Private perspective

    18/11/2011

    Delays in signing affordable rent contracts aren’t just hurting social landlords, argues Chris Moquet

  • HCA signs £100m funding contracts

    18/11/2011

    Two of the country’s largest housing associations have signed contracts worth nearly £100 million as part of the Homes and Communities Agency’s affordable homes programme.

  • Landlords await their fate ahead of strategy

    18/11/2011

    Prime minister David Cameron is expected to announce new funding and plans to build up to 450,000 new homes in the government’s long-awaited housing strategy.

  • Landlords plan £500m bond deals

    18/11/2011

    Some of the largest developing housing associations will try to raise more than half a billion pounds on the bond markets in the coming months.

  • Landlords’ non-grant development delayed

    18/11/2011

    Landlords have been left frustrated by the Homes and Communities Agency’s delay in publishing details of a scheme that allows them to develop properties under the affordable homes programme without grant funding.

  • Shining stars

    18/11/2011

    We reveal details of the winners of the 2011 UK Housing Awards

  • Who will build them?

    18/11/2011

    As the government prepares to commit to a 450,000 home building surge, Stuart Macdonald wonders if it will be able to deliver

  • Housing sector reacts to Localism Act

    17/11/2011

    The sector has welcomed the formation of the Localism Act, which gained royal assent this week.

  • House building falling according to CLG

    17/11/2011

    House building starts and completions fell in the summer, according to government data published today (Thursday).

  • Builder abandons South West affordable homes

    16/11/2011

    A construction firm has abandoned the affordable housing market in the south west of England citing a lack of opportunity outside of London.

  • Landlord opens timber frame homes factory

    16/11/2011

    A housing association has become the first in the country to open its own factory manufacturing low carbon timber frame homes

  • Demolition won't cut debt

    16/11/2011

    Housing minister Grant Shapps responds to our report that councils are demolishing homes to reduce housing revenue account debts

  • Barratt ditches shared equity sell off plans

    16/11/2011

    House builder Barratt has scrapped plans to sell its shared equity portfolio, blaming current economic conditions.

  • CBI backs government PFI probe

    15/11/2011

    The CBI has backed the government’s decision to review the use of the private finance initiative in a move that many see as the beginning of the end for the controversial funding scheme.

  • CIH head warns sector over housing strategy

    15/11/2011

    The interim chief executive of the Chartered Institute of Housing has warned that the government’s housing strategy might merely repeat previous announcements.

  • No guarantees

    15/11/2011

    When an organisation as influential as the CBI calls for radical action to tackle the housing crisis it should be time to welcome a powerful new ally to the cause. I’m not so sure this time.

  • Housing demand to top supply by 500,000 units

    15/11/2011

    Demand for new housing will outstrip supply by over half a million units by 2015, the Federation of Master Builders has warned.

  • Multi-million pound housing project launched

    15/11/2011

    A £200 million regeneration project in West Lothian, which will provide 1,000 homes, was launched this week.

  • Contractor on track to deliver predicted results

    15/11/2011

    Construction and maintenance firm Kier has announced that it is on track to deliver trading results in line with expectation.

  • Health and housing combine for Wirral scheme

    15/11/2011

    A housing association in the north west of England has joined up with a local primary care trust to develop a £10 million health centre and housing project.

  • Land identified for 80,000-plus homes

    14/11/2011

    Ministers have identified enough land to build 83,500 homes on surplus government land in a bid to kickstart housebuilding.

  • A hollow victory for the housing sector?

    14/11/2011

    For years our sector has been extolling the economic, as well as the social benefits of house building.

  • Treasury plots £50bn housing boost

    14/11/2011

    Social housing providers could be in line to benefit from government plans for a £50 billion boost for infrastructure projects.

  • MPs call on Cameron to revise planning reforms

    14/11/2011

    MPs have urged the prime minister to revise ‘contradictory and confusing’ planning reforms, or face legal challenges to development decisions.

  • House builder in sales boost

    11/11/2011

    Galliford Try saw its sales jump by 38 per cent in the last four months, while cancellation rates stayed low.

  • Housing recovery 'critical' to economic health

    11/11/2011

    The recovery of the housing market ‘is critical’ to the economic health of the nation, according to a new report.

  • Building the future

    11/11/2011

    There may be dark times ahead but the sector is determined to come out on top. Simon Brandon asks some top housing bosses what they think the coming years hold

  • G15 to sign HCA contracts

    11/11/2011

    Stand-offs over affordable homes programme rent levels appear to be at an end after London’s largest landlords pledged to sign development contracts in the next week.

  • Legal threat to development plans

    11/11/2011

    A flagship government scheme to incentivise councils to build new homes could leave town halls facing costly legal challenges over ‘gifted’ land.

  • Ministers urged to go ahead with planning changes

    10/11/2011

    Ministers should press ahead with planning changes that would make it easier to convert vacant offices into homes or risk the policy being watered down, the British Property Federation has warned.

  • Green light for £130m housing plan

    09/11/2011

    A council has given the green light to £130 million plans to build 2,000 new houses and bring empty homes back into use.

  • Localism Bill passes through Parliament

    08/11/2011

    The government’s flagship Localism Bill has completed its passage through Parliament, 18 months after it was unveiled by the coalition.

  • Bovis to clear debt by year end

    08/11/2011

    Bovis Homes has said it expects to return to profit by the end of the year after reporting increased sales for the year so far.

  • House builder planning increase in private market

    08/11/2011

    A house builder is planning to increase operation in the private market by developing more than 1,000 homes a year.

  • Self-financing could help councils build homes

    08/11/2011

    The new system of self-financing for councils could enable authorities to build more homes and improve services for tenants, according to a report by umbrella group London Councils.

  • Housing market ‘robust’ despite economic fears

    07/11/2011

    Conditions in the UK housing market remain stable despite wider economic uncertainty, according one of the country’s leading builders.

  • Housing strategy attacked by property group

    07/11/2011

    The government’s current housing strategy will fail to address the undersupply of new homes, according to a report from a property services firm.

  • House building to benefit from £500m fund

    07/11/2011

    Details of a £500 million fund designed to support infrastructure projects to jumpstart economic growth at a local level have been revealed.

  • Landlord agrees £90m HCA contract

    04/11/2011

    Sanctuary Housing Group has signed the biggest contract so far agreed under the Homes and Communities Agency’s affordable homes regime, with almost half of the £1.8 billion programme now allocated.

  • Landlords risk HCA cash if they don't act on homes

    04/11/2011

    A senior Homes and Communities Agency figure has called on housing associations to move quickly in getting their affordable homes development programmes up and running – and said they will lose their funding if they don’t.

  • Green guru

    04/11/2011

    The delivery of sustainable homes is a global problem and providers in the UK can learn a lot from their counterparts around the world, says Neil Jefferson

  • Hit for six

    04/11/2011

    A 91-home Yorkshire development might mark the peak of sustainable house building. Martin Hilditch finds out why

  • Keeping it real

    04/11/2011

    Have house builders misused the word ‘sustainable’ in the national planning policy framework debate?’

  • Landlord heads to China and Middle East for funds

    04/11/2011

    A landlord will look to private investors in China and the Middle East to fund future development as it seeks to diversify its sources of debt.

  • Taking control

    04/11/2011

    The Localism Bill must put an end to short-term thinking and allow councils to determine how to resolve their residents’ housing needs, says Jon Cruddas

  • Tenant takes council to court over demolition plan

    04/11/2011

    A tenant is taking Hammersmith & Fulham Council to court over its decision to sign an exclusivity deal with a developer as part of plans to knock down two estates.

  • The demolition explosion

    04/11/2011

    Councils in England are planning to knock down thousands of homes at a time of critical housing need. Martin Hilditch investigates why

  • Council reveals £130m housing plan

    03/11/2011

    A council is planning to build 2,000 new homes over the next three years and bring empty homes back into use as part of a £130 million investment in housing.

  • MPs call for national regeneration strategy

    03/11/2011

    A group of MPs has warned the government that it has no strategy for regenerating England’s most deprived communities.

  • Planning reform delays hurting new builds

    03/11/2011

    The government’s proposed planning reforms are causing local authorities to drag their heels over applications to build new homes, a house builder has said.

  • Green deal could fund zero carbon homes

    03/11/2011

    Applying the green deal to new homes could make financing zero carbon developments more acceptable, a sustainability expert has said.

  • Building drop pushes down housing supply figures

    03/11/2011

    The net supply of housing in England has fallen by six per cent on last year, according to government figures.

  • Developers sought for 800 homes on Olympic site

    02/11/2011

    The Olympic Park Legacy Company is inviting bids from developers to build 800 homes on the 2012 Olympic park.

  • Landlord accused of marketing sale homes abroad

    01/11/2011

    A housing association has denied it is advertising homes for sale in the UK to foreign markets – but has not ruled it out.

  • Late kick-off

    01/11/2011

    It was debut day yesterday for Labour’s new team at communities and local government (CLG) questions yesterday. Can they do better in challenging the Tory dominance of the debate on housing?

  • Priority number 1

    01/11/2011

    With the clocks going back on Saturday and the nights are drawing in, Christmas is creeping nearer and there’s mulled wine, roaring fires and good food to look forward to.

  • Pay to stay scheme to fund new affordable homes

    31/10/2011

    The housing minister has pledged to put ‘every penny’ raised from increasing the rent of high-earners living in social housing into building more homes.

  • Landlord and builder picked for abattoir site homes

    31/10/2011

    A contractor and landlord have both been chosen to help deliver the next stage of a multi-million pound regeneration scheme.

  • Help! The planning debate has been hijacked!

    31/10/2011

    I have to hand it to the National Trust for running an exemplary campaign against the draft National Planning Policy Framework.

  • HCA agrees to release land for new homes

    31/10/2011

    The Homes and Communities Agency’s London board has agreed to the release of 8.1 hectares of land for new homes as part of a drive to unlock public land for development.

  • Latest affordable homes contracts revealed

    28/10/2011

    Orbit Group has signed the second most valuable contract so far awarded under the Homes and Communities Agency’s affordable homes programme.

  • Boris releases land for new homes

    28/10/2011

    Around 3,500 new homes will be built on public land in London, mayor Boris Johnson has announced.

  • Building answers

    28/10/2011

    We all know the scale of England’s housing problems. Now is the time to implement solutions

  • Councils to demolish homes to cut HRA debt

    28/10/2011

    Councils will demolish thousands of homes to slash the amount of debt they take on under the imminent reform of the housing subsidy system.

  • Knock down prices

    28/10/2011

    Thousands of residents across England have had a surprise over the past few months.

  • Tax break

    28/10/2011

    Landlords can have their say on a new levy which could increase affordable housing provision, says Katherine Evans

  • Eight ways to solve the housing crisis?

    27/10/2011

    Two days ago the BBC published “Eight radical solutions to the housing crisis”.

  • Fund hopes to use public land for housing

    27/10/2011

    Kent County Council is setting up an investment fund to pool public sector land and assets for house building and other developments.

  • Ministers urged to define affordable housing

    25/10/2011

    Campaigners have called on the government to strengthen the definition of affordable housing in planning reform.

  • Thinking again

    25/10/2011

    How do you get the genie back in the bottle? How do you reverse the shift from bricks and mortar to personal subsidies that’s happened over the last 35 years?

  • Group formed to guide councils on planning

    25/10/2011

    Housing and planning bodies have joined forces to create a new group designed to give local authorities clearer guidance on planning issues.

  • Construction firm faces safety probe

    25/10/2011

    A construction and maintenance firm will have its employees surveyed over safety fears.

  • Plans for 2,450 homes to be submitted

    25/10/2011

    A planning application will be submitted this week for the redevelopment of one of London’s most iconic sites as the two remaining bidders for the development contract have made their final pitches.

  • Government must tap pensions to tackle crisis

    25/10/2011

    The government should look for investment from local authority pension funds if it is to tackle the growing housing shortage, according to a new report.

  • Bank to boost social housing with £30m loan

    24/10/2011

    Social housing in Northern Ireland is set to benefit from a £65 million boost as a result of a funding partnership between a housing association and Northern Bank.

  • Affordable homes projects reach £560m

    24/10/2011

    The latest round of affordable homes contracts have been revealed by the Homes and Communities Agency.

  • Housing PFI scheme given green light

    24/10/2011

    A multi-million pound regeneration scheme is a step closer after the government gave it the green-light to move forward.

  • Lack of London housing threatens 50,000 jobs

    24/10/2011

    A lack of housing in London could jeopardise 50,000 jobs over the next 10 years, a property consultant has warned.

  • Welsh housing needs greater investment

    24/10/2011

    The Welsh Government should invest an extra £40 million in affordable housing, Community Housing Cymru said.

  • Councils back transitional period for NPPF

    24/10/2011

    Councils have welcomed the government’s commitment to implementing a transitional period for planning reforms.

  • 'Brownfield first' deserves a red card

    24/10/2011

    During the debate on the draft national planning policy framework one of the key demands of the National Trust and other opponents has been that the old ‘brownfield first’ policy should be restored. I think that would be wrong, and here’s why.

  • Affordable house building up 5 per cent

    21/10/2011

    Affordable housing construction in Wales has risen by 5 per cent in the last year, according to the latest figures.

  • Studies find planning changes will protect green belt

    21/10/2011

    Removing centrally prescribed planning targets will help councils protect the green belt, a series of assessments have found.

  • Crush the cliché

    21/10/2011

    August’s riots reinforced the unfair stigmatisation of social tenants. But more council housing would solve social and economic woes

  • Economists call for more investment in housing

    21/10/2011

    Leading economists have called on the government to invest in housing as a way to prevent a ‘double-dip’ recession.

  • Knocking down barriers

    21/10/2011

    Finance Bill reforms aim to make it easier and cheaper to invest in the housing market. James Duncan, partner at Winckworth Sherwood, explains

  • Planning framework ‘at odds’ with localism

    21/10/2011

    Councils have rallied against the government’s planning reforms for betraying the spirit of localism.

  • The colour code

    21/10/2011

    The housing sector has appraised the government’s performance to date. Rhiannon Bury investigates the key findings

  • Regeneration of hostel gives tenants new skills

    20/10/2011

    A landlord is using the redevelopment of a former convent to teach residents new skills and keep them informed of what is going on.

  • Planning changes to go before Parliament

    20/10/2011

    MPs will debate controversial changes to the planning system in parliament today, as ministers consider consultation responses from the sector.

  • Response to NPPF wants affordable homes priority

    19/10/2011

    Housing groups have called on the government to prioritise affordable homes in the reform of the planning system, or face worsening the housing crisis.

  • Building firm hit with strike threat

    19/10/2011

    A union is preparing to ballot over 1,000 members of a construction firm for strike over claims of imposed contractual changes.

  • Viable questions

    18/10/2011

    Much of the debate about the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) so far been about the choice between homes or no homes. Not enough of it has been about what kind of homes.

  • Tory raises neighbourhood plans doubt

    18/10/2011

    A prominent London Conservative has said he does not believe the majority of the public want to develop neighbourhood plans.

  • The great planning debate - more heat than light?

    18/10/2011

    Debate over the national planning policy framework has been full of sound and fury but, as the consultation ends, does it signify anything, asks Colin Wiles

  • House builder reports leap in profits

    18/10/2011

    Bellway has today reported a 52 per cent increase in pre-tax profit and higher turnover.

  • Letter calls for planning reforms to help elderly

    17/10/2011

    A group of specialist housing providers has written to the government urging ministers to ensure planning reforms provide for an ageing population.

  • Dutch engineering firm buys EC Harris

    17/10/2011

    Consultancy EC Harris has been bought by Dutch engineering firm Arcadis.

  • REIT changes could appeal to landlords

    17/10/2011

    The Treasury has proposed changes to the rules governing real estate investment trusts that could make the structures more attractive to housing associations.

  • Councils urged to draw up development plans

    17/10/2011

    Local authorities must ensure they are ready to take on new planning powers, the British Property Federation has warned.

  • Figures reveal decline in building work

    17/10/2011

    Government figures have revealed a sharp decline in construction output over the summer.

  • London landlord signs biggest HCA contract

    14/10/2011

    Notting Hill Housing Trust will deliver 2,310 new homes in London after landing the biggest grant yet under the Homes and Communities Agency’s affordable homes programme.

  • Council chosen to lead housing growth scheme

    14/10/2011

    A council has been picked to head up a new housing network to support local authorities deliver sustainable development in their communities.

  • Community development consultation published

    14/10/2011

    The government has published a consultation on plans to allow communities to plan for development in their areas.

  • Buying can bring freedom

    14/10/2011

    Revamping the right to buy and reducing central oversight of housing allocation will help social tenants get on in life, says Grant Shapps

  • Landlord gives HCA affordable homes ultimatum

    14/10/2011

    One of England’s largest housing associations will refuse to sign its affordable homes contract unless the Homes and Communities Agency allows it to opt out of schemes in the event of council veto.

  • New tax could hamper affordable homes

    14/10/2011

    Councils could set new development taxes so high that house builders will not be able to afford to provide affordable housing, the National Housing Federation has warned.

  • Planning first target for new housing minister

    14/10/2011

    The new shadow housing minister has slammed the government’s handling of planning reform in his first week in the job.

  • Report says govt 'failing' in housing

    14/10/2011

    The government is failing to deliver on its promises to boost housing supply and protect vulnerable people, leading housing groups have claimed.

  • Taking a big gamble

    14/10/2011

    The coalition has announced it is resurrecting right to buy but what will this mean for councils and housing revenue account reform? Nick Duxbury finds out if ministers have the odds in their favour

  • The sale of the century

    14/10/2011

    The government wants to make right to buy popular again, but details on the proposal are sketchy, says Sarah Lines, social housing lawyer with Cobbetts LLP.

  • Landlord to build Scottish homes with £30m

    13/10/2011

    One of the country’s biggest landlords will build 350 homes in Scotland with £30 million from Scottish Government finance initiatives.

  • 'House building ice age' warning issued to govt

    12/10/2011

    Housebuilders have warned government to stand firm on its planning proposals or risk a ‘house building ice age’.

  • Housing Forum warns NPPF could backfire

    12/10/2011

    Government plans to reform planning could backfire and lead to less development, a housing body has warned.

  • Council credit rating 'constrained' by HRA reform

    12/10/2011

    Credit ratings agency Standard & Poor’s has said that it has ‘constrained’ the rating of Birmingham City Council because of additional debt it will take on as a result of the housing revenue account reform.

  • NPPF defended at select committee

    11/10/2011

    Planning experts have defended changes to the planning policy, saying it will not result in widespread building on the greenbelt.

  • Fears that RTB could jeopardise housing finance reform

    11/10/2011

    Council representatives have expressed concern that government plans to relaunch the right to buy could jeopardise housing finance reform.

  • Scottish Govt social homes plans branded 'misleading'

    11/10/2011

    Housing experts have accused the Scottish Government of being misleading over plans to increase social housing in Scotland.

  • Select committee debates NPPF

    10/10/2011

    Experts and MPs are debating changes to the planning framework this afternoon as part of a government enquiry.

  • HCA affordable homes deals top £300m

    10/10/2011

    The total value of contracts signed under the Homes and Communities Agency’s affordable homes programme passed £300 million last week after six more providers inked deals with the HCA.

  • Council warns of dangers of planning reforms

    07/10/2011

    One of the UK’s biggest councils has warned that proposals to overhaul planning laws in the UK could damage the ability of local authorities to control development.

  • Affordable stand-off?

    07/10/2011

    Another week has passed and there is more concern about stand offs between councils and housing associations over rent levels in the affordable homes programme.

  • Big four ask Treasury for £43bn write-off

    07/10/2011

    Four of the country’s largest housing associations have called on the government to release £43 billion of historic grant to allow them to fund new homes.

  • Bright ideas

    07/10/2011

    We all know the current problems - house building is at its lowest level since 1923; the number of first-time buyers has reduced to an all time low; and more than 4 million families are now registered on social housing waiting lists.

  • Council finance reform under threat

    07/10/2011

    Councils could be saddled with millions of pounds of extra debt as a result of government attempts to revive the right to buy, sector experts have warned.

  • Edinburgh and Glasgow forced to share housing fund

    07/10/2011

    A £250 million sum previously ring-fenced for housing in Edinburgh and Glasgow is to be shared with other councils across Scotland, the country’s housing minister has revealed.

  • Familiar feeling

    07/10/2011

    The Conservative Party has unveiled plans to revamp the right to buy, but this policy failed to deliver more social homes in the past and seems unlikely to do so now, says Bill Randall.

  • 'Let us borrow' says minister

    07/10/2011

    The Welsh finance minister has called on the UK government to lift borrowing restrictions to fund new housing in Wales.

  • Shapps ‘on the case’ in affordable rents row

    07/10/2011

    Grant Shapps has intervened in the stand-off between councils and housing associations over rents which is threatening to derail the £1.8 billion affordable homes programme.

  • MSPs attack Cameron over right to buy

    06/10/2011

    Scottish MSPs have criticised David Cameron’s plan to invigorate the right to buy in England, calling it ‘entirely the wrong decision’.

  • Southern consortium nets £20m HCA contract

    06/10/2011

    A consortium of landlords in the south of England has signed a contract to provide 1,600 new homes as part of the Homes and Communities Agency’s affordable homes programme.

  • Beyond the grave

    06/10/2011

    By a supreme irony Labour has finally built more affordable homes than the Conservatives - only to have the news welcomed by a Tory housing minister.

  • Govt departments identify land for 54,000 homes

    06/10/2011

    Government departments have identified enough public land to build 54,000 homes as part of government plans to free up land for housing.

  • Minister 'not for turning' on planning reforms

    06/10/2011

    Housebuilders are ‘crap’ at communicating their development plans to local communities and must show greater ‘maturity and restraint’ in where they build, according to a government minister.

  • CLG has discussed NPPF transition arrangements

    05/10/2011

    The communities and local government department has said that transition arrangements had been discussed but denied anything was set in stone.

  • Number of affordable homes growing

    05/10/2011

    The number of affordable homes has grown by 5 per cent in the last year, according to the latest figures.

  • Cameron wants to inspire 'Tory housing revolution'

    05/10/2011

    The prime minister has pledged to ‘inspire a new Tory housing revolution’ to tackle the failure of the housing market.

  • Report blames design of social housing for riots

    05/10/2011

    The layout of post-war social housing estates encourages anti-social behaviour and contributed to the riots in London, a report claims.

  • Bureaucracy and planning hurting empty homes

    05/10/2011

    A high-profile architect has called on the government to slash red tape and planning constraints to tackle the 350,000 long-term empty homes in Britain.

  • Olympic Park plans to deliver 6,800 homes

    05/10/2011

    Plans for up to 6,800 new homes at the Olympic Park in east London were submitted today, with as many 2,400 affordable homes earmarked for the site.

  • Minister says homes crisis is 'destroying family life'

    05/10/2011

    The planning minister has said the lack of homes in the UK is ‘destroying family life’.

  • Landlord aims for £30m surplus

    05/10/2011

    A2Dominion Group has targeted generating a £30 million surplus by 2014 as it aims to develop a sizeable commercial arm to support its social housing provision.

  • Shapps calls for innovation in empty homes fund

    05/10/2011

    Charities and businesses are to be asked to come forward with innovative ways to use a £100 million empty homes fund.

  • Landlords claim wiping grant could free £42bn

    04/10/2011

    Writing off existing grant for housing associations could free up £42.7 billion for new homes, the chief executive of one of England’s largest housing associations has said.

  • MP claims landlords could stop building

    04/10/2011

    Housing associations could stop building homes within 20 years, according to one of the housing minister’s key aides.

  • Boris in pledge to build larger affordable homes

    04/10/2011

    Boris Johnson has pledged to build larger affordable homes and improve the environment as part of a strategy to ‘bring the village green’ to London.

  • Received wisdom

    04/10/2011

    The revival of the right to buy turns so many assumptions on their head it’s hard to know where to begin.

  • Shapps defends right to buy proposals

    04/10/2011

    Grant Shapps has insisted the government’s new right to buy policy will stack up - describing it as a “second tranche” of the affordable homes programme.

  • The Right to Buy puzzle

    04/10/2011

    In a nod towards Thatcherite populism, Grant Shapps has pledged to revive the Right to Buy and promised that every sale will be matched with a new affordable home. This may go down well in certain parts of the press, but how it will be achieved in practice is something of a puzzle.

  • CIH gives RTB proposals cautious welcome

    04/10/2011

    Government plans to deliver a further 200,000 affordable homes have been welcomed by the Chartered Institute of Housing.

  • Developers unsure localism will help planning

    04/10/2011

    Developers are doubtful that plans to give communities more say over growth in their area will make planning decisions easier, a report shows.

  • Fed: 'planning reform could hurt sec 106 payments'

    03/10/2011

    Campaigners have expressed concern that changes to the planning system will allow councils to avoid affordable housing obligations.

  • Sector unsure RTB plans are financially viable

    03/10/2011

    Senior housing figures are sceptical that the government’s plans to revive the Right to Buy policy will be financial viable.

  • The right approach?

    03/10/2011

    Grant Shapps’ promise that the coalition government would deliver a net increase in affordable homes has always sounded a little hollow.

  • Great Places inks largest HCA deal so far

    03/10/2011

    Great Places Housing Group has signed the most valuable contract so far agreed with the Homes and Communities Agency under its £1.8 billion affordable homes programme.

  • Planners hit back at countryside campaigners

    03/10/2011

    The chief executive of the Town and Country Planning Association and a government minister have criticised opponents of new planning rules.

  • Shapps pledges no net loss of homes with right to buy

    03/10/2011

    The housing minister has pledged that there will be no net loss of housing under the government’s revamped right to buy scheme announced at the Conservative party conference yesterday.

  • Spelman pledges to keep green belt protection

    02/10/2011

    The government will use new planning rules to boost the economy while protecting the green belt, the environment secretary has pledged.

  • Right to buy revival to fund new homes

    02/10/2011

    The prime minister has announced plans to revive the right to buy policy.

  • NPPF to usher in unplanned development, claims campaign

    01/10/2011

    Almost half of England’s councils will be open to unplanned development when planning reforms take effect, according to the Campaign to Protect Rural England.

  • Seabeck calls for development of council land

    30/09/2011

    The shadow housing minister has called on the government to do more to make surplus local authority land available for house building.

  • NPPF accused of not addressing housing need

    30/09/2011

    Fears have been raised over the potential for the National Planning Policy Framework to address the housing needs of the country.

  • Campaign calls for Miliband to stop attacks

    30/09/2011

    A campaign which defends council housing has called on the Labour leadership to stop attacking the sector and instead push for a new wave of house building.

  • Lack of detail in NPPF threatens legal problems

    30/09/2011

    Councils could face a raft of legal challenges to planning decisions if the government does not provide more detail around planning legislation, experts have warned.

  • Associations’ spare cash soars towards £1bn mark

    30/09/2011

    Housing associations have seen their average surpluses increase by 33 per cent in 2010/11 as the total across the sector heads toward the £1 billion mark.

  • Calls for HCA to solve rent row

    30/09/2011

    The G15 group of housing associations in London is calling on the Homes and Communities Agency to intervene in disputes between associations and councils over rent levels.

  • Funding fears

    30/09/2011

    Analysing the accounts of England’s largest housing associations reveals the financial dilemma facing the sector, says Stuart Macdonald

  • Genesis land values plummet by £20.7m

    30/09/2011

    The value of land owned by Genesis Housing Group has plummeted by more than £20 million - almost a third of the total losses predicted for all housing associations.

  • Lending threat to development plans

    30/09/2011

    Housing associations may struggle to fund their committed development programmes because of constrained bank lending, the social housing regulator has warned.

  • The green gap

    30/09/2011

    The government is launching a committee to ensure eco-homes are up to standard. Here Gavriel Hollander investigates what the group’s focus should be

  • The lie of the land

    30/09/2011

    Inflated land prices are preventing affordable homes being built and councils must use new localism powers to stop this, says Richard Kemp

  • The master plan

    30/09/2011

    Communities secretary Eric Pickles is leading the overhaul of the planning system. So will the new strategies deliver? Ahead of the Conservative Party conference Jules Birch gathers a team of experts to find out.

  • Trade on your assets

    30/09/2011

    Landlords should take a commercial approach to their property portfolio to maximise investment in housing

  • Welsh AMs unveil housing reforms

    30/09/2011

    The Welsh Government plans to provide financial incentives to encourage councils to bring up to 12,000 empty homes back into use by 2016.

  • Zero carbon homes ‘too expensive’ to build

    30/09/2011

    Building zero carbon homes is too costly and difficult in the current economic climate, a survey of 20 developers has claimed.

  • Communities shadow calls for planning debate

    29/09/2011

    Caroline Flint has called for further debate on the provision for affordable homes in the national planning policy framework.

  • Labour backs call for housing investment

    29/09/2011

    The Labour party has passed a motion which calls for investment in house building and attacks the government for failing the social housing sector.

  • Flint: social housing should be a ‘positive choice’

    29/09/2011

    The shadow communities secretary has said social housing should return to being a ‘positive choice’ for families.

  • National Trust targets new homes bonus scheme

    29/09/2011

    The National Trust has called for a clause in the Localism Bill that legitimises the new homes bonus incentive scheme to be scrapped.

  • Labour leaders urged to prioritise house building

    29/09/2011

    Labour members will urge the party leadership to commit to a programme of investment in new homes at their annual conference today.

  • Willmott Dixon in line for £38m care contract

    28/09/2011

    Developer Willmott Dixon has been named the preferred bidder for a £38 million contract to deliver care homes across Warwickshire.

  • Welsh to release public land for housing

    27/09/2011

    The Welsh government has outlined plans to bring more public sector land into use to provide affordable homes.

  • Miliband told to get to grips with housing crisis

    27/09/2011

    Reforms proposed by Labour leader Ed Miliband do not address the fundamental problems with housing, the National Housing Federation has warned.

  • Shadow ministers seek to delay planning reforms

    27/09/2011

    Shadow ministers have called on the government to extend its consultation on planning reforms.

  • Grant Shapps and the Daily Mail towns

    27/09/2011

    Does Inside Housing exert an influence on the minds of housing ministers and the right-wing press?

  • Increased council borrowing could deliver homes

    27/09/2011

    A group of housing experts has called on the government to increase local authority borrowing powers to deliver more affordable homes.

  • Balls calls for tax on bankers to fund new homes

    26/09/2011

    A tax should be levied against bankers’ bonuses with the money put towards building 25,000 affordable homes, the shadow chancellor has said.

  • Landlord to use affordable rent homes for people on benefits

    26/09/2011

    The shadow housing minister has revealed that a housing association won over a council that was sceptical about affordable rent by promising it would only use the scheme to house people on benefits.

  • Trio of housing blocks demolished

    26/09/2011

    A trio of housing blocks have been demolished, signalling the beginning of a regeneration project.

  • Council plans to demolish 1,276 homes

    26/09/2011

    Birmingham Council has earmarked 1,276 of its 65,000 homes for demolition.

  • Rural homes cost 42% more than urban equivalents

    26/09/2011

    Homes suitable for first-time buyers in rural areas are 42 per cent more expensive than equivalent properties in towns and cities, analysis has found.

  • HCA contracts pass £100m mark

    23/09/2011

    The Homes and Communities Agency has signed a further six contracts with landlords this week under the affordable rent programme, taking the total value of contracts signed over the £100 million mark.

  • Hundreds of homes planned for hospital site

    23/09/2011

    Plans to develop a former hospital into hundreds of homes have been unveiled.

  • Failed grant bid landlord turns to ‘plan B’

    23/09/2011

    A housing association which missed out on government grant plans to turn a newly created subsidiary into a £2 million turnover company to fund development.

  • Green team

    23/09/2011

    Empty homes, housing revenue account reform and evictions were the headline housing issues at this week’s Liberal Democrat conference in Birmingham.

  • Housing biggest victim of spending review cuts

    23/09/2011

    Housing and regeneration has emerged as one of the biggest losers in the Scottish spending review.

  • Landlords stuck in affordable rents stand-off

    23/09/2011

    Deadlocks between housing associations and councils over rent levels are threatening to derail the £1.8 billion affordable homes programme.

  • Northern approach

    23/09/2011

    For a long time now it has been the policy of the Scottish National Party-led Scottish Government to claim it is taking the moral high road of investment in the country’s economy, while its English counterparts try to drag it down the low road of cuts and stagnation.

  • Plan of action

    23/09/2011

    England needs a coherent planning framework if it is to develop homes and communities which pass the test of time

  • Public split over new homes bonus

    23/09/2011

    A £1 billion scheme to encourage councils to build new homes will not sway the majority of people, a survey has revealed.

  • Stunell announces new build sustainability tests

    23/09/2011

    Housing developments are to be vetted to ensure they are as eco-friendly as developers and social landlords claim.

  • Take the high road

    23/09/2011

    Before starting a development landlords must find out about public rights of way on the land, says Nnenna Morah

  • Second round of affordable homes funding announced

    22/09/2011

    The Scottish housing minister has announced a second round of a funding scheme to provide affordable homes north of the border.

  • Run-down garages to provide almost 100 homes

    22/09/2011

    A collection of run-down garages could soon be turned into almost 100 new homes after a council agreed in principle to the change.

  • NPPF to boost affordable homes development

    22/09/2011

    The National Planning Policy Framework will deliver more affordable homes, the decentralisation minister promised today.

  • The two faces of Simon Jenkins

    22/09/2011

    Simon Jenkins is a good journalist and a good historian. But it seems that he is also something of a Jekyll and Hyde character.

  • Scottish government to cut housing budget

    21/09/2011

    Housing and regeneration in Scotland will face a 42 per cent budget cut over the next three years as part of the Scottish Parliament’s spending review, which was unveiled today (Wednesday).

  • Empty gesture?

    21/09/2011

    The great empty homes debate has come crashing back onto the news agenda this week.

  • Cameron reassures planning critics

    21/09/2011

    David Cameron has confirmed his commitment to the ‘presumption in favour of sustainable development’ as the row over proposed planning reforms continues to rage.

  • CLG group seeks green building compliance

    20/09/2011

    The Communities and Local Government department has set up a committee to ensure green building standards are met.

  • HCA inherits £300m of RDA assets

    20/09/2011

    Millions of pounds of land and property assets have been transferred to the Homes and Communities Agency.

  • Stunell to set out empty homes plans

    20/09/2011

    The communities minister is expected to outline government plans for tackling empty homes when he addresses the Liberal Democrat conference later today.

  • Reforms to halt construction of larger homes

    19/09/2011

    A provider has warned that a raft of reforms to social housing could stop housing associations building four-bedroom homes.

  • Future of affordable rent remains undecided

    19/09/2011

    The government has no definite plans for its affordable rent programme after 2015, the communities minister has said.

  • Interest cut to deliver £100m boost for housing

    18/09/2011

    Councils leaving the housing revenue account subsidy system are to receive a £100 million a year boost due to a cut in interest rates.

  • Affordable housing to cut new development

    16/09/2011

    Government reforms will not deliver an increase in affordable housing with most providers fearful of a decline in new builds, a report claims.

  • Building a future

    16/09/2011

    The coalition is tackling the housing crisis by delivering new affordable homes and bringing old ones up to date

  • Cameron steps into planning reform row

    16/09/2011

    Prime minister David Cameron has stepped in to defuse an escalating row over the government’s proposed planning reforms.

  • Do your research

    16/09/2011

    Don’t commit to a development site until you’ve discovered all its restrictions, says John Russell

  • Orbit: ‘Home sales must jump by 72%’

    16/09/2011

    Orbit Group is set to be one of the first large housing associations to sign its development contract with the Homes and Communities Agency for its share of funding under the £1.8 billion affordable homes programme.

  • Partick to build 117 homes with £18m loan

    16/09/2011

    Glasgow landlord Partick Housing Association has negotiated an £18 million, 30-year loan facility with long-standing lender Barclays Corporate to help deliver 117 affordable homes in the west end of the city.

  • Round two

    16/09/2011

    Housing minister Grant Shapps has proposed a second round of the affordable homes programme. So are landlords financially fit enough to get back into the ring or are they on the ropes already? Carl Brown investigates

  • £200m pledged for almost 2,000 new homes

    15/09/2011

    More than £200 million will be used to fund new affordable homes north of the border, the Scottish government has announced.

  • Kier profits rise by almost a quarter

    15/09/2011

    Construction and services firm Kier has reported a 24 per cent rise in pre-tax profits to £68.9 million.

  • Cash awards for community design schemes

    15/09/2011

    Thousands of pounds have been awarded to a series of organisations charged with helping raise the design quality of their areas.

  • Profit and revenue up at Apollo

    15/09/2011

    Apollo has increased its operating profit by 66 per cent from £7.5 million last year to £12.4 million.

  • Architects attack new build homes

    14/09/2011

    Families living in new build homes are being short-changed after it was revealed the properties are significantly smaller than older ones, it has been claimed.

  • Housebuilder returns to profit

    14/09/2011

    Housebuilder Barratt Developments has announced a return to profit after a year of loss.

  • Galliford Try posts increased profits

    14/09/2011

    Galliford Try has reported an 80 per cent increase in profits from its housebuilding division.

  • Call for clarity on post-2015 housing

    14/09/2011

    The government should make clear how it intends to fund new housing after 2015, according to a network of housing professionals.

  • HCA unveils first affordable rent contracts

    12/09/2011

    The first four contracts of the Homes & Communities Agency’s affordable homes programme have been signed, with £36 million of funding committed for 2,170 homes.

  • Getting to grips with self financing

    12/09/2011

    Understanding the new financial landscape for housing will be vital if building ambitions are to be realised, argues Lesley Lodge

  • Livingstone urged to back homes for social rent

    12/09/2011

    Labour activists are calling for London mayoral candidate Ken Livingstone to support the building of new homes for social rents if he is elected.

  • Price rises boost Redrow profits

    09/09/2011

    House builder Redrow has seen its profits soar on the back of a hike in sale prices.

  • Hyde faces credit rating downgrade

    09/09/2011

    A credit ratings agency has warned that Hyde Group’s credit rating could be downgraded.

  • Meeting requirements

    09/09/2011

    Barny Evans and Julian Elsworth explain what ‘allowable solutions’ are and how social landlords should implement them when building zero carbon homes

  • Prefabulous

    09/09/2011

    Prefab homes have suffered from a negative image but the latest designs are energy efficient and affordable, making them a much more attractive option. Nick Duxbury reports

  • Silver lining

    09/09/2011

    A dark cloud is falling over Britain’s homeowning aspirations. But this might not be a bad thing, says Jon Cruddas

  • Solving the land puzzle

    09/09/2011

    If organisations share buildings the leftover sites can be pieced together for development, says Alan Stokes

  • 'Housing crisis that shames a nation'

    08/09/2011

    The headline isn’t mine. It’s from today’s Independent but I tend to agree with it.

  • Government wants second round of affordable rents

    08/09/2011

    The government has told landlords it wants to run a second round of the affordable home programme and is looking at how to make it viable.

  • MPs launch housing finance probe

    06/09/2011

    A parliamentary committee is set to address the growing housing crisis with the launch of an inquiry into the financing of new stock.

  • Figures reveal scale of zero carbon challenge

    06/09/2011

    Only 160 homes that would meet the government’s definition of zero carbon were built between April 2007 and June 2011.

  • Growing pains

    06/09/2011

    So a government apparently elected as the champion of the nimbys is now in the back pocket of developers?

  • Mayor green lights Croydon tower

    06/09/2011

    Plans for a controversial 54-storey development in Croydon have been given the green light by London Mayor Boris Johnson.

  • 800-home Yorkshire scheme goes for planning

    06/09/2011

    A developer has put forward plans for a £100m development in East Yorkshire

  • Labour call for housing surveys defeated in Lords

    06/09/2011

    A call by a Labour peer for local authorities to address the housing crisis by drawing up a detailed analysis of supply and demand was thrown out by the House of Lords yesterday.

  • Mayor accused of double counting housing stats

    05/09/2011

    Labour’s London Assembly member for housing has accused the mayor’s office of double counting affordable housing figures.

  • Building boom could give £75bn lift to economy

    05/09/2011

    Trebling the number of annual house building starts would generate an extra £75 billion for the economy and reduce rents by 10 per cent, a study has found.

  • Chancellor defends planning reforms

    05/09/2011

    George Osborne has defended the government’s proposed changes to the planning system, saying they are ‘key to our economic recovery’.

  • Architects appointed for 5,000-home eco-town

    02/09/2011

    The architects have been appointed for a new eco town in Cornwall which will provide 5,000 green homes for the local community.

  • BSHF: ‘Relax rules to raise build rates’

    02/09/2011

    The government should relax planning permission in designated zones to allow communities to use land more effectively, the Building and Social Housing Foundation has said.

  • False economy

    02/09/2011

    The government can’t afford housing cuts as they won’t pay off long term

  • Greater Manchester to assess all public land

    02/09/2011

    All publicly owned land across Greater Manchester will be assessed for its suitability for development in a bid to build new housing.

  • Homeless could live in boats and caravans

    02/09/2011

    English councils will be allowed to house homeless people in caravans and houseboats from next year, the Communities and Local Government department has said.

  • Homes target to be missed

    02/09/2011

    Scotland will miss its target to build 6,000 affordable homes a year unless the government almost trebles its spending on new homes, the country’s leading housing organisations have said.

  • Join the debate

    02/09/2011

    As is now tradition, this week’s English bank holiday came complete with a housing scare story.

  • Swap cash calls put development at risk

    02/09/2011

    Housing associations may put development plans on hold for years as they are forced to use their homes as security to ensure they don’t default on complicated loan agreements.

  • Treasury asks housing sector for help

    02/09/2011

    Ministers are exploring whether the affordable house building programme can be used to boost the flagging economy, as part of an English housing strategy due to be published by Christmas.

  • Zero in on tax rules

    02/09/2011

    Landlords can still use subsidiaries to receive VAT benefits but they must seek proper legal advice, say Richard Brooks and Victoria Jardine

  • Rural group brands NPPF attacks 'ill-informed'

    01/09/2011

    The response of some groups to the reform of the planning system is ‘ill-informed’, the Country Land and Business Association has said.

  • Development failings halt landlord cash bid

    01/09/2011

    A housing association decided not to bid for grant under the £1.8 billion affordable homes programme after identifying failings in its development function.

  • New pilots chosen for neighbourhood planning

    31/08/2011

    A fourth wave of areas chosen to pilot neighbourhood planning powers has been announced.

  • House builders fined for 'appalling' site

    31/08/2011

    Two house builders have been fined after the Health and Safety Executive prosecuted them over ‘appalling’ standards at a building site.

  • Bring back the slums

    31/08/2011

    I think Grant Shapps is on to something with his latest plan to encourage people to live on boats.

  • Shapps' boat plan attacked as 'gimmick'

    30/08/2011

    A Government plan to tackle the housing crisis by giving cash incentives to councils which encourage people to live on boats has been dismissed as a desperate gimmick.

  • Support grows for Fed demands

    30/08/2011

    A pressure group and a building organisation have joined calls for immediate action into the housing crisis after a national body revealed that home ownership will fall in the next decade.

  • Bovis profits double as construction costs fall

    30/08/2011

    Bovis Homes has seen its profit more than double over the first six months of 2011 on the back of increased margins and lower construction costs.

  • Fed demands fix for 'broken' housing market

    30/08/2011

    The National Housing Federation is calling for more support for affordable housing, as research shows homeownership will slump over the next decade.

  • Shapps calls for boats to ease housing crisis

    30/08/2011

    Councils which encourage people to live on boats to ease the housing crisis will be given financial rewards, the housing minister has said.

  • Blame game

    30/08/2011

    So the planning system for new homes is in crisis? I’m not so sure.

  • CEOs call for Cameron to stand firm on planning

    27/08/2011

    Housing professionals have urged David Cameron to stand firm in the face of growing controversy over changes to the planning system.

  • Cost of building green homes falling

    26/08/2011

    The cost of building greener homes is falling year-on-year, new research shows.

  • RDA assets due for transfer revealed

    26/08/2011

    A list of the regional development agency assets due to be transferred to the Homes and Communities Agency has been published.

  • Councils to be given freedom to sell housing land

    26/08/2011

    The government has outlined plans to give councils more financial freedoms to sell their council housing assets.

  • Time to fight the Barbour Brigade

    26/08/2011

    I’ve always disliked the National Trust. I hate their twee, tacky giftshops and their bossy staff and the way they prissify and ossify our once-shaggy landed estates. But now my dislike has an additional justification - for the Trust’s campaign against planning reforms is an utter disgrace.

  • Housing crisis to 'worsen' as planning permissions fall

    26/08/2011

    The number of planning permissions granted in England in the last quarter was the second lowest in five years, according to the latest figures from the Home Builders Federation.

  • A cash incentive

    26/08/2011

    The new homes bonus gives councils a reason to work harder to bring empty homes back into use

  • Banks blamed for Strathclyde demise

    26/08/2011

    Scottish construction groups have criticised banks for exerting too much pressure on house builders after the collapse of Strathclyde Homes.

  • Battle looms over affordable rents

    26/08/2011

    Rows between housing associations and town halls over rent levels are threatening proposed developments under the government’s £1.8 billion affordable homes programme.

  • Breaking free

    26/08/2011

    In just seven months councils will be freed from the shackles of the housing revenue account. So how are their self-financing plans shaping up? Jules Birch finds out.

  • Councils fail to identify five-year supply of land

    26/08/2011

    More than half of Welsh local authorites have failed to identify enough land to meet housing need over the next five years.

  • Home build plans up by a fifth

    26/08/2011

    Applications to build new homes in the UK rose by almost 20 per cent year-on-year in the three months to the end of July.

  • Lay of the land

    26/08/2011

    Barriers to building must be tackled if we are to alleviate the housing crisis.

  • Unlocking funds to build

    26/08/2011

    Associations must work carefully to secure their development grant, says Gillian Bastow, partner at Lewis Silkin

  • Tory peer brands abolition of RDAs a 'mistake'

    25/08/2011

    A Conservative peer has criticised the government’s decision to abolish regional bodies, calling it a ‘mistake’.

  • Council homes to safeguard jobs

    25/08/2011

    A scheme of 800 new council homes in West Lothian will safeguard dozens of local jobs, the Scottish Housing minister has said.

  • Construction SMEs suffer sales drop

    24/08/2011

    Over a quarter of SMEs in the construction sector have suffered a downturn in sales of at least 20 per cent, according to research from Baker Tilly and Company Watch.

  • Green belt development row grows

    23/08/2011

    The planning minister has waded into a row between campaign groups and housebuilders over proposed planning reform.

  • House builder reports surge in profits

    23/08/2011

    Persimmon has reported a surge in pretax profit due to better margins on newly opened sites and control of development costs.

  • Scottish public want affordable homes

    23/08/2011

    New social housing is the Scottish public’s priority for construction, according to a poll.

  • United House wins second City redevelopment project

    22/08/2011

    United House has won a £2.8 million contract from City of London Corporation for the second phase of a refurbishment project in the Middlesex Street Estate.

  • Companies chosen for £3bn framework

    22/08/2011

    Willmott Dixon, Morgan Sindall, Mansell and Thomas Vale have all been appointed to a regional framework worth up to £3 billion.

  • Key workers prioritised in London 'pod' development

    22/08/2011

    Specialist west London housing association Ducane has prioritised key workers in a new development that will see 44 new units build on top of existing stock.

  • Home owning out of reach

    20/08/2011

    More than half of would-be buyers in the UK do not think they will ever be able to afford to buy their own home, research has revealed.

  • Outlook gloomy for housing provision

    19/08/2011

    Only 110,000 new homes will be built each year, according to new research by economics consultancy Cebr.

  • City West: ‘We’ll find a way to build’

    19/08/2011

    ‘The number of properties we had to convert [to affordable rent] per new home meant we fell down on value for money,’ says a disappointed Paul Whitehead, finance director at City West Housing Trust in Salford.

  • House building falls for housing associations

    18/08/2011

    Housing association starts have dropped by a third year-on-year, government figures published today show.

  • Tory calls for development on green belt

    18/08/2011

    A Conservative peer has tabled an amendment to the Localism Bill suggesting that the green belt should be used for development.

  • Housebuilder goes into administration

    18/08/2011

    A Scottish housebuilder has gone into administration, citing sustained cash-flow problems caused by the downturn in the housing market as the reason for its demise.

  • Camden appoints builder for Passivhaus project

    18/08/2011

    Camden has appointed a contractor to develop a 53 home residential block that will meet the Passivhaus energy efficiency standard.

  • Housing schemes feature in architecture awards

    18/08/2011

    Two affordable housing schemes from the UK have made it onto the shortlist of the World Architecture Festival Awards 2011.

  • Statutory housing strategy for councils proposed

    18/08/2011

    A Labour peer has called on local authorities to have a statutory 10 year housing strategy as part of the Localism Bill.

  • Immigration 'could cost social housing £25bn'

    17/08/2011

    A pressure group has claimed that housing new immigrants in social homes will cost the taxpayer around £1 billion-a-year for 25 years.

  • Affordable rent to drive up benefit bill

    17/08/2011

    Research has found affordable rent will make homes unaffordable for more than half of households in some parts of London and drive up the housing benefit bill.

  • Minister attacks claims of green belt development

    17/08/2011

    The communities minister has hit out at suggestions that the government’s planning reforms will put the green belt at risk.

  • Riot-hit areas receive government cash boost

    17/08/2011

    An extra £20 million of government funding has been made available to clean up and improve two of the areas worst affected by the riots.

  • Housebuilders defend government reforms

    17/08/2011

    A group of housebuilders and construction experts has leapt to the defence of government plans to reform the planning system.

  • National Housing Trust launched

    17/08/2011

    The site for the first homes built under a new Scottish finance initiative was opened today by the Scottish housing minister.

  • Call made for new funding for Scottish affordable housing

    17/08/2011

    The chief executive of one of Scotland’s largest housing associations is calling on the Scottish Government to find new ways of funding affordable housing after slashing its development targets.

  • Part two of £360 million estate regeneration begins

    17/08/2011

    The second phase of a £360 million regeneration project to build more than 3,000 new homes will begin next month.

  • Welsh housing association launches private development arm

    16/08/2011

    North Wales Housing has responded to the Welsh Assembly’s social housing budget cuts by launching its own private development arm.

  • Dealing with disputes

    15/08/2011

    The standard process for resolving construction disagreements isn’t always the most appropriate, explains Tom Wrzesien, a dispute resolution specialist at law firm TLT

  • Paper calls for Community Right to Buy exemption

    15/08/2011

    Residential property should not be included in plans to help communities purchase local assets, a consultation has said.

  • Social housing starts on the rise

    15/08/2011

    Social housing project starts increased by 19 per cent in the three months to July, according to the latest Glenigan construction figures.

  • Council approves plans for eco-town

    12/08/2011

    Detailed planning permission has been granted for the first phase of one of the eco-town developments.

  • Barking in build-to-let scheme

    12/08/2011

    Barking and Dagenham Council is championing an innovative development model that will see it enter the build-to-let market while continuing to build homes for social rent.

  • Construction work halted

    12/08/2011

    Building work on some social housing schemes was put on hold because of riots this week.

  • Fielding opposition

    12/08/2011

    Proposed legislation on registration of village greens would reduce risk to developers. Eollyn Ives, solicitor in the property team at Devonshires Solicitors, explains

  • Getting it down Pat

    12/08/2011

    She has one of the biggest jobs in housing, at one of the toughest times. Can Homes and Communities Agency boss Pat Ritchie deliver, wonders Caroline Thorpe.

  • First-time buyers return to market

    11/08/2011

    First-time buyers took out more mortgages in June than at any time in the last 10 months, according to figures.

  • The genius of Jane Jacobs

    10/08/2011

    ‘The Death and Life of Great American Cities’, Jane Jacobs’ classic book on urban planning, is 50 years old this year.

  • Campaigners defend attacks on planning reforms

    09/08/2011

    Countryside groups have defended their attacks on the government’s planning reforms, after a minister accused them of mounting a ‘smear campaign’.

  • Land investment scheme could fund homes

    09/08/2011

    Public bodies should invest land as equity to fund new rented homes, a think tank has argued.

  • Closure of architecture body cost £4.6m

    08/08/2011

    Closing down the government’s architecture watchdog cost the taxpayer £4.6 million, accounts show.

  • Morgan Sindall reports drop in profits

    08/08/2011

    Construction firm Morgan Sindall has reported a half-yearly drop in profits of 16 per cent compared to the same time last year.

  • Builder puts shared equity loans up for sale

    08/08/2011

    One of the UK’s leading house builders has confirmed it is looking at selling a chunk of its shared equity loans.

  • Housing associations to benefit from land release

    08/08/2011

    Housing associations can benefit from a government scheme to release land, but need to move quickly, according to a council that has been trialling the approach.

  • Communities worried about new planning powers

    05/08/2011

    Communities and planners are concerned about aspects of new planning powers being dictated by top-down policies, research has revealed.

  • Asset management

    05/08/2011

    Most people who’ve looked online today at the land owned by public bodies will be shocked. The sheer scale of properties and plots is vast.

  • Public sector told to make better use of assets

    05/08/2011

    The government has called on councils to make better use of the assets they hold, as it published details of buildings and land owned by public sector bodies.

  • Brussels takes on London over campaigners’ bills

    05/08/2011

    Housing providers could face a wave of legal challenges over plans to develop new homes if politicians in Brussels win a landmark case in the European Court of Justice.

  • Claim that offices can become 250,000 homes rejected

    05/08/2011

    Senior officials warned that statistics the government used to promote a flagship policy to convert office space into new homes were too optimistic.

  • Councils to put caps on relet rents

    05/08/2011

    Some London councils may use conditions on planning agreements to ban social landlords from raising rents on relets to the higher levels allowed under the new affordable rent regime.

  • From valley to vale

    05/08/2011

    Wales needs to build 14,200 homes a year to meet urgent housing demand. Nick Duxbury kicks off our Wales special by finding out what’s holding it back

  • Home sweet home

    05/08/2011

    Welsh first minister Carwyn Jones says his government is making housing its top priority

  • Keep it real

    05/08/2011

    Sir Humphrey from TV’s Yes, Minister had a word which he would doubtless have used had he been a protagonist in this week’s front page story.

  • Tread warily

    05/08/2011

    The transfer of all privately owned sewers to water companies creates a minefield for developers, writes James Menzies

  • Wind of change

    05/08/2011

    A host of new laws are set to change the landscape for Welsh social landlords. Michael Northcott reports

  • Government denies 450,000 homes rumours

    04/08/2011

    The Communities and Local Government department has refuted suggestions that the coalition is about to announce plans to build 450,000 new homes each year.

  • True blues

    04/08/2011

    If I were a Conservative I think I’d be feeling more than a little confused about the government’s attitude to new housebuilding.

  • House that inspired Peter Pan saved from demolition

    04/08/2011

    A campaign has been launched to turn a former housing association-owned home which was the inspiration for JM Barrie’s Peter Pan into a centre for children’s literature.

  • Landlord secures £50 million for new homes

    04/08/2011

    A housing association has secured £50 million funding to help towards building 4,000 new homes.

  • Taxman bows to pressure to halt VAT change

    04/08/2011

    The government has backed down on a VAT plan that would have cost housing associations £108 million over the next four years.

  • Rural communities hit by lack of affordable housing

    04/08/2011

    Rural communities could die out if a critical shortage in affordable housing is not addressed, a campaign group has argued.

  • RICS says public housing construction falling

    03/08/2011

    Construction of public housing has fallen in the second quarter of 2011 as spending cuts begin to hit.

  • An end to boom and bust?

    03/08/2011

    One of my daughter’s friends has just bought a house, the first of her peer group to enter the property market. Is this a sign that the housing market is on the up?

  • Europe restores payments from €200bn fund

    03/08/2011

    The European Commission has restored payments to the UK from a €200 billion regeneration fund, following assurances from the government.

  • Olympic park neighbourhood names revealed

    03/08/2011

    The names of the five housing neighbourhoods which will be built on the Olympic Park have been revealed.

  • House builder posts first half loss

    03/08/2011

    House builder Taylor Wimpey has posted a small loss for the first half of 2011, figures show.

  • Public sector house building on the rise

    02/08/2011

    New home registrations are steadily are up from last year, according to data from the National House Building Council.

  • Prime numbers

    02/08/2011

    The rise and rise (and rise) of the central London property market continues apace, seemingly disconnected from the rest of the economy and the rest of the country.

  • Coalfield assets move to HCA

    01/08/2011

    The Homes and Communities Agency has officially taken control of more than 50 coalfield assets from Regional Development Agencies across England.

  • Minister announces council planning proposals

    29/07/2011

    Councils will have to make planning decisions within 12 months, decentralisation minister Greg Clark has said.

  • Capital connect

    29/07/2011

    The G15 group of housing associations continues to form valuable partnerships to deliver homes for London

  • Lost legacy

    29/07/2011

    The Olympic planners promised to help their host community. What happened?

  • Man on a mission

    29/07/2011

    With just 12 months to go until the Olympic Games begin, mayor of Newham Sir Robin Wales tells Nick Duxbury why the host borough’s legacy is under threat and how he hopes to save it with an audacious new housing policy.

  • Planning minister backs Inside Housing campaign

    29/07/2011

    The planning minister has pledged support for Inside Housing’s campaign to free up extra housing land, by helping to pinpoint suitable public sector plots.

  • Social housing reaches finish line

    29/07/2011

    It is now exactly 363 days until the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games and the national media is beginning to get excited.

  • Direct question

    28/07/2011

    The Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) is posing a scary question with fundamental implications for landlords, tenants and the government: can lenders continue to fund social housing?

  • Landlords call for rail station to help create 2,500 homes

    28/07/2011

    A group of social landlords say the creation of a Crossrail station in a deprived part of London could lead to the development of thousands of homes.

  • Millions lost in PFI funding following review

    28/07/2011

    A scheme which promises to deliver thousands of new homes across the country has had its funding reduced following a series of reviews.

  • Affordable homes scheme still open to landlords

    27/07/2011

    Landlords whose bids for development money were rejected by the Homes and Communities Agency have been told they can still build homes under the affordable rent regime.

  • Fed concerned by section 106 payments

    27/07/2011

    The National Housing Federation is concerned councils are too eager to accept cash payments from developers instead of affordable housing.

  • Housing association leads 700 home development

    27/07/2011

    The London Development Agency has picked a housing association as preferred developer for a 700 home regeneration scheme.

  • Labour slams timing of planning shake up

    27/07/2011

    The Labour Party has accused the government of damaging house building by delaying its planning reforms, which were published this week.

  • Only one PFI housing scheme yet to pass test

    26/07/2011

    All but one of the 13 housing projects under procurement in the private finance initiative are a step closer to starting after passing value for money reviews.

  • Planning changes need clarity to deliver homes

    26/07/2011

    Clarifying the concept of ‘sustainable development’ will be crucial if the government’s planning reforms are to deliver more homes, developers have warned.

  • Village green rules to be reformed

    26/07/2011

    Proposals that would make it harder for legislation governing village greens to be used to block development have been unveiled by the government.

  • Draft planning framework calls for council action

    25/07/2011

    Councils will have to detail the size, type and tenure of new homes they want built in their areas, under government proposals to streamline the planning regime.

  • HCA corporate plan published

    25/07/2011

    More than half of the 80,000 new homes expected to be built under the affordable homes programme are due for completion in the final year of the four-year scheme.

  • New London Plan revealed

    25/07/2011

    The mayor of London has published his 20-year plan for development of the capital.

  • House prices continue to slip

    25/07/2011

    House prices fell slightly across England and Wales this month, according to data from housing market information company Hometrack.

  • L&Q rejects rival's plan for stadium site

    25/07/2011

    London and Quadrant has released evidence showing why it believes a millionaire’s plan to re-introduce dog racing to its Walthamstow Stadium site is unviable.

  • Scottish affordable homes target missed

    22/07/2011

    The Scottish Government’s flagship affordable homes fund will only deliver 700 homes this year – 500 fewer than planned.

  • Leading social housing contractors plan merger

    22/07/2011

    Two of the social housing sector’s biggest contractors are planning to merge.

  • Cashing in

    22/07/2011

    The Homes and Communities Agency is reluctant to divulge details of who got what in last week’s grant giveaway. But that hasn’t stopped Carl Brown finding out

  • First bids for NHT funding

    22/07/2011

    The first deals have been signed under Scotland’s flagship programme to kick-start house building.

  • HCA tries to silence landlords

    22/07/2011

    The Homes and Communities Agency has attempted to gag landlords that wanted to reveal their funding allocations under the £1.8 billion affordable homes programme.

  • Pathfinder bids too high

    22/07/2011

    A £30 million fund to help the areas worst affected by the axing of the housing market renewal programme has received almost £45 million of bids.

  • Survey warns of 10 year drop in development

    22/07/2011

    Housing associations plan to reduce the number of homes they build for the best part of the next decade.

  • Told you so

    22/07/2011

    The prime minister should listen to the advice of his own housing department because there is no more room in the private rented sector, says Jon Cruddas

  • Council accepts £22m in lieu of affordable homes

    21/07/2011

    A council has agreed to accept a £22 million payment from a private developer instead of affordable homes after concluding these would devalue the development.

  • Self build homes could double in a decade

    21/07/2011

    The number of self-build homes built each year could double in the next decade if new proposals are implemented.

  • Health service urged to sell spare land for homes

    21/07/2011

    Government plans to build thousands of new homes have received a boost after the NHS confirmed it was looking at selling off surplus land.

  • Minister accused of doctoring official report

    21/07/2011

    A MP has accused communities minister Andrew Stunell of doctoring the official record of parliament.

  • Landlords to raise £2bn for affordable rent homes

    21/07/2011

    London’s largest housing associations will jointly raise more than £2 billion of private finance for new homes over the next four years.

  • Labour attack 'dithering' planning document

    20/07/2011

    The Labour party has criticised government ‘dithering’ over the publication of a major planning document.

  • Thousands of homes planned as army base closes

    20/07/2011

    Plans to build thousands of homes in Berkshire are a step closer after the Ministry of Defence confirmed an army base is to close.

  • Pathfinder scheme achieves council savings

    20/07/2011

    A pathfinder scheme has found local authorities can save money and improve services by making better use of assets including land.

  • Affordable homes bid totals emerge

    19/07/2011

    Details of bids for the affordable homes programme are beginning to emerge with organisations having mixed success in securing funding.

  • Consultation launched into local planning changes

    19/07/2011

    A consultation into proposed changes to local planning regulation has been launched by the Department for Communities and Local Government.

  • Cambridge eco-town discussions reopened

    19/07/2011

    Plans for a former eco-town near Cambridge could go ahead after the parish council reopened discussions on its future.

  • HCA chief defends affordable homes programme

    19/07/2011

    The chief executive of the Homes and Communities Agency has insisted the new delivery agreements under the £1.8 billion affordable homes programme are flexible, following concerns from landlords.

  • Authority seeks land for house building

    19/07/2011

    A London council is calling for landowners to bring forward sites for development as part of a commitment to deliver 320 homes a year.

  • Politicians assess potential of public land

    18/07/2011

    A cross-party group of MPs and peers will examine how local authorities can use their £250 billion property assets to boost growth.

  • Council seeks third of HMR transition fund

    18/07/2011

    One council has bid for more than a third of the £30 million the government has set aside to help areas hit by the closure of the housing market renewal programme.

  • A dose of market forces?

    18/07/2011

    ‘Supermarket to shake up sector’, read the headline in Inside Housing, following the announcement at Harrogate that an un-named supermarket chain intended to enter the social housing sector.

  • Housing project gives city economic boost

    18/07/2011

    A £1 billion project to upgrade homes in Glasgow has brought a major economic boost and thousands of jobs to the city.

  • House building starts fall

    18/07/2011

    Construction starts were down 24 per cent between April and June, the latest Glenigan Index has revealed.

  • Cardiff land for housing warning

    18/07/2011

    Land for housing in Cardiff will run out in two years, planning consultants have warned.

  • CIH has 'serious' concerns over affordable homes

    15/07/2011

    The Chartered Institute of Housing has said there are ‘serious on-going concerns’ around the affordable homes programme despite proposals to spend £1.8 billion on building 170,000 new homes.

  • Experts concerned by planning framework

    15/07/2011

    The forthcoming national planning policy framework lacks detail around plans for the provision of affordable housing, experts have warned.

  • Social landlords shine in design awards

    15/07/2011

    Social landlords have been commended in the Housing Design Awards for schemes including a modern reinvention of an 18th century tenement block.

  • Beating the build barriers

    15/07/2011

    In the latest instalment of the Get on our Land campaign, Caroline Thorpe visits Arun Council to find out how it is giving away land to kick-start development.

  • Building blocks

    15/07/2011

    Giving councils the power to decide how many homes to build could intensify the affordable housing crisis

  • Country care

    15/07/2011

    Rural communities depend on affordable homes

  • HCA delivery panel fails to woo councils

    15/07/2011

    The Homes and Communities Agency has launched a publicity drive to encourage more councils to use its panel of approved contractors after just 15 per cent of England’s local authorities signed up.

  • Landlords risk losing grant if developments change

    15/07/2011

    Social landlords could lose all their grant if they make minor changes to their development programmes, under new delivery agreements released this week.

  • Timber frame is safe

    15/07/2011

    Timber frame became the scapegoat for site fires but they are now setting the safety standards, says Andrew Carpenter

  • Affordable rents' programme - first reaction

    14/07/2011

    Today’s announcement of the “affordable rents’ programme show that 90% of the new homes will be provided by housing associations.

  • A clone again?

    14/07/2011

    A Lib Dem peer has tabled the so-called “Cambridge amendment” to the Localism Bill. If passed, it would give communities the power to decide the mix of shops in their areas and to reject those that could lead to their towns and cities becoming “clones”.

  • Successful bidders for affordable homes programme revealed

    14/07/2011

    The list of successful bidders in the affordable homes programme has been revealed.

  • Thousands of extra homes expected as affordable bids announced

    14/07/2011

    Thousands of extra homes are expected to be built under the affordable homes programme after the government revealed figures for the scheme.

  • Barratt results show drop in completions

    14/07/2011

    Barratt has reported a slight fall in completions during its financial year, and said the market remains ‘challenging’ outside London and the south east.

  • Call made for Scottish Government to prioritise housing

    14/07/2011

    Three major housing bodies have joined forces to call on the Scottish Government to make housing a national priority.

  • Builder completes sale of North American arm

    14/07/2011

    Taylor Wimpey has completed the sale of its North American business, leaving it clear to focus on the UK.

  • Government green-light for 1,600-home regeneration

    13/07/2011

    A £115 million regeneration project which promises 1,600 new homes has been given the seal of approval by the government.

  • Contracts signed on £330 million project to deliver 2,300 new homes

    13/07/2011

    Plans to develop brownfield sites into 2,300 new homes in Sheffield are a step closer with the signing of a £330 million contract.

  • The green week

    12/07/2011

    Today sees the launch of Sustainable Housing’s weekly green news bulletins.

  • Localism Bill amendment for regional spacial strategies snubbed

    12/07/2011

    The government has ruled out a transitional arrangement to help councils prepare for the scrapping of regional planning targets.

  • Housing demand stays flat while prices fall

    12/07/2011

    Demand for property remained flat last month and house prices continued to fall, according to the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors.

  • Ebenezer Howard - a thoroughly modern man

    12/07/2011

    I sit on the Board of Howard Cottage Housing Association in Letchworth, and this is our centenary year. We were founded in 1911 by Sir Ebenezer Howard, the man who created the Garden Cities.

  • Case for the defence

    11/07/2011

    Ministers have given their most detailed response yet to the warnings about the consequences of benefit cuts in the Pickles letter.

  • Labour could keep affordable rent

    08/07/2011

    A Labour government would not make radical changes to the new funding model for social housing, the shadow housing minister has said.

  • Call made for community restrictions in Localism Bill

    08/07/2011

    The Localism Bill should be amended to ensure housebuilding is not unreasonably restricted by communities, a senior National Housing Federation director has said.

  • House builder to develop 446 FirstBuy homes

    08/07/2011

    House builder Bovis homes has received government funding to build 446 homes under the FirstBuy scheme for first time buyers.

  • Carbon payments could raise £1.1 bn

    08/07/2011

    Local authorities could set up multi-million pound funds to pay for carbon reduction measures using contributions from developing associations and house builders, under proposals unveiled this week.

  • Looming deadline

    08/07/2011

    Overhauling the way England pays to build affordable housing was never going to be straightforward, even with a spending pot half the size of previous years.

  • The new top dog

    08/07/2011

    Councils are muscling in on the bond market, lured by attractive prices. Should housing associations be worried? Carl Brown investigates.

  • Boost for first-time buyers in Scotland

    07/07/2011

    The Scottish Government has given £250,000 towards a scheme to help first-time buyers get purchase a new home.

  • Local areas promised benefits after RDA land switch to HCA

    06/07/2011

    Money raised from the sale of Regional Development Agencies’ assets will be ploughed back into local areas, the Homes and Communities Agency has pledged.

  • Zero carbon rethink to drive energy demands

    06/07/2011

    Revisions to the government’s definition of zero carbon homes will result in increasing demands for low carbon electricity, it has emerged.

  • Further 800 homes planned for Battersea site

    06/07/2011

    Around 800 new homes could be built next to Battersea Power Station after four giant gas holders were earmarked for decommissioning.

  • Zero carbon homes proposals unveiled

    05/07/2011

    Proposals have been published outlining how builders could meet the requirement to develop zero carbon homes from 2016 by paying for offsite schemes.

  • Morgan Sindall affordable housing performing well

    05/07/2011

    Morgan Sindall’s affordable housing arm has performed well in the first half of the year, securing £90 million of contract wins, according to a trading update.

  • Developer says building will increase with mortgage lending

    05/07/2011

    The house building industry will only deliver a significant increase in homes if mortgage lending restrictions are eased, a leading developer has warned.

  • Shapps hints at further powers for communities

    05/07/2011

    The housing minister has hinted at further powers for communities to fund regeneration in local areas.

  • Completions for house builder rise by more than a quarter

    05/07/2011

    House builder Galliford Try has reported a 27 per cent increase in housing completions for its trading year, which ended on 30 June.

  • Report claims waiting lists to grow and new builds to fall

    04/07/2011

    Social housing waiting lists will get much worse within the next two years as the government’s affordable housing scheme will see starts drop by more than a third, a report warns.

  • Regeneration scheme promises 20,000 new homes

    01/07/2011

    A regeneration scheme has been launched which is claimed could build up to 20,000 new homes by 2020.

  • House builder sells Scottish operation

    01/07/2011

    Housebuilder Redrow has sold its Scottish operation to Springfield Properties Plc for £49 million.

  • Judge throws out council plans for 3,600 homes

    01/07/2011

    A judge has quashed council plans to build 3,600 homes in Hertfordshire after finding they fell short of environmental requirements.

  • The waiting game

    01/07/2011

    In week two of our campaign to free up land for development, Inside Housing visits Basildon to find out how people on the housing waiting list feel about the lack of affordable homes. Photography and words by Simon Brandon

  • Voicing concern

    01/07/2011

    Politicians must address people’s growing concern over housing

  • Watchdog excluded from HCA bid talks

    01/07/2011

    The social housing regulator has had no involvement in negotiations over landlords’ bids for funding to build new homes.

  • Former lunatic asylum gets housing green light

    30/06/2011

    Developers have been given the green light to turn a 19th century lunatic asylum into 260 homes.

  • Hot air

    30/06/2011

    Eco-bling? Hmm. There’s something not quite right in the statement by Grant Shapps about zero carbon homes this week.

  • Call for clarity after Pathfinders £1.4bn fund snub

    30/06/2011

    The housing minister has been asked to clarify his comments on the use of a £1.4 billion fund to support housing market renewal programmes.

  • Signs of stability in housing market

    30/06/2011

    The housing market is showing increasing signs of stability, with some improvement in mortgage availability, according to Taylor Wimpey.

  • Steering group appointment first step to cutting home building red tape

    29/06/2011

    The appointment of former Environment Agency chairman Sir John Harman to a group tackling the complexity of home building standards is the first step to cutting red tape, Grant Shapps has said.

  • Areas express interest in trialing neighbourhood plans

    29/06/2011

    Almost 100 areas have expressed an interest in applying for grants to help them trial neighbourhood plans, government figures have revealed.

  • Scottish house building fund oversubscribed

    29/06/2011

    A fund for house building in Scotland has been oversubscribed, proving the Scottish Government should extend the offer, the Chartered Institute of Housing has said.

  • Campaign to raise profile of affordable housing

    29/06/2011

    A campaign is launching in parliament today to put pressure on the government to prioritise affordable housing.

  • Pathfinder areas cut off from £1.4bn fund

    28/06/2011

    The head of the £1.4 billion regional growth fund has said the money will not be used for housing market renewal, contradicting claims made by the housing minister.

  • Economic case could win over government

    28/06/2011

    Housing providers must convince government of the economic case for investing in affordable homes rather than focusing on need, Shelter’s head of policy has said.

  • London homes could drive wider economy

    27/06/2011

    Investment in affordable housing in London is vital for the economy of both the capital and the UK as a whole, a report has found.

  • Pickles rejects criticism of planning reforms

    27/06/2011

    Eric Pickles has defended his decision to scrap house building targets, following criticism by a parliamentary committee.

  • Hometrack records surge in house sales

    27/06/2011

    House sales in the last month have risen 10.6 per cent, with more buyers registering interest with agents.

  • House builder reports leap in profits

    24/06/2011

    Berkeley Group has reported a 23 per cent jump in profits.

  • Planning granted for regeneration of former Rover factory

    24/06/2011

    The regeneration of a former car manufacturing site in Birmingham to a 2,000-home community is a step closer following the approval of planning permission.

  • Thousands fewer homes to be built because of localism

    24/06/2011

    Localism will hit house building in the future with 31,000 fewer homes expected to be built each year, a new report claims.

  • Abandoned pathfinder tenants take legal action

    24/06/2011

    Residents left abandoned in half-finished housing market renewal schemes are preparing to launch compensation claims against their council.

  • Campaign demands land for homes

    24/06/2011

    A host of high-profile housing and planning figures today throw their weight behind Inside Housing’s new campaign to free up land for badly-needed homes.

  • Get on our land

    24/06/2011

    Solving the national housing crisis starts with unlocking land for development. Today, Inside Housing launches a new campaign to do just that. Caroline Thorpe reports

  • Industrial revolution

    24/06/2011

    It’s bigger than Hyde Park, less than a mile from Westminster and has room for 16,000 new homes. The £10 billion Nine Elms regeneration project is one of the last central London development opportunities. Ravi Govindia takes us on a visual tour

  • Jump on board

    24/06/2011

    ‘Get on our land!’ may not seem the most likely rallying cry for the housing industry, but we at Inside Housing believe that it is the most important.

  • Olympics boosts public homes

    24/06/2011

    Registrations for new public sector homes in the United Kingdom have increased since last year due to Olympic park registrations.

  • Seeing what develops

    24/06/2011

    The end of grant funding for new social homes has triggered heated debate over the future of development and seen frenzied bids for the £1.8 billion affordable rent programme. So will this deliver the homes the country needs? Inside Housing convened a round table of industry experts to find out. Nick Duxbury reports.

  • Shape shifters

    24/06/2011

    Contractor Willmott Dixon and property advisor Savills are joining forces in an industry first to transform themselves into a new hybrid which takes on development risk. Chloë Stothart finds out how they plan to make it work.

  • The grand plan

    24/06/2011

    Involving communities in the planning process can help combat nimbyism, says Richard Kemp

  • The man on the Mersey

    24/06/2011

    Joe Anderson’s leadership of Liverpool Council has landed him in hot water with the prime minister. But, as Martin Hilditch finds out, David Cameron’s criticism isn’t what gets him hot under the collar.

  • Top 50 associations lead on development

    24/06/2011

    England’s 50 biggest housing associations have bid to deliver up to 80 per cent of the 150,000 affordable homes the government wants to build.

  • Shapps: affordable rent is here to stay

    23/06/2011

    The housing minister has insisted the affordable rent regime is here to stay, despite accusations that it is unsustainable.

  • Blast from the past

    23/06/2011

    Labour’s policy review on housing seems to be starting in the right place: an honest admission of past mistakes. But where will it end up?

  • HRA reform could halt demolition

    23/06/2011

    The new system of self-financing could deter authorities from demolishing old stock, a fringe session at the Chartered Institute of Housing conference in Harrogate has heard.

  • Action plan to cut carbon in built environment announced

    22/06/2011

    The government has unveiled an action plan to work with industry bodies to cut carbon across the construction sector and built environment by 2050.

  • Building a better future

    22/06/2011

    Taylor Wimpey chief executive Pete Redfern believes housing is critical to the UK’s economic recovery. Here, he tells Nick Duxbury why

  • Plans for Earls Court scheme to be submitted

    22/06/2011

    Planning applications for the £8 billion Earls Court regeneration scheme will be submitted today.

  • Government accused of not believing in localism

    22/06/2011

    A Liverpool councillor has accused the government of not believing in localism following a ruling to put a stop on the decision to knock down 200 homes in the Welsh Streets area of the city.

  • Housing reform scorecard to hold government to account

    21/06/2011

    Three leading housing organisations have joined forces to hold the government to account on its housing reforms.

  • CIH head attacks government housing reforms

    21/06/2011

    The government’s housing reforms are likely to be based on a ‘flawed and unsustainable’ model, the Chartered Institute of Housing’s president has warned.

  • Lenders urged to back self builders

    21/06/2011

    Housing minister Grant Shapps has written to lenders urging them to support self builders.

  • Supply shortage to hit 100,000 buyers

    21/06/2011

    Low levels of housing supply will prevent 100,000 people getting on the housing ladder in 2011, according to new analysis.

  • Pickles puts stop on Beatle home demolition

    20/06/2011

    Plans to demolish the former home of Beatles drummer Ringo Starr have been put on hold after Eric Pickles stepped in.

  • First steps

    20/06/2011

    It may sound like good news for 10,000 first-time buyers who would otherwise struggle to get on to the housing ladder but the real winners from FirstBuy are still housebuilders.

  • Firstbuy funding allocated

    20/06/2011

    More than 100 house builders and housing associations have been allocated funding under the government’s £180 million Firstbuy scheme,.

  • Housing association to develop private homes near Arsenal FC

    20/06/2011

    London & Quadrant and house builder Barratt have signed a deal to jointly develop 375 new private homes close to Arsenal Football Club.

  • Firstbuy allocations to be announced

    20/06/2011

    Allocations under the £210 million Firstbuy scheme are expected to be announced today.

  • Politician backs tenant campaign to save estate

    17/06/2011

    Green Party London Assembly member Jenny Jones has thrown her support behind a tenants’ campaign to save their estates from demolition.

  • Development to drop under new affordable homes programme

    17/06/2011

    Development of homes under the new affordable homes programme is set to fall by a third, according to the National Housing Federation.

  • Council says track campaigner has not discussed planning application

    17/06/2011

    A millionaire who wants to re-introduce dog racing to Walthamstow Stadium has not had pre-planning application discussions with the local authority, despite campaigners claiming he has ‘provided an alternative plan’.

  • Be more inventive

    17/06/2011

    At last year’s annual Chartered Institute of Housing conference and exhibition at Harrogate, the views of delegates were used to produce a ‘housing pact’ which was presented to housing minister Grant Shapps on the final day of the event.

  • Cracking efficiency

    17/06/2011

    It’s undisputed that housing must be provided more efficiently, but how best to do it? Inside Housing convened a round table of industry experts to find out. Caroline Thorpe reports

  • Future vision

    17/06/2011

    Housing must become a political issue to ensure everyone has access to secure, affordable homes

  • Globe trotter

    17/06/2011

    Joe Montgomery swapped the civil service to help lead a worldwide membership body that connects funders with developers. But what’s in it for UK regeneration? Lydia Stockdale asks him.

  • MPs’ pledges

    17/06/2011

    A year is a long time in politics. Twelve months ago this group of MPs pledged to do their bit for the housing sector, but have they delivered? Lucinda Dunseath finds out

  • No cash left for low-cost homes

    17/06/2011

    Councils are dropping affordable housing targets to prioritise more lucrative types of development, the National Housing Federation has warned.

  • Number of family homes to plummet in capital

    17/06/2011

    The Homes and Communities Agency is leaning on social landlords to increase the number of family-size homes they have bid to fund through the affordable rent programme after a disappointing response.

  • True to their word?

    17/06/2011

    Last year the Chartered Institute of Housing’s inaugral Housing Pact asked for a series of commitments from the government and set out what the sector would do in return. Twelve months on, Sarah Davis examines which pledges were kept

  • Council offered £78 million to reduce affordable housing quota

    16/06/2011

    Westminster Council has been offered £78 million to put towards affordable housing after developers of Chelsea Barracks said they could not meet their 50 per cent quota.

  • City seeks planning charge exemption

    16/06/2011

    The planning officer for the City of London will claim today that businesses could be harmed if office space is turned into homes.

  • Blind alley

    15/06/2011

    What happens if this is just the start of the fall in home ownership? That’s the sobering question raised in a new report out today that begs huge questions for social landlords, potential investors in private renting and above all the government.

  • Presumption for sustainable development needs better definition say experts

    15/06/2011

    The government’s ‘presumption in favour of sustainable development’ needs to be more tightly defined, experts have said.

  • Housing pledge for 250,000 Londoners from mayoral hopeful

    15/06/2011

    A London assembly member has launched his bid to oust Boris Johnson with a pledge to build homes for 250,000 Londoners.

  • Councillors waive affordable housing contribution for private members club

    14/06/2011

    Conservative members on Westminster Council’s planning sub-committee have been criticised for waiving affordable housing contributions worth a total of £870,000 on two new developments.

  • Fire breaks out at Galliard Homes site

    14/06/2011

    A fire has broken out on the roof of a construction site in The Strand in central London.

  • HCA beats home starts target by more than half

    14/06/2011

    The Homes and Communities Agency has outstripped expectation in the number of home starts by more than 60 per cent.

  • HCA gives extra funding to provide more affordable homes to council

    13/06/2011

    An affordable housing project will provide Bradford with 50 new homes after the Homes and Communities Agency stepped in with extra funding.

  • Providers embrace affordable rent despite fears

    13/06/2011

    Housing associations are embracing affordable rent despite concerns about the impact it could have on build rates and borrowing capacity.

  • Public land sale welcomed by NHF

    13/06/2011

    The National Housing Federation has welcomed the government’s plans to sell off public land for new homes, but has called for ministers to ensure land is made available to social landlords.

  • 40,000 affordable homes target is dropped

    10/06/2011

    The coalition government has dropped a target to build 40,000 affordable homes on public sector land.

  • A job half done

    10/06/2011

    What happens when regeneration work is stopped in its tracks? In the second part of a series on the axed housing market renewal programme, Martin Hilditch visits Newcastle and Gateshead to find out

  • Beware broken promises

    10/06/2011

    The Defective Premises Act may not apply to negligent building work in existing homes. Emma Wiltshire, senior associate at Clarke Willmott, explains

  • That’s capital

    10/06/2011

    Benefit reform must not be so radical that it puts private investors off developing affordable homes in London

  • Welsh government tells planners to do more

    08/06/2011

    The Welsh government has told planners they must do more to support jobs and economic growth.

  • HCA to release land for 3,000 homes

    08/06/2011

    The Homes and Communities Agency is releasing land for an extra 3,000 homes as part of a government drive to utilise public sector land.

  • Labour criticises public land plans

    08/06/2011

    The shadow housing minister has questioned whether government plans to release public land for house building will address the shortage of affordable homes.

  • 100,000 new homes to be built as government plans to release land

    07/06/2011

    The government is to release thousands of acres of public land to build up to 100,000 new homes.

  • HCA product to aid house building

    07/06/2011

    Local authorities will be able to map potential development areas through a free web-based system developed by the Homes and Communities Agency.

  • Council reveals £55 million regeneration plan for 600 homes

    07/06/2011

    Edinburgh Council has unveiled £55 million of regeneration across the city which will provide up to 600 new homes.

  • Extra funding ruled out for pathfinders

    06/06/2011

    The government has ruled out extra funding for authorities left to deal with the aftermath of the housing market renewal pathfinders, a Homes and Communities Agency paper reveals.

  • Planning application submitted for Walthamstow dog track development

    06/06/2011

    London and Quadrant has submitted a planning application for a controversial development on the site of a former iconic dog track.

  • Public housing construction orders fall

    06/06/2011

    The value of public sector housing construction orders fell by 17 per cent in the first quarter of 2011 compared to the same period last year, according to the Office of National Statistics.

  • Broken faith

    03/06/2011

    Halfway through their mission to revive the housing market in depressed areas, pathfinders have had their funding axed. In the first of a two-part series on the demise of the landmark programme, Inside Housing reports from the communities where hope of a new start is fading fast

  • Don’t abandon them

    03/06/2011

    Housing market renewal was controversial from the start.

  • Labour: coalition’s £30m is peanuts to pathfinders

    03/06/2011

    Labour has launched a campaign to secure extra cash for councils dealing with the aftermath of the axed housing market renewal programme.

  • Task force sets out London plan

    03/06/2011

    Public sector brownfield land could accommodate as many as 50,000 new homes in London, according to a task force appointed by the city’s mayor.

  • New homes branded a 'big con' by union

    02/06/2011

    The new homes bonus is a ‘big con’ which penalises northern councils, according to Unison.

  • Shapps tells communities to start planning despite powers not being ready

    02/06/2011

    The housing minister has called on communities to start planning development in their area in readiness for new local powers.

  • Scottish voters misled by government over home builds plan, claims charity

    02/06/2011

    The Scottish Government has been accused of misleading voters about the number of social homes it intends to build.

  • Developer secures consent for more than 3,000 homes

    01/06/2011

    Developer St. Modwen has announced it secured planning consent for more than 3,000 new homes in the first half of the financial year.

  • Government construction strategy revealed

    01/06/2011

    The government has unveiled its construction strategy, which it hopes will reduce public sector procurement costs by up to 20 per cent by the end of this parliament.

  • Galliford Try wins housing frameworks worth £584 million

    01/06/2011

    Galliford Try has won a place on three affordable housing framework agreements worth a total of £584 million.

  • Planning permissions at half the level of five years ago

    31/05/2011

    Housing planning permissions granted in the first quarter of this year show a year-on-year fall and are now at around half the level of five years ago, according to the Home Builders Federation.

  • Public homes registrations up 7 per cent

    27/05/2011

    The number of new social homes registrations has increased since last year while private sector registrations have decreased, according to the National House Building Council’s latest figures.

  • Vela: ‘Merger will help us build more’

    27/05/2011

    Staff at 17,000-home Vela Group barely had time to catch their breath between the group’s creation in December 2010 and the biggest shake-up in housing policy and funding in half a century.

  • Scottish housing starts down 11 per cent

    26/05/2011

    Housing starts in Scotland fell 11 per cent last year compared with 2009, according to government figures.

  • 20,000-home development on hold after Localism Bill fears

    26/05/2011

    Plans to build 20,000 homes in Stevenage have been thrown out after the Planning Inspectorate deemed the council’s draft Core Strategy ‘unsound’.

  • Property industry should support communities

    25/05/2011

    Developers and communities will need to work together to deliver the government’s plan for local-led development, the Land and Society Commission has said.

  • Lone danger

    24/05/2011

    If nothing else convinces the government to take the urgent need for more new homes more seriously, here’s something that just might.

  • Empty homes 'hidden' by councils

    24/05/2011

    Thousands of empty homes are being hidden from statistics as councils run out of money to fund regeneration projects, research has revealed.

  • Council to challenge Shapps over £30 million snub

    24/05/2011

    Gateshead Council will challenge the government over a decision to exclude it from a £30 million fund to improve housing market renewal areas.

  • Report calls for more family homes as single parent households grow

    24/05/2011

    A total of 234,000 new households are forming a year, deepening the shortage of housing in England, according to a report published today (Tuesday).

  • Internet mapping tool launched to help find empty homes

    24/05/2011

    Online mapping tools to help councils identify empty homes were launched by the Communities and Local Government department yesterday.

  • Contractor announces leap in profits

    23/05/2011

    Mitie has reported a 16.5 per cent increase in its operating profit.

  • Miliband outlines Labour promise to improve housing

    23/05/2011

    Labour leader Ed Miliband has set out his promise to improve housing in a speech today.

  • Proposals for draft National Planning Policy Framework released

    20/05/2011

    Local authorities must have a clear understanding of the housing need in their area, a proposed draft of the National Planning Policy Framework has said.

  • Green revolution

    20/05/2011

    The Green Party this month won an historic victory to take control of its first council. Here, in an exclusive interview with Rhiannon Bury, Brighton & Hove’s new leader Bill Randall reveals his plans

  • Huw Lewis: private investment plans back on

    20/05/2011

    The new Welsh housing minister is to hold talks about resurrecting plans to set up a housing trust to pump private money into the social housing sector.

  • Islington: we’d rather build on school land than charge 80% rents

    20/05/2011

    Islington Council will hand over school land, vacant plots and community centres to housing associations as part of its plan to snub the government’s £1.8 billion affordable rent programme.

  • Kent reveals new build plan

    20/05/2011

    Kent Council has unveiled proposals to increase the use of public land to deliver new affordable housing.

  • CLG strengthens business plan

    19/05/2011

    The Communities and Local Government department has strengthened measures for reporting progress on house building following a consultation.

  • Construction of public housing falls

    19/05/2011

    Public sector construction activity fell in the first quarter of 2011 despite an upturn in the market overall, according to a survey by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors.

  • Government calls on communities to tackle empty homes

    19/05/2011

    Andrew Stunell has called on communities to tackle the ‘scandal’ of empty homes.

  • Kier issues positive trading update

    18/05/2011

    Kier has issued a trading statement saying its financial performance is in line with expectations.

  • Shapps outlines zero carbon standard

    18/05/2011

    The government has outlined its long-awaited definition of zero carbon homes, but said some details have yet to be confirmed.

  • Businesses to support local planning

    17/05/2011

    Eight business groups will trial new planning powers to produce a development strategy for their local areas.

  • Paying the price

    17/05/2011

    What can be done to prevent the booms and busts that seem to happen in the housing market about once a decade?

  • Building ourselves into or out of trouble?

    17/05/2011

    Urgent and fundamental reform of the housing market is needed to avoid the rollercoaster of boom and bust.

  • Planning reforms attacked

    17/05/2011

    The overhaul of the planning system will deliver chaos rather than growth and harm the environment, a Labour MP has said.

  • Urgent reform needed to stop boom and bust

    17/05/2011

    Urgent action is needed to tackle housing market volatility to prevent another cycle of boom and bust, according to a report.

  • Implementing affordable rent

    17/05/2011

    As the Localism Bill returns to parliament, Samantha Hall examines some of the problems facing landlords seeking to introduce fixed term tenancies

  • Development partner for £80 million regeneration project chosen

    16/05/2011

    Mulalley teamed with One Housing have been appointed as the development partner for the Ladderswood Estate in Enfield.

  • Mears announces £120m of contract wins

    16/05/2011

    Mears has announced £120 million of contract wins and said trading is in line with expectations.

  • Greyhound fan offers £9m for L&Q site

    13/05/2011

    A millionaire has made a £9 million offer to buy the site of a former dog track from London & Quadrant.

  • Assembly Government names housing minister

    13/05/2011

    The new Welsh Assembly Government has announced that Huw Lewis, former deputy minister for children, has been appointed as minister for housing, regeneration and heritage.

  • Arrested development

    13/05/2011

    Bids for Homes and Community Agency grant are in, but are social landlords shrinking their building plans? Carl Brown finds out. Illustration by Pete Pachoumis

  • Building brain wave

    13/05/2011

    A new housing project in Glasgow will offer a haven to the increasing number of people in the city living with alcohol-related brain damage. Clare Harris reports

  • Different approach

    13/05/2011

    To meet the overwhelming demand for social housing landlords must work with the private sector

  • Experts slam government regeneration plans

    13/05/2011

    Policy experts have launched a scathing attack on government plans to improve deprived areas.

  • Nowhere to live

    13/05/2011

    It is comforting that falling property prices and rising wages have made it possible for the UK’s firefighters, paramedics, teachers and other ‘key workers’ to buy homes in previously unaffordable areas.

  • Squeezed out?

    13/05/2011

    With house prices cooling, how easy is it for housing workers to get on the ladder? Caroline Thorpe reports

  • Take a stand

    13/05/2011

    Deputy prime minister Nick Clegg this week called on his party to ‘take a long hard look at ourselves’ and deliver a more ‘muscular liberalism’ following the ‘bloody nose’ given by voters.

  • The grassroots movement

    13/05/2011

    Developing landlords must beware of the community right to buy land, says Linda Convery, partner, real estate and development, at Lewis Silkin

  • Working up a sweat

    13/05/2011

    Giving people a share in a property they do up could help increase homeownership

  • Meeting called for over future of former dog track

    12/05/2011

    A group of MPs is calling on a council leader and housing association staff to appear before it to discuss plans to build 300 homes on a former dog track in east London.

  • Consultant warns house building could become impossible

    12/05/2011

    House building is ‘nearly impossible’ under the government’s new affordable housing regime, a property consultancy has warned.

  • Pickles accused of legalising cash for planning

    12/05/2011

    Communities secretary Eric Pickles has been accused of attempting to legalise planning decisions made on the basis of financial reward.

  • You get what you pay for

    11/05/2011

    A contractor has won a Decent Homes project with a bid more than £2 million below the estimate, but was the value of the work right in the first place?

  • Now we are one

    11/05/2011

    The striking thing for me about the coalition is just how little of what it has done in government was agreed or even hinted at when David Cameron and Nick Clegg took that walk in the garden of 10 Downing Street exactly 12 months ago today.

  • American Embassy housing plans revealed

    11/05/2011

    Thousands of homes will be built around the new American embassy if planning proposals are given the green light.

  • Builders release positive trading updates

    11/05/2011

    House builder Barratt Homes is predicting an upturn in profits by the end of its financial year.

  • Shapps announces 12 month planning permission rule

    10/05/2011

    Planning decisions will be made within 12 months, housing minister Grant Shapps announced today.

  • Housing fears led voters to Labour, party claims

    09/05/2011

    The housing policy of the coalition government helped Labour gain seats in the elections on May 5, campaigners say.

  • Shapps announces £30 million fund for stalled pathfinder schemes

    09/05/2011

    Housing minister Grant Shapps has announced a £30 million fund to help households in blighted neighbourhoods after the premature end of the housing market renewal programme.

  • Contractor wins estate work with low bid

    09/05/2011

    A contractor has won the race to improve estates in Sheffield by putting in a bid almost £5 million below the estimated cost.

  • Chair of London Assembly's housing and planning committee appointed

    09/05/2011

    Jenny Jones has been appointed chair of the London Assembly’s housing and planning committee.

  • Housing a key issue as English votes counted

    06/05/2011

    The Labour leader in local government has said housing is the ‘number one issue’ as his party makes giant strides in England.

  • Labour win in Wales but miss majority by one

    06/05/2011

    The Labour party narrowly missed out on a majority in the Welsh Assembly elections.

  • SNP win big in Scotland

    06/05/2011

    The Scottish National Party has taken control of the Scottish Parliament following the elections.

  • Bidding wars

    06/05/2011

    The bids are in but who will be successful in securing Homes and Communities Agency funding?

  • Builders get rule rethink

    06/05/2011

    The government is reconsidering its new local planning standards after house builders complained they would increase regulatory burdens.

  • Eco doctor

    06/05/2011

    The Budget’s surprise changes to the zero carbon standard have sparked lively debate, says the Zero Carbon Hub’s Neil Jefferson, but more important changes are still to come

  • Fill the gaps

    06/05/2011

    In 2009 this magazine’s Empty Promise campaign led calls for social housing organisations to raise their game in tackling the then almost 1 million empty homes in the UK. News that the number of empty homes in England has dropped significantly is, on the face of it, therefore, to be welcomed.

  • Government is serious about zero carbon

    06/05/2011

    The coalition is overhauling its sustainability standards to make zero carbon homes its top priority, says Andrew Stunell

  • Housing associations cut development by half

    06/05/2011

    England’s largest housing associations have slashed development programmes by up to 50 per cent, bids submitted to the Homes and Communities Agency this week reveal.

  • Lighten the load

    06/05/2011

    Providing incentives and cutting red tape will revive Britain’s builders, writes Grant Shapps

  • Proceed with caution

    06/05/2011

    After months of wrangling, the bids for the £1.8 billion Homes and Communities Agency programme to build affordable housing in England during the next four years are in.

  • Promises, promises

    06/05/2011

    Housing was a key issue in last year’s general election. But one year on, how many of their campaign promises are coalition ministers still committed to? Caroline Thorpe finds out

  • Room to breathe

    06/05/2011

    House builders are developing homes to ever stricter airtightness standards. But is the health of residents at risk from the effects of inadequate ventilation? Emily Rogers investigates

  • Rural blueprint to boost development

    06/05/2011

    A Devon council is launching a planning scheme that was vetoed by the previous government, in a bid to develop more rural housing.

  • Zero carbon definition makes sense

    06/05/2011

    While the government’s new definition of zero carbon has been largely criticised I would argue that we have ended up with a logical and pragmatic solution for UK housing in the current financial climate.

  • Council negotiating 'land for homes' exchange deal with housing association

    05/05/2011

    Islington Council is negotiating a deal with a large housing association which would see it contribute land in return for the building of homes for social rent.

  • Developer fights Pickles' decision in court

    05/05/2011

    A long-running battle against the government’s decision to scrap English regional planning targets reached the Court of Appeal today.

  • House building market exceeds expectations

    05/05/2011

    House builder Galliford Try has reported the market has exceeded its expectations during the first months of the year.

  • Planners call for 50% of homes to be affordable

    04/05/2011

    The Planning Inspectorate has recommended the mayor of London should aim to ensure that 50 per cent of housing built in the capital should be affordable.

  • Builders cast doubt on efficiency scheme

    04/05/2011

    The Federation of Master Builders has questioned whether the government’s green deal scheme will results in the expected gains in energy efficiency.

  • Third of builders think affordable rent will cut development

    04/05/2011

    One in three house builders believe the affordable rent programme will lead to a reduction in new home completions, according to research.

  • Former CLG director joins land body

    04/05/2011

    A former director general at the Communities and Local Government department has joined the Urban Land Institute.

  • Self starter

    03/05/2011

    A gloomy prognosis for the future of corporate housebuilding makes today a good day to announce a boost for self-building.

  • Land auction row denied by government

    03/05/2011

    Government ministers have rubbished claims that the coalition is split over land auctions.

  • Shapps pledges to make self building more accessible

    03/05/2011

    The housing minister has promised to make self building a mainstream housing option by making publicly-owned land available for use.

  • Testing times

    03/05/2011

    As the deadline passes for bids for development under the affordable rent programme, Katherine Evans examines how the planning process could hinder the new regime

  • Developer chosen for 1,000-home Oxford project

    03/05/2011

    Oxford Council has selected Grosvenor Developments Limited as its preferred bidder for a 1,000-home development in Barton.

  • £1.8 billion affordable rent deadline looms

    03/05/2011

    The deadline for bids under the £1.8 billion affordable rent programme is today (Tuesday 3).

  • Shapps to announce public land to be used for private builds

    03/05/2011

    The housing minister is expected to announce that public land is to be used for people to build their own homes on.

  • Cameron called on to back construction industry

    29/04/2011

    David Cameron has called on Britain to ‘get building again’ as figures show a drop in construction.

  • Registration for public sector homes growing

    28/04/2011

    Registrations for new public sector homes have increased 12 per cent on last year, figures released by the National House Building Council show.

  • Bigger isn’t better

    28/04/2011

    Small landlords can make big changes but the government must help them

  • Council rebels over government affordable rent plans

    28/04/2011

    Islington Council has told housing associations it will not support bids for development funding under the government’s affordable rent programme.

  • Panel calls for ‘capital builder’

    28/04/2011

    London needs a dedicated housing company to attract investment for new development in the capital, a task force appointed by the City’s mayor is to argue.

  • Spot the difference

    28/04/2011

    Devolution means politicians in Scotland and Wales can stray from the UK party line. But is there really such a big difference? Rhiannon Bury finds out.

  • We need stability

    28/04/2011

    Constant political churn serves to throw long-term housing policies off-track, argues Richard Kemp

  • Construction stuck in recession as UK begins recovery

    27/04/2011

    The construction industry is still in recession according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics.

  • Housing more affordable for key workers - except in London

    27/04/2011

    Housing has become more affordable for key workers since prices peaked in 2007, the Halifax has said.

  • Lost keys

    27/04/2011

    House prices are still so expensive for key workers that the only places they can afford to buy in the whole of London and the South East are Clacton and Portsmouth.

  • Housing association accused of 'catalogue of lies' by government secretary

    26/04/2011

    Work and pensions secretary Iain Duncan Smith has accused one of England’s largest housing associations of telling a ‘catalogue of lies’ about a new development.

  • Top eco award for Scottish house

    26/04/2011

    An innovative house built to trial different construction methods and renewable energy technologies has been recognised with a national industry award.

  • Social housing starts fall by half

    26/04/2011

    Social housing starts in the first quarter of 2011 were down 50 per cent on the same period of 2010, a construction index has found.

  • HBF call for action on Welsh home shortage

    21/04/2011

    The Home Builders Federation has called on Welsh ministers to prioritise housing in order to tackle a shortage of 60,000 homes.

  • Sales on the up for house builder

    21/04/2011

    Persimmon has reported improved sales for the first quarter of 2011.

  • Growth figures challenged by Scottish builders

    21/04/2011

    The Scottish Building Federation has questioned official figures showing the construction sector rose by more than 11 per cent in 2010 compared to the previous year.

  • DIY planning

    21/04/2011

    By forming partnerships with the local community it is possible to build more and better homes

  • New build

    21/04/2011

    Landlords must ensure their construction contracts comply with new legislation, says Richard More

  • Northern Irish parties reveal housing policies

    21/04/2011

    Housing associations in Northern Ireland could lose their government funding, under proposals put forward by Sinn Fein.

  • Interest in housing market picks up

    20/04/2011

    The number of people looking to buy a home in the UK increased sharply in March, according to estate agents.

  • Liverpool Council approves demolition of Beatle's home

    19/04/2011

    Liverpool Council has approved the demolition of the Welsh Streets after protestors fought a six year battle to save the area.

  • Redrow to sell Scottish operation

    19/04/2011

    House builder Redrow is putting its Scottish business up for sale as it looks to focus on London and the south east.

  • Northern Ireland's housing associations beat build target

    19/04/2011

    Housing associations in Northern Ireland have beaten their house building targets and started the highest number of social homes in 14 years.

  • Mass destruction

    18/04/2011

    As the demolition of the Heygate Estate in Southwark begins, cabinet member for regeneration Fiona Colley explains how the council is ensuring it doesn’t repeat the mistakes of the past

  • Green Party member apologises for Boris Johnson accusation

    18/04/2011

    Green party mayoral candidate Jenny Jones has apologised for getting her figures wrong after she accused Boris Johnson of missing house building targets.

  • Welsh Labour party attacks housing cuts at manifesto launch

    18/04/2011

    The Welsh Labour party has strongly rejected what it calls the UK Conservatives’ ‘savage cuts to spending on housing and its attacks on our poorest communities’.

  • £77m project at risk as builder collapses

    15/04/2011

    A £77 million housing project in Scotland is in jeopardy following the collapse of R&D Construction Group.

  • A different class

    15/04/2011

    The government hopes changing planning rules to allow empty offices to be transformed into homes will ease the housing shortage. Jules Birch visits the west midlands to find out if it will work

  • Big fat Gypsy prejudice

    15/04/2011

    Gypsy and Traveller communities can be difficult to deal with but housing officers must put preconceptions aside, says Inside Housing’s anonymous columnist

  • New homes bonus will ‘penalise’ deprived areas

    15/04/2011

    Affluent councils using the new homes bonus will receive up to 20 times more money per home than those in poorer areas, according to new figures from Labour.

  • New homes key to votes

    15/04/2011

    Scotland’s main political parties will use different ways to increase investment in house building and homeownership to compete for votes ahead of next month’s Scottish parliamentary election.

  • Revolving fund to free up land

    15/04/2011

    The government is holding talks about setting up a revolving fund to encourage public bodies to release more land for development.

  • Shop around

    15/04/2011

    Our midlands special this week has proven timely for its examination of government plans to encourage converting vacant office space into housing.

  • Welsh parties unveil housing policies

    15/04/2011

    The main political parties in Wales have outlined radically different proposals for social housing in their manifestos, published this week ahead of National Assembly for Wales election next month.

  • Welsh Lib Dems target empty homes

    14/04/2011

    The Liberal Democrats in Wales launched their manifesto for the 5 May general election yesterday with the promise of more money for affordable housing.

  • Government seeks to triple house building

    14/04/2011

    Government advisors have told a group of small developers that they want to increase the supply of new homes to 450,000 a year.

  • Councils to set Traveller site goals

    14/04/2011

    Communities secretary Eric Pickles has published revised planning rules on Gypsy and Traveller sites.

  • Neighbourhood plans backed by £3.2m fund

    14/04/2011

    The government will provide free advice to communities creating a neighbourhood plan, the decentralisation minister has announced.

  • Mayor under fire for affordable homes claim

    13/04/2011

    Boris Johnson has come under attack after claiming he is on track to deliver 50,000 affordable homes by mid-2012.

  • Gateshead awards £347m housing contract

    13/04/2011

    Housing association Home Group and developer Galliford Try have won a £347 million deal in Gateshead to deliver 2,400 homes.

  • Moving target

    13/04/2011

    What are the chances of the coalition delivering 150,000 new affordable homes over the next four years?

  • Wates looks to expand as profits grow

    13/04/2011

    Wates Group has announced it intends to recruit 300 people during 2011, as it publishes positive annual results.

  • HCA reports strong progress against goals

    12/04/2011

    The Homes and Communities Agency is on track to meet its key targets for 2010/11, it has reported.

  • Tributes paid to Sir Simon Milton

    12/04/2011

    The deputy London mayor responsible for policy and planning died yesterday following a short illness.

  • Housing market remains flat in March

    12/04/2011

    Members of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors have reported the housing market remained flat in March.

  • Government hands out £450m of growth fund

    12/04/2011

    The government has announced the first allocations from its £1.4 billion regional growth fund.

  • Boris ‘on target’ to hit building goal

    11/04/2011

    The mayor of London has announced he is on course to hit his target of delivering 50,000 new affordable homes by 2012.

  • Affordable housing starts to slump 40%

    11/04/2011

    Public housing starts will drop 40 per cent between 2010 and 2013 as developers adapt to funding changes, according to forecasts.

  • Localism drive fails to win over communities

    11/04/2011

    Nearly one in four Conservative councillors do not support the Localism Bill, according to a survey.

  • Bleak house

    08/04/2011

    Housing should be top of the political agenda as the grim reality of the coalition’s cuts begins to bite, says Jon Cruddas

  • Dark day for housing services

    08/04/2011

    Housing professionals have experienced the bleakest week for a generation as hundreds of projects closed or had their funding slashed.

  • Green standard to help nimbys

    08/04/2011

    Nimby councils could block development in their areas by demanding higher sustainability standards for new homes, environmental campaigners have warned.

  • New homes bonus 'unfair'

    08/04/2011

    The new homes bonus will disproportionately benefit wealthier areas, the shadow housing minister has said.

  • The bricklayer’s charms

    08/04/2011

    New research shows the coalition could build more affordable homes than any government in the past 20 years. But what does the housing sector think? Carl Brown finds out.

  • The Swedish model

    08/04/2011

    Developers and policymakers alike are looking to the private rented sector to solve the UK’s housing crisis. Here design expert David Birkbeck explains how a Swedish build-to-let model might just be the answer

  • Winning formula

    08/04/2011

    The Budget was generally good news for the housing sector

  • Government creating revolving fund to release land

    07/04/2011

    A revolving fund to encourage public bodies to release land for development more quickly could be set up by the government, a Homes and Communities Agency director has confirmed.

  • Government assesses scrapping regional spatial strategies

    07/04/2011

    The government will test the environmental impact of scrapping regional planning targets in order to avoid further legal challenges to the decision.

  • Firstbuy scheme launched

    07/04/2011

    The Homes and Communities Agency is inviting bids from house builders to offer homes for the £210 million firstbuy scheme.

  • Olympic housing companies shortlisted

    06/04/2011

    Three companies have been shortlisted to submit bids to buy and manage the private housing in the 2012 Olympic Village.

  • Councils will not get RDA land

    06/04/2011

    The government has ruled out transferring regional development agency land assets to local government when the agencies wind up next year.

  • Managing risks

    06/04/2011

    The 2010 comprehensive spending review resulted in a radical change in how government helps to support the delivery of new affordable homes and promised to give housing associations the freedoms they need to innovate and deliver effectively.

  • Shelter tool to curb nimbyism

    06/04/2011

    Shelter launched a free online tool to try to tackle local objections to house building yesterday.

  • Mayor of London demands more family homes

    06/04/2011

    Boris Johnson will on Friday tell London’s largest housing associations that he expects them to develop a ‘significant number’ of family homes, the Greater London Authority’s head of housing has said.

  • Final new homes bonus allocations announced

    05/04/2011

    The housing minister has announced the final allocations for local authorities as part of the new homes bonus scheme.

  • Labour criticises affordable rent programme

    05/04/2011

    Labour MPs yesterday criticised the government’s affordable rent programme, claiming ministers were not planning to build any new social homes at all.

  • Neighbourhood planning pilots announced

    04/04/2011

    The first communities to test new rights to give local people a greater say in the way their area looks have been announced.

  • WWF quits zero carbon task group

    04/04/2011

    Leading environmental organisation WWF has resigned from the government’s Zero Carbon Hub following the coalition’s decision to water-down the zero carbon definition.

  • A proud new day

    01/04/2011

    Get housing policy right and the rest will follow, says Grainia Long

  • A step in the right direction

    01/04/2011

    While there might not be much in it for housing, George Osborne’s Budget sets a positive mood for the economy, says Chris Blackhurst

  • April full

    01/04/2011

    The Conservatives are better than Labour at building large numbers of affordable homes. It may be 1 April but this is no April Fool as the figures for housing associations in England show.

  • Between a Rock and a hard place

    01/04/2011

    A Cornish town is overcoming inflated house prices by letting locals build their own affordable homes. Jules Birch asks whether the new community right to build will make this type of resident-led development easier.

  • Cameron set to beat house building record

    01/04/2011

    The coalition government is set to deliver more homes per year than any other administration for the past 20 years, according to the first major analysis of its affordable rent programme.

  • Capital’s homes to cost £30bn

    01/04/2011

    It will cost £30 billion to deliver the homes London needs, according to a report due to be published by the mayor of London’s housing task force.

  • Contest searches for new star

    01/04/2011

    A competition to find housing’s next leaders is being launched by the Chartered Institute of Housing and Inside Housing this week.

  • Home truths

    01/04/2011

    He’s the 34-year-old Cornish MP who cannot afford to buy a home in his own constituency. Lydia Stockdale kicks off our south west special by finding out how Stephen Gilbert is using his personal experiences to shape national housing policy.

  • Leap of faith

    01/04/2011

    Sustainability standards for new homes were unexpectedly lowered in the Budget. Isabel Hardman investigates whether the changes end David Cameron’s ambition to form the ‘greenest government ever’.

  • Taylor Wimpey sells US arm to focus on UK

    31/03/2011

    Taylor Wimpey has sold its US and Canadian housing business as it looks to focus on UK operations.

  • First ‘build now, pay later’ sites revealed

    31/03/2011

    Homes and Communities Agency sites where developers can build homes without first paying for land are being announced today.

  • TCPA launches guide to neighbourhood plans

    30/03/2011

    A new guide to help communities get to grips with neighbourhood plans has been launched by the Town and Country Planning Association.

  • Affordable rent will cause most upheaval

    29/03/2011

    Housing groups believe affordable rent will have the most significant impact of the government’s social housing reforms, a survey has found.

  • Ready for lift off?

    29/03/2011

    With a host of changes about to sweep across the social housing sector, consultancies WCL and Auxo decided to find out how prepared the sector is. Jules Bickers outlines the findings

  • Boris secures £50m for regeneration projects

    29/03/2011

    Boris Johnson has secured a £50 million fund for regeneration projects in outer London boroughs.

  • Planning permission needed to knock down buildings

    29/03/2011

    Developers will have to gain planning permission before demolishing buildings after a judgement in the Court of Appeal last week.

  • Helm housing association suspended from development

    28/03/2011

    The largest housing association in Northern Ireland has been suspended from developing new homes after building a block of flats without planning permission.

  • Government names first enterprise zones

    28/03/2011

    Ministers have announced the locations of the first four enterprise zones.

  • Housing associations launch rural pledge

    25/03/2011

    Rural housing associations and MPs launched a ‘rural pledge’ on Tuesday calling on landlords to work more closely with local communities when building new homes.

  • FSA backs down on tough lending rules

    25/03/2011

    The Financial Services Authority has backed down on proposed mortgage lending rules that critics said would make it impossible for first-time buyers to get loans.

  • New hope

    25/03/2011

    Housing featured prominently in the Budget speech on Wednesday and in the welter of documents which spewed forth from the Whitehall machine immediately afterwards.

  • Pathfinders issue warning

    25/03/2011

    The abrupt end of funding for the housing market renewal programme risks wasting money and leaving neighbourhoods to deteriorate, pathfinder leaders have warned.

  • Planning reforms could see developers pay for land after homes are built

    25/03/2011

    Councils and government departments have been told to stand up and be counted in a bid to get new developments off the ground.

  • Public homes rise masks regional gap

    25/03/2011

    The number of new social homes registered by housebuilders in England was 6 per cent higher between December 2010 and February 2011 compared with the same period last year, the latest National House Building Council figures reveal.

  • Stamp duty could see thousands of homes built

    25/03/2011

    Landlords predict thousands of new homes could be built as a result of changes to stamp duty and real estate investment trusts.

  • The candidates' debate

    25/03/2011

    Who will win housing’s vote when Scotland goes to the polls on 5 May? Inside Housing and social housing contractor Morrison gathered the country’s main political parties for an exclusive hustings event to find out. Rhiannon Bury reports

  • The last laugh

    25/03/2011

    There’s no room for fools this spring. A raft of fundamental changes affecting social housing come into force from 1 April which, if overlooked, will prove no laughing matter. Lydia Stockdale explains how to ensure the joke isn’t on you

  • Wrong turn

    25/03/2011

    Ignore the housing minister - his policies look set to fail, says Alison Seabeck

  • Builder sees cover pricing fine slashed

    24/03/2011

    Affordable housing developer Galliford Try has had a fine for cover pricing slashed from £8.3 million to £1.4 million.

  • Councils told to revisit section 106 deals

    24/03/2011

    Councils must consider easing section 106 requirements on developers in situations where schemes have become unviable, the decentralisation minister has said.

  • Back to work

    23/03/2011

    Planning changes will deliver homes, but the government needs to get to grips with worklessness, argues Bob Taylor

  • A shot in the arm for housing

    23/03/2011

    Support for first time buyers is welcome, but it won’t solve the housing crisis on its own, says Steve Turner

  • A welcome Budget

    23/03/2011

    The Budget is good news for housing and regeneration, says Rebecca Bennett Casserly

  • Military land sale to deliver 20,000 homes

    23/03/2011

    Up to 20,000 homes could be built on Ministry of Defence land by 2014/15 as a result of policies announced today, the government has said.

  • Land auctions to be piloted

    23/03/2011

    The chancellor has announced plans to pilot ‘land auctions’ in a bid to stimulate growth by driving down the price of land for development.

  • Firstbuy scheme will require 5 per cent deposit

    23/03/2011

    The shared equity scheme announced by the chancellor today will be open to first-time buyers earning less than £66,000 but will require a 5 per cent deposit.

  • Osborne unveils £250m shared equity scheme

    23/03/2011

    The chancellor has announced a £250 million relaunch of the government’s low cost homeownership scheme.

  • Planning reforms drive social inequality

    23/03/2011

    Housing and planning reforms could lead to greater social inequality, a report has warned.

  • Budget to unveil sweeping planning changes

    23/03/2011

    Major changes to the planning system are expected to be announced today as the chancellor unveils a Budget intended to promote growth.

  • Localism Bill could block green projects

    22/03/2011

    The Localism Bill lacks a definition of sustainable development and could block green projects in the future, a group of MPs has warned.

  • Budget to remove planning red tape

    21/03/2011

    The chancellor is expected to make it easier to turn empty commercial units into housing when he unveils his Budget on Wednesday.

  • Councils urged to reconsider section 106 deals

    21/03/2011

    Councils will be urged to reconsider section 106 agreements made before the recession.

  • Barker scales back feed-in tariff scheme

    21/03/2011

    Campaigners have warned that government plans to scale back the feed-in tariff scheme will prevent housing associations from generating their own renewable electricity.

  • London Assembly report calls for larger homes

    18/03/2011

    Housing targets should be adjusted to encourage the building of larger homes to ease overcrowding, a London Assembly report published today has suggested.

  • Empty offices could help housing shortage

    18/03/2011

    The government should relax planning rules so that empty shops and offices can be converted into housing, a leading think tank has said.

  • Mayor urged to restrict Olympic home rents

    18/03/2011

    The mayor of London is facing calls to exempt homes built on the Olympic Park from the government’s affordable rent programme.

  • 26 reasons to be proud

    18/03/2011

    Last week we launched House Proud - Devolved, a campaign to highlight the importance of housing in the run-up to May’s elections in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Here we present a whole alphabet of reasons why ignoring housing’s vital role in society is not an option

  • A shore thing

    18/03/2011

    She survived the furore surrounding the future of London’s Olympic stadium and impressed Boris Johnson. Now, as tickets for the games go on sale, Baroness Margaret Ford is vowing to get taxpayers their money’s worth as she delivers the £7 billion Olympic legacy. Stuart Macdonald met her.

  • Landlords to shun green standards

    18/03/2011

    Social landlords are threatening to ignore government sustainability standards because of funding cuts.

  • Ripe or rotten?

    18/03/2011

    A major new review aims to lay bare the true scale of meeting housing demand in England. Researcher Jenni Viitanen begins with a look what happens when things turn really ugly

  • Stick or Twist

    18/03/2011

    Only landlords that agree to shoulder more risk will qualify for state development funding from now on. Will they decide the stakes are worth playing for? Don’t bet your house on it, says Carl Brown

  • VAT cut tops Budget wishlist

    18/03/2011

    Changing UK value added tax rules would boost the social housing sector by at least £623 million a year, the National Housing Federation has said.

  • Builders set out Budget demands

    17/03/2011

    House builders are calling for urgent measures to increase housing supply to be included in next week’s Budget.

  • Housing must stress economic role

    17/03/2011

    The housing sector needs to raise its game and persuade politicians of its importance to the economy.

  • Localism drive could cut house building

    17/03/2011

    The government risks building fewer homes than its predecessor unless it abandons its commitment to localism, MPs have warned.

  • Pickles challenged on quango savings

    16/03/2011

    The chair of the Audit Commission has said the savings made by abolishing the body will be a fifth of those claimed by ministers.

  • CIH delegates oppose rent rises

    16/03/2011

    Delegates at the Chartered Institute of Housing Scotland conference have rejected the idea of increasing rents to cover a lack of house building grant.

  • Watchdog condemns axing of pathfinders

    16/03/2011

    Housing market renewal pathfinders have boosted the economy by £5.8 billion and ending their funding is ‘untimely and premature’, the Audit Commission has said.

  • L&Q reveals latest dog track plans

    16/03/2011

    London & Quadrant has announced new consultation events to showcase its plans for a controversial £50 million development on an iconic former dog track.

  • Councils to pay first-time buyer deposits

    16/03/2011

    Local authorities will put up the deposit to allow first-time buyers to get on the housing ladder, under a scheme unveiled today.

  • Byker residents given chance to run estate

    15/03/2011

    The housing minister has given permission for the iconic Byker estate in Newcastle to be handed over to community control, writing off £42 million of debt in the process.

  • Pension fund cash to boost social housing

    15/03/2011

    The Scottish Government is close to getting pension fund money into the social housing sector, the minister announced today.

  • England faces house supply black hole

    15/03/2011

    England will face a shortfall of 750,000 homes by 2025, a centre-left think tank has warned.

  • Labour plans £1.2bn home building drive

    14/03/2011

    Labour would use a £2 billion bank bonus tax to create 110,000 new jobs and build 25,000 new homes.

  • Coalfields cash drops

    11/03/2011

    Housing minister Grant Shapps announced a £30million funding for the government’s national coalfield programme yesterday, which was a slight drop from the previous three years.

  • A vision for the future

    11/03/2011

    The Scottish Government has published its new housing strategy. Kicking off our regional special, Clare Harris cranks up the time machine to see whether the future’s bright. Illustration by Barry Downard

  • East of England to top demand for housing in next 20 years

    11/03/2011

    Housing demand will rise the fastest in the east of England over the next 20 years, according to research from a leading think tank.

  • Liverpool pushes solar energy plan

    11/03/2011

    Housing associations in Liverpool plan to set up a city-wide enterprise to install photovoltaic panels on tens of thousands of homes.

  • Make the case for housing

    11/03/2011

    Last year Inside Housing launched its House Proud, campaign to push housing up the political agenda in the run-up to the UK general election. Now it’s back to bang the drum for the sector as Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland prepare to go to the polls. Emily Twinch and Isabel Hardman report

  • Tory policy will create fairer system for tenants, says minister

    10/03/2011

    Housing minister Grant Shapps has vowed Conservative policies will create a fairer system for tenants in his first column for Inside Housing.

  • Renewable heat joins the green deal

    10/03/2011

    A government subsidy for households generating their own renewable heat has been delayed until October 2012 so that it can join the green deal programme.

  • Bids invited for first Olympic neighbourhood

    10/03/2011

    The mayor of London has invited developers to begin preparing bids for the first neighbourhood to be built in the Olympic Park.

  • Planning powers transferred to councils

    10/03/2011

    Three east London boroughs are to take back responsibility for ruling on large-scale housing applications from 1 April.

  • Neath Port Talbot Council transfers homes

    09/03/2011

    Neath Port Talbot Council has transferred its stock to a housing association despite protests the move should be dropped following a freedom of information ruling.

  • Shapps: Don't build Legoland boxes

    09/03/2011

    Housing minister Grant Shapps has urged architects not to build ‘identikit’ homes and make sure developments reflect the local area.

  • High Court bans Gypsies from green belt

    09/03/2011

    The High Court has granted Gravesham Council an injunction stopping a Gypsy couple living in a caravan on green belt land.

  • Reformed planning system 'vital' for economic growth

    08/03/2011

    A reformed planning system can help the government deliver its plans for economic growth, a think tank stated.

  • Affordable rents spark pre-election debate in Scotland

    08/03/2011

    The introduction of the affordable rent programme in England caused controversy yesterday as Scotland’s political parties sparred ahead of the country’s elections in May.

  • Welsh assembly gets greater powers over housing

    07/03/2011

    The Welsh Assembly Government has won the power to legislate over a number of areas including the ability to abolish the right to buy.

  • NI housing department hit with £70m cut

    07/03/2011

    The Northern Ireland Executive has agreed a budget which includes cuts of £70 million to social development.

  • House price growth triples salary rises

    07/03/2011

    House prices have risen at three times the rate of salaries in rural areas over the last decade, research has found.

  • Code for sustainable homes under threat

    04/03/2011

    The government is considering merging the code for sustainable homes with a new menu of local house building standards.

  • First steps

    04/03/2011

    Housing minister Grant Shapps has pledged to help first-time buyers get a foot on the property ladder. Chloë Stothart takes to the streets of Mr Shapps’ Welwyn Hatfield constituency to find out what his voters think of his ideas. Photography by Tim Foster

  • Housing Heroes shortlist announced

    04/03/2011

    The shortlist has been announced for the Housing Heroes awards, which recognise the unsung heroes of the social housing sector.

  • Not so slick Rick

    04/03/2011

    He has Boris Johnson’s ear and is poised to gain even more sway over housing in the capital. Caroline Thorpe kicks off our south east special by talking to London housing tsar Richard Blakeway about delivering the mayor’s housing promises.

  • Pathfinder delays hit stock values

    04/03/2011

    Liverpool Council has written down the value of stock on one of its estates by £8.1 million as spending cuts stall regeneration plans.

  • Hammersmith & Fulham may lose out on Earls Court project

    03/03/2011

    The developer behind the 8,000-home Earls Court regeneration scheme in London has said government plans to force councils to help tenants take ownership of their estates could force Hammersmith & Fulham Council out of the project.

  • Leading house builder returns to profit

    03/03/2011

    Taylor Wimpey returned to profitability in 2010 after recording substantial losses the previous year, its annual results show.

  • Build rates threaten homes bonus cash

    02/03/2011

    Local authorities could miss out on millions of pounds of government funding if they don’t increase house building rates, analysis has found.

  • Ministers push for green home tax breaks

    02/03/2011

    The Department of Energy and Climate Change is lobbying the chancellor for tax incentives to encourage green building and retrofit projects, one of its ministers has said.

  • Shapps and Seabeck clash over new homes bonus

    01/03/2011

    The housing minister and his Labour shadow have clashed in parliament, with both accusing the other of not understanding the new homes bonus policy.

  • Land Registry: house prices down 0.9%

    01/03/2011

    House prices were 0.9 per cent down in January compared to the same month last year, according to the latest Land Registry statistics.

  • House builder reports surge in profits

    01/03/2011

    Persimmon has reported increased profits and completions in its results for the year to 31 December.

  • Peabody bond issue imminent

    01/03/2011

    Housing association Peabody’s planned bond is expected to be issued within days.

  • Housing associations increase borrowing

    28/02/2011

    The social housing regulator has reported the sector is holding up well despite tough economic conditions.

  • Grainger to build 4,500 homes on military site

    28/02/2011

    Grainger has been appointed to develop 4,500 homes on surplus military land in Hampshire.

  • Council home building figures double

    25/02/2011

    The number of new council homes started in Scotland last year more than doubled, according to Scottish Government figures.

  • A man of vision

    25/02/2011

    Max Steinberg is leading the call for investment in Liverpool as boss of economic development company Liverpool Vision. But will he deliver on the housing front? Nick Duxbury meets him.

  • Banks ‘need clarity’ on payments

    25/02/2011

    Private finance for the development of homes for affordable rent could be derailed unless the government resolves how housing benefit will be paid to social tenants, lenders have warned.

  • Councils reject HRA conditions

    25/02/2011

    Councils have demanded the government drops legislation which could see authorities take on additional debt as part of their housing finance settlement.

  • Ireland calls in the ghostbusters

    25/02/2011

    The Irish government hopes to convince English housing associations to buy its ‘ghost estates’.

  • Lobby groups to monitor ministers

    25/02/2011

    A trio of lobby groups has launched a commission to monitor the coalition government’s housing policies.

  • New public homes fall as private rise

    25/02/2011

    Registrations for new public homes fell by 3 per cent between November and January compared to last year, the latest statistics from the National House Building Council show.

  • Shock to the system

    25/02/2011

    The government’s affordable rent regime is designed to sustain housing association development. But can it save development in the north, where many fear the model won’t work? Isabel Hardman investigates.

  • Barratt doubles social housing completions

    24/02/2011

    Barratt has reported a doubling of its social housing completions.

  • Welsh homes to be fitted with sprinklers

    24/02/2011

    Wales is to bring in a law requiring developers to fit a sprinkler system in all new homes. 

  • Kier boosts margins to drive up profit

    24/02/2011

    Kier has reported a 26 per cent rise in profits for the six months to 31 December.

  • Swan wins Robin Hood Gardens project

    24/02/2011

    Swan Housing Group has beaten London & Quadrant to be named as preferred partner for a 1,600-home regeneration project in east London.

  • Council rejects Boris' decent homes claim

    23/02/2011

    A Labour-run council has accused London mayor Boris Johnson of claiming the credit for securing its allocation of decent homes funding.

  • Northern councils 'to fund southern homes'

    23/02/2011

    Northern councils are facing cuts of up to £100 million a year to fund the new homes bonus in the south, new research claims.

  • Galliford Try reports rise in profits

    23/02/2011

    Galliford Try has reported a 39 per cent increase in profits at its house building division in its half yearly results.

  • Minister hits out at NHF building claims

    22/02/2011

    Grant Shapps has accused the National Housing Federation of ‘cynical posturing’ after it said affordable home building will fall in the north and the midlands.

  • MPs examine axing of pathfinder scheme

    22/02/2011

    The collapse of the government’s housing market renewal pathfinder programme will be a key focus in a parliamentary inquiry.

  • HCA to cut workforce by a third

    22/02/2011

    The Homes and Communities Agency is consulting staff on restructuring plans that could see its workforce cut by a third.

  • Ministers given zero carbon proposals

    21/02/2011

    The Zero Carbon Hub has published its final report on the energy efficiency standards that all new homes will meet from 2016.

  • Social home planning approvals hit new low

    21/02/2011

    The number of new homes receiving planning permission has halved in the past four years, according to a report released this morning.

  • House building hits record low

    18/02/2011

    House building completions in England fell to a record low in 2010, down 13 per cent on 2009.

  • Excess baggage

    18/02/2011

    Councils will soon be released from the restraints of the housing revenue account. But will they be too weighed down by debt to make the most of their new-found freedom? Rhiannon Bury investigates.

  • Muddy waters

    18/02/2011

    Important questions remain over the funding, form and function of local enterprise partnerships. LIz Jenkins and Charlotte Davey, from Clyde & Co, explain.

  • New rent rules restrict out of area investment

    18/02/2011

    Landlords fear funding rules for the government’s £1.8 billion affordable housing programme will prevent them ploughing cash raised in high-value areas into cheaper regions of England.

  • 'This used to be a happy place’

    18/02/2011

    South east London’s notorious Ferrier estate is facing the bulldozers to make way for phase two of a £1 billion regeneration scheme. But despite its bad reputation, some residents are refusing to leave. Emily Rogers asks why. Photography by Julian Anderson

  • Details of £1bn incentive scheme unveiled

    17/02/2011

    The government has set out the final design of its £1 billion new homes bonus building incentive scheme, and announced the first allocations.

  • New homes bonus ‘could be unlawful’

    17/02/2011

    Plans to incentivise councils to build more homes could be unlawful, a leading campaign group has warned.

  • Does affordable rent stack up?

    16/02/2011

    The Chartered Institute of Housing examines the government’s new affordable rent programme.

  • Clark defends localism agenda

    16/02/2011

    The decentralisation minister has denied giving more power to communities will mean councils are excluded from key decisions.

  • Shapps urged to support mortgage lending

    16/02/2011

    Housing minister Grant Shapps was urged to do more to encourage mortgage lending for low cost homeownership properties at a first-time buyers summit yesterday.

  • CIH warns affordable rent model is flawed

    16/02/2011

    The Chartered Institute of Housing has said the principle behind the government’s affordable rent scheme is ‘flawed’, despite welcoming some of the plans.

  • Slump threatens 250 jobs at Gentoo

    15/02/2011

    North eastern landlord Gentoo has announced it is considering making as many as 250 staff redundant at its construction firm.

  • Negative response to affordable rent plans

    15/02/2011

    Details of plans to introduce fixed-term tenancies at higher rents have met a negative response, with one Conservative council immediately ruling out ending lifetime tenancies.

  • First-time buyer drop raises concerns

    15/02/2011

    The proportion of buyers who are purchasing a home for the first time has dropped to below one in four, according to a survey by the website Rightmove.

  • Tough bidding rules set for £1.8bn pot

    14/02/2011

    Landlords have been set strict criteria for applying for cash under the government’s new affordable rent programme.

  • Ministers to set out affordable rent plans

    14/02/2011

    The framework document for the government’s new affordable rent regime will be published today.

  • Extra £16m fails to tackle lack of homes

    14/02/2011

    Scottish housing bodies have warned of a continued lack of investment in affordable homes despite a £16 million boost to next year’s budget.

  • Government confirms CABE merger

    14/02/2011

    The government has confirmed the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment is to merge with the Design Council.

  • Wandsworth approves 752 homes scheme

    14/02/2011

    Wandsworth Council has approved a scheme for 752 homes on an estate near Battersea power station on the south bank of the Thames.

  • Public get right to protect green areas

    11/02/2011

    The public is to be given the power to nominate areas of land it wants to protect from development.

  • Barratt plans move into private sector

    11/02/2011

    One of the country’s largest house builders is planning to set up as a private landlord.

  • Eco doctor

    11/02/2011

    John Barnham explains how landlords can use the new 80 per cent rent regime to fund retrofitting hard-to-treat homes

  • EU tendering costs 9,000 homes a year

    11/02/2011

    Freeing housing associations from European Union tendering requirements would allow them to build up to 9,000 extra homes a year, according to the National Housing Federation.

  • Green deal could attract £12 billion to social housing sector

    11/02/2011

    The government’s flagship green deal could see £12 billion invested into the UK’s social housing stock, according to a report seen exclusively by Sustainable Housing.

  • Is it the real thing?

    11/02/2011

    The government is on the brink of announcing its long-awaited definition of zero carbon but will it go far enough, or will too many sweeteners leave the sector a bit flat? Isabel Hardman investigates

  • Questions & answers

    11/02/2011

    Jane Briginshaw talks about Homes and Communities Agency involvement in sustainable design and why some developers have been granted eco-waivers

  • Sale of the century

    11/02/2011

    As the government plans to sell off 16,600 hectares of land to community groups, Isabel Hardman finds out if there is really a deal to be had.

  • Shadow minister admits housing policy failings

    11/02/2011

    The shadow welfare secretary has admitted the Labour government failed to adequately integrate policies that affected the housing sector while in power.

  • Tall order

    11/02/2011

    Landlords are under pressure to make high-rise social homes more energy efficient - with a steep 80 per cent carbon cut the eventual aim. Chloë Stothart looks at the latest innovations in retrofitting ageing tower blocks

  • Women on top

    11/02/2011

    What happens when 25 of the most influential women in housing get together? Inside Housing found out when it hosted a photo shoot and interview session at Altitude 360 earlier this month. Located on the 28th floor of Millbank Tower in central London, this was the ideal venue for our group of high-flyers to share their secrets for success.

  • Investors target private rented sector

    10/02/2011

    Institutions are poised to invest up to £1 billion each in the private rented sector, according to a report by the British Property Foundation and London Councils.

  • Battersea redevelopment gets green light

    10/02/2011

    Eric Pickles has approved the 3,400-home redevelopment of Battersea power station in west London.

  • Planners approve zero carbon scheme

    10/02/2011

    Planners have given the go-ahead to Britain’s largest development of zero-carbon homes in Peterborough.

  • Funding models vulnerable to market

    09/02/2011

    A report has questioned the viability of funding models being put forward by the Scottish Government to secure investment in affordable housing.

  • Bellway reports positive start to year

    08/02/2011

    Bellway has reported an ‘encouraging’ start to 2011.

  • NI budget cuts to reduce development

    08/02/2011

    The Northern Irish Department for Social Development expects to slash its housing budget by 30 per cent over the next four years.

  • Legal bid to reinstate housing targets fails

    07/02/2011

    Planners can take into account the government’s intention to scrap housing building targets when making decisions, a court has ruled.

  • Ministers move to recession-proof sector

    07/02/2011

    The Scottish Government will further restrict the right to buy and help councils raise £130 million for new homes by allowing them to hike up council tax on empty properties.

  • Flint to lead Labour housing policy review

    07/02/2011

    Labour has commissioned a policy review investigating how to meet the need for a good home for the next generation.

  • CABE to merge with Design Council

    07/02/2011

    The Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment will merge with the Design Council, with just 20 employees keeping their jobs.

  • Heritage body tried to block L&Q plans

    04/02/2011

    English Heritage urged a London council to refuse London & Quadrant permission to build 300 homes on the site of a former dog track, it has emerged.

  • Scottish Government finds £50m for homes

    04/02/2011

    The Scottish Government has created a new £50 million pot to stimulate the development of affordable housing in the country.

  • Green deal offer for new build

    04/02/2011

    Landlords say they will only accept a potential offer of state funding to retrofit new homes if it does not increase their debt.

  • Social landlords eye HCA’s £783m landbank

    04/02/2011

    Local authorities and housing associations have pledged to work with community groups interested in buying Homes and Communities Agency land.

  • Landlord to create eco-home factory

    03/02/2011

    Accord Group is to manufacture environmentally friendly homes on the site of a derelict factory in Walsall.

  • Leading economist joins Taylor Wimpey

    03/02/2011

    The head of an influential review of housing supply has joined the board of Taylor Wimpey.

  • Shapps plays down Letwin policy review

    03/02/2011

    Housing minister Grant Shapps has played down the importance of a housing policy review being led by cabinet office minister Oliver Letwin.

  • Homelessness up 25% in rural areas

    02/02/2011

    Homeless acceptances in rural areas of England have increased by 25 per cent in the last year.

  • HCA faces land reclamation powers

    02/02/2011

    The government is looking at broadening land reclamation powers so they apply to sites owned by the Homes and Communities Agency.

  • Affordable housing drives construction rise

    02/02/2011

    Affordable housing makes up nearly half of the increased number of homes being built in London but there is a lack of family properties, according to research.

  • Green deal may be extended to new homes

    01/02/2011

    The government may extend its green deal programme for energy efficiency improvements to new build homes, the housing minister announced today.

  • Shapps unveils housing finance ‘revolution’

    01/02/2011

    The government has set out details of the payments councils in England will have to make to move to a self-financing system for council housing.

  • Fund to support housing development

    01/02/2011

    Ministers have announced an extra £5 million of funding for local enterprise partnerships to deliver large-scale housing schemes.

  • House prices continue to fall

    01/02/2011

    House prices dipped slightly in December, according to the Land Registry.

  • L&Q rejects alternative plan for dog track

    31/01/2011

    London & Quadrant has said it will press ahead with its controversial plan to build 300 homes on the site of a former dog track.

  • CLG officials review housing strategy

    28/01/2011

    Civil servants in the Communities and Local Government department are carrying out a review of private housing delivery.

  • Ministers challenged on planning changes

    28/01/2011

    Changes to the planning system will damage house building, MPs heard yesterday.

  • HCA to test viability of £500m bond

    28/01/2011

    The creation of a £500 million national housing bond has moved a step closer after the Homes and Communities Agency agreed to commission a panel of experts to test its viability.

  • Homes bonus scheme ‘will fail’ in south east

    28/01/2011

    Conservative MPs and council leaders in the south east have spoken out against the government’s flagship scheme to encourage home building.

  • Jack of all trades

    28/01/2011

    Former trade union boss Jack Dromey spent years campaigning for people’s rights. Now he is rallying once more. Rhiannon Bury meets the junior shadow housing minister to find out if entering front line politics means leaving the picket line behind.

  • Public sector homes up by 8%

    28/01/2011

    Registrations for new public sector homes increased by 8 per cent in the past three months of 2010 compared with the same period the previous year, according to the National House Building Council.

  • L&Q reopens dog track discussions

    27/01/2011

    London & Quadrant chief executive David Montague will discuss plans to build homes on an iconic dog track with opponents of the scheme tomorrow.

  • Ministers warned over tenancy plans

    26/01/2011

    Ministers have been warned against introducing rigid fixed-term tenancies, as detailed discussions begin on the Localism Bill.

  • Cash boost to fund 1,000 Hackney homes

    26/01/2011

    A further 1,000 mixed-tenure homes are to be built at a large-scale building scheme in London following a £61 million investment.

  • Golden age

    25/01/2011

    Labour must find alternatives to the government’s housing reforms

  • Labour launches London housing group

    25/01/2011

    The Labour Party will this week launch a new group to campaign for changes to housing policy in London.

  • Olympics body may keep affordable homes

    25/01/2011

    The Olympic Park Legacy Company is considering setting itself up as a landlord for the 2,800 affordable homes that will be built in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park after next year’s London Olympics.

  • CBI boss attacks localism plans

    25/01/2011

    The government’s localism agenda has held back economic growth by throwing the planning system into chaos, the outgoing head of the CBI warned yesterday.

  • Shared equity scheme funding doubled

    24/01/2011

    The Scottish Government has doubled its funding for a scheme helping first-time buyers move into new-build homes.

  • Skanska buys site for first UK homes

    24/01/2011

    Swedish construction company Skanska has bought its first residential development site in the UK.

  • A climate for change

    21/01/2011

    Sustainability is the new buzz word but making your housing stock more eco-friendly needn’t be a maintenance nightmare, says John O’Brien

  • Cause and effect

    21/01/2011

    Each year the Chartered Institute of Housing’s UK housing review analyses the trends in social housing. Here Hal Pawson, Steve Wilcox and John Perry give a sneak preview of this year’s report, which looks at the impact major government reforms will have on the sector.

  • Councils could block new rent

    21/01/2011

    Housing associations fear their ambitions to rent homes at the government’s new affordable rent level will be frustrated by councils opposed to the tenure.

  • Find a better solution

    21/01/2011

    ‘Of all the cuts, this is probably the most damaging.’ So Professor Ian Cole of Sheffield Hallam University this week said of the death throes of the nine housing market renewal pathfinders in the north and midlands.

  • Housing associations to take the lead on planning blueprints

    21/01/2011

    Housing associations will play a key role in helping low-income communities draw up planning blueprints, the decentralisation minister has pledged.

  • MPs: ‘Value of PFI must be improved’

    21/01/2011

    MPs have called for the Communities and Local Government department to ensure staffing cuts do not hamper efforts to improve the value for money of private finance initiative contracts.

  • Nightmare on Greek Street

    21/01/2011

    The government has withdrawn funding from England’s first nine pathfinders. Without cash to complete their projects, Keith Cooper asks what the future holds for the areas they were created to regenerate and the residents trapped in nightmare neighbourhoods.

  • Play the system

    21/01/2011

    Labour-led councils can use the coaltion’s social housing reforms to forge their own agenda

  • Revive and restore

    21/01/2011

    There’s more incentive than ever to refurbish, not demolish, properties

  • Scottish first for Glen Oaks with £14.3m bond deal

    21/01/2011

    A Scottish housing association has become the first landlord north of the border to raise long-term finance on the UK bond market.

  • The grand plan

    21/01/2011

    The Localism Bill has been criticised as a nimbys’ charter. In the week MPs debate the bill, Lydia Stockdale heads to Kent to ask residents if handing planning decisions to communities will kill development or breathe new life into villages.

  • Union threatens Hull Council with tribunal

    20/01/2011

    Union bosses have threatened to haul Hull Council’s housing maintenance contractors before an employment tribunal after they refused to pay 129 maintenance workers.

  • Taylor Wimpey profits up

    20/01/2011

    Taylor Wimpey has reported better than expected pre-tax profits and a rise in affordable housing completions.

  • Residential builds down

    19/01/2011

    Residential project starts for the three months to December 2010 were down 31 percent compared to the same period last year, according to the latest Glenigan Index.

  • L & Q set up in-house construction business

    18/01/2011

    London & Quadrant has set up its own in-house construction business.

  • Labour politicians attempt to block Localism Bill

    17/01/2011

    Labour politicians have tabled a motion to block the second reading of the government’s Localism Bill, due to have its second reading this afternoon.

  • Loans for house purchases drops, says CML

    17/01/2011

    The number of loans taken out for house purchases went down by 15 per cent in November from the same month the year before, according to Council of Mortgage Lender figures.

  • Bovis expects profits to be better than expected

    14/01/2011

    Bovis has said it expects its 2010-11 profits to be better than it expected but has warned trading conditions this year will be subdued.

  • Disaster aversion

    14/01/2011

    The effects of environmental disasters are one of the biggest threats to mankind, leaving behind devastating human, structural and economic losses. Disasters disproportionately affect the poorest people in developing countries and pose a huge threat to long-term development.

  • Pathfinders look to EU for £50m lifeline

    14/01/2011

    Housing market renewal pathfinders are seeking to plug a shortfall of at least £50 million with European funds to keep regeneration work on track.

  • Revealed: the HCA’s eco-evaders

    14/01/2011

    Major social housing developers were granted permission to ignore national eco-standards for most of the government-funded homes they built.

  • What’s your vision?

    14/01/2011

    Thirty-six years in social housing gives me a long perspective on the greatest changes. The 1974 Housing Act created the housing association sector in its present form. The 1980s saw the introduction of the right to buy, compulsory competitive tendering, stock transfer, shared ownership and private finance.

  • Mortgage lending to remain constrained, says Hometrack

    13/01/2011

    Mortgage lending will continue to be restrained throughout 2011, according to Hometrack.

  • Barratt announces increase in social housing sales

    12/01/2011

    Barratt has announced a significant increase in its social housing sales.

  • Work starts on major east London development

    10/01/2011

    This is what one of London’s biggest regeneration schemes will look like, where work has just started on the first phase.

  • Plans for £74m eco-development in Oxfordshire

    10/01/2011

    A planning application for a £74million eco-development has been submitted by a housing provider in Oxfordshire.

  • A new year erupts

    07/01/2011

    Are you ready for another explosive year? To stop you getting lost amid the shifting landscape, Lydia Stockdale has the essential guide to the months ahead

  • What’s on the cards for 2011?

    07/01/2011

    The events of 2010 caught many in social housing by surprise. To avoid similar shocks in 2011, Inside Housing asks eight housing chiefs to dabble in tarot and predict the year ahead. Nick Duxbury listens in.

  • You need partners

    07/01/2011

    Councils will need to join forces with house builders to achieve their localist aims

  • Liverpool criticises ‘interfering’ Shapps

    06/01/2011

    Liverpool Council has hit back at the government’s decision to halt an £87 million housing market renewal regeneration scheme which would knock down the former home of Beatles drummer Ringo Starr.

  • Bad weather drives construction decline

    05/01/2011

    House building activity dropped at its sharpest rate for over a year in December.

  • Flexibility needed to meet building goals

    05/01/2011

    Housing associations will need flexibility to use some of their stock for low-cost homeownership or outright sale to meet house building goals, a study has found.

  • Minister vows to help self builders

    05/01/2011

    The housing minister has promised to make it easier for people to build their own homes.

  • Ealing scheme given planning permission

    05/01/2011

    Detailed planning permission has been granted for the first phase of the regeneration of the South Acton estate in Ealing.

  • Demand for social housing to soar

    05/01/2011

    The government needs to distinguish between social and affordable housing and set out how demand for both will be met, an accountancy firm has warned.

  • Pickles scraps car parking rules

    04/01/2011

    Limits on the amount of car parking spaces for new homes will be scrapped, the government announced yesterday.

  • House price rise slows downward trend

    04/01/2011

    Nationwide has reported a slight increase in house prices for December.

  • Minister seeks stable house prices

    04/01/2011

    Grant Shapps has pledged to use government levers to encourage house building in a bid to stabilise house prices.

  • HCA chair on New Year Honours list

    04/01/2011

    The chair of the Homes and Communities Agency is among several senior social housing figures to be recognised in the New Year Honours list.

  • Land Registry finds prices down 0.6%

    31/12/2010

    House prices fell 0.6 per cent between October and November, according to the Land Registry.

  • Housing demand to cost £1.2bn a year

    30/12/2010

    Meeting demand for new homes would cost the government £1.2 billion a year over the next two decades, research has found.

  • Pitch targets referred to human rights body

    29/12/2010

    A Labour London Assembly member has asked the Equalities and Human Rights Commission to investigate the mayor’s scrapping of Gypsy and Traveller pitch targets.

  • Public sector home registrations rise

    24/12/2010

    Registrations for new public sector homes in September to November increased by 4 per cent on the figure for the same period last year.

  • Boris gives green light to Battersea plans

    24/12/2010

    London mayor Boris Johnson has approved plans to redevelop Battersea Power Station, creating up to 16,000 homes.

  • Authorities free to cut land prices

    23/12/2010

    The government has made it easier for local authorities to sell land and homes to private developers at less than market value.

  • Councils finish homes as HCA cash delivers

    23/12/2010

    Several councils have announced the completion of their first homes for years as Homes and Communities Agency funding begins to deliver results.

  • Affordable housing ‘obsession’ under fire

    23/12/2010

    The housing minister has criticised the Labour government for focusing excessively on building affordable homes.

  • Hyde takes on stalled Medway development

    23/12/2010

    Hyde Housing Group is set to step in and develop the first phase of a 2,000-home project in Medway.

  • Overhaul to simplify planning policy

    22/12/2010

    The government has begun an overhaul of planning policy that will see existing guidance and statements subsumed within a new national planning policy framework.

  • Task group waters down emissions targets

    22/12/2010

    The task group advising the government on zero carbon standards has watered down emission cuts for new homes.

  • Tenure split for £4.5bn building fund

    21/12/2010

    The government intends to split its development funding between homes for social rent and its new affordable rent product.

  • Ministers mull zero carbon offset scheme

    21/12/2010

    Developers may be able to help meet the requirement to build zero-carbon homes by paying into local renewable energy schemes, the government has suggested.

  • Nine in the running for Olympic homes

    21/12/2010

    Nine organisations including Chelsea Barracks developer Qatari Diar have been shortlisted to buy the private homes on the Olympic Village site.

  • Building regulations to be simplified

    20/12/2010

    The government is looking at making it easier and cheaper for builders to comply with regulation in England.

  • Architecture body could escape quango cull

    17/12/2010

    The Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment could be saved after agreeing a deal with another design body.

  • Report calls for tougher fire rules

    17/12/2010

    Fire regulations for timber frame and high-rise buildings should be tightened urgently, a London Assembly committee has warned.

  • Going local

    17/12/2010

    The publication of the Decentralisation and Localism Bill this week neatly bookends a momentous year for social housing professionals - and gives them plenty of food for thought over the festive season.

  • Government faces grilling over cost of Localism Bill

    17/12/2010

    The government is to be quizzed about the cost of neighbourhood plans following claims they will cost the Treasury a six-figure sum.

  • New fund to attract £1.4bn for retrofit

    17/12/2010

    A £5 million revolving fund will attract a further £1.4 billion to retrofit more than 62,000 homes in the south east of England by 2050, a housing association has claimed.

  • Pickles plots probe into spending

    17/12/2010

    Ministers are looking to force housing associations to publish details of expenditure over £500 if they want to access development grant.

  • The year that changed social housing forever

    17/12/2010

    With a new government, massive reforms and brutal cuts, the past 12 months has seen unprecedented change to the social housing landscape. Inside Housing looks back at the major events of 2010

  • Welsh investment plan is scrapped

    17/12/2010

    A plan to use Welsh housing association properties to attract £100 million of private funding for house building is set to be ditched after concerns from the sector.

  • Infrastructure fund delivers alternative to bonds

    16/12/2010

    A British representative for a US-based infrastructure fund has launched a programme to make hundreds of millions of pounds available for social housing projects.

  • Boris fights rent funding clash

    15/12/2010

    Boris Johnson is lobbying ministers over a clash between the government’s plans to cut housing benefit and the new affordable rent regime.

  • Surveyors predict continuing price falls

    14/12/2010

    House prices continued to fall in November, according to the latest figures from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

  • Fed welcomes house building moves

    14/12/2010

    The National Housing Federation has welcomed moves to make it easier for communities to build homes.

  • More enterprise partnerships approved

    14/12/2010

    Three more local enterprise partnerships have been approved covering Norfolk and Suffolk, the Black Country and Worcestershire.

  • Joint venture to build homes in south east

    14/12/2010

    A developer and an investment company have formed a joint venture to invest up to £150 million in providing around 500 new homes in London over the next nine months.

  • Flint attacks ‘cynical’ Localism Bill plans

    14/12/2010

    Shadow communities secretary Caroline Flint has dismissed the government’s commitment to localism as cynical and unfair, following the introduction of a landmark bill yesterday.

  • Pickles issues delayed Localism Bill

    13/12/2010

    Communities secretary Eric Pickles has introduced the Localism Bill to parliament, paving the way for a radical overhaul of social housing.

  • Support threshold cut for building scheme

    13/12/2010

    Powers to allow local people to develop in their area without planning permission will only be subject to a 50 per cent agreement.

  • Funding cuts may undermine Localism Bill

    13/12/2010

    Local government funding cuts due to be announced today could undermine the objectives of the Localism Bill, a think tank has warned.

  • Localism Bill date confirmed on Twitter

    10/12/2010

    The long-awaited Localism and Decentralisation Bill will be published on Monday, the government has confirmed.

  • A fair share?

    10/12/2010

    Rural planners are causing shared landlords an unnecessary headache, says Ian Deuchar

  • Birmingham in 1,500-home PRS deal

    10/12/2010

    Birmingham Council is next week due to approve a private rented sector initiative that aims to deliver up to 1,500 new private and intermediate rented homes over the next five years.

  • Don’t lose initiative

    10/12/2010

    The public will be forced to pay for social housing if private finance initiative funding is cut

  • HCA targets large landlords

    10/12/2010

    A radical shake-up of social housing funding could allow a handful of large housing associations to snap up the bulk of government funding until 2015.

  • Miliband slated over two-year housing policy vacuum

    10/12/2010

    Labour is unlikely to combat the coalition government’s radical reform programme with a coherent policy of its own for two years, a leading academic has claimed.

  • Plus Dane leads call for £500m bond

    10/12/2010

    A housing association is in talks with the Homes and Communities Agency about issuing a £500 million group national bond to fund more development.

  • Shapps rapped by Commons watchdog

    10/12/2010

    Housing minister Grants Shapps has been chastised for failing to answer adequately his Labour counterpart’s questions in parliament.

  • Community groups get funding for homes

    09/12/2010

    The government is to make £25 million of start-up funding available for community land trusts.

  • Localism Bill hit by further delays

    08/12/2010

    The publication of the government’s Localism and Decentralisation Bill has been pushed back, amidst criticism from academics and planners.

  • Gypsy and Traveller plans attacked

    08/12/2010

    Gypsy and Traveller groups attacked plans to scrap targets for pitches in London at City Hall yesterday.

  • Councils seek early exit from HRA

    08/12/2010

    Three local authorities will today ask the government to allow them to leave the council housing finance scheme early.

  • Report backs HCA approach to specialist housing

    08/12/2010

    The Homes and Communities Agency should continue to prioritise investment in specialist housing, a report has suggested.

  • FSA under pressure to relax mortgage plans

    08/12/2010

    Housing minister Grant Shapps has suggested the government would like to see the Financial Services Authority revise its proposals for mortgage regulation.

  • Edinburgh seeks to avoid housing crisis

    07/12/2010

    Edinburgh Council will urgently look at a range of investment options to fund affordable housing because of an ‘emerging housing crisis’ in the city.

  • Pickles planning row goes back to court

    07/12/2010

    Developer Cala Homes has applied for a second judicial review to clarify planning rules following its victory in the High Court last month.

  • Banks set to offer growth fund support

    07/12/2010

    Lord Heseltine has revealed that four high street banks are working with the government on allowing projects access to the £1.4 billion regional growth fund.

  • L&Q apologises for ‘threat’ claims

    06/12/2010

    London and Quadrant has apologised to local MPs who are opposed to its redevelopment of the Walthamstow stadium dog track.

  • Communities given power over planning

    06/12/2010

    Plans to give communities powers to shape their neighbourhoods were unveiled by the government today.

  • Localism Bill to be unveiled this week

    06/12/2010

    Legislation that will radically alter the shape of the social housing sector is to be published this week.

  • L&Q staff ‘threatened’ at dog track consultation

    03/12/2010

    A landlord is to complain to police after protestors opposed to a plan to build on the site of a former dog track in east London allegedly threatened staff at a consultation event.

  • Against the tide

    03/12/2010

    Despite the tough climate, councils can still play a key role in securing new homes

  • Shadow of her former self

    03/12/2010

    As housing minister, Caroline Flint drew flak for proposing radical tenure reforms, but now she is on the other side, leading the attack. The shadow communities secretary spoke to Nick Duxbury.

  • Stunell: new rent will deliver

    03/12/2010

    The government’s controversial new rent regime is likely to boost social housing supply, the communities minister has claimed.

  • Taylor: protect seaside villages

    03/12/2010

    Seaside villages should be safeguarded against overdevelopment, the chair of the National Housing Federation has urged.

  • Lovell wins £30m Southampton deal

    02/12/2010

    Lovell has won a £30 million contract to regenerate three council estates in Southampton.

  • November house prices fall 0.3 per cent

    02/12/2010

    House prices fell 0.3 per cent in November, taking them back to within half a per cent of prices a year ago, according to Nationwide.

  • Minister urged to address housing need

    02/12/2010

    Two housing bodies have written to Grant Shapps demanding that housing need is adequately addressed in the forthcoming Localism Bill.

  • Council sells homes to fund building

    02/12/2010

    Islington Council is to pilot a shared ownership scheme designed to raise income to fund new social housing.

  • London mayor to gain HCA powers

    02/12/2010

    Eric Pickles has confirmed plans to devolve housing investment powers from the London Homes and Communities Agency to City Hall will be included in the coming Localism Bill.

  • L&Q unveils plans for former dog track

    01/12/2010

    London and Quadrant has unveiled plans to build 300 homes on the site of an iconic former dog track in east London.

  • Carbon goals require 'quantum change'

    01/12/2010

    The construction industry needs to undergo the biggest change since the Victorian era to meet carbon cutting targets, the government’s chief construction adviser said this week.

  • Nimby views harden despite housing need

    01/12/2010

    People recognise the need for new properties but few want them built near their own homes, a survey has found.

  • £4.5bn regeneration scheme gets go ahead

    01/12/2010

    A £4.5 billion regeneration scheme expected to create around 13,000 homes has been given the green light by the government.

  • Quarter of Kickstart schemes rated ‘poor’

    30/11/2010

    More than a quarter of schemes funded through the Homes and Communities Agency’s latest Kickstart scheme have been rated ‘poor’.

  • Pickles dismisses Traveller site goal

    30/11/2010

    The communities secretary has said the Labour government’s goal of addressing the lack of sites for Gypsies and Travellers was ‘unrealistic’.

  • HCA move ‘will improve planning’

    29/11/2010

    Plans to transfer power from the Homes and Communities Agency to Boris Johnson will allow houses to be planned more effectively, one of the mayor’s deputies has said.

  • Data firm predicts 2011 house price fall

    29/11/2010

    House prices will fall 2 per cent by the end of next year as demand slumps, according data company Hometrack.

  • Welsh claim success on house building

    29/11/2010

    Wales has already reached its target of delivering 6,500 new affordable homes by March 2011, according to Welsh Assembly Government figures.

  • House building move angers architects

    26/11/2010

    Plans to scrap new space standards for public housing have been criticised by one of the sector’s leading bodies.

  • £26m cut threatens new home building in Wales

    26/11/2010

    The Welsh social housing sector is trying to find ways to boost supply after it emerged social housing grant is the biggest loser in the the country’s budget.

  • A time for giving

    26/11/2010

    Inside Housing’s Christmas appeal is raising money for the poorest and most vulnerable people in society. This week Caroline Thorpe takes a closer look at the charities we are supporting in Scotland and Northern Ireland

  • Developers handed eco-waiver

    26/11/2010

    A third of new housing schemes funded by the government were granted waivers from national sustainability standards.

  • Lord Best: ‘councils to lead planning overhaul

    26/11/2010

    Councils should take the lead in reforming the planning system to tackle the shortage of new homes, according to a flagship report by the National Commission on Council House Building.

  • Probe exposes rifts over RSS court case

    26/11/2010

    Civil servants and ministerial special advisers clashed over the handling of the scrapping of regional housing targets, a review ordered by ministers has revealed.

  • Public sector homes rise by 12 per cent

    26/11/2010

    Registrations for new public sector homes in August to October were up 12 per cent on the figure for the same period last year, according to the National House Building Council.

  • Reform casts a long shadow

    26/11/2010

    ‘I know this is not going to be easy,’ says housing minister Grant Shapps in the foreword to the consultation document published this week, which effectively sweeps away decades of social housing policy in England. He is not wrong.

  • Government bins building standards

    25/11/2010

    The government is scrapping a new set of house building standards that would have applied to homes built with government funding or on public land.

  • Johnson: benefit cuts will hit construction

    25/11/2010

    Boris Johnson has called for housing benefit plans to be modified for London so affordable homes can be built.

  • Half of HCA director posts to be axed

    23/11/2010

    Half of the director posts at the Homes and Communities Agency are to be cut, and its administrative budget halved.

  • Government withdraws £1.98 billion PFI funding

    22/11/2010

    Councils face a battle to fund major regeneration projects after the government announced it is to withdraw almost £2 billion of housing private finance initiative credits.

  • PM admits rent rise will hit benefit bill

    19/11/2010

    The prime minister has admitted raising social rents to 80 per cent of market level could drive up the housing benefit bill.

  • CLG reveals stripped back structure

    19/11/2010

    The Communities and Local Government department has unveiled its new top-level structure, which will see the number of director general posts halved.

  • Foul play

    19/11/2010

    Cala Homes chalked up a High Court victory against Eric Pickles last week, but the communities secretary is set to brush aside the challenge and abolish regional house targets anyway. Rhiannon Bury investigates where next for planning reform.

  • Give us our fair share

    19/11/2010

    Shared ownership can help the housing crisis but the FSA’s review is not helping

  • Investor to buy housing associations' shared owner units

    19/11/2010

    A property investment company is in discussions with 30 housing associations about buying 10,000 of their shared home ownership properties, in a move which could provide landlords with a new source of finance.

  • SFHA attacks ‘flawed’ study

    19/11/2010

    A report suggesting housing associations could build homes using less public money and that local authorities could raise rents is ‘flawed’, the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations has said.

  • Team building exercise

    19/11/2010

    The government is not being ambitious enough in its bid to build more affordable homes

  • Time to celebrate

    19/11/2010

    Revealing the victors of the 2010 UK Housing Awards

  • Councils to get more cash from development

    18/11/2010

    New reforms will give more of the benefits of development to communities while providing more certainty for industry, decentralisation minister Greg Clark said today.

  • Construction firm to buy parts of Rok

    18/11/2010

    Mansell Construction Services is to buy parts of the construction and house building division of stricken contractor Rok for £7 million.

  • Disappointment at Scottish and Welsh budget cuts

    18/11/2010

    Charities and sector bodies have called the housing budget cuts in Wales and Scotland ‘disappointing’ and ‘a bitter blow’.

  • 80 per cent rents to fund 7,800 new homes

    18/11/2010

    Housing associations charging affordable rents on a third of their re-lets would generate up to £793 million of extra borrowing capacity a year, according to research by Hometrack.

  • Welsh slash housing spending

    17/11/2010

    The Welsh Assembly Government has cut its housing budget by £26 million.

  • Scottish Government cuts housing budget

    17/11/2010

    The Scottish Government has cut its housing and regeneration budget from £448 million to £390.8 million.

  • Association taps bond market for £124m

    17/11/2010

    Circle Anglia has raised £124 million on the UK bond market to fund its development plans.

  • Barratt sales down during autumn

    17/11/2010

    House builder Barratt Developments has had a weaker autumn than expected.

  • Mortgage review threatens housing market

    17/11/2010

    Housing bodies have written to the chancellor warning proposed changes to mortgage regulation will have ‘dire consequences’ for the market.

  • Administrators shed 1,800 jobs at Rok

    16/11/2010

    The administrators for Rok have announced 1,800 redundancies, but said discussions on the sale of the social housing business are continuing.

  • L&Q sets up £1.25bn house building fund

    16/11/2010

    London and Quadrant is to set up a £1.25 billion revolving facility to fund new homes.

  • Out of the frying plan

    16/11/2010

    The High Court’s decision to overturn the abolition of regional spatial strategies has left the planning system in chaos

  • Taylor Wimpey expects subdued market

    16/11/2010

    Taylor Wimpey has reported a solid order book but warned that trading will be subdued for the rest of the year due to economic uncertainty and a lack of mortgages.

  • Finance reforms could fund 1 million homes

    16/11/2010

    Reducing the cost of land and the interest rates paid by social landlords could fund one million new homes in the next five years, a think tank has said.

  • Builder warns of development ‘hiatus’

    15/11/2010

    Social housing development is likely to stall while new funding models are introduced, construction firm Kier has warned.

  • Rok faces split as bids are finalised

    15/11/2010

    Administrators for the building and maintenance contractor Rok are hoping to announce which companies will take on its work this week.

  • Battersea plans will create 3,400 homes

    15/11/2010

    Plans have finally been approved to redevelop the Grade II Listed Battersea Power Station in London, creating more than 3,400 homes.

  • Persimmon sales remain stable

    15/11/2010

    Persimmon has reported its sales volumes are remaining stable and prices holding firm.

  • Scots urged not to slash housing budget

    15/11/2010

    Scottish ministers have been warned not to follow the UK government’s lead in slashing housing budgets when they unveil their spending plans this week.

  • Building incentive to cover empty homes

    12/11/2010

    Empty homes that are brought back into use could qualify for the same incentive payments as new houses.

  • Angel of the north

    12/11/2010

    After five years away from the housing sector, Jo Boaden is back as the new chief executive of the Northern Housing Consortium. Isabel Hardman finds out how she intends to fight the region’s corner.

  • Bringing home the bacon

    12/11/2010

    On a recent stay in Normandy, France, I visited the local farmer and came back with milk, cider and a supply of logs for the wood burner.

  • Councils in planning chaos

    12/11/2010

    England’s councils are being warned to expect a wave of legal challenges after the government’s decision to scrap regional housing targets was ruled unlawful.

  • Developers to face additional charge

    12/11/2010

    Southwark Council plans to raise money for new homes by charging developers a premium on the extra profit they make from developments which don’t include affordable housing.

  • New broom, new direction

    12/11/2010

    There are plenty of challenges ahead, but new Homes and Communities Agency chief executive Pat Ritchie says she is ready to reshape the organisation to meet them

  • Repairs crisis as Rok enters administration

    12/11/2010

    Several landlords are facing a second battle in as many months to keep repairs services running, after Rok went into administration this week.

  • Stop, look and listen

    12/11/2010

    To say that the government’s approach to planning policy has met with a few dissenting voices is a bit like saying that Manchester United has won a few trophies or that Jack Nicholson has been on a few dates.

  • Government simplifes code for sustainable homes

    11/11/2010

    The government has simplified the sustainability standards that new build homes must meet.

  • Rok administrator makes 711 redundant

    11/11/2010

    The administrator for stricken contractor Rok has announced 711 redundancies.

  • Move to scrap housing targets ‘unlawful’

    10/11/2010

    Communities secretary Eric Pickles’ decision to scrap regional spatial strategies was unlawful, a court has ruled.

  • Surveyors gloomy on market prospects

    09/11/2010

    The latest data from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors shows its members believe house prices are continuing to fall.

  • Community approach could hinder development

    09/11/2010

    House builders have warned MPs that giving communities more influence over development will result in a shortage of homes.

  • Building drive will cut social housing

    09/11/2010

    Social housing stock in England will decline by 123,000 homes over the next four years as a result of government proposals, the National Housing Federation has calculated.

  • Administrator seeks buyer for Rok

    08/11/2010

    The administrator of building and maintenance company Rok has said its immediate priority is to find a buyer for the business.

  • CLG given timetable for housing reform

    08/11/2010

    The government has published a business plan for the Communities and Local Government department, setting out how it will meet housing aspirations.

  • Galliford Try issues trading update

    08/11/2010

    Galliford Try has reported a strong balance sheet and a steady order book.

  • Rok board puts firm into administration

    08/11/2010

    Social housing contractor Rok will be put into administration, the company has this morning announced.

  • Regeneration stalwart to leave HCA

    05/11/2010

    The Homes and Communities Agency’s director of placemaking is to leave after more than 17 years with the quango and its predecessor.

  • ‘Affordable rent’ to derail development

    05/11/2010

    Social landlords in the north and midlands are set to be the biggest losers under the government’s new affordable rent regime.

  • Sustainable Housing Awards 2010

    05/11/2010

    The third Sustainable Housing Awards celebrate the very best in eco-technology, innovative design and inspirational projects for social landlords and their tenants. Chloë Stothart finds out what gave the winners the edge

  • The butterfly effect

    05/11/2010

    The creation of innovative new software is set to change the way social landlords develop sustainable housing. Nick Duxbury explains how

  • The climate changer

    05/11/2010

    Having survived the bonfire of the quangos, the influential Committee on Climate Change’s chief David Kennedy is pushing the government for a greener future. He talks to Nick Duxbury

  • Where do we go from here?

    05/11/2010

    Within 24 hours of George Osborne’s comprehensive spending review announcement, Inside Housing convened a round table of housing finance chiefs to see how they were coming to terms with the chancellor’s cuts. Carl Brown reports

  • London seeks half of new homes cash

    04/11/2010

    Boris Johnson is asking for half of the money available for building new affordable housing over the next four years to be spent in London.

  • Scottish ministers urged to resist cuts

    02/11/2010

    Senior figures in the housing world in Scotland have written to first minister Alex Salmond urging him not to drop funding for housing.

  • Minister apologises for deceit claim

    02/11/2010

    Junior housing minister Andrew Stunell has been forced to apologise to the House of Commons for unparliamentary language during a debate with MPs.

  • £946m fund to drive house building

    01/11/2010

    The government is putting £946 million into a scheme to incentivise house building over four years.

  • Price fall nears 1 per cent a month

    01/11/2010

    House prices continued to fall in October as the number of homes for sale outstripped the number of potential buyers, according to the latest market survey.

  • Consent granted for £4.5bn Brent scheme

    29/10/2010

    Planning consent has been granted for a £4.5 billion scheme in London which will deliver 7,500 homes.

  • Affordable housing reaches 14-year high

    29/10/2010

    Last year saw the highest number of new affordable homes in England for 14 years, according to statistics released by the Communities and Local Government department.

  • Rent rise threatens housing benefit reforms

    29/10/2010

    Ministers have been warned plans to increase rents for affordable housing will drive up housing benefit costs and discourage tenants from seeking work.

  • Call to stop ‘vexatious’ green claims

    29/10/2010

    The government should make it more difficult for campaigners to delay housing developments by submitting village green applications, a housing association chief executive has said.

  • Grant freeze marks death of social housing

    29/10/2010

    The government has no intention of providing new direct grant for social housing in the next five years, heralding its slow death as a form of tenure.

  • Investors must learn

    29/10/2010

    As cutbacks force more families into private rentals the market must adapt

  • Open minded

    29/10/2010

    Quality open space designed as an integral part of a housing development often wins awards for developers at the planning stage. But what happens next?

  • Planning target row in High Court

    29/10/2010

    Edinburgh developer Cala Homes has appeared in the High Court to challenge Eric Pickles’ decision to scrap regional spatial strategies.

  • Stormy weather

    29/10/2010

    Last week’s comprehensive spending review hit social housing hard. Martin Hilditch assesses the damage

  • Subsidy withdrawal heavily criticised

    29/10/2010

    The coalition government’s decision to bring the curtain down on social housing has shocked senior figures across the sector and beyond.

  • The bigger picture

    29/10/2010

    Reduced investment in social housing is a heavy blow, but building new homes is only part of the solution to the sector’s problems

  • Government approves local partnership bids

    28/10/2010

    Proposals for twenty-four local enterprise partnerships were approved by government today in a move that will see local businesses and councils work together to drive growth.

  • Kerslake warns of new era for sector

    28/10/2010

    The housing sector is entering a ‘new reality’ where only the most innovative will succeed, the departing chief executive of the Homes and Communities Agency has warned.

  • Tough times ahead

    28/10/2010

    On the eve of his departure from the HCA, Sir Bob Kerslake looks at what the agency has achieved and how the sector can adapt to the ‘fundamental’ changes in the spending review

  • Pathfinder schemes face funding shortfall

    28/10/2010

    Housing market renewal pathfinders have warned they may not have enough money to complete projects before the scheme ends.

  • Nationwide records further house price fall

    28/10/2010

    House prices fell 0.7 per cent in October according to Nationwide, strengthening the recent downward trend.

  • MEP calls for more efficiency funding

    26/10/2010

    A Green MEP has called for more European Union funding to allow landlords to make homes energy efficient.

  • Timber frame case to increase insurance

    26/10/2010

    A legal case is threatening to drive up insurance premiums for the owners of completed timber-framed buildings.

  • Rent rises to be lower than expected

    26/10/2010

    New intermediate rents will be set at 80 per cent of local housing allowance levels not of open market rent, Inside Housing understands.

  • Drop in number of new homes

    25/10/2010

    The amount of new homes added to England’s housing stock last year fell by nearly a quarter, say government figures.

  • Planning system hampering better homes for older people

    25/10/2010

    More ‘joined up’ planning needs to be done to provide better homes for an ageing population, a report from the Local Government Association will suggest.

  • Cuts will have 'devastating impact' on Northern Ireland

    25/10/2010

    Politicians and social landlords in Northern Ireland have warned that the comprehensive spending review will have a ‘devastating impact’ on housing in the province.

  • Four in 10 jobs could go at CLG

    22/10/2010

    Up to four in 10 jobs could be axed at the department for Communities and Local Government following the spending review, it has been announced.

  • Sustainable Housing Award winners unveiled

    22/10/2010

    The winners of the 2010 Sustainable Housing Awards have been announced at a ceremony in London this afternoon.

  • Boris to set up housing taskforce

    22/10/2010

    Boris Johnson is to set up a housing investment task force to try and attract private financing to the sector.

  • Wales confident assembly will not decimate housing budget

    22/10/2010

    Umbrella groups in Wales are confident the Welsh Assembly Government will not follow the UK Government in its major slashing of investment in affordable housing.

  • Increased rents could build 15,000 homes a year

    22/10/2010

    The new rent regime could generate £1.5bn of extra borrowing capacity for housing associations enabling nearly 15,000 new homes to be built a year, the Chartered Institute of Housing has calculated.

  • Landlords split over power to set higher rents

    22/10/2010

    Landlords are divided over plans to allow rents of up to 80 per cent market value for new social housing tenants.

  • New regulator will push landlords to build

    22/10/2010

    The Homes and Communities Agency will be charged with pushing landlords to stretch their assets to compensate for the absence of grant, when it takes responsibility for regulation.

  • No new solution

    22/10/2010

    Why the government’s new homes bonus will hinder regeneration

  • Public sector homes registrations up 6%

    22/10/2010

    Registrations for new public sector homes have increased by 6 per cent in a year, while private sector registrations are up 27 per cent.

  • Swept aside

    22/10/2010

    How housing’s spending review pain began in negotiations to form the coalition government

  • The bonfire of the quangos

    22/10/2010

    The government is scrapping hundreds of quasi-public bodies, some of which are important to housing. But which ones will actually be missed and by whom? Chloë Stothart finds out.

  • The first cut is the deepest

    22/10/2010

    Social housing ‘is currently failing to address the needs of the country’ and must be reformed.

  • Shapps defends ‘radical’ social housing reforms

    21/10/2010

    The Communities and Local Government department had an ‘enormous’ and ‘over-bloated’ budget before it was cut in half, according to the housing minister.

  • Spending cuts to hit most vulnerable hardest

    21/10/2010

    Plans to slash social housing budgets and drive up rents will hit the poorest members of society hardest, practitioners have warned.

  • All change

    20/10/2010

    Mike Wilkins, chief executive of London-based Ducane Housing Association, offers his initial reactions to the spending review

  • Social landlords to set tenancies and rents

    20/10/2010

    Social landlords are to be given the freedom to raise rents towards market levels and introduce time-limited tenancies, the government has announced.

  • Scots fear housing cuts as budget falls

    20/10/2010

    Housing organisations in Scotland are calling on the Scottish Government not to slash affordable housing budgets as the country’s funding drops nearly £1 billion.

  • A fair future?

    20/10/2010

    Public service reform and fairness are said to be the guiding principles of the comprehensive spending review. Reform of social housing is seen to be part of this.

  • CLG budget to be cut by 51 per cent

    20/10/2010

    The Communities and Local Government department is to have its budget cut by 51 per cent over the next four years.

  • Osborne raises rents and slashes funding

    20/10/2010

    Capital funding for social housing is to be cut by £4 billion and social rents set at 80 per cent of market levels, the chancellor has announced.

  • Think tank labels HCA cuts 'desirable'

    20/10/2010

    The budget of the Homes and Communities Agency could be cut by 50 per cent without major damage to the supply of affordable housing, a think tank has claimed.

  • Public backs cuts to social housing funding

    20/10/2010

    The public supports cuts to social housing but believes services tackling crime and anti-social behaviour should be protected, a survey had found.

  • Sector rallies against ‘devastating’ cuts

    19/10/2010

    Housing bodies have warned cuts expected in the spending review will have a ‘devastating’ impact on the most vulnerable members of society.

  • HCA publishes spending breakdown

    19/10/2010

    The Homes and Communities Agency has for the first time published a detailed breakdown by local authority area of its spending.

  • Johnson: tax bankers to ease spending cuts

    19/10/2010

    The shadow chancellor has said the government should increase tax revenues to lessen the impact of capital spending cuts on affordable housing.

  • Farmers urged to create affordable homes

    19/10/2010

    Government ministers are urging councils to change their planning policies so that farmers can convert disused buildings into affordable housing.

  • Sector calls for empty homes incentives

    19/10/2010

    Empty homes that are brought back into use should count as new homes for house building targets, an online debate has suggested.

  • Secure tenancies face axe as funding is cut

    19/10/2010

    Ministers are expected to scrap tenancy for life in the wake of massive funding cuts in tomorrow’s comprehensive spending review.

  • Budget cuts would halt HCA funding

    18/10/2010

    Spending cuts could mean the Homes and Communities Agency will not be able to fund any new house starts next year, one of its directors has warned.

  • Social housing ‘to be hit with £8bn cuts’

    18/10/2010

    Social housing could see cuts of around £8 billion as part of the comprehensive spending review on Wednesday.

  • Pickles scraps council performance targets

    15/10/2010

    The government has announced it is scrapping a set of performance pledges for councils which include house building and sustainability targets.

  • Financial changes threaten affordable housing

    15/10/2010

    Weakening the financial position of housing associations could have serious social consequences, a consultant has warned.

  • £125bn could be unlocked to fund homes

    15/10/2010

    A more commercial approach to asset management could unlock £125 billion from landlords’ balance sheets to fund new homes, a consultancy has said.

  • A bitter pill to swallow

    15/10/2010

    The coalition government’s cutbacks are starting to bite and it’s only just the beginning, says Jon Cruddas

  • All of capital’s councils back devolved funding

    15/10/2010

    All 32 London councils have agreed to participate in a plan to hand them a share of the Homes and Communities Agency’s £5 billion investment budget for the capital.

  • Executive faces double review

    15/10/2010

    The Northern Irish social development minister has launched two separate reviews which will decide the fate of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive.

  • Experts want code scrapped

    15/10/2010

    A group of sustainability experts has demanded that ministers scrap the code for sustainable homes as part of changes to building regulations.

  • Housing shadow to lead policy review

    15/10/2010

    New shadow housing minister Alison Seabeck will help lead a review of Labour’s housing policy and focus attacks on housing benefit reforms and plans to end security of tenure.

  • Landlord suffers £25m land hit

    15/10/2010

    Places for People has seen the value of its land plummet by £25 million - a fifth of the total fall predicted for all housing associations in 2009/10.

  • Pathfinders to join forces with LEPs

    15/10/2010

    Two housing market renewal pathfinders are planning to merge with new local enterprise partnerships.

  • Romany soldier

    15/10/2010

    Maggie Smith-Bendell has spent 20 years fighting for the rights of Gypsies and Travellers to build on their own land. Now she has a new enemy in communities secretary Eric Pickles and she’s prepared to pitch her wagon outside parliament to make her voice heard. Emily Twinch reports.

  • Funds for social housing could be cut by 80 per cent

    14/10/2010

    Capital funding for the social housing sector could be cut by as much as 80 per cent, the Chartered Institute of Housing has warned.

  • More four bedroom homes needed to tackle overcrowding

    14/10/2010

    More four-bedroom homes - not three bedroom - are needed to ease overcrowding, a London Assembly planning and housing committee heard.

  • HCA confirmed to take on TSA regulation

    14/10/2010

    The Homes and Communities Agency has been saved in the bonfire of quangos and will take on regulation from the Tenant Services Authority, it has been confirmed.

  • Zero carbon targets are 'unrealistic'

    13/10/2010

    The government’s target for all new homes to be zero carbon from 2016 is unrealistic and will lead to a rise in building costs, a new report warns.

  • Minister seeks to halt house price growth

    13/10/2010

    House price growth should be halted to allow more people to buy homes, the housing minister has said.

  • Second Labour MP given housing role

    12/10/2010

    The Labour Party has put two of its MPs in charge of shadowing the Communities and Local Government department’s work on housing.

  • Shapps promises to cut building red tape

    12/10/2010

    Grant Shapps has pledged to cut red tape to make it easier for developers to build homes.

  • Plans submitted for £5.5bn scheme

    12/10/2010

    The largest planning application in the UK has been submitted for a £5.5 billion regeneration of Liverpool’s Docklands.

  • House prices fall as sellers test market

    12/10/2010

    An influx of new sellers coupled with a shortage of buyers is pushing house prices down, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors has said.

  • Planners back minimum space standards

    12/10/2010

    The Town and Country Planning Association has welcomed the mayor of London’s policy of mandatory space standards for new private as well as public housing.

  • Alison Seabeck to be shadow housing minister

    11/10/2010

    Alison Seabeck will be announced as the new shadow housing minister, her office confirmed this afternoon.

  • Basildon awards £1bn town centre contract

    11/10/2010

    Basildon council has awarded a £1 billion regeneration contract to a partnership between Barratt Homes and Wilson Bowden Developments.

  • Watchdog issues timber-frame warning

    11/10/2010

    Developers should consider using alternatives to timber-frame construction methods if a site fire could put lives at risk in neighbouring homes, new guidance states.

  • Miliband announces shadow CLG team

    11/10/2010

    The Labour Party has announced the MPs who will work with Caroline Flint to shadow the Communities and Local Government department.

  • Confusion reigns after planning overhaul

    08/10/2010

    Local authorities are struggling to quantify requirements for homes after the government scrapped development goals, a study has found.

  • Flint gets CLG role in shadow cabinet

    08/10/2010

    Controversial former housing minister Caroline Flint is to take on the communities and local government brief in the Labour shadow cabinet.

  • Miliband to unveil shadow cabinet roles

    08/10/2010

    Former housing minister John Healey has won a place in the shadow cabinet after coming second in a ballot of Labour MPs.

  • Basildon pulls out of talks over Gypsy site

    08/10/2010

    Basildon Council has pulled out of talks to find alternative sites for Gypsies and Travellers living on the biggest encampment in Europe.

  • Chemicals found under Motherwell estate

    08/10/2010

    Toxic chemicals have been found on land under a 400-home estate in Scotland.

  • Councils forced to accept HRA reform

    08/10/2010

    The government will force through plans to reform the current housing subsidy system if a minority of councils refuse to comply, it revealed this week.

  • In the frame

    08/10/2010

    Calls for a review of the fire risks posed by timber frame buildings have reignited fears over the safety and suitability of the construction method in social housing. Caroline Thorpe reports on the facts and figures fanning the flames of the debate

  • Last piece of the puzzle

    08/10/2010

    The housing sector is holding its breath to see what final cuts will be revealed in the jigsaw of the comprehensive spending review. Carl Brown pieces it all together and looks at the bigger picture for social landlords.

  • New chief executive prepares HCA for smaller future

    08/10/2010

    The new chief executive of the Homes and Communities Agency warned the organisation is in for a major change in the way it operates during the first few months of her tenure.

  • Shapps casts doubt over capital funding

    08/10/2010

    The current housing funding system has failed and the government will look at new models of investment in the future, the housing minister stressed this week.

  • Stand up and be counted

    08/10/2010

    Housing was a recurring theme at this year’s Conservative Party conference.

  • Housing density cut for Olympic Park site

    07/10/2010

    The long-awaited master plan for the 2012 Olympic Games’ long-term legacy has been unveiled today, with 2,000 fewer homes than originally proposed.

  • Bank reports record fall in house prices

    07/10/2010

    House prices plummeted a record 3.6 per cent in September, according to figures from the Halifax.

  • Associations stockpile cash ahead of cuts

    07/10/2010

    Housing associations saw their annual surpluses almost treble last year.

  • City centre plan to create 5,000 new homes

    07/10/2010

    Ambitious regeneration plans for Birmingham City Centre, to include 5,000 new homes, have been unveiled by council leader Mike Whitby.

  • Shapps rules out early exit from HRA

    05/10/2010

    The opportunity for local authorities to voluntarily leave the housing revenue account subsidy system next April has been ruled out.

  • HCA appoints interim chief executive

    05/10/2010

    The Homes and Communities Agency has appointed an interim chief executive to replace Sir Bob Kerslake.

  • Shapps defends new homes bonus

    05/10/2010

    Grant Shapps has insisted plans to incentivise councils to build homes will work, after coming in for criticism at the Conservative Party conference.

  • Minister confirms HRA will be scrapped

    05/10/2010

    The centralised system of council housing finance will be abolished and local authorities allowed to keep rents and receipts from sales, the housing minister has confirmed.

  • Planning shake up sees 300,000 homes axed

    04/10/2010

    Local authorities have ditched plans for 160,000 homes since the coalition government came to power, research has found.

  • Olympics body seeks buyer for 4,000 homes

    04/10/2010

    The Olympic Delivery Authority is looking for private businesses to take on up to 4,000 homes on the Olympic site.

  • Coalfields study backs council-led regeneration

    04/10/2010

    Local councils should play a central role in the next phase of regeneration of former coal mining areas, a government study has suggested.

  • Planning applications up on 2009

    04/10/2010

    Planning applications for the last quarter were up on the same time last year.

  • Ed Miliband: ‘make social housing desirable for all’

    01/10/2010

    New Labour leader Ed Miliband is considering how to make social housing a tenure of choice as part of his vision for Labour policy.

  • Falling through the gaps

    01/10/2010

    In my opinion, London is the best big city in the world in which to live and work and our ambition is to make the capital more affordable for ordinary Londoners.

  • Future developments

    01/10/2010

    As the sector awaits next month’s spending review, Inside Housing convened a round table debate to find out what’s next for development - and what role intermediate housing will play. Carl Brown reports.

  • Healey: build incentive will cause chaos

    30/09/2010

    Government plans to reward local authorities that build homes will cause ‘council tax chaos’, the shadow housing minister has said.

  • Leeds to ‘miss out’ on £255m building bonus

    30/09/2010

    House building leaders have claimed Leeds will miss out on a £255 million bonus payment after slashing its plans for development.

  • Healey seeks senior shadow cabinet role

    30/09/2010

    Shadow housing minister John Healey has thrown his hat into the ring in the nominations for the Labour shadow cabinet.

  • Olympics chief to stand down

    30/09/2010

    The chief executive of the Olympic Delivery Authority will join Network Rail in the new year.

  • Mortgage drop suggests weakening market

    29/09/2010

    Mortgage approvals have fallen for the fourth consecutive month, according to Bank of England data.

  • Developers challenge axed planning strategies

    29/09/2010

    The government is facing a wave of legal challenges over its planning policy after two more developers launched action against its decision to scrap regional spatial strategies.

  • Land Registry sees prices rise in August

    29/09/2010

    House prices rose 0.3 per cent in August with all regions of England and Wales seeing rises in the last 12 months, the Land Registry has reported.

  • Labour conference slams building cuts

    28/09/2010

    Delegates at the Labour Party conference have backed a union motion condemning cuts to social housing schemes.

  • Fire officers fear timber-frame death

    28/09/2010

    Fire chiefs are demanding an urgent review of the safety of the timber-frame construction method widely used in social housing.

  • Builders sought for National Housing Trust

    28/09/2010

    Developers have been invited to submit bids for an innovative house building scheme set up by the Scottish Government.

  • Hometrack records national price falls

    27/09/2010

    House prices have fallen across all regions of England and Wales for the first time since April 2009.

  • Document leak shows HCA is 'under review'

    24/09/2010

    The future of the Homes and Communities Agency looks uncertain as a leaked government document reveals that it is under review.

  • Ken wins campaign on housing ticket

    24/09/2010

    Ken Livingstone has been selected as Labour’s candidate for the 2012 London mayoral election after placing housing issues at the centre of his campaign.

  • Healey tells CLG to come clean on cuts

    24/09/2010

    The shadow housing minister has demanded to know the extent of cuts to housing and regeneration budgets, after ministers agreed a secret deal with the Treasury.

  • CLG defends planning policy

    24/09/2010

    The director general of housing at the Communities and Local Government department has strongly denied England has fallen into a planning vacuum.

  • Doing things by the book

    24/09/2010

    Public/private development partnerships can constitute public works and must adhere to EU procurement rules. Martin Vincent, head of procurement at Mace & Jones, explains.

  • Public sector homes rise by 5 per cent

    24/09/2010

    Registrations of new public sector homes between June and August increased by 5 per cent on last year’s figure, latest statistics from the National House Building Council show.

  • Aylesbury estate demolition begins

    23/09/2010

    The long-awaited demolition of the Aylesbury estate in south London has begun as part of a £1.5 billion regeneration project.

  • Associations should trade on stock market

    23/09/2010

    Housing associations could raise £30 billion and fund an extra 100,000 homes a year if they were allowed to raise money on the stock market, according to a report by a right-wing think tank.

  • Threshold lowered for right to build scheme

    23/09/2010

    The level of resident support required to approve developments under the community right to build scheme will be reduced from 90 per cent to 75 per cent.

  • Councils offered low cost homes advice

    22/09/2010

    Councils are being offered advice on developing affordable homes that are attractive to mortgage lenders.

  • Associations ‘mistreated’ by government

    22/09/2010

    The Scottish Government’s treatment of housing associations has been branded ‘shameful’.

  • Property sector backs borrowing plans

    21/09/2010

    Nick Clegg’s announcement that councils in England will have the freedom to borrow against future income has been welcomed by the British Property Foundation.

  • Planners seek radical house building model

    21/09/2010

    Councils should issue bonds and give tax breaks to encourage building on designated sites, a planning body has said.

  • Financial freedoms to aid council building

    20/09/2010

    Councils will be able to fund development by borrowing against future income, the deputy prime minister announced today.

  • Decent homes plus could cut building

    20/09/2010

    Creating a new decent homes standard that includes energy efficiency may jeopardise the number of new social homes that are built, a minister warned yesterday.

  • Double dipping

    17/09/2010

    Despite a rosy outlook in other parts of the world, the UK economy is not yet out of the woods and we must prepare for the possibility of a ‘double dipette’, says Chris Blackhurst

  • Minister sparks fears of rent hikes to pay for new build houses

    17/09/2010

    The Scottish housing minister has sparked fears of sharp rent hikes to raise money to build new homes.

  • Ousted residents fear homelessness

    17/09/2010

    Residents of a London estate undergoing a controversial £1 billion regeneration programme have been served eviction notices as the council begins the demolition of their homes.

  • Treasury rejects calls for tax change

    17/09/2010

    The government has rejected calls for tax changes to encourage investment in the private rented sector.

  • Unison calls for build surge

    17/09/2010

    Trade union Unison has called for an increase in house building to provide more affordable family homes.

  • Kier sees profits rise 10 per cent

    16/09/2010

    Kier Group has reported an increase in pre-tax profits in preliminary full year results.

  • Galliford Try expansion on track

    15/09/2010

    Affordable housing specialist Galliford Try has reported a three-year plan to double the size of its house building business is on track.

  • Fire chief issues timber frame warning

    15/09/2010

    A top fire officer has warned of the dangers of timber-framed buildings under construction after a 64-flat extra care scheme went up in flames.

  • HCA chooses partners for advice panels

    14/09/2010

    The Homes and Communities Agency has announced the names of 33 companies selected to sit on two panels which will advise on decisions about funding.

  • Redrow returns to profit

    14/09/2010

    House builder Redrow has reported a return to profitability in preliminary financial results for the year ending 30 June 2010.

  • Higher social rents should subsidise development

    14/09/2010

    The funding model for social housing is broken and must be changed if housing associations are to continue providing affordable homes, according to an influential think tank.

  • Surveyors report house price falls

    14/09/2010

    Property prices have fallen for the second month in a row as more houses flood the market, surveyors have said.

  • Mears to take over eight Connaught contracts

    13/09/2010

    Connaught’s administrator KPMG has agreed to transfer eight contracts to social housing repairs and maintenance contractor Mears.

  • Green planning statement shelved

    13/09/2010

    The government has shelved plans to publish a legally-binding statement on its planning policy on climate change and renewable energy, Inside Housing has learned.

  • Regeneration body to merge with council

    13/09/2010

    A regeneration body responsible for part of the Thames Gateway is to be merged with the local council, reversing plans to combine it with the Homes and Communities Agency.

  • Housing schemes meet design standard

    13/09/2010

    A record number of new housing schemes have qualified for a Building for Life standard from design body CABE.

  • Spending cuts threaten Scottish house building

    10/09/2010

    The UK government’s public spending cuts will impact on the level of investment in social housing in Scotland, the housing minister has warned.

  • A busy man

    10/09/2010

    Climate change minister Greg Barker takes 12 minutes off from saving the planet to explain the government’s new ‘green deal’ to Nick Duxbury

  • Councils cut £400m on housing spend

    10/09/2010

    Councils spent £400 million less on improving existing or building new housing last year, despite an overall increase in their capital spending.

  • L&Q calls on government to strike landlord deal

    10/09/2010

    All housing associations should be able to sign a contract with government pledging to use their assets more effectively, in return for funding and regulation guarantees, according to a report out today.

  • Powerhouse to PassivHaus

    10/09/2010

    The coal mines and the industry they fuelled have long stood idle, but now green housing is giving Welsh industry a new lease of life. Chloë Stothart reports

  • Sir Bob: ‘CLG will be high-performing’

    10/09/2010

    Sir Bob Kerslake has told Inside Housing he wants to fashion a high-performing Whitehall department as he takes a pay cut to to become one of the UK’s top civil servants.

  • Still cutting it

    10/09/2010

    By changing the way we work we can still deliver in the face of reduced budgets, says Sir Bob Kerslake

  • The great estate

    10/09/2010

    Two north London housing estates have been given a grade II listing by English Heritage. Is this rightful recognition of cultural and architectural legacy, or a hindrance to renovation and improvement? Words and photography by Simon Brandon

  • The real deal?

    10/09/2010

    The coalition government has pledged to be the greenest government ever. Isabel Hardman investigates its true colours

  • Time for change

    10/09/2010

    We need to introduce regulatory standards to the retrofitting of existing homes as well as new builds. But defining this regulation shouldn’t be rushed, says Paul Morrell

  • Fed issues warning on right to build scheme

    09/09/2010

    Plans to let communities build homes without planning permission will fail unless the threshold for support is lowered, the National Housing Federation has warned.

  • Barratt cuts losses as business picks up

    08/09/2010

    Barratt Homes has reported a £33 million pre-tax loss for the year ending 30 June 2010, an improvement on the £144.1 million loss reported last year.

  • Winners and losers as HCA allocates funding

    08/09/2010

    Months of uncertainty ended in joy for some and misery for others this week as the Homes and Communities Agency revealed where it will direct its dwindling reserves of development cash.

  • Association finances withstand economic fears

    07/09/2010

    Housing associations have proved ‘remarkably robust’ in the current economic climate, according to figures from the Tenant Services Authority.

  • Ready for reform

    07/09/2010

    With an announcement on the future of council housing finance due this month, social housing lawyer Kate Silverman examines what the current proposals would mean for local authorities and housing associations.

  • Kerslake takes £50k pay cut to join CLG

    07/09/2010

    Sir Bob Kerslake will take a pay cut of more than £50,000 when he takes up his position as permanent secretary at the Communities and Local Government department.

  • Planning granted for 700-home scheme

    07/09/2010

    Outline planning permission has been granted for a 706-home development in west London.

  • HCA chief executive to stand down

    06/09/2010

    Sir Bob Kerslake is to leave his role as chief executive of the Homes and Communities Agency.

  • Housing shortage puts homes out of reach

    06/09/2010

    A shortage of homes has led to the average age of an unassisted first-time buyer reaching 37, an industry body has claimed.

  • HCA signs landmark private sector deal

    03/09/2010

    The Homes and Communities Agency has agreed to give funding to a developer to build homes for private rent in the first deal of its kind.

  • Scottish affordable house building hits new high

    03/09/2010

    The number of affordable homes built in Scotland last year increased by 30 per cent, but the number is expected to drop next year. 

  • Balls makes £6bn housing pledge as voting begins

    03/09/2010

    Labour leadership challenger Ed Balls made a £6 billion pledge to build 100,000 affordable homes, as voting opened in the contest to become the next leader of the opposition.

  • £450m plan for Newcastle

    03/09/2010

    Newcastle Council is on the verge of signing a major regeneration deal for 1,800 homes in its west end.

  • Banging the drum

    03/09/2010

    It’s time to herald a new era of council-led house building, says John Lines

  • Going global

    03/09/2010

    There are lessons to be learned from comparing the mechanisms different countries use to channel financial resources into affordable housing

  • Landlords stand up for shared ownership

    03/09/2010

    The government must act to maintain the integrity and reputation of publicly funded shared ownership schemes, according to a new paper by a group of housing associations.

  • Public sector homes rise by 16 per cent

    03/09/2010

    Registrations for new homes have risen by nearly a third in a year, the latest figures from the National House Building Council show.

  • Construction activity slowed in August

    02/09/2010

    The growth of the UK’s construction industry slowed for the third month running in August, according to a survey for the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply.

  • House prices fall for second month

    02/09/2010

    UK house prices fell 0.9 per cent in August, according to Nationwide, following a 0.5 per cent fall in July.

  • Campaign seeks ruling on national park homes

    01/09/2010

    A campaigning group is appealing to the Scottish Government to ensure development on Britain’s largest national park is 100 per cent affordable.

  • 'Fairer deal' for Gypsies and Travellers

    01/09/2010

    The communities secretary has given greater security to Travellers and Gypsies on authorised sites but stronger powers to councils to tackle unauthorised developments.

  • Balls demands £6bn for affordable homes

    31/08/2010

    Labour leadership candidate Ed Balls is calling for a £6 billion investment to build 100,000 affordable homes over two years.

  • Locals should be paid to approve homes

    31/08/2010

    Housing developers should be able to offer cash incentives to local people in exchange for new house building in their area, an influential think tank has suggested.

  • Negative equity to remain for four years

    31/08/2010

    Homeowners who bought at the peak of the property boom face another four years of negative equity, a report warns today.

  • Demand for housing drops

    30/08/2010

    Demand for housing dropped by 2.2 per cent in August, according to a new survey.

  • Boris should be 'ashamed' of house building record

    27/08/2010

    London mayor Boris Johnson should be ‘ashamed’ about the lowest house building completion figures in the capital for nearly 20 years, according to his predecessor Ken Livingstone.

  • Registry records increasing house price growth

    27/08/2010

    House prices rose 0.4 per cent across England and Wales in July, according to the Land Registry.

  • UK Housing Award finalists unveiled

    27/08/2010

    More than 70 housing organisations have reached the final stages of the prestigious UK Housing Awards.

  • Keep it simple

    27/08/2010

    The creation of special purpose vehicles to fund the building of new homes is an ‘innovation’ too far, says Tim Leunig

  • Pathfinders in plea to government

    27/08/2010

    Organisations set up to tackle low demand for housing in the north and midlands have acquired enough land to build 40,000 new homes.

  • Timber frame fires ‘more damaging’

    27/08/2010

    Fires in timber frame buildings are more likely to spread than those in other building types, government figures have revealed.

  • Government knocks back VAT cut demand

    25/08/2010

    The government has responded to a petition calling for the VAT on home repairs and maintenance to be cut.

  • Housing associations preoccupied with growth

    25/08/2010

    Housing associations have allowed business concerns and government influence to over-ride their broader social purpose as voluntary organisations.

  • Wates secures £400m framework deals

    24/08/2010

    Affordable housing construction firm Wates Living Space has agreed £400 million of framework contracts with supported housing providers.

  • Persimmon profits soar to £101.4m

    24/08/2010

    House builder Persimmon has seen its pre-tax profits rise to £101.4 million in the first six months of 2010, ten times the £9.8 million recorded in 2009.

  • Developer to build new almshouses

    24/08/2010

    Lewisham council has granted planning permission for 62 new almshouses to be built on an original almshouse site.

  • Timber frame site destroyed by fire

    23/08/2010

    Firefighters were called to a blaze at a half-constructed timber-framed block of flats in Glasgow last week.

  • Bovis reports £3.5m half year profit

    23/08/2010

    Bovis has announced a pre-tax profit of £3.5 million for the first six months of the year.

  • House starts up 13 per cent

    20/08/2010

    House starts in England are up 13 per cent in the last quarter to 28,590.

  • Bids call for £400m deal

    20/08/2010

    London & Quadrant is inviting bids for a build and repairs framework deal worth up to £400 million.

  • Growing the big society

    20/08/2010

    Everyone’s talking about the big society, but what does it mean in practice? Four local authorities are testing the ground with pilot housing projects. Chloë Stothart reports.

  • Gypsy sites budget cut after £15m underspend

    20/08/2010

    The Homes and Communities Agency spent just under 5 per cent of its £32 million Gypsy and Traveller Sites grant last year.

  • Liverpool in talks over £30m bond

    20/08/2010

    Liverpool Council hopes to raise £30 million on the UK bond market to fund the building of new homes.

  • Opinion

    20/08/2010

    The new homes bonus is merely redistribution of old local authority grants

  • Planning row nets Barnet £4m

    20/08/2010

    Barnet Council has been awarded £4 million for affordable housing and community facilities after a property developer breached its planning permission.

  • Clegg unveils low carbon business programme

    19/08/2010

    Nick Clegg today claimed the government’s approach to sustainability was a ‘quiet green revolution’.

  • Surveyors report fall in construction work

    19/08/2010

    Construction workloads on social housing projects have dropped sharply in the second quarter of the year, according to a survey by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors.

  • Housing support service one of first 'trailblazing' mutuals

    19/08/2010

    A social enterprise that will deliver housing support services to vulnerable people in Mansfield is among the first wave of pathfinder mutual companies announced by the government.

  • Boris outlines minimum space standards

    18/08/2010

    The mayor of London has published a draft version of a new design guide for homes in the capital.

  • Highlands to get 400 homes with £40million deal

    18/08/2010

    Albyn Housing Society has agreed a £40m loan with the Royal Bank of Scotland and half the loan will be used to fund 400 homes for shared equity sale or for rent.

  • Mears announces profit jump

    18/08/2010

    Mears Group has announced a 48 per cent increase in its operating profit.

  • Black Country joins retrofit research project

    18/08/2010

    Black Country Housing Group is to take part in a major Europe-wide research project into the cost of retrofit work to existing homes.

  • Clegg: housing 'is UK's biggest problem'

    17/08/2010

    Access to affordable housing is one of the biggest problems faced by the UK, Nick Clegg said yesterday.

  • Government plans threaten rural life, says group

    16/08/2010

    Government plans to hold local referendums on new housing schemes in England will make it easier to block homes in rural areas, campaigners have warned.

  • Welsh sustainable homes requirement to kick in

    16/08/2010

    The Welsh Assembly Government has reminded builders all homes must meet level 3 of the code for sustainable homes in Wales from 1 September.

  • Greater Manchester to build 670 new homes

    13/08/2010

    Local authorities in Greater Manchester and the Homes and Communities Agency have announced a £25.3 million deal for new homes and regeneration.

  • 234 homes for Birmingham

    13/08/2010

    Birmingham Council will build 234 new homes after securing funding from the Homes and Communities Agency through the £53 million Public Land Programme after donating 8.1 acres of its own land.

  • Berkeley close to private homes deal

    13/08/2010

    House builder Berkeley Homes is close to striking a deal with the Homes and Communities Agency to build 500 private rented sector homes.

  • EU retrofit cash triumph

    13/08/2010

    Social landlords have won a battle with the London Development Agency to access European cash for energy efficiency improvements.

  • North west’s £350m housing cash bid

    13/08/2010

    Councils in the north west plan to expand a £350 million pot of regeneration money to fund housing projects.

  • Plan for investors to ‘buy’ landlords

    13/08/2010

    Housing associations could be sold to pension funds or to life insurance companies to raise finance for the provision of affordable homes, a report has suggested.

  • We need action

    13/08/2010

    ‘I think it is enormously important to build more homes…We will replace the [current] system and I hope it will be much more responsive.’ This was the pledge just two months ago from housing minister Grant Shapps in an interview with Inside Housing.

  • Landlords to decide on devolved funding plan

    12/08/2010

    Councils in London have a month to decide whether to enter into agreements which would allow them a share of the Homes and Communities Agency’s £5 billion budget.

  • Falling repossessions could rise again, warn charity

    12/08/2010

    Council of Mortgage Lender figures show repossessions continued to fall in the second quarter of 2010.

  • Mortgage lending increases, says CML

    12/08/2010

    Mortgage lending increased significantly in June compared to the previous year, according to statistics released by the Council of Mortgage Lenders.

  • Scottish council commissions contamination tests

    11/08/2010

    A Scottish council will do more tests on land under a housing estate, which residents believe could be contaminated.

  • Rok suspends finance director

    11/08/2010

    Construction and maintenance firm Rok announced it has suspended its finance director with immediate effect from today.

  • Scottish construction firms forced into liquidation

    11/08/2010

    The number of Scottish construction firms forced into liquidation has more than trebled in the last year, according to figures from the Office of National Statistics.

  • House prices fall for first time in a year

    10/08/2010

    House prices have fallen for the first time in more than a year, say the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors.

  • Housebuilder in legal bid against government

    10/08/2010

    A leading housebuilder has launched a legal challenge against the government’s decision to scrap regional spatial strategies.

  • Calls for better planning training

    10/08/2010

    Planning and housing bodies are backing calls for better training for planning officials and councillors to enable quicker delivery of homes.

  • Scotland considers tenancy deposit scheme

    10/08/2010

    The Scottish Government has launched a consultation into whether a compulsory tenancy deposit scheme should be set up.

  • Morgan Sindall profits decrease

    10/08/2010

    Morgan Sindall has reported pre-tax profits of £23.1m for the six months to 30 June.

  • Councils' cash incentive for allowing housebuilding

    09/08/2010

    Councils will receive bonuses for every new home built in their area with Government plans announced today.

  • Put cash into empty homes, say BPF

    09/08/2010

    The government should divert grants for new build into bringing thousands of empty homes back into use as social housing, an umbrella-group has demanded.

  • Think tank issues Gypsy warning

    09/08/2010

    Councils should not ignore the need for Gypsy and Traveller sites just because national targets have been scrapped, a think tank has warned.

  • Rise in building on 'gardens'

    09/08/2010

    ‘Garden grabbing’ now accounts for around a quarter of all new homes built, according to government figures.

  • Groups unite to oppose planning reform

    06/08/2010

    Nearly 30 organisations have signed a letter to communities secretary Eric Pickles challenging changes to planning policy.

  • Climate change

    06/08/2010

    Does the prospect of a grant free world mean doom or opportunity for developing housing associations asks corporate finance lawyer Pete Naylor.

  • Bellway on course for 10% target

    05/08/2010

    Bellway has said it is on track to achieve its goal of seeing 10 per cent growth in 2010/11.

  • Edinburgh to cash in on homes scheme

    05/08/2010

    Edinburgh council looks set to be the first to take advantage of the Scottish Government’s scheme to back £130 million of investment in affordable housing.

  • Halifax reports house price rise

    04/08/2010

    Halifax has reported house prices rose 0.6 per cent in July, putting the average value of a UK home at £167,425.

  • Councils want mayor's planning powers

    04/08/2010

    London Councils has requested that planning decisions should be in their hands, rather than mayor Boris Johnson’s.

  • London building schemes saved from cuts

    03/08/2010

    The London board of the Homes and Communities Agency and mayor Boris Johnson have approved funding for 16 building schemes threatened by government cuts.

  • CLG misses HRA reform deadline

    03/08/2010

    The Communities and Local Government department has delayed the publication of responses to a consultation on reform of council housing finance.

  • Making the case for housing

    03/08/2010

    David Miliband on what the government is doing wrong, how a mansion tax would help, and what he would do if elected leader of the Labour Party.

  • Taylor Wimpey records first half profit

    03/08/2010

    Taylor Wimpey made a small profit in the first six months of 2010, after recording a massive loss in the same period last year.

  • Brownfield land holds 80% of new homes

    03/08/2010

    The proportion of new dwellings built on previously developed land has remained constant at around 80 per cent, the latest figures show.

  • Foundations laid for 1,600 home site

    02/08/2010

    The foundations have been laid for a £500 million development of 1,600 homes in Southampton.

  • HCA delivers 120,000 homes to hit targets

    30/07/2010

    The Homes and Communities Agency hit all its targets last year, spending £5.2 billion in the process.

  • Council fears over MoD plan

    30/07/2010

    The Ministry of Defence has announced plans for a 1,650-home development in Oxfordshire, despite council opposition.

  • Feed-in-tariff scheme will exclude those who use capital grants

    30/07/2010

    Housing associations which use capital grants to install renewable energy technology will not be able to benefit from the feed-in-tariff scheme.

  • HCA and councils redirect £30 million northern pot

    30/07/2010

    A pot of money for new homes in the north west of England could be diverted to fund projects left high and dry due to Homes and Communities Agency cutbacks.

  • Hollow promise

    30/07/2010

    London mayor is all talk and no action when it comes to his support for community land trusts

  • Landlords under pressure to sell ‘try before you buy’ homes

    30/07/2010

    Housing associations are under pressure to sell the thousands of hard to shift shared ownership homes they converted to rental properties during the credit crunch.

  • Shapps misses carbon definition deadline

    30/07/2010

    The government has failed to deliver on its promise to define the environmental standards that all new homes must meet from 2016 before the parliamentary recess.

  • MPs to investigate localism and house building

    29/07/2010

    An influential group of MPs is to conduct formal inquiries into localism and the impact scrapping regional spatial strategies will have on house building.

  • Boris strengthens bid for HCA powers

    29/07/2010

    London Councils, the mayor, and the London Assembly have sent a joint letter to the government requesting greater devolution of power.

  • Reform plan sets CLG objectives

    28/07/2010

    The Communities and Local Government department has been charged with putting local authorities and communities in charge of economic growth and regeneration.

  • Land Registry records small house price rise

    28/07/2010

    House prices have returned to around the same level as during the summer of 2006, following the latest rise recorded by the Land Registry.

  • Brighter by design

    27/07/2010

    Architect Renzo Piano is known for his controversial designs, including the Pompidou Centre in Paris, but one of his latest projects is slightly more restrained.

  • Energy fund to support zero carbon homes

    27/07/2010

    Councils and developers will be given more flexibility on how to meet zero carbon standards, the housing minister announced today.

  • Heseltine to lead £1bn growth fund

    27/07/2010

    Lord Heseltine will chair a panel responsible for approving bids to a £1 billion regeneration fund.

  • House building figures up forty per cent

    26/07/2010

    Registrations to build homes in the second quarter of the year were up 41 per cent on the same period of 2009.

  • Cuts would add half a million to waiting lists

    26/07/2010

    Cutting the house building budget by 40 per cent would add more than half a million people to housing waiting lists, the National Housing Federation has said.

  • Supply surge drives down house prices

    26/07/2010

    House prices fell for the first time in 15 months in July as supply increased, according to Hometrack.

  • Public asked to consider use of building powers

    23/07/2010

    Communities are being asked to consider how they would use powers allowing them to build homes in their area without planning permission.

  • Government offices for regions to be scrapped

    23/07/2010

    The nine regional government offices are to be abolished as part of plans to devolve power to local authorities.

  • Affordable homes pact

    23/07/2010

    Housing providers have pledged to find ways of improving the efficiency of affordable housing delivery in a pact drawn up by the Chartered Institute of Housing.

  • CLG will ‘backdate’ cash incentives to build homes

    23/07/2010

    Councils who grant planning permission for new homes now are set to receive ‘backdated’ incentives from the government.

  • Islington launches fraud inquiry into housing PFIs

    23/07/2010

    Islington Council’s anti-fraud team is reviewing its two housing private finance initiative schemes after leaseholders raised concern about the way they were charged for improvement works.

  • Money matters

    23/07/2010

    The submission to the comprehensive spending review from the leading bodies in the social housing sector marks the start of some tough negotiations.

  • Place your Betts

    23/07/2010

    Labour MP Clive Betts narrowly won a cross-party vote to chair the Communities and Local Government department’s select committee, giving him power to scrutinise the government’s housing policies. In his first interview since taking the job, Lydia Stockdale finds out why MPs were willing to take a gamble on him - and why he’s supporting our housing benefit campaign.

  • Playing the end game

    23/07/2010

    In two years’ time London will host the greatest sporting event on earth. Nick Duxbury investigates whether the housing legacy the Olympic Games will leave behind is on track or yet to get out of the starting blocks

  • Think big

    23/07/2010

    We cannot keep building one-bedroom flats if we are to solve overcrowding

  • Government axes green homes advisor

    22/07/2010

    The Sustainable Development Commission announced today that the government would cut its funding from the next financial year.

  • Council director to deliver 8,500 new homes

    22/07/2010

    Brighton and Hove council has appointed a new director responsible for drawing up plans for the provision of 8,500 new homes by 2025.

  • Study finds 284,000 Welsh homes needed

    22/07/2010

    Wales needs 284,000 additional homes by 2026 to meet demand, research has found.

  • Rules needed to stop homes overheating

    21/07/2010

    Building regulations should prevent homes being built which are at risk of overheating, a new report has recommended.

  • Former minister to chair Olympics firm

    21/07/2010

    Former housing minister Nick Raynsford is to chair the company that will run the affordable homes at the athlete’s village being built for the 2012 Olympics.

  • Housing delivery key to Big Society plans

    19/07/2010

    Passing control of affordable housing delivery down to neighbourhood level will form a key plank of the coalition government’s Big Society policy, the prime minister has said.

  • Housing sector calls for £9.5bn investment

    19/07/2010

    Social housing bodies are calling on the government to invest £9.5 billion in building affordable homes in its autumn spending review.

  • United House secures £16m town hall deal

    19/07/2010

    United House has won a £16 million contract to refurbish Tottenham town hall and build 109 new affordable homes at the rear of the historic building.

  • Government 'snuck out' HCA cuts

    16/07/2010

    Former Labour housing minister John Healey has criticised government ministers for not making a statement in Parliament about cuts to the Homes and Communities Agency budget.

  • Councils want more powers

    16/07/2010

    London’s council leaders are negotiating with London mayor Boris Johnson about the way in which housing funding powers should be devolved to City Hall.

  • Government reviews eco-town programme

    16/07/2010

    The government is considering re-branding the eco-town programme after launching a full review into it.

  • Landlords and Ikea strike Olympic deal

    16/07/2010

    Two housing associations have agreed a landmark deal with an Ikea-owned development company which will see 1,500 homes built on the edge of the Olympic park.

  • Reading between the lines

    16/07/2010

    Maintenance firm Connaught had an extreme reaction to the Budget, so was it right or is there more going on beneath the surface, asks Chris Blackhurst

  • Assembly government aims for 55% emission cut

    14/07/2010

    The Welsh Assembly Government aims to use new building regulation powers to reduce carbon emissions from new homes by 55 per cent from 2006 levels by 2013.

  • HCA scraps flagship building schemes

    14/07/2010

    The Homes and Communities Agency has confirmed that two of its key house building programmes will effectively be scrapped.

  • Barratt makes £85m as completions fall

    14/07/2010

    Barratt Developments expects to make an £85 million profit this year despite a 14 per cent decrease in the number of completions.

  • Social housing starts plummet

    14/07/2010

    The value of social housing projects starting on site has fallen by 40 per cent, according to construction information company Glenigan.

  • Shoe factory scheme wins design award

    13/07/2010

    A development on a former shoe factory site has been named overall winner at the 2010 Housing Design Awards.

  • Built to last

    13/07/2010

    Last week saw the annual Housing Design Awards take place in London. Here we profile the overall winner, and list those featured in each category.

  • Economic fears hit buyer enquiries

    13/07/2010

    The number of people enquiring about buying a home has fallen for only the second time since October 2008, according to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

  • Homes shortage forces farmers from countryside

    13/07/2010

    Farmers fear being priced out of the countryside by a shortage of rural homes, according to a poll.

  • Livingstone places housing centre stage

    12/07/2010

    Ken Livingstone has pledged to put housing at the centre of his campaign to become mayor of London.

  • Kier sees cash balance double

    12/07/2010

    Kier Group has reported a record net cash balance of £170 million for the year to 30 June, almost double the figure for the same period the previous year.

  • Halifax finds house prices continue to fall

    09/07/2010

    House prices continued to fall in June, according to the Halifax house price index.

  • A great deal to be done

    09/07/2010

    The seemingly interminable process of dismantling the reviled English council housing finance system reached a significant milestone this week as the consultation closed on the previous government’s proposals to reform the housing revenue account.

  • CLG saving £12 million for pathfinders

    09/07/2010

    The government has confirmed that it is safeguarding more than £12 million of growth funding for pathfinders.

  • East Lothian lends landlord £25 million

    09/07/2010

    The Scottish Government has given permission for a housing association to access up to £25 million borrowed by a council from the Treasury.

  • FHM to build £6.25m hostel

    09/07/2010

    Frank Haslam Milan has landed a £6.25 million contract to redevelop a homeless centre in Birmingham.

  • Future of eco-towns in doubt as funding is halved

    09/07/2010

    The government has halved the funding available for eco-towns, Inside Housing has learnt.

  • Have your say on cash cuts

    09/07/2010

    Housing providers are being asked to reveal their thoughts on how they expect public spending cuts to affect their delivery of housing, regeneration and asset management.

  • Look to the future

    09/07/2010

    Last summer Neil Hadden took the hot seat at crisis-ridden Genesis Housing Group. Here, Martin Hilditch talks to the headstrong chief executive about how he is leaving the past firmly behind.

  • Make a virtue of necessity

    09/07/2010

    If Harrogate taught us anything it is that we can still afford good ideas, says Sir Bob Kerslake

  • Notting Hill issues £180 million bond

    09/07/2010

    Notting Hill Housing Trust has raised £180 million in the lowest priced bond issue by a housing association for more than five years.

  • Connaught chief quits after profit warning

    08/07/2010

    The chief executive of troubled contractor Connaught has stepped down with immediate effect.

  • Galliford Try reports increase in house sales

    08/07/2010

    Galliford Try has reported a 25 per cent increase in house sales during the first half of the year.

  • Lists show projects threatened by HCA cuts

    07/07/2010

    The Homes and Communities Agency has published full details of the schemes affected by the cuts to its budget.

  • Completions rise at Persimmon

    07/07/2010

    House builder Persimmon increased its legal completions by 16 per cent in the first half of the year, compared with 2009.

  • HCA sets priorities after £450m cut

    07/07/2010

    The Homes and Communities Agency has set out its priorities for investment after suffering £450 million of cuts to its budget.

  • Cuts will hit plans for 6,000 homes

    07/07/2010

    Government cuts will mean 6,000 planned affordable homes will not be built this year, the shadow housing minister has said.

  • Pickles abolishes house building targets

    06/07/2010

    Communities secretary Eric Pickles has laid an order before Parliament to scrap house building targets with immediate effect.

  • CLG cuts £220m to fill funding ‘black hole’

    05/07/2010

    The Communities and Local Government department is to cut previously agreed spending commitments by £220 million.

  • Scots release extra funding for council homes

    05/07/2010

    The Scottish Government has committed £45 million to the building of affordable homes in the country.

  • Seven housing quango staff break £150k barrier

    05/07/2010

    Seven people employed in housing roles at quangos are earning more than £150,000 a year.

  • Study to assess need for family-sized homes

    05/07/2010

    An investigation is to be launched into whether building more family-sized homes and fewer flats will reduce overcrowding in the capital.

  • Social housing firm buys services business

    05/07/2010

    Morgan Sindall has acquired maintenance services contractor Powerminster Gleeson Services in a deal worth £6.61 million.

  • Cuts threaten construction sector recovery

    02/07/2010

    Public spending cuts have hit confidence in the construction industry despite increasing activity, a survey had found.

  • 10,000-home plan for Stevenage under threat

    02/07/2010

    Plans to build more than 10,000 homes in Stevenage have been put on hold owing to the planning shake-up announced by the new government.

  • Advisory role for the HCA

    02/07/2010

    The Homes and Communities Agency is set to become a smaller body which will focus on helping local authorities and public bodies achieve value for money.

  • Brace yourself

    02/07/2010

    The cuts announced in last week’s emergency Budget are just the beginning

  • Call this social justice?

    02/07/2010

    A squeeze on housing benefit and too few jobs present bleak prospects for the less privileged, says Tim Leunig

  • Green deal – or no deal?

    02/07/2010

    The energy secretary has now outlined his £90 billion ‘green deal’ to retrofit 14 million homes in the UK, but should the public shake on it?

  • Housing PFI in doubt as Shapps launches review

    02/07/2010

    Housing private finance initiatives will be reviewed by the government following a damning report which showed the total cost of signed off projects was £694 million more than expected.

  • Is the money in the bag?

    02/07/2010

    At what point does HCA grant approval become legally binding? Naomi Goode explains

  • Landlord raises £76m in Japan

    02/07/2010

    Places for People has raised £76 million after turning to the Japanese bond market for funding.

  • Survival of the fittest

    02/07/2010

    When bidding opened for the latest of six rounds of the housing private finance initiative last July, the Homes and Communities Agency said it had received ‘more bids than we could resource’.

  • The price is right

    02/07/2010

    Community land trusts are to play a bigger part in the provision of affordable homes, says Tim Davies

  • Replacements sought for regional bodies

    30/06/2010

    The government has written to local authorities and business leaders inviting them to form partnerships to replace regional development agencies.

  • House prices up 3% since January

    30/06/2010

    House prices rose slightly in June but the annual increase has fallen, according to Nationwide.

  • Communities to get power to build homes

    30/06/2010

    Plans to give communities the power to build homes without planning permission will be included in legislation to go before Parliament this autumn.

  • Taylor Wimpey fears social housing cuts

    30/06/2010

    Taylor Wimpey has reported it has a strong order book but is concerned about the impact of potential social housing grant reductions on the construction of new housing.

  • Qatari Diar loses Chelsea Barracks case

    30/06/2010

    A developer of London’s Chelsea Barracks has won a High Court battle against the Qatari Diar development company following the withdrawal of a planning application for the £3 billion scheme.

  • Uncertain times

    29/06/2010

    Katherine Evans, partner at law firm TLT, examines how changes in planning are affecting the social housing sector

  • Government axes housing advice unit

    29/06/2010

    The government is closing the organisation set up to give it advice on how to improve the affordability of housing.

  • Council to build first homes since 1980s

    28/06/2010

    A council in south Wales is hoping to build its first homes since the 1980s with a £3.6 million development.

  • Don’t wait and see

    28/06/2010

    Rather than cutting back, local authorities and housing associations need to get busy and get creative if they are going be anywhere near hitting their targets for new affordable homes.

  • Treasury covers £140m of housing pledge

    25/06/2010

    The Treasury will honour some of the spending commitments made in Labour’s housing pledge, even though the funding was never allocated.

  • PFI costs spiral after funds agreed

    25/06/2010

    The majority of signed-off housing public finance initiative projects have suffered significant cost increases and all have been delayed, according to a National Audit Office report.

  • In video: simulating success

    25/06/2010

    See ACT-UK’s construction training simulator in action.

  • CLG budget faces 25 per cent drop

    25/06/2010

    Housing providers fear that the sector could bear the brunt of £61 billion worth of spending cuts to government departments by 2014/15.

  • Fifty biggest developers to build 6,000 fewer homes

    25/06/2010

    The 50 biggest developing housing associations plan to build nearly 6,000 fewer homes between them in 2010 than the previous year.

  • Landlords to raise £1 billion fund

    25/06/2010

    A2Dominion is planning to launch six funds worth a total of around £1 billion to invest in building up to 6,000 private rented sector homes.

  • Making a connection

    25/06/2010

    Anti-development groups have used the power of social networking sites to garner local support. Now developers are getting in on the act to promote their schemes and engage the communities set to have more say over planning decisions. Neil Merrick investigates

  • Opposition in the house

    25/06/2010

    As the fight for the Labour Party leadership hots up, bookies’ favourite David Miliband tells Inside Housing he’ll make housing a top priority if he wins, while Lydia Stockdale rates the contenders’ housing credentials.

  • Partnership means prizes

    25/06/2010

    Derbyshire Dales Council works with six housing associations to deliver an impressive number of new homes each year. Lydia Stockdale finds out how the award-winning team does it

  • Private property

    25/06/2010

    The news that A2Dominion and Great Places Housing Group are bidding to be the first to make the dream of institutional funds being used to build private rented sector housing is to be applauded.

  • Share and share alike

    25/06/2010

    There are more and more products aimed at helping first-time buyers onto the housing ladder. Keith Cooper investigates why house builders are trying to grab their share of the market

  • Simulating success

    25/06/2010

    A Dutch-inspired simulation centre is taking construction training to new levels. Lydia Stockdale pays ACT-UK a visit to find out what it takes to succeed onsite

  • The green, green grass of home

    25/06/2010

    Television presenter Kevin McCloud has come up with a Grand Design of his own - to build a sustainable housing project that could work anywhere. Nick Duxbury joins him onsite to find out more.

  • Things can only get bitter

    25/06/2010

    As the new coalition government makes cuts to housing investment are they really looking at the bigger picture, asks John Cruddas

  • Top 50 developers 2010

    25/06/2010

    We kick off our construction and development special with our exclusive annual survey of the top 50 developing housing associations. The results paint a picture of relative stability but is it the calm before the storm? Chris Bazlinton reports

  • Waiting game

    25/06/2010

    How does the Homes and Communities Agency prepare for the future when its funding is uncertain? With patience, the organisation’s chief executive Sir Bob Kerslake tells Carl Brown.

  • Where is housing’s white knight?

    25/06/2010

    As social landlords struggle to house the growing number of people who cannot afford to buy their own home - and with state coffers all but empty - they are increasingly looking to the private rented sector to ride to their rescue. Nick Duxbury investigates why it is taking so long.

  • Councils must make unpopular choices

    24/06/2010

    Council leaders will have to show strong leadership by taking unpopular decisions to deliver housing, the chief executive of the Homes and Communities Agency has said.

  • NHF chair attacks funding cuts

    23/06/2010

    Former Liberal Democrat MP Matthew Taylor has used a Harrogate platform to launch a thinly veiled attack on the housing minister.

  • Housing shortage here to stay

    22/06/2010

    Britain’s chronic housing shortage cannot be fixed under the current economic circumstances, a leading economist has warned.

  • Capital spending cuts put on hold

    22/06/2010

    The construction sector has welcomed a government commitment to not make further capital spending cuts in this Budget period.

  • Housing crisis requires green belt land

    22/06/2010

    The green belt should no longer be protected to enable more homes to be built, according to one of the Harrogate conference speakers.

  • House building figures up 39%

    22/06/2010

    A total of 11,474 new social homes were registered in the three months to May 2010, an increase of 39 per cent on the same period last year.

  • Association secures £20m loan

    21/06/2010

    Barclays has agreed a £20 million loan with Two Castles housing association, repayable over 30 years.

  • Funding cuts would boost waiting lists

    21/06/2010

    The National Housing Federation has warned 354,000 people will be added to housing waiting lists by government spending cuts.

  • Chancellor urged to relax tax rules

    21/06/2010

    The emergency Budget should relax stamp duty land tax rules to encourage more private sector and foreign investment in affordable housing, lawyers have argued.

  • Pickles overrules Denham on £4.5bn project

    21/06/2010

    Work on a £4.5 billion development in Brent Cross is moving ahead after communities secretary Eric Pickles overturned a decision by his predecessor, John Denham.

  • Assembly to investigate London’s housing plans

    21/06/2010

    The London Assembly is to launch an investigation into the future of affordable housing in the capital.

  • Housing professionals fear funding cuts

    21/06/2010

    More than a third of housing professionals fear the government’s programme of cuts will threaten their ability to provide affordable homes.

  • Counting the carbs

    18/06/2010

    The government must consider a more realistic and cost-effective target of 50 per cent carbon reduction

  • Family ties

    18/06/2010

    As Grant Shapps prepares to next week outline the Lib-Con future for social housing in England, Isabel Hardman investigates the births, marriages and deaths to come for the sector

  • Housing sector braces itself for ‘years of pain’

    18/06/2010

    One in five senior housing professionals thinks next week’s emergency Budget heralds years of pain that will see the sector’s budget slashed by more than 30 per cent.

  • Housing’s new political muscle

    18/06/2010

    Housing needs a strong voice now more than ever. Nick Duxbury persuades the country’s new MPs to do their bit in the fight for new homes

  • Opposition to new build ‘high’

    18/06/2010

    Housing development would collapse if local people get the power to decide if new homes should be built in their communities, according to new research.

  • Private eye

    18/06/2010

    We need a renewed focus on private renters who move into the sector as a last resort

  • Take nothing for granted

    18/06/2010

    As shadow housing minister, Grant Shapps was vocal on his vision for housing. Now he has the job proper and, in his first in-depth interview since the election, Stuart Macdonald finds out if he’ll deliver.

  • To build or not to build?

    18/06/2010

    It’s been the hot topic since David Cameron entered Number 10 - will the coalition government’s localism agenda be the downfall of development? Inside Housing asked Ipsos Mori to survey public opinion to find out and added questions on other burning issues for good measure. Caroline Thorpe reveals the results

  • TV star in deal to build green homes

    18/06/2010

    Televison presenter Kevin McCloud is planning to defy market conditions and begin work on a number of sustainable housing schemes in partnership with GreenSquare Housing Group.

  • Zero carbon target ‘unrealistic’ say property professionals

    18/06/2010

    Three quarters of property professionals think government commitments to make all new housing zero carbon by 2016 are unrealistic, according to a new survey.

  • Lovell wins £3.6m extra care contract

    16/06/2010

    Lovell has landed a £3.6 million contract to build an extra care sheltered housing scheme in Dukinfield, Manchester.

  • Ugliest estate in Wales is knocked down

    16/06/2010

    A Vale of Glamorgan council estate branded the ugliset eyesore in Wales is being demolished.

  • The road ahead

    16/06/2010

    Justin Sumner offers his monthly update on how wider economic issues could affect housing in the UK.

  • Mayor seeks control of HCA budget

    16/06/2010

    Boris Johnson has published plans to transfer housing powers from bodies including the Homes and Communities Agency to his office.

  • Public funds support 74% of house building

    16/06/2010

    Nearly three-quarters of new housing starts last year were part funded by the public sector, figures released by the Homes and Communities Agency show.

  • Spending cuts hit house sales

    16/06/2010

    Uncertainty about the government’s spending cuts has hit buyer confidence, according to Bellway.

  • Local people back new homes

    15/06/2010

    More than three quarters of English adults would support new homes being built in their area, a study has found.

  • Housing to suffer from £160m PFI cut

    15/06/2010

    Housing schemes will bear the brunt of £160 million of cuts to the Communities and Local Government department’s private finance initiative budget.

  • Surveyors expect end of HIPs to drive sales

    15/06/2010

    The suspension of Home Information Packs has led to more homes being put up for sale and will limit house price increases, according to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

  • PM claims Labour housing plans were not funded

    15/06/2010

    The previous government’s social housing spending commitments were not funded, the prime minister has said.

  • Rivals dispute mayor's building claim

    14/06/2010

    A row has developed over claims made by the mayor of London that he is presiding over a record number of new affordable homes in the capital.

  • Cuts threaten £236m regeneration budget

    14/06/2010

    The government has removed the ring fence from the housing market renewal budget as part of its drive for savings from local authority spending.

  • Fed warns cuts could hit most vulnerable

    11/06/2010

    The National Housing Federation has warned government cuts announced yesterday could have a dire effect on vulnerable people.

  • Councils to be given more power over HCA development funds

    11/06/2010

    Every council in England could be handed more control over housing and regeneration budgets, under moves being discussed by the Homes and Communities Agency.

  • Get ready to mouth off

    11/06/2010

    With a new government in power and huge cuts on the way, debate at the Chartered Institute of Housing’s conference later this month promises to be fierce. Here, some of housing’s hot shots fire their opening salvos - are they hitting the mark?

  • Grand designs

    11/06/2010

    The housing industry needs a new set of design standards that all homes must measure up to

  • HCA mothballs £214 million of kick-start schemes ahead of Budget

    11/06/2010

    The chief executive of the Homes and Communities Agency has admitted that the future of all uncommitted funding for its kick-start scheme is under threat.

  • Shapps: the coffers are empty

    11/06/2010

    Housing minister Grant Shapps has claimed money for affordable housing has run out and a ‘myriad’ of schemes will face the axe.

  • The big cash backlash

    11/06/2010

    Two weeks ago, I wrote on these pages that annual housing starts in England - currently languishing at around 80,000 - may yet enjoy an unexpected fillip under the coalition government.

  • Westminster village Green

    11/06/2010

    Caroline Lucas, the first Green MP, tells Nick Duxbury why so many of her parliamentary plans revolve around housing.

  • CLG decides where the axe will fall

    10/06/2010

    The government has set out details of how cuts to housing and regeneration programmes will be made and which ones will bear the brunt of the pain.

  • Association built £1m block without permission

    10/06/2010

    A housing association built a £1 million block of flats on potentially contaminated land without planning permission.

  • Planning changes end density rules and garden grabbing

    10/06/2010

    The government is scrapping housing density targets, and changing the definition of gardens to prevent homes being built on them.

  • Small sites could meet demand for land

    10/06/2010

    All housing need could be met without building on green belt land if smaller sites are used, according to a study.

  • Government commits to Thames Gateway regeneration

    09/06/2010

    The coalition government has pledged to support the Thames Gateway regeneration project begun by Labour but the minister responsible for it will review how money is spent on the scheme.

  • Guidance seeks to cut emissions from new homes

    09/06/2010

    The Welsh Assembly Government has issued guidance on how developers can meet environmental goals.

  • Homeownership is goal as social housing funds run dry

    08/06/2010

    Housing minister Grant Shapps today announced an ‘age of aspiration’ for homeownership, but warned there is little funding for social housing.

  • Mayor urged to ditch shared ownership

    08/06/2010

    London Assembly Green Party member Jenny Jones is urging mayor Boris Johnson to work with communities to make homes more affordable.

  • Coalition to stick with HRA reform schedule

    07/06/2010

    The coalition government will continue with the planned timetable for changes to the housing revenue account subsidy system set out by the previous administration.

  • Grant reduction may hit house building

    07/06/2010

    Housing associations in Scotland will struggle to build homes after the government dropped grant rates by £2,000 a unit, an umbrella group has warned.

  • New house builder promises 600 homes

    07/06/2010

    A new developer launched with £100 million of private equity funding has pledged to build 600 homes in London in the next five years.

  • House building threatened by planning reforms

    07/06/2010

    The government’s plan to abolish regional planning and targets risks hampering attempts to respond to housing demand, according to the Town and Country Planning Association.

  • Opportunistic cuts hide long-term plans

    07/06/2010

    Housing professionals should draw no conclusions about future housing policy or investment from the coalition government’s spending cuts, the head of the National Housing Federation has said.

  • Storm clouds gather over housing schemes

    04/06/2010

    House builders and planners across the UK have launched desperate bids to save vital regeneration schemes from being washed away in a flood of government cuts.

  • Gentoo survey uncovers new problems for retrofit

    04/06/2010

    One of the country’s leading sustainable housing associations has discovered it can cost-effectively retrofit less than 3 per cent of its properties.

  • £285m mortgage funding gap looms

    04/06/2010

    The Council for Mortgage Lenders is to lobby the government in a bid to ensure the £285 million mortgage rescue scheme is not axed.

  • Associations asked to back quality design

    04/06/2010

    The government’s architectural watchdog has urged housing associations to support ambitious new space standards for social housing or risk seeing them fall by the wayside.

  • Council houses under threat

    04/06/2010

    Local authorities fear the first significant council house building programme for more than a decade is under threat from funding cuts.

  • Shapps to be focal speaker at Harrogate

    04/06/2010

    Housing minister Grant Shapps is to give a keynote speech at this year’s Chartered Institute of Housing conference and exhibition in Harrogate.

  • Southwark revamp in response to fatal blaze

    04/06/2010

    Southwark Council is to separate its joint housing and environment department after a fatal tower block fire raised management concerns.

  • The dawn of a new era

    04/06/2010

    What details should we look out for in the new legislative programme?

  • Minister unveils NI rural planning policy

    03/06/2010

    A backlog of planning applications in Northern Ireland will take six months to clear, the environment minister said.

  • Eco-towns funding under threat

    03/06/2010

    Eco-town funding is under threat as part of government cuts to spending.

  • Impairment charges down from last year

    03/06/2010

    More than 60 housing associations expect to make impairment charges of over £113m in their 2010 accounts, a new report from the regulator has said.

  • Government guns for CEOs' pay

    02/06/2010

    The Government has launched a broadside on highly paid housing association chief executives.

  • TCPA appoints first female head

    02/06/2010

    The Town and Country Planning Association has appointed its first female chief executive.

  • Fife to get 135 affordable homes

    02/06/2010

    An area in east Scotland is to get 135 homes this year despite a £10 million drop in grant funding from last year.

  • Four CLG staff on £150,000 a year list

    01/06/2010

    Four civil servants in the department for Communities and Local Government have appeared on a Government list of mandarins earning more than £150,000.

  • London councils to get HCA funding

    01/06/2010

    London councils would be given a share of the Homes and Communities Agency’s budget in plans being drawn up by Boris Johnson and the Government.

  • Fears of second house price dip in Europe

    01/06/2010

    House prices in Europe could dip for a second time later this year or early next, warns a finance investment research company.

  • Government to commit to 2016 green target

    01/06/2010

    The coalition government will commit to targets to make all new homes zero carbon from 2016, the housing minister has announced.

  • General election slowed housing market

    01/06/2010

    Uncertainty caused by the general election caused a slowdown in the housing market in May, according to the latest figures.

  • Healey demands apology over black hole claims

    28/05/2010

    John Healey has demanded a public apology after the new government claimed to have found a financial ‘black hole’ in Labour’s social housing plans.

  • Affordable housing figures up 19 per cent

    28/05/2010

    The number of affordable homes completed in Scotland rose 19 per cent between 2008/09 and 2009/10.

  • All’s fair under EU law

    28/05/2010

    Make sure you don’t fall foul of EU laws in offering tenders for public works, says Philip Heath

  • Developers hit out at planned localism bill

    28/05/2010

    Plans to do away with a regional planning system could put homes and infrastructure under threat, planning groups and developers have said.

  • Executive told to become an umbrella body

    28/05/2010

    The Northern Ireland Housing Executive should split its landlord and funding functions, a commission into the future of the sector has recommended.

  • HCA cuts threaten 7,000 homes

    28/05/2010

    More than 7,000 new homes are under threat as a result of a £610 million package of funding cuts and spending freezes.

  • Healey lists key tests for new government

    28/05/2010

    Former housing minister John Healey has outlined the key points he feels the new government must address.

  • It’s little things that count

    28/05/2010

    The quest to create great places to live and work must remain central to what we do, no matter what the future holds, says Sir Bob Kerslake

  • RIP to HIPs

    28/05/2010

    It took communities secretary Eric Pickles and housing minister Grant Shapps less than a week in post to abolish home information packs. The move drew rapturous applause but will their next acts in office be so popular? Martin Hilditch reports on the dawn of a new era for housing.

  • Social housing registrations up by 2,000

    28/05/2010

    More than 2,000 extra social homes were registered between February and April than in the same period last year, according to the latest National House Building Council statistics.

  • The big freeze

    28/05/2010

    Figures from the National House Building Council this week show that housing starts across the UK in the first three months of this year are almost double those for the same period in 2009.

  • Investment trust to fund building in Wales

    27/05/2010

    The Welsh government has given an £178,000 grant to Community Housing Cymru to develop an investment trust for house building.

  • Planners approve green belt development

    26/05/2010

    Planning permission has been granted for a 369-home development in Epsom, Surrey.

  • HCA cuts £230m and freezes new spending

    26/05/2010

    The Homes and Communities Agency has cut £230 million from existing programmes and frozen spending on key schemes including Kickstart and the national affordable housing programme.

  • Localism must not become 'nimby's charter'

    26/05/2010

    Housing bodies have warned that shifting responsibility for development to local authorities must not result in fewer homes, after legislation was unveiled in the Queen’s speech.

  • Queen's speech bill will shift power to councils

    25/05/2010

    Legislation to shift responsibility for housing from central to local government and give communities the power to build homes have been set out in the Queen’s speech.

  • Government cuts 'mixed bag' for housing sector

    25/05/2010

    Government plans to save £6.2 billion but invest £170 million of the proceeds in social housing have been met with a cautious welcome by housing representatives.

  • Scots publish plans for housing policy overhaul

    25/05/2010

    The Scottish Government has produced wide-ranging proposals to radically shake-up housing and produce a ‘recession-proof’ policy for the country.

  • Consortium wins £450m Newcastle deal

    24/05/2010

    The Barratt Keepmoat Yuill consortium has been appointed development partner for the £450 million Scotswood scheme to regenerate Newcastle’s west end.

  • Government told to strengthen environmental plans

    24/05/2010

    The coalition government has come under fire for gaps in its strategy for cutting carbon emissions from new and existing homes.

  • Top CLG official to step down

    24/05/2010

    The most senior civil servant at the Communities and Local Government department is leaving to take up a new post.

  • Durkan lands £11.5m contract

    24/05/2010

    Construction firm Durkan has been awarded an £11.5 million housing association contract to build 94 homes in Surrey.

  • HIPs scrapped to boost housing market

    21/05/2010

    The government has suspended home information packs, which homeowners had to produce to sell their home.

  • Housing minister gets wider remit

    21/05/2010

    New housing minister Grant Shapps will also oversee local government, regeneration, and climate change and sustainable development.

  • Housing starts increase in first quarter

    21/05/2010

    House building picked up in the first quarter of 2010, although it remained well below the peak levels seen in 2007.

  • Blue is the colour

    21/05/2010

    If the ‘big society’ plan unveiled this week by the prime minister and his Liberal Democrat deputy is anything to go by, the colour of social policy under this coalition government will be blue.

  • Brace yourself

    21/05/2010

    With a new government in place we must prepare for major cuts and changes

  • Cabinet’s missing minister

    21/05/2010

    Housing minister Grant Shapps will not attend cabinet meetings unlike his four Labour predecessors. Does it matter and what does it say about the importance of housing within the new coalition government? Chloë Stothart finds out

  • Getting in the big guns

    21/05/2010

    The government is preparing to give building contracts to private landlords, but how well will they do?

  • Housing’s super heroes

    21/05/2010

    Our annual Housing Heroes awards celebrate those individuals and teams who have made a super human effort. Lydia Stockdale shines a spotlight on this year’s winners

  • NHF: subsidiaries could help raise development cash

    21/05/2010

    Housing associations should consider issuing shares through unregulated subsidiary companies to raise funds, according to a radical new report from the National Housing Federation.

  • Northern Irish sector warned to attract more private investors

    21/05/2010

    The Northern Irish housing sector must make itself more attractive to private investors if it is to weather the economic storm, an influential report will state.

  • Simply the best

    21/05/2010

    They came, they saw - and they inspired.

  • So near and yet so far

    21/05/2010

    The saga of Chelsea Barracks is a lesson to those looking to provide social housing through private development, says Chris Blackhurst

  • Treasury review targets housing spending

    21/05/2010

    Plans to build thousands of affordable homes with £380 million of public funds are under threat following the announcement of a government spending review.

  • Housing finance reform among coalition priorities

    20/05/2010

    The coalition government has set out its housing priorities including a review of the housing revenue account subsidy system.

  • Birmingham to build homes for intermediate rent

    20/05/2010

    Birmingham council is planning to set up a joint venture with private developers to build homes for intermediate rent.

  • New Liverpool leader steps up regeneration

    20/05/2010

    Liverpool council’s new Labour leader is to shake up the city’s housing policy and speed up regeneration.

  • Sanctuary secures strong credit rating

    19/05/2010

    One of the largest housing associations in the country has had its Aa2 credit rating confirmed.

  • HCA axes director posts to save £2m

    18/05/2010

    The Homes and Communities Agency is slashing its number of directors and closing a London office as part of moves to save £2 million a year.

  • Royal intervention triggers legal fight

    18/05/2010

    A developer of London’s Chelsea Barracks has launched an £81 million legal claim following the withdrawal of a planning application for the controversial £3 billion scheme.

  • Taylor Wimpey appoints new chairman

    18/05/2010

    Taylor Wimpey has appointed Kevin Beeston as non-executive chairman.

  • Kier reports healthy start to 2010

    17/05/2010

    Construction and maintenance group Kier has reported a strong start to the year.

  • Action not words

    17/05/2010

    Justin Sumner sets out the key financial issues facing the new government, and their potential impact on the housing market.

  • Wates wins £1.6m Bracknell contract

    17/05/2010

    Wates Living Space has won a £1.6 million contract with Thames Valley Housing for developing a shared ownership scheme.

  • House price rise nears double figures

    17/05/2010

    House prices have risen nearly 10 per cent in the last year, according to government figures.

  • Housing Heroes named at awards

    14/05/2010

    The winners of awards set up to recognise the contribution of the unsung ‘heroes’ of the housing sector have been announced.

  • Sector backs Shapps appointment

    14/05/2010

    The appointment of Grant Shapps as housing minister has been greeted enthusiastically by organisations in the sector.

  • £700m HCA contracts on hold

    14/05/2010

    Revised purdah rules have prevented the Homes & Communities Agency from signing off approved contracts worth an estimated £700 million during the election period.

  • Councils face HRA reform debt charge

    14/05/2010

    Several councils could lose hundreds of thousands of pounds as an unintended consequence of restructuring their debt under the planned reform of the housing subsidy system.

  • Getting housing out of a pickle

    14/05/2010

    For a time on Wednesday afternoon it seemed reasonable to consider Caroline Spelman, hitherto shadow minister for communities and local government, to be a shoo-in for the role proper in prime minister David Cameron’s new cabinet.

  • Labour retains key housing seats

    14/05/2010

    The Conservative Party failed to capture a number of its key target seats in areas where Labour Party candidates campaigned heavily on housing.

  • New builds given green assessment

    14/05/2010

    The Good Homes Alliance has launched a monitoring programme to assess whether new build homes are meeting sustainability targets.

  • Outspoken Pickles takes reins

    14/05/2010

    The Conservative Party has appointed one of the most vocal critics of Labour house building targets as Communities and Local Government secretary.

  • Plan for change

    14/05/2010

    Localism must not be an excuse for NIMBYism but a way to contribute towards new homes and better communities

  • Shapps set to be new housing minister

    13/05/2010

    The Conservatives’ former shadow housing minister Grant Shapps is to be the new minister for housing.

  • Housing minister loses cabinet status

    13/05/2010

    The housing minister appears to have lost the right to attend cabinet meetings.

  • Eric Pickles to head up CLG

    12/05/2010

    Eric Pickles is to lead the Communities and Local Government department, following the formation of the Conservative-led government.

  • £6bn cuts will hit housing budget hard

    12/05/2010

    Housing providers will need to fight hard to get anything near their current funding settlement from the new government, industry experts warned today.

  • Barratt predicts return to profit

    12/05/2010

    House builder Barratt Developments has said it expects to return to profit in the second half of its financial year, which runs to 30 June.

  • Sanctuary secures HCA funding for homes

    12/05/2010

    Sanctuary has been awarded £480,000 for an affordable housing project in Somerset.

  • MPs back affordable housing pledge

    11/05/2010

    Eighty five of the MPs who were elected last week have signed a pledge on affordable housing.

  • Cracking the code

    11/05/2010

    From 1 April many builders of new homes have been required to meet a new consumer code. Graham Walters, partner at law firm TLT, explains the implications.

  • Investors seek private rented sector tax breaks

    11/05/2010

    An alliance of property sector bodies is calling for tax breaks to encourage institutional investment in private rented sector housing.

  • Surveyors expect house price rise

    11/05/2010

    More surveyors reported a rise in house prices in April than in previous months, according to a survey.

  • Housing minister keeps seat after recount

    10/05/2010

    Junior housing minister Ian Austin has retained his Dudley North seat after a recount.

  • House builder reports rising sales

    10/05/2010

    Affordable housing specialist Galliford Try has reported an increase in sales.

  • Labour benefits from housing campaigns

    10/05/2010

    The Labour Party has performed strongly in the local elections in areas where housing has been a prominent campaign issue.

  • Halifax finds house prices are flat

    10/05/2010

    House prices remained almost unchanged in April, according to the Halifax.

  • Builder reports positive start to 2010

    07/05/2010

    Construction and regeneration group Morgan Sindall has reported a positive start to the year with a rise in reservations for open market housing.

  • Election panel - the verdict

    07/05/2010

    Back in March, we recruited a panel of readers to give their views on developments in the run up to the big day. Now it has been and gone, they give their initial thoughts on the outcome.

  • Charity fears Tory rule would bring confusion

    07/05/2010

    The lack of Conservative support in Scotland could lead to confusion if the party forms a UK government, a housing charity has warned.

  • Welsh look to revitalise law making bid

    07/05/2010

    Welsh housing leaders have urged whoever forms the next Westminster government to increase the powers of the Welsh Assembly.

  • In the balance

    07/05/2010

    In recent weeks the leaders of the three main political parties have all been interviewed by Inside Housing. With the make-up of the next UK government still in doubt, here is what the various options could mean for the housing sector.

  • Election result leaves housing in limbo

    07/05/2010

    The hung parliament following the election has brought further uncertainty to the housing sector, commentators have warned.

  • Fears over delegation

    07/05/2010

    Housing associations in Northern Ireland have claimed plans to delegate housing functions to district councils could see the sector descend into confusion.

  • From red lights to green

    07/05/2010

    When Wolverhampton Homes decided to retrofit 13 empty homes in the city’s former red light district, it hoped to attract new social tenants to the area. Nick Duxbury finds out if the plan succeeded

  • Labour slams Tory tax plan

    07/05/2010

    Conservative planning policy to encourage councils to permit house building will remove money from larger councils, Labour has claimed.

  • Labour’s legacy

    07/05/2010

    In 1997 we were promised that things could only get better for social housing. So after 13 years in power - and nine housing ministers - did Labour deliver? Keith Cooper looks back on a time of both great achievement and missed opportunity

  • Out with the old

    07/05/2010

    Waking up to a coalition government today could be the best opportunity housing has to take charge of its own destiny, argues Tim Leunig

  • Pension fund to invest in housing

    07/05/2010

    Bank says fund could generate up to £2 billion for housing associations

  • Retailers turn to building

    07/05/2010

    England’s supermarkets have laid out plans to build more homes than the country’s most ambitious local authorities.

  • Size matters

    07/05/2010

    A high percentage of small new homes is leading to worrying under-occupancy

  • Straight to work

    07/05/2010

    No matter which party is declared the victor following yesterday’s general election, the new housing minister faces a mammoth task. Chloë Stothart finds out which issues are top of the to-do list

  • Supersized savings

    07/05/2010

    How do you reduce the heating bill for a typical three-bed home in Glasgow to just £100 a year? By designing the houses as if they were a McDonald’s Big Mac. Nick Duxbury explains all

  • Who opened the window?

    07/05/2010

    How do you know which eco-technologies will produce the best results when retrofitting social housing stock? Simple, place a family in an eco-refurbished house and monitor their every move. Anita Pati reports on a London pilot doing just that

  • Monitoring scheme to assess eco claims

    06/05/2010

    The Good Homes Alliance has launched a monitoring programme to assess whether new build homes are meeting sustainability targets.

  • Tory candidate slams wife’s housing policy

    05/05/2010

    A Conservative parliamentary candidate has clashed with his own wife over a ‘garden grabbing’ policy she masterminded for the borough council.

  • Building figures suggest recovering market

    05/05/2010

    Registrations to build new homes in the first quarter of the year were up 72 per cent on last year, according to figures published by the National House Building Council.

  • Duck house spoof wins NHF contest

    04/05/2010

    The winner of the National Housing Federation’s spoof election poster campaign to raise the profile of housing has been announced.

  • Boris to run London HCA under Tory plans

    04/05/2010

    The Homes and Communities Agency in London would be put under the control of the mayor, under Conservative proposals.

  • Poor housing costs health service £2.5bn

    04/05/2010

    Poor housing costs the National Health Service £2.5 billion a year and stops children doing well at school, according to a report.

  • Land Registry bucks price rise trend

    30/04/2010

    The Land Registry has recorded a 0.6 per cent fall in house prices for March, in contrast to the other major indices.

  • Split site plan for Chelsea Barracks homes

    30/04/2010

    Around half of the affordable housing for the controversial £3 billion Chelsea Barracks development in central London could be built on a neighbouring development.

  • Brand new blue

    30/04/2010

    Hot on the heels of last night’s final leaders’ debate comes the last in our series quizzing the three men hoping to be prime minister. Inside Housing asks David Cameron what the Conservatives would do for social housing employees and their tenants in return for their vote in next week’s election

  • Breathe in new life

    30/04/2010

    Social landlords can help save rural communities but the focus must be on people and not just housing

  • Cameron: social tenants have nothing to fear

    30/04/2010

    David Cameron has clashed with housing minister John Healey after accusing the Labour Party of running a ‘scare campaign’ about Conservative housing policies.

  • Council building ‘expensive’

    30/04/2010

    The chair of a national commission on council house building has said local authority house building is ‘the expensive option’ for the government.

  • Councils back new finance reforms

    30/04/2010

    The majority of senior council staff expect to back the government’s proposals for reform of the housing finance system, a new survey has found.

  • Elephant in the room

    30/04/2010

    Social housing providers must weigh up whether to invest in new housing or existing communities, says Heather Petch

  • House Proud hat trick

    30/04/2010

    Inside Housing and the Chartered Institute of Housing’s House Proud campaign has achieved its three aims to become a hot election issue. Lydia Stockdale looks back at the campaign and explains why the fight must go on

  • Private build in London rises 198 per cent

    30/04/2010

    The number of private new builds started in the UK more than doubled between the first quarter of 2009 and the same period in 2010.

  • Northern Irish housing body under threat

    28/04/2010

    The Northern Ireland Housing Executive could be broken up under plans announced by the Democratic Unionist Party.

  • Respect demands council building boost

    28/04/2010

    George Galloway’s Respect party is demanding a ‘massive council housing building programme’.

  • Welsh parties seek legal powers

    27/04/2010

    The two leading parties in Wales want to see legislative powers over housing devolved to the country.

  • Cambridge scheme gets go ahead

    27/04/2010

    The first of a series of developments planned for south Cambridge is set to receive planning permission despite a row over affordable homes.

  • CIH members call for more homes

    27/04/2010

    The next government should make sustained investment in new affordable housing a key priority, housing professionals have said.

  • Parties promise green retrofit schemes

    27/04/2010

    The Liberal Democrats and Labour have launched mini ‘green manifestos’ which commit both parties to national programmes of energy efficient retrofits.

  • Redrow anticipates return to profit

    26/04/2010

    House builder Redrow has said it expects to return to profitability in the second half of the year but that conditions will remain ‘challenging’.

  • Spoof posters stress need for homes

    26/04/2010

    Northern housing associations are doctoring party election posters to raise awareness of the shortage of affordable housing.

  • Market slows ahead of election

    26/04/2010

    The number of homes on the market continues to outstrip the number sold as buyers hold off purchasing until after the election.

  • Labour publishes housing manifesto

    26/04/2010

    The Labour Party has set out its promises on housing in a mini-manifesto on the subject.

  • NHF paper defends shared ownership

    26/04/2010

    A group of large housing associations have published a paper defending shared home ownership in the face of competition from shared equity schemes.

  • Mansell wins £65m Wornington green contract

    26/04/2010

    Building firm Mansell has won a £65 million design and build contact for the regeneration of the Wornington Green Estate in west London.

  • Dave and Goliath

    23/04/2010

    Blur drummer and Labour candidate Dave Rowntree picked a formidable political battle when he chose to stand for the Conservative safe seat of Cities of London and Westminster. Nick Duxbury joins him for a day on the campaign trail to find out if it’s a fight he can win. Photography by Tim Foster

  • Democratic behaviour

    23/04/2010

    Nick Clegg may be riding high in the televised party leaders’ debates, but in the second of Inside Housing’s leader series, we ask: can the Liberal Democrats win housing’s vote?

  • Inviting caution

    23/04/2010

    Councils across England have welcomed the government’s proposed housing revenue account reforms but, says Robin Tebbutt, there are still several sticking points for them to consider before they sign up

  • Lib Dems defend new build VAT plan

    23/04/2010

    The Liberal Democrats have denied claims that tax reforms that would add a minimum of 5 per cent VAT to the cost of new housing would push up house prices.

  • No more promises

    23/04/2010

    A planning obligation no longer guarantees planning permission, says David Brock

  • Social homes win space race

    23/04/2010

    Affordable housing at the Olympic Village will be more spacious than the homes for private sale on the site, developers have revealed.

  • The future’s bright

    23/04/2010

    Local authorities should grab the chance to break free from the housing revenue account with both hands, says Jon Cruddas

  • New masterplan for Chelsea Barracks revealed

    22/04/2010

    A new masterplan for the Chelsea Barracks site in London has been unveiled.

  • Welsh housing plan adapts to downturn

    21/04/2010

    A new housing plan for Wales was launched today at the Chartered Institute of Housing Cymru’s annual conference.

  • Election candidates back housing pledge

    21/04/2010

    Two hundred and forty candidates standing for election have signed up to a National Housing Federation pledge on affordable homes.

  • Association fined £70,000 for carbon monoxide death

    21/04/2010

    A housing association has received a £70,000 fine following the death of a security guard from carbon monoxide poisoning.

  • Lib Dem role in government could boost housing

    21/04/2010

    A hung Parliament could be good for housing because the Liberal Democrats would be given responsibility for the sector, the head of the CIH has claimed.

  • Lloyds buys stake in United House

    21/04/2010

    A private equity firm has bought an estimated 30 per cent stake in housing contractor United House.

  • Scots give £31m to affordable housing

    20/04/2010

    Affordable housing in Scotland has been given the biggest chunk of an extra £76 million awarded to the country after the Budget.

  • Scales of prudence

    19/04/2010

    Justin Sumner gives his monthly update on how wider economic changes are affecting the housing sector.

  • Housing starts rise as prices strengthen

    19/04/2010

    The value of UK housing projects starting work in the first quarter of 2010 rose 37 per cent compared with last year.

  • Cuts could delay build goal by 20 years

    19/04/2010

    The government’s affordable homes target could be missed by twenty years unless the three major parties promise to protect the housing budget, providers are warning.

  • Umbrella group makes the case for planning

    16/04/2010

    The Royal Town Planning Institute, the professional body that represents 22,000 town and country planners, has launched a manifesto for planning ahead of the general election in May.

  • Lib Dems would create housing 'bombshell', say Tories

    16/04/2010

    Plans for housing in the Liberal Democrat manifesto would create a ‘bombshell’ for first-time buyers, the Conservatives have claimed.

  • £25 billion reform would leave councils with ALMOs better off

    16/04/2010

    Councils with arm’s-length management organisations could see their collective housing debt fall by more than £5.3 billion under proposals for reform of the housing finance system.

  • Debt finance sums are misleading

    16/04/2010

    Your article Revealed: HRA winners and losers (Inside Housing, 1 April) reveals misleading figures from the law firm Trowers & Hamlins carrying out the analysis on Labour’s proposals to free councils from central government involvement in their housing finance.

  • Election panel: readers say it is possible to deliver more for less

    16/04/2010

    Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced last week that a future Labour government would expect more homes to be delivered with less funding.

  • Essex joins eco-town list

    16/04/2010

    A partnership of three councils in Essex will receive £200,000 to help develop proposals for new eco-town communities.

  • HCA excluded top salaries in review

    16/04/2010

    The Homes and Communities Agency excluded the salaries of three of its highest paid staff from an internal review in which it compared its director’s pay to other organisations.

  • Parties reveal vision for future of housing

    16/04/2010

    The three main political parties outlined radically different proposals for social housing in their manifestos this week.

  • Political pledges

    16/04/2010

    Historically the Liberal Democrats have been one of the most popular parties with the housing sector. The latest instalment of our weekly readers’ panel poll bears this out. However, this popularity has mattered little at a national level - until now.

  • South east build targets ‘insufficient’

    16/04/2010

    MPs have urged regional bodies in the south east to revise and increase their house building targets.

  • Tenants move back after fire

    16/04/2010

    Residents of a tower block where two firemen died in a blaze last week are set to move back into their homes over the next few days.

  • Too many cooks

    16/04/2010

    If Scotland is to increase the supply of affordable homes it must find a united voice

  • Greens pledge to plough £4 billion into social housing

    15/04/2010

    The Green Party would launch a £4 billion social housing programme and focus on expanding the role of council delivery if it came to power.

  • Lib Dem MP calls for more generous way of funding housing

    15/04/2010

    Simon Hughes, MP for North Southwark and Bermondsey, has called on whichever party forms the new government in May to introduce a ‘much more open, honest and generous way of funding housing.’

  • Lib Dems promise to reform public sector borrowing

    14/04/2010

    Councils could be freed from current public sector borrowing requirements in order to build a new generation of council homes under a Liberal Democrat government.

  • Warrington's ALMO tenants vote for transfer

    14/04/2010

    Warrington Council’s ALMO tenants have overwhelmingly voted to transfer ownership of all 8,700 homes to Golden Gates housing association.

  • Plaid Cymru calls for devolution of housing powers

    14/04/2010

    Welsh political party Plaid Cymru wants primary housing legislation to be devolved back to Wales and for finance reform to allow more council-built social housing.

  • Tories pledge to respect social housing tenures

    13/04/2010

    The Conservative Party has pledged to ‘respect’ the tenures and rents of social housing tenants if it wins power.

  • Private landlords hit out at Labour manifesto

    13/04/2010

    The Labour Party’s election manifesto has been criticised by large private landlords for a lack of clarity on how it will fund 50,000 new affordable homes.

  • House building to rise in 2010

    13/04/2010

    House builders in the UK will produce 154,000 more homes in 2010, according to new research.

  • HCA spends £5.6billion to beat targets

    12/04/2010

    The Homes and Communities Agency has said it has met or exceeded its main targets for 2009/10.

  • Home ownership central to Labour housing manifesto

    12/04/2010

    The Labour Party will fight the General Election with pledges to extend home ownership to people on modest incomes and make savings in funding for regeneration.

  • Private homes miss affordable standards

    09/04/2010

    Private developers are building homes up to a third smaller than recommended for affordable housing, a study has found.

  • Brown: build more for less

    09/04/2010

    A future Labour government would launch a ‘new deal’ for housing that would mean more homes being delivered with less funding, the prime minister has announced.

  • Call of the wild

    09/04/2010

    In a week of political distractions you would be forgiven for missing housing minister John Healey announce a consultation on allowing parish councils to grant planning permission for developments of up to 15 affordable homes in rural communities - a concept spookily similar to that suggested in the Conservative’s recent planning green paper.

  • Councils that build may get Lib Dem boost

    09/04/2010

    The Liberal Democrats’ election manifesto is likely to contain a pledge that councils’ housing funding should be taken off the public sector balance sheet, according to its former spokesperson on communities and local government issues.

  • Country life

    09/04/2010

    Rural housing enablers can play a vital role in giving communities the homes they need. But with pressure on budgets, the role is under threat. Should we care? Simon Brandon spent the day with Wiltshire-based enabler Carol Southall to find out

  • Manchester ‘super council’ to go ahead

    09/04/2010

    A huge super council will oversee decisions about housing, planning and the economic development of Greater Manchester, in a bid to drive the region’s economic recovery.

  • Prime minister’s question time

    09/04/2010

    The general election was finally called this week - on 6 May Britain will choose its next government. In the first of a series in which we quiz the leaders of the three main political parties, Inside Housing asks prime minister Gordon Brown why social housing employees and their tenants should vote Labour

  • Shelter league table panned

    09/04/2010

    The Local Government Association has written to homelessness charity Shelter criticising a league table it produced in which it criticised councils’ record over affordable housing.

  • South east building goals 'insufficient'

    08/04/2010

    MPs have urged regional bodies in the south east to prepare to revise and increase their house building targets.

  • Essex becomes latest eco-town site

    08/04/2010

    A partnership of councils in Essex is to receive £200,000 to help develop proposals for new eco-town standard communities.

  • Planning exemption to boost rural homes

    08/04/2010

    Parish councils could be allowed to build affordable homes without planning permission, under government proposals.

  • Planning fund raised to £146 million

    07/04/2010

    Funding available to help councils ensure new homes are built has been increased to £146 million this year, from £135 million in 2009/10.

  • CIH assesses role of intermediate rent

    07/04/2010

    A paper assessing the role housing associations could play in offering homes for intermediate rent has been published by the Chartered Institute of Housing.

  • Advisory body to work with councils

    07/04/2010

    The independent body advising the government on housing affordability is expanding its remit to help develop local plans.

  • Welsh council scraps development plan

    06/04/2010

    Cardiff council has scrapped its framework for development after the Welsh Assembly Government raised concerns about its reliance on brownfield land. 

  • Land initiative sites to deliver 450 homes

    06/04/2010

    The Homes and Communities Agency has announced the next three sites to be developed under its public land initiative.

  • Green menace

    06/04/2010

    Christian Silk, from law firm TLT, explains how village green legislation poses a threat to developers

  • Regions miss house building goals

    06/04/2010

    The national housing crisis is set to intensify, according to research, as too few homes are being built in every region.

  • Cutting costs

    01/04/2010

    Housing slipped back down the agenda in Labour’s Budget

  • Deal or no deal?

    01/04/2010

    It may only have taken Labour 13 years of government, but weeks before the expected general election the party has finally outlined detailed plans to dismantle the hated housing revenue account system.

  • Let’s ditch the red tape

    01/04/2010

    Conservative planning policy would not be a ‘free-for-all’ — it would simply speed up development

  • Majority of councils back HRA overhaul

    01/04/2010

    The vast majority of councils have told the government they support plans that would see them leave the current housing subsidy system and become self-financing.

  • Revealed: HRA winners and losers

    01/04/2010

    Five councils would take on more than £1.5 billion worth of additional debt between them under government plans to revamp the entire housing finance system.

  • Scottish HAs face £169m funding cut

    01/04/2010

    Housing associations in Scotland will build 1,569 fewer homes next year after a £169 million funding fall, the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations has warned.

  • HCA design rules will cost £10k per home

    31/03/2010

    Minimum design standards laid down by the Homes and Communities Agency could cost developers nearly £10,000 per new house.

  • House price growth returns in March

    30/03/2010

    House price growth returned in March following the dip in February, according to Nationwide’s house price index.

  • Lancashire councils secure £84m

    29/03/2010

    Councils in Pennine Lancashire have agreed an £84 million investment package to improve housing and boost the area’s economy.

  • Commission to study council building

    29/03/2010

    The government has set up an eleven-member commission of affordable housing experts to find ways to build more council housing.

  • Climate change fears must inform planning

    29/03/2010

    The government must make adaptation to climate change central to the planning system to ensure new homes can cope with increased risk of flooding, an influential group of MPs has said.

  • Council defends cost of derelict site

    29/03/2010

    A council which is expecting to spend more than £58,000 this year on security and a handyman for a derelict site has said it is ‘entirely justifiable’.

  • Councils voice fears over HRA debt plans

    26/03/2010

    Councils have welcomed plans to dismantle the housing revenue account subsidy system but voiced concerns over the levels of debt they will be hit with.

  • Associations’ debt capacity drops £900m

    26/03/2010

    Housing associations have enough spare cash to borrow up to £2.7 billion, according to a new study by the Tenant Services Authority.

  • Hackney plan agreement

    26/03/2010

    A £1 billion regeneration scheme in Hackney has taken a step forward after the council signed a principal development agreement with PCHA and Berkeley Homes.

  • Into the unknown

    26/03/2010

    Whatever the next six months bring, housing must rise to the challenge if it is to contribute to survive the cuts on the horizon, says Sir Bob Kerslake

  • Metropolitan targets £70m deal

    26/03/2010

    Metropolitan Home Ownership is in talks with private equity firms prepared to invest a total of around £70 million in shared equity and shared ownership schemes.

  • Northern Irish trio in £72m club bond

    26/03/2010

    A group of three housing associations have become the first social landlords in Northern Ireland to access funding from the bond market in a £72 million deal.

  • Planned private sector homes up 114%

    26/03/2010

    Housing associations and councils applied to start building 7,563 new homes in the three months to January, up 9 per cent on the same period in 2009.

  • Planners: don’t withold grants

    26/03/2010

    Planners have hit out at government proposals to withhold grants from councils that do not have a satisfactory five-year land supply document.

  • What a legacy, Darling

    26/03/2010

    The biggest cheer of Budget day may have been for Belize and a jibe about Conservative peer Lord Ashcroft, but the housing sector is more concerned about measures the Chancellor announced a bit closer to home.

  • Councils face £25bn charge for financial freedom

    25/03/2010

    Councils will share £25.1 billion pounds of debt to buy their way out of the housing subsidy system, under proposals announced today.

  • Budget fails to address demand for homes

    25/03/2010

    Housing bodies welcomed the announcements in yesterday’s Budget, but warned more will be needed to meet demand for affordable housing.

  • Funding threat for land-holding councils

    24/03/2010

    The government will withhold funding from local authorities that do not bring forward enough land for housing development, it has announced.

  • Budget to include further support for housing

    24/03/2010

    Chancellor Alistair Darling is expected to announce further support for the housing sector in today’s Budget.

  • Mayor bows to calls to cut Gypsy site target

    24/03/2010

    The mayor of London has slashed his proposed target for creating new Gypsy and Traveller pitches by more than half.

  • March figures suggest changing market

    24/03/2010

    Market intelligence agency Hometrack has suggested the housing market is changing, as its latest monthly survey shows a 0.3 per cent price rise.

  • HCA to recruit ‘place-making’ panel

    23/03/2010

    The Homes and Communities Agency is creating a panel of 400 senior housing and regeneration professionals to offer advice and comment.

  • Builders call for more support

    23/03/2010

    Trade body the Federation of Master Builders is publishing its ‘manifesto’ for the general election today, calling for more support for the industry.

  • Efficient homes to slash energy bills

    22/03/2010

    A housing association is building homes designed to cut its tenants’ heating and hot water bills to £100 a year.

  • Olympic Park sold in £138m deal

    22/03/2010

    Two sites for the Olympics have been transferred from the London Development Agency to the company which will work on the legacy for the games.

  • At the crossroads

    19/03/2010

    All the political parties will be poring over John Healey’s proposals on council housing finance reform because, whoever wins the election, change in housing’s financial model is afoot - and its effects will last for years, writes David Hall

  • Conflict of interests

    19/03/2010

    Cash incentives won’t be enough to persuade local communities to build new affordable housing

  • Constructive debate

    19/03/2010

    With councils building homes on a scale not seen for years, Inside Housing assembled a panel of experts to thrash out some of the key issues. Chloë Stothart attends the Question Time event and finds there is no shortage of opinions

  • Councils failing to meet affordable homes need

    19/03/2010

    Only eight councils in England are ensuring there are enough affordable homes to meet housing need in their area, according to a controversial new league table.

  • Forecast uncertain

    19/03/2010

    Uncertainty looms over the prospects for the economy, over the political complexion of the next government and - above all for the sector’s finance teams - over the way public sector cuts will affect housing. Lydia Stockdale reports

  • Introducing.....House Proud readers' panel

    19/03/2010

    Every week from now until polling day, Inside Housing’s general election Readers’ Panel will give an insight into what the sector thinks of the politicians’ promises. As the runners and riders line up, Isabel Hardman canvasses some early views

  • Lenders call for Budget pledge

    19/03/2010

    The government has been told to set out plans in next week’s Budget to replace two funding schemes that have pumped £312 billion into the sector.

  • Licensed to pay the bills

    19/03/2010

    After years in the shadows, the capital markets have come into their own for housing associations. Shaken into life by the credit crunch, but unstirred by volatile interest rates, Crispin Dowler reveals how the bond struck back - and how landlords can make the most of the resurgence

  • NHF gives shared owners new hope

    19/03/2010

    Many more shared owners are proceeding to outright homeownership than previously thought, according to figures released by the National Housing Federation.

  • The PFI marathon

    19/03/2010

    Only 10 councils are in contention for the sixth round of housing PFI, but if they want to get their hands on the funds they will have to dig deep and chase down £1 billion of investment themselves. Keith Cooper reports

  • Room for improvement

    18/03/2010

    It was beaten to a top design award by a folding plug, but the Mexican concept of a half-finished social home has still attracted much attention.

  • Denham halts £4.5bn regeneration scheme

    17/03/2010

    The communities secretary has halted a £4.5 billion development including more than 1,000 affordable homes days after it was approved by the mayor of London.

  • Willmott Dixon wins £350m Scape contract

    17/03/2010

    Building firm Willmott Dixon has won a £350 million contract to carry out work through public sector procurement vehicle Scape.

  • Splitting the difference

    16/03/2010

    Last month the Homes and Communities Agency introduced a new model shared ownership lease. Graham Walters, a partner at law firm TLT, explains the changes

  • Planning bursary scheme expands

    16/03/2010

    The government has announced that it is expanding its bursary scheme for student planners taking post-graduate training.

  • Green paper to set out future for housing

    16/03/2010

    The Scottish Government will publish a green paper looking for new ways to address the need for housing in the country, the housing minister has announced.

  • Fed calls for £11.7bn Budget investment

    16/03/2010

    The National Housing Federation has called for an £11.7 billion investment in housing, ahead of next week’s Budget.

  • Healey to allocate £135m planning grant

    16/03/2010

    Housing minister John Healey is today set to announce this year’s allocation of the housing and planning delivery grant.

  • Building regs changes to cut emissions

    15/03/2010

    The housing minister has announced plans to improve the energy efficiency of new and existing homes.

  • Tories attack £25m shortfall in house building funds

    15/03/2010

    The Conservatives have claimed there is a £25 million ‘black hole’ in the government’s pledge to build 110,000 new homes in two years.

  • A2Dominion secures £100m Lloyds loan

    12/03/2010

    A2Dominion has signed a £100 million loan deal with Lloyds Banking Group which will be used to fund 1,000 affordable homes over the next four years.

  • All change, please

    12/03/2010

    From curtailing the right to buy to setting up an investment bank, Alex Neil wants to modernise every part of Scotland’s housing. Launching our special focus on Scotland, Martin Hilditch meets a man on a serious charm offensive.

  • Band wagon

    12/03/2010

    Travellers make easy pre-election targets, but knee-jerk reactions don’t solve anything

  • Facing the chop

    12/03/2010

    The axe has fallen on Scotland’s housing budget so how will the sector cope? Inside Housing asked a cross section of housing professionals to find out.

  • Persimmon receives £20 million kick-start

    12/03/2010

    Almost a quarter of the successful bids for the second round of the government’s £975 million kick-start programme involved developer Persimmon Homes.

  • Fire investigation predicts timber frame growth

    11/03/2010

    Preliminary findings from a London Assembly fire safety investigation suggest demand for affordable housing will see a sharp increase in tall and timber-framed buildings.

  • MPs cast doubt on coalfield regeneration

    11/03/2010

    MPs have voiced ‘serious concerns’ about whether government efforts to regenerate former coal mining areas have achieved value for money.

  • Budget cuts hit Highland house building

    11/03/2010

    Highland Council has announced it is facing a 45 per cent cut in funding for affordable housing in the next year.

  • More eco-towns in green planning reforms

    10/03/2010

    The government has announced two new eco-town sites, as it unveiled a series of planning changes to encourage sustainable development.

  • Housing supply puts pressure on prices

    09/03/2010

    The rate at which homes are coming onto the market is outpacing growth in demand, putting downward pressure on prices.

  • Stalled schemes get £83m from Kickstart

    09/03/2010

    The government has allocated nearly £83 million to 87 developments in the second round of its £1 billion Kickstart scheme.

  • MPs criticise ministerial turnover at CLG

    08/03/2010

    High rates of ministerial turnover in the Communities and Local Government department have been criticised by a committee of MPs.

  • Healey writes off Byker’s £44m debt

    05/03/2010

    John Healey has agreed to write off £44 million of housing debt to help with the regeneration of Newcastle’s Byker estate.

  • Déjà vu

    05/03/2010

    Britain’s response to the post-war housing shortages provides a timely example on tackling our own supply crisis, argues Jon Cruddas

  • Fuel for thought

    05/03/2010

    Think through the consequences of installing a combined heat and power plant, says Andrew Barnard

  • Give us a break

    05/03/2010

    The demand for intermediate housing is huge - lenders need to help meet it

  • London councils in targets standoff

    05/03/2010

    Two London councils have still not had their affordable housing targets signed off by the mayor’s office, it emerged this week.

  • The Canadian way

    05/03/2010

    Canada’s Winter Olympic Games provided a chance to rethink Vancouver’s housing policy

  • Lack of homes threatens future of countryside

    04/03/2010

    The future of the countryside is in jeopardy because young people are being forced out by a lack of affordable housing, the government’s rural advisor has warned.

  • Second index reports house price fall

    04/03/2010

    House prices fell 1.5 per cent in February, after rising for seven months in a row, according to the Halifax.

  • Renewal pathfinders make good progress

    04/03/2010

    Housing market renewal pathfinders have made good progress over the past year despite difficult economic circumstances, according to the Audit Commission.

  • Housing services receive zero stars

    04/03/2010

    Two councils have received zero-star ratings for their housing services from the Audit Commission.

  • Lib Dems challenge affordable homes claim

    03/03/2010

    The Welsh Liberal Democrats have disputed assembly government claims that it is on track to reach its target of building 6,500 affordable homes by 2011.

  • Taylor Wimpey sees sharp fall in profits

    03/03/2010

    Operating profit in Taylor Wimpey’s UK housing business fell sharply in 2009, dropping from £53 million in 2008 to £14.3 million.

  • Plastic homes firm targets social housing

    03/03/2010

    A company that has developed a way of building homes from recycled plastic is hoping the social housing sector will be its core market.

  • Release drives Persimmon back into black

    02/03/2010

    Leading house builder Persimmon has reported a £77.8 million pre-tax profit for the year ending 31 December.

  • Planning system faces overhaul

    02/03/2010

    Planning in Northern Ireland will undergo its biggest reform in 30 years, the environment minister announced last week.

  • Boris seeks 9,000 homes to meet goal

    02/03/2010

    Councils across London have been asked to deliver 40,917 affordable homes by 2011, leaving the mayor 9,083 short of his original goal.

  • Housing market slows in February

    01/03/2010

    Housing market activity was ‘sluggish’ in February, with increases in the number of homes for sale and buyer registrations below seasonal averages.

  • Union claims Tory plans threaten secure tenancy

    01/03/2010

    Conservative housing policies threaten the security of tenure of eight million tenants and Britain’s house building programme, a union leader has warned.

  • A cruel squeeze

    26/02/2010

    Scotland’s housing will suffer unless we work to counter government cuts

  • HCA picks private sector sites

    26/02/2010

    The government’s housing agency has selected its first sites for a scheme to get institutional investment into private rented housing.

  • Help me help you to save the planet

    26/02/2010

    Housing providers hold the key to meeting UK climate change obligations. Policy makers ignore it at the planet’s peril. Caroline Thorpe delivers the latest instalment in the House Proud series

  • Levy with an escape route

    26/02/2010

    Developers face a new tax, but local authorities are not obliged to charge it, explains Neil Cohen

  • Target practice

    26/02/2010

    Last month London Mayor Boris Johnson announced the capital is on track to deliver 50,000 new affordable homes by 2012. But is his delivery policy really working? Here, Tory and Labour representatives go head-to-head over the controversial targe

  • The proof’s in the eating

    26/02/2010

    He has used his constituency to talk up the Conservatives’ ideas on national housing policy, but are the voters in shadow housing minister Grant Shapps’ back yard impressed with his ideas? Lydia Stockdale went to meet them.

  • New homes slump casts doubt on target

    25/02/2010

    The number of new homes created across England fell to 166,570 in 2008/09, down 20 per cent on the previous year.

  • CABE backs Battersea Power Station design

    25/02/2010

    The government’s architectural advisor has backed proposals for the redevelopment of the Battersea Power Station site.

  • Housing Heroes shortlist unveiled

    25/02/2010

    The shortlisted entrants for awards that recognise the unsung ‘heroes’ of the housing sector have been announced.

  • London faces housing supply shortage

    24/02/2010

    London will be faced with a shortage of homes unless steps are taken to improve the house building market, a leading developer has warned.

  • Breaking new ground

    24/02/2010

    Developer First Base’s Highbury Gardens scheme shows how affordable house building can keep going through tough economic times

  • Kier profits hit by £17.9m OFT fine

    24/02/2010

    Construction and maintenance firm Kier made a £7.8 million profit for the six months to 31 December 2009, after being hit with a £17.9 million fine.

  • Builders’ results show improving picture

    24/02/2010

    Half-yearly results from two leading house builders have shown improving financial performance despite falls in the number of homes built.

  • £500m allocation to deliver 8,000 homes

    23/02/2010

    The government has confirmed the latest housing association funding allocations, amounting to £500 million for 8,000 homes.

  • Tory plans ‘threaten affordable housing’

    23/02/2010

    Housing minister John Healey has slammed Conservative plans to reform the planning system and replace it with a new framework which allows local authorities to set their own housing targets.

  • Geothermal heating to reach social homes

    23/02/2010

    Southampton’s pioneering district heating network is expanding to a major city centre development of social housing.

  • Energy cooperative could generate £20m

    22/02/2010

    Social housing in Greater Manchester is to become part of a renewable energy grid that could generate £20 million a year from surplus power.

  • Rural councils get £1m for new homes

    22/02/2010

    Local authorities in rural areas will receive £1 million to help design and plan 10,000 new homes.

  • Tories attack 'shocking' Labour housing record

    22/02/2010

    The Conservatives have attacked Labour’s record on housing as ‘truly shocking’.

  • Vote for the best House Proud manifesto pledge

    22/02/2010

    Should it be health, the environment or residents that housing policy puts first? It’s time to cast your vote on the housing pledge which no election manifesto should be without.

  • Building figures prompt call for action

    19/02/2010

    Property professionals have demanded an urgent reassessment of mechanisms to support house building, as completions fell to their lowest level since 1947.

  • A fresh outlook

    19/02/2010

    Creating sustainable housing requires a whole new approach to life, says Brian Cuthbertson

  • Belt and braces

    19/02/2010

    Landlords should take every possible precaution with their procurement policies to avoid falling foul of new laws, advises James McMorrow

  • HCA clamps down on PFI business plans

    19/02/2010

    Councils are stripping private sale income and Supporting People funding from their business plans for private finance initiative projects, in a bid to get the schemes off the ground.

  • Look what’s in straw

    19/02/2010

    The UK’s first straw bale council houses are nearing completion. Caroline Thorpe checks out their environmental credentials

  • More please

    19/02/2010

    Low feed-in tariffs may discourage social landlords from investing in renewable installations

  • Numbers game

    19/02/2010

    The Conservative Party’s hotly anticipated green paper on planning in England has yet to be published but it’s already drawing criticism from national planning bodies which say leaked proposals would lead to a reduction in house building. Jamie Obertelli investigates

  • Planned housing starts up two-thirds

    19/02/2010

    Applications to build houses across the UK rose dramatically over the past three months.

  • Plea on zero carbon rules

    19/02/2010

    The definition of a zero carbon building should be amended to include low-carbon community infrastructure such as district heating, construction industry figures have argued.

  • Rural retreat

    19/02/2010

    The new houses required in rural areas won’t be built unless we construct a new way to meet housing needs

  • Where there’s a will

    19/02/2010

    Can traditional new-build housing ever achieve high-level sustainability? Woking Council certainly thinks so and won’t let ageing planning consent get in the way of its grand designs

  • Support offer fails to salvage Royal Docks

    18/02/2010

    The London Development Agency has terminated an agreement to develop 4,900 homes and regenerate the Royal Docks in east London, despite apparent interest from a consortium in partnering on the scheme.

  • Energy company tests zero carbon homes

    18/02/2010

    Utility company Scottish and Southern Energy is to build its own development of zero carbon homes to assess what they are like to live in.

  • Mandarin and minister clash over council plans

    18/02/2010

    The top civil servant in the Communities and Local Government department has opposed his secretary of state over plans to restructure three councils.

  • Quick guide: Public Land Initiative

    17/02/2010

    Baffled by the government’s range of house building schemes? Our quick guide explains the latest initiative to get off the ground

  • First sites chosen for public land scheme

    17/02/2010

    The first sites have been identified for a scheme that will see public land handed over to developers to cut the cost of house building.

  • Government records 2.9% house price rise

    16/02/2010

    House prices rose 2.9 per cent during 2009, according to the Communities and Local Government department’s index.

  • Olympic homes must meet local needs

    16/02/2010

    Homes built on the Olympic sites must meet the needs of local people rather than affluent incomers, the London Assembly has warned.

  • An ill wind

    16/02/2010

    Could rising inflation be the headwind that triggers a double dip recession? Justin Sumner hopes not

  • Scottish councils given £25m to build homes

    16/02/2010

    The Scottish Government has announced it is to hand out £25 million to councils to build homes.

  • General election hits construction work

    15/02/2010

    The impending general election is stalling new construction projects, according to a survey from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

  • Plans submitted for £137m regen scheme

    15/02/2010

    Developers have submitted plans for a £137 million regeneration of the Green Man Lane estate in West Ealing.

  • Affordability has fallen for 10 years

    15/02/2010

    Homeownership has become steadily less affordable over the past decade, while renting remains stable, according to a study by the National Housing and Planning Advice Unit.

  • Lack of property boosts asking prices

    15/02/2010

    Asking prices leapt 3.2 per cent in the last month due to the small number of houses coming on to the market, according to a property website.

  • Government backs down over CIL

    12/02/2010

    Housing associations will save millions of pounds after the government announced they would not have to pay the Community Infrastructure Levy.

  • HCA launches fund for traveller sites

    12/02/2010

    The government’s housing agency has launched a £32m fund for gypsy and traveller sites

  • £2.5bn investment call for Wales

    12/02/2010

    The Welsh housing sector may need £2.5 billion of capital investment for mixed use social housing and stock transfers over the next five years, according to the first ever review of housing in the country.

  • £200m Nottingham PFI opens for bids

    12/02/2010

    Nottingham City Council has become the first local authority to unveil its plans in the latest round of the £1.7 billion social housing private finance initiative.

  • Cash carrot for green heat

    12/02/2010

    Social landlords will be subsidised if they install renewable heating in their homes instead of upgrading traditional systems.

  • No hope on the horizon

    12/02/2010

    The National Housing Federation this week showed that the current financial year will see the lowest number of homes built in England and Wales since 1923.

  • Northern rock

    12/02/2010

    She’s taken on Barratt and won, has Sir Bob Kerslake on speed dial and flies the flag for women in housing. Is there anything Joanne Roney can’t do, asks Lydia Stockdale?

  • This is the north

    12/02/2010

    As the region emerges from the recession, we present the definitive guide to what lies ahead for housing in the north.

  • Tories devise tariffs to make planning easier

    12/02/2010

    Plans drawn up by the Conservative Party would see house builders paying local tariffs and reaching compensation agreements with residents in an effort to try to speed up the planning process.

  • South east launches 20-year strategy debate

    11/02/2010

    The South East England Partnership Board has agreed its project plan and consultation programme for developing the region.

  • Inspectors praise housing services

    11/02/2010

    A council and a housing association have both received positive two-star ratings from the Audit Commission this week.

  • L&Q and Countryside chosen for £560m scheme

    10/02/2010

    Developer Countryside Properties and housing association London & Quadrant are to regenerate a 40 acre housing estate in Ealing.

  • Extending planning permission

    10/02/2010

    Christian Silk, associate at legal firm TLT, explains how cash-strapped developers can use new rules to extend planning permissions until they can secure the funds to begin work

  • Scottish builders seek government support

    09/02/2010

    The Scottish Building Federation has come up with a seven-point recovery plan for the construction industry in the country.

  • Freeze hits housing market

    09/02/2010

    The cold weather last month caused the first drop in the number of people buying houses for more than a year.

  • Eco-towns given £60m to build show homes

    08/02/2010

    The first wave of eco-towns will receive £60 million to build ‘eco-show homes’ to encourage greener living.

  • Building slump leaves ‘chronic’ housing shortage

    08/02/2010

    England and Wales face a ‘chronic’ shortage of housing as building figures drop to the lowest level since 1923, campaigners have warned.

  • Scots confirm £200m housing budget cut

    05/02/2010

    The Scottish Government has confirmed plans to slash its housing and regeneration budget by nearly £200 million.

  • Barclays finances 3,000 home development

    05/02/2010

    Barclays has provided Waterloo Housing Group with £100 million in new debt finance to support the construction of 3,000 affordable homes.

  • Hard times ahead

    05/02/2010

    Upheaval and uncertainty will make 2010 a hard year, but opportunities will arise, argues Jim Briscoe

  • Maximum protection

    05/02/2010

    Choose a main contractor early on in a project to prevent problems later

  • Scotland mulls rise in new build grants

    05/02/2010

    The Scottish Government is considering increasing the amount of house building grant given to councils from £25,000 per unit.

  • Welsh trust to woo private backers

    05/02/2010

    The Welsh Assembly Government is considering establishing a housing trust to pump private money into the social housing sector.

  • Government confirms HRA subsidy figures

    04/02/2010

    The government has published the final version of its housing revenue account subsidy determination, which covers council rents, management, maintenance and repairs funding.

  • Urban waiting lists rise by 80 per cent

    04/02/2010

    The number of households on social housing waiting lists in urban areas has risen 80 per cent in just over 12 years, according to a report.

  • Federations united in election demands

    03/02/2010

    The UK’s four national housing federations have drawn up a joint manifesto for the general election.

  • Builders protest over 40% affordable target

    03/02/2010

    House builders are warning development will cease if a council pushes ahead with plans to require 40 per cent of new homes to be affordable.

  • TCPA appoints interim head

    02/02/2010

    The Town and Country Planning Association has appointed an interim chief executive to lead the charity.

  • Deputy chief executive to leave HCA

    02/02/2010

    The deputy chief executive of the Homes and Communities Agency, Eamonn Boylan, is to leave at the end of March.

  • Shared ownership lease seeks to reassure lenders

    02/02/2010

    A revised shared ownership lease has been introduced in a bid to encourage more lenders into the market.

  • Locals reject large-scale development

    01/02/2010

    Respondents to a consultation on development in the east of England have overwhelmingly favoured the lowest scenario for housing growth that was on offer.

  • MP attacks 'foolish' block of planning bill

    01/02/2010

    A London MP has accused the government of blocking the progress of his proposals to change planning law.

  • Memorial service for top house builder

    01/02/2010

    A memorial service will be held in March to celebrate the life of Alan Cherry who died last month.

  • Economists predict house price surge

    01/02/2010

    Analysts are predicting a 6 per cent rise in house prices for 2010, as the latest indices show continued growth.

  • Making a stand

    29/01/2010

    Mill Group boss David Toplas controls an investment fund worth £500 million giving aspiring homeowners the chance to buy. He tells Jamie Obertelli why his home buying model is one others will follow.

  • Probe into London grant rates

    29/01/2010

    The government’s housing agency will carry out research into why affordable grant rates are so high in London. It hopes such action will help it to bring them down.

  • Spaced out

    29/01/2010

    Demand for housing is high in the UK, so why aren’t we building homes the size people want and what is being done about it? asks Sir Bob Kerslake

  • Record HCA grant secures £1bn scheme

    28/01/2010

    Work on a £1 billion regeneration scheme in Hackney is set to proceed after the council secured a £27 million grant from the Homes and Communities Agency.

  • Growth continues for mortgage market

    26/01/2010

    The number of mortgages approved for house buying rose slightly in December, according to the British Bankers’ Association.

  • Boris faces 'housing time bomb'

    26/01/2010

    A member of the London Assembly has warned the mayor will be unable to meet his housing targets if he continues to rely on funding from government and developers.

  • Countryside chair Alan Cherry dies

    25/01/2010

    The founder and chairman of Countryside Properties, Alan Cherry, has died aged 76.

  • Spending cuts hit plans for half a million homes

    25/01/2010

    Planned cuts in public spending would see more than half a million affordable homes axed, the National Housing Federation has warned.

  • House building up 64 per cent

    25/01/2010

    Applications to build houses across the UK rose dramatically in the last quarter of 2009.

  • If you’re not on the list...

    22/01/2010

    Procurement has entered a new era with the advent of the Homes and Communities Agency’s delivery partner panel. Jamie Obertelli investigates why the idea is causing such a buzz

  • Lenders threaten local lifetime homes plan

    22/01/2010

    Lenders are derailing a drive to build homes in rural areas that will remain affordable in perpetuity.

  • No regrets?

    22/01/2010

    For some time now, the Homes and Communities Agency has been working on revolutionising the way affordable housing is built in England. Its new delivery partner panel of 28 contractors and house builders is the first step in getting more builders into the market.

  • Parties pledge manifesto commitment to housing

    22/01/2010

    The three major political parties have signed up to Inside Housing’s new House Proud campaign and promised to make housing a key part of their manifestos.

  • L&Q raises £300m through bond issue

    20/01/2010

    London & Quadrant has raised £300 million in private finance to fund its future development programme with the largest ever bond issued by a housing association.

  • Healey attacks ‘lack of ambition’ in Boris’ London Plan

    20/01/2010

    The housing minister has voiced ‘serious concerns’ over the Conservative mayor of London’s plans for the city.

  • Councils given fresh guidance on garden grabbing

    19/01/2010

    Planning guidance is to be strengthened to make it clear there is no presumption that land can be built on just because it has previously been developed.

  • Building slump hits affordable homes

    18/01/2010

    Trading statements from leading builders have revealed sharp drops in the number of affordable homes built during 2008.

  • London Plan will not meet demand

    18/01/2010

    House building targets for London are not high enough to meet demand for affordable housing, a London Assembly committee has warned.

  • Development pilot to bypass planning process

    18/01/2010

    Councils can wave through developments without a planning application if the plans meet locally agreed criteria under a pilot scheme.

  • Mayor celebrates 20,000 home milestone

    15/01/2010

    More than 20,000 extra affordable homes have been built in London from March 2008 to September 2009, the capital’s mayor has said.

  • Regeneration body to be merged with HCA

    15/01/2010

    One of three regional regeneration bodies set up by the government is to be incorporated into a national agency, and the others also face changes.

  • Be loud and proud!

    15/01/2010

    In October last year Inside Housing fired the starting gun on the general election by running the sector’s first ‘hustings’ event in the countdown to May’s expected polling day.

  • Build, build, build

    15/01/2010

    The only way to make homeownership more affordable in 2010 is to relax development of greenfield sites, says Tim Leunig

  • Council tax plan could cost £2.3bn

    15/01/2010

    Shadow housing minister Grant Shapps has moved to allay fears that Conservative plans to match council tax on new builds could cost £2.3 billion in the first three years alone.

  • East Riding nets new build cash

    15/01/2010

    East Riding of Yorkshire has emerged as the biggest winner of a government bid to get more councils building homes.

  • HCA signs up associations

    15/01/2010

    The Homes and Communities Agency has included three housing associations among the firms selected on its new house building framework aimed at speeding up development on publicly owned land.

  • IH launches new campaign

    15/01/2010

    Inside Housing is this week launching a campaign to take housing to the top of the political agenda as we enter a general election year.

  • Make the case for housing

    15/01/2010

    Housing is society’s unsung hero - and it’s time to change that. As election campaigns begin, it’s crucial we up our influence by shouting about the massive benefits our sector delivers year in, year out. Today Inside Housing and the Chartered Institute of Housing launch House Proud, a new campaign to help you do just that

  • Record year for Mears

    15/01/2010

    Social housing service provider Mears has revealed that its social housing and domiciliary care activities now account for roughly 90 per cent of its group’s revenues.

  • Working in tandem

    15/01/2010

    Community Land Trusts can help foster cohesive and supportive communities. Now is the time to invest in them

  • Barratt forward sales rise 43 per cent

    14/01/2010

    House builder Barratt Developments’ forward sales stood at £651.2 million on 31 December 2009, up 43 per cent on the previous year.

  • London Assembly orders fire safety investigation

    14/01/2010

    The London Assembly has ordered its planning and housing committee to investigate fire safety in buildings in the capital.

  • A new beginning

    13/01/2010

    The start of 2010 will herald a fresh start for the house building market, if traditional indicators are to be believed. GL Hearn’s Justin Sumner explains why.

  • Officials cleared of misconduct in Trump case

    13/01/2010

    The leader and eight other members of a Scottish planning committee have been cleared of misconduct after giving outline permission for land, which is to be part a billionaire’s controversial golf resort.

  • Councils show appetite for house building

    12/01/2010

    Councils are showing a keen interest in building affordable housing, the Homes and Communities Agency has said.

  • Galliford Try sales figures up on 2008

    12/01/2010

    House builder Galliford Try has announced its sales figures at the mid point in its financial year are up on 2008.

  • Rok margins hold steady

    12/01/2010

    Building and maintenance firm Rok has said its results will be in line with expectations due to its decision to scale back its new build activities in 2009.

  • House price rises slow in December

    12/01/2010

    The pace of house price increases slowed at the end of 2009, according to the latest figures released by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

  • Councils given £120m to build homes

    11/01/2010

    Housing minister John Healey has announced the second wave of funding in the first council house building programme for twenty years.

  • Green homes will constrain affordable housing

    11/01/2010

    Consultants have warned spending cuts and strict regulations on green housing will heavily impact the government’s ability to deliver affordable homes.

  • HCA appoints development panel members

    08/01/2010

    The Homes and Communities Agency has announced the organisations that will be involved in developing its sites.

  • Divining the future

    08/01/2010

    They say the future is written in the stars. So can they tell us what the next 12 months hold for social housing? Lydia Stockdale talks to eight leading industry figures - and one celebrity astrologer - to find out

  • Planned housing starts up by half

    08/01/2010

    The number of applications to build new homes shot up by 43 per cent in the last quarter of 2009.

  • Third Southwark blaze

    08/01/2010

    One hundred and fifty Southwark residents were evacuated from their homes this week following a third major blaze in the borough in just over seven months

  • Housing beats construction slowdown

    07/01/2010

    A construction index has shown house building activity grew for the fourth consecutive month in December, despite a continuing slowdown across the rest of the sector.

  • Persimmon upbeat despite drop in sales

    07/01/2010

    House builder Persimmon saw completions fall 12 per cent and revenue drop 20 per cent last year, a statement has revealed

  • Accord steps up building plans

    07/01/2010

    Midlands-based housing association Accord is planning to build 500 homes across the region by April 2011.

  • Firefighters tackle building site blaze

    06/01/2010

    Firefighters battled a blaze at a Southwark construction site through the early hours of this morning and evacuated 150 nearby residents.

  • Coalition warns Tory plans will cut house building

    06/01/2010

    Conservative plans to shift responsibility for housing from regional bodies to local councils would result in fewer homes being built, a powerful new lobby group has warned.

  • Cutting emissions without breaking the bank

    05/01/2010

    Zero carbon homes are the green dream, but meeting level five of the code for sustainable homes gives many of the benefits without all the costs. A Family Mosaic scheme in London shows how it is done

  • Briefing: the Roanne judgement

    05/01/2010

    How a European ruling on a French regeneration scheme is affecting social housing development in the UK

  • Council-led building begins in Tyneside

    05/01/2010

    The housing minister has promised more funding for councils to build homes, as work on the first phase of its council-led building initiative begins.

  • Parish councils seek more house building powers

    05/01/2010

    Parish councils should be given greater power over affordable housing delivery in their areas, according to the Rural Services Network.

  • Cash allocated for house building

    04/01/2010

    Housing minister John Healey has allocated £278 million for affordable housing.

  • Cost of stamp duty freeze nears £500m

    31/12/2009

    The stamp duty holiday has cost the Treasury less than originally anticipated, with lost revenue expected to total under £500 million.

  • House prices to fall in 2010

    29/12/2009

    Analysts have predicted house prices will fall in 2010, despite a surge in the market in recent months.

  • Balfour buys into affordable housing

    29/12/2009

    Infrastructure group Balfour Beatty has increased its involvement in the affordable housing market by buying Strata Construction.

  • Healey to streamline planning system

    21/12/2009

    Housing and planning minister John Healey has announced a package of measures to streamline the planning system, help businesses deliver projects quickly and drive down costs during recovery.

  • Bolton council to build green

    21/12/2009

    Bolton Council has unveiled the design for the first new council houses in the town for 20 years.

  • New standards for eco-towns

    21/12/2009

    Eco-town developments must consider energy use from buildings and public spaces from across the town as well as private homes, according to new guidance.

  • New fire safety audit for timber frame building sites

    21/12/2009

    An industry body for timber frame housing manufacturers has announced a construction site audit scheme to improve fire safety.

  • Broadening the green agenda

    18/12/2009

    Alan Yates, our Green Social Housing Champion for 2008/09, looks back on progress over the past 12 months

  • Cheer up!...you've already had the hangover

    18/12/2009

    You may prefer to forget a lot of what happened in 2009 but for the masochists among you, here’s a reminder of the year’s highs and lows. Caroline Thorpe reports

  • Correct balance

    18/12/2009

    Fundamental reform is needed to foster the private rented sector

  • Forrest strikes £40m deal

    18/12/2009

    Places for People has awarded £40 million of new social housing work to Preston-based Herbert T Forrest to carry out a major works programme across the west of the UK.

  • Money talks

    18/12/2009

    Want to know what the future really holds for social housing finance? Inside Housing gathered nine of the sector’s leading finance directors to find out. Jamie Obertelli reports

  • South east left out of HCA grant raise

    18/12/2009

    The Homes and Communities Agency has increased its upfront grant payments to housing associations in a bid to accelerate the number of affordable homes built this financial year.

  • The perfect 10

    18/12/2009

    Here’s what I’m dreaming of as Christmas and 2010 approaches, says Jon Cruddas

  • Revisions planned for sustainable building code

    17/12/2009

    The energy used to create building materials could be taken into account under proposed changes to the ratings system for sustainable homes.

  • Minister challenges homeownership 'obsession'

    16/12/2009

    A change in national thinking is needed to help solve the problem of a lack of affordable homes in Scotland, the country’s housing and communities minister has said.

  • HCA shortlists 265 schemes for £550m boost

    16/12/2009

    The Homes and Communities Agency has shortlisted 265 schemes for a share of £550 million available through the second round of Kickstart.

  • Investors to put £1bn into private rented sector

    16/12/2009

    Institutional investors are set to plough around £1 billion into the private rented sector next year, according to the Homes and Communities Agency.

  • HCA considers move to equity model

    15/12/2009

    The Homes and Communities Agency is proposing to take an equity stake in homes funded through the National Affordable Housing Programme.

  • CIH predicts bleak future of budget cuts

    15/12/2009

    Cuts in the housing budget from 2011 are creating a bleak outlook for the sector, according to the Chartered Institute of Housing.

  • Genesis bond raises £250 million

    15/12/2009

    Genesis has raised £250 million through a bond issue to repay existing debts and increase development.

  • Builder wins Supreme Court sewage case

    14/12/2009

    A house builder has won a case in the Supreme Court against a Welsh sewerage company over where to position drains.

  • How Copenhagen affects social housing

    14/12/2009

    Things are getting tense here this morning, with the African nations threatening to walk out en masse if the developed countries don’t get more serious.

  • Cash boost for first-time buyer scheme

    14/12/2009

    The government’s scheme to help first-time buyers enter the property market is to be extended.

  • Tories offer house building powers to rural communities

    11/12/2009

    Shadow housing minister Grant Shapps is to announce plans to give local people the power to build affordable housing in their communities.

  • Inflation - The devil lying in wait?

    11/12/2009

    Justin Sumner gives his monthly update on how changes in the wider economy could impact on the housing market

  • Fire-ravaged Peckham site had no watchman

    11/12/2009

    The Peckham building site where a huge fire began in a timber frame housing development did not have a night watchman, breaching industry guidelines.

  • Rok teams up with Coastline

    11/12/2009

    Coastline Housing has teamed up with contractor Rok to build two new affordable homes in Helston, Cornwall, after securing a £139,600 grant from the Homes and Communities Agency.

  • Scratch the surface

    11/12/2009

    This week’s pre-Budget report contained several measures which impact directly on the work of social housing professionals. Three, however, merit particular scrutiny.

  • The missing piece

    11/12/2009

    From 2015 all social housing built in the UK must reach a zero-carbon standard - but when is the government going to clarify exactly what that means? Philippa Ward investigates

  • Sector critical of pre-Budget report actions

    10/12/2009

    The pre-Budget report was a missed opportunity to slash the UK’s carbon emissions and reduce energy bills, according to the National Housing Federation.

  • Darling freezes local authority rent rise

    10/12/2009

    The size of council housing rent increases will be frozen next year, the government has announced.

  • Regeneration hit by pre-budget cuts

    10/12/2009

    Industry figures have warned the government must move quickly to identify ‘other sources of funding’ for regeneration after the chancellor announced cuts.

  • CLG faces £500m efficiency savings

    09/12/2009

    The Communities and Local Government department will have to contribute at least £500 million to £5 billion of additional savings by 2012/13, according the pre-Budget report.

  • Ministers plan key role for private rented sector

    09/12/2009

    The private rented sector should play an important role in increasing housing supply, the pre-Budget report states.

  • Welsh associations increase spending

    09/12/2009

    Housing associations in Wales have increased their spending by 20 per cent this year, according to Community Housing Cymru.

  • THFC allocates £345m European loan

    08/12/2009

    Housing associations across the UK are to share £345 million of European funding for regeneration, in the largest ever deal of its kind.

  • Taylor Wimpey chair to stand down

    07/12/2009

    House builder Taylor Wimpey has announced changes to its board including the resignation of the chair.

  • A question of capacity

    04/12/2009

    Billion pound payouts from the government have made it a bonanza year for affordable housing development funding. But what will the cash deliver? IH polled the country’s top developing landlords to find out

  • Concrete plans

    04/12/2009

    Jon Rouse, the former boss of CABE and the Housing Corporation, now heads up Croydon Council. He reveals his ambitions to transform London’s largest borough to Philippa Ward.

  • Don’t cut Kick-start budget, urges HBF

    04/12/2009

    The Home Builders Federation has called on the government to maintain and if possible increase the Homes and Communities Agency’s budget for the £925 million Kick-start programme, in its submission of suggestions to be included in the approaching pre-Budget report.

  • Enter the dragon

    04/12/2009

    The devolution headlines may all have belonged recently to Scotland and Northern Ireland, but the Welsh Assembly Government is belatedly starting to breath some fire.

  • Government signals U-turn on eco-towns

    04/12/2009

    The government has radically shifted its approach to eco-towns by backing a wave of new schemes that are attached to existing towns and cities.

  • Grass roots

    04/12/2009

    If GLA land is to be built on, prompt planning decisions from London’s mayor are essential

  • HA new builds set to fall 70 per cent

    04/12/2009

    Housing association development is set to increase for the next two years before tumbling dramatically throughout the next decade, previously unpublished figures from the Tenant Services Authority have revealed.

  • One year on...

    04/12/2009

    Twelve months ago the Homes and Communities Agency and Tenants Services Authority were born in the midst of the biggest financial crisis in history. As they celebrate their first birthdays, Martin Hilditch asks their chief executives how they survived and whether they’ll see a second anniversary

  • Quality and quantity

    04/12/2009

    There is widespread consensus that the UK needs to urgently increase its housing supply.

  • The chill factor

    04/12/2009

    The schemes we have followed since June are hoping the green shoots of the summer can survive the winter frost. In our final visit of 2009, we find private house builders faring better than their social counterparts

  • Time to rethink old values

    04/12/2009

    The housing sector needs a smarter, low-carbon plan for the future, says Tim Dwelly

  • We need timber frame answers

    04/12/2009

    Timber frame is used to build a fifth of new homes in England and almost three quarters in Scotland.

  • HCA told to fund more homes for elderly

    03/12/2009

    The government’s housing agency should encourage social landlords to build more homes for older people, an advisory group has said.

  • Tories promise planning shake up

    03/12/2009

    Shadow local government minister Bob Neill has promised to give local communities more control over planning decisions.

  • Affordability advice body under review

    03/12/2009

    The independent body that advises the government on the affordability of housing is undergoing a review into whether it is fulfilling its remit.

  • Mayor admits homes goal will be missed

    02/12/2009

    Boris Johnson’s target to get 50,000 affordable homes built in London has been put back a year because of economic conditions.

  • Families face 33-year wait for housing

    02/12/2009

    A quarter of English local authorities would take more than a decade to clear their housing waiting list, according to Shelter.

  • Councils receive £135m to plan homes

    02/12/2009

    Housing minister John Healey has confirmed £135 million of funding for councils that have identified land for homes.

  • Investment prompts house building surge

    02/12/2009

    The number of affordable homes built in Scotland reached record levels this year, according to the Scottish Government.

  • Cities given more power over housing

    02/12/2009

    Two cities will have greater power over decisions on housing and regeneration as part of a pilot programme.

  • Nine areas backed for second wave of eco-towns

    01/12/2009

    Nine local authorities are in the running to be included in the second wave of eco-towns.

  • House price surge expected to falter

    30/11/2009

    The surge in house prices in recent months has only been felt across 37 per cent of the country.

  • Landowners to be given right to allocate homes

    30/11/2009

    Rural landowners could be put in charge of allocating affordable housing built on their land, under government proposals.

  • Shared equity scheme to unlock private homes

    30/11/2009

    The Scottish Government is to pilot a shared equity scheme to bring unsold or partially built private stock into use.

  • Peckham blaze triggers timber frame safety talks

    27/11/2009

    Fire chiefs are meeting with the government and manufacturers of timber frame homes to discuss new measures to improve building site safety after a major fire in Peckham.

  • Land Registry records 0.6% price rise

    27/11/2009

    House prices rose for the fifth consecutive month in October, by 0.6 per cent, according to the Land Registry.

  • 40 per cent of pathfinders ‘failing to engage’ with lenders

    27/11/2009

    Forty per cent of the partnerships set up to tackle low demand for housing have failed to engage effectively with lenders during the recession, the Audit Commission has revealed.

  • Councils given more power

    27/11/2009

    Three London boroughs will be given greater power over how they spend affordable housing funding as part of a pilot scheme.

  • Hand in hand

    27/11/2009

    The HCA could not achieve anything without its local authority and development partners, says Sir Bob Kerslake

  • PfP wins US investment

    27/11/2009

    Places for People Homes has concluded a $200 million deal with US-based private investors, secured against the housing association’s property portfolio.

  • Plotting the future

    27/11/2009

    The starting point for our announcement last week that we were selling plots of land to housing associations for £1 each was the dire need for affordable housing in Leicester.

  • Zero carbon rules to double insulation

    25/11/2009

    Homes built from 2016 will require twice as much insulation as those built today, under tough new efficiency rules.

  • Market pressures lead to poor quality homes

    25/11/2009

    The professional body for architects has warned steps should be taken to improve the quality of new build housing.

  • Welsh given powers to enforce energy efficiency

    25/11/2009

    The Welsh Assembly Government is to be given powers to make homes built in the country more energy efficient after 2011.

  • Mortgage lending rate slows

    24/11/2009

    The number of mortgages approved for house purchase edged up in October, but has not shown the strong growth of previous months.

  • Pathfinders told to explain regeneration delays

    24/11/2009

    Housing market renewal pathfinders need to improve the way they explain delays in regeneration projects to residents, the Audit Commission has said.

  • Building industry must halve carbon emissions by 2020

    24/11/2009

    The UK building industry must halve carbon emissions by 2020, the head of an industry environmental body will say today.

  • First chief construction adviser appointed

    24/11/2009

    The former deputy head of architecture quango CABE has become the chief construction adviser.

  • NI association secures £48m to build homes

    23/11/2009

    A Northern Ireland housing association has agreed a funding deal for affordable homes worth £48 million.

  • Work begins on Hanham Hall zero-carbon site

    23/11/2009

    Work has commenced on England’s first large-scale zero carbon development, at Hanham Hall near Bristol.

  • Rising house starts fall short of demand

    23/11/2009

    The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors has warned total housing starts for the year will struggle to come in much above 90,000, despite improved figures.

  • A mad, mad world

    20/11/2009

    Two weeks ago I asked Grant Shapps to reveal his plans for the regulation of the housing sector under a Conservative administration. He has yet to respond.

  • Bids from public bodies fall 3 per cent

    20/11/2009

    Applications from public sector bodies to build homes have fallen 3 per cent in the last year.

  • Don’t blink

    20/11/2009

    Communities minister John Denham looks Lydia Stockdale straight in the eye and tells her his party won’t ignore communities or shy away from their immigration fears.

  • Durkan seals deal with Brent ALMO

    20/11/2009

    Community contractor Durkan has won a framework agreement worth £100 million to work with Brent Housing Partnership and bid in tandem for housing development opportunities.

  • Land rush

    20/11/2009

    Releasing public land more quickly is the best way to attract private investors to the housing sector

  • Roll up, roll up for council’s £1 land sale

    20/11/2009

    Leicester Council is to sell four plots of land to housing associations for £1 each.

  • Union calls for council-led building

    18/11/2009

    Councils should be given a duty to provide homes alongside a greater role in house building, according to a study for Unison.

  • Barratt strengthened by £720m rights issue

    17/11/2009

    House builder Barratt has raised £720 million and says it is in a strong position to buy land and open new sites.

  • Policy tensions hinder build goals

    17/11/2009

    A leading research charity has said the government is unlikely to meet its target to build three million new homes by 2020.

  • Surveyors call for stamp duty shake up

    17/11/2009

    The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors has called for a restructure of stamp duty as the holiday on the tax comes to an end.

  • Third of eco-town homes should be affordable

    16/11/2009

    At least 30 per cent of the housing in eco-towns must be affordable if the developments are to be a success.

  • Persimmon reports 50 per cent rise in orders

    16/11/2009

    Persimmon’s order book for 2010 is 50 per cent ahead of this time last year after the house builder enjoyed a recovery in sales volumes.

  • HCA chief refuses £44,000 bonus

    13/11/2009

    The chief executive of the Homes and Communities Agency turned down a £44,000 bonus this year.

  • Partner sought for £750m Purfleet project

    13/11/2009

    Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation is inviting private developers to bid for a £750 million joint venture that would see 3,500 homes built as part of a scheme to improve Purfleet town centre.

  • Rok shifts its focus to social sector

    13/11/2009

    Construction and maintenance firm Rok has revealed it intends to concentrate on social housing and maintenance projects as a result of decreased demand for private sector schemes.

  • Thames Valley wins development case

    13/11/2009

    A firm of solicitors has paid £1.35 million to a bank after it failed to carry out part of its conveyancing procedures when a housing association bought land.

  • UK Housing Award winners unveiled

    11/11/2009

    The winners of the UK Housing Awards have been announced at a ceremony in London.

  • Planning changes to make homes greener

    11/11/2009

    John Healey has promised to amend planning rules to make it easier to make homes more environmentally friendly.

  • Rival claims SNP has admitted failure

    11/11/2009

    The Scottish National Party has admitted its housing policy is ‘failing’, a rival politician has claimed.

  • HCA hit with £542m charge as land values fall

    10/11/2009

    The Homes and Communities Agency incurred a £542 million impairment charge last year as the value of its assets fell by £1.1 billion.

  • Builders must mass produce green homes

    10/11/2009

    Builders must translate research into sustainable housing into large scale developments, a report has found.

  • Supply rise fails to halt house price surge

    10/11/2009

    House prices are continuing to rise despite more homes coming onto the market, the professional body for surveyors has said.

  • Galliford Try upbeat after successful rights issue

    06/11/2009

    House builder Galliford Try has issued a positive trading statement after successfully raising £119 million in a rights issue.

  • £500 million investment fund to launch

    06/11/2009

    First-time buyers are to be given a boost with the launch of a joint investment fund targeting residential property in London and the south east.

  • Development teams hit by staff cuts

    06/11/2009

    England’s biggest housing associations cut their development staff by up to 40 per cent last year.

  • Lib Dem councils ‘disappoint’ Healey

    06/11/2009

    Housing minister John Healey has expressed disappointment at the failure of a number of flagship Liberal Democrat-run authorities to apply for funding to build new council homes.

  • New dawn

    06/11/2009

    A year on from the near meltdown of the financial markets, social housing has survived the credit crunch relatively unscathed compared to other businesses.

  • Welsh pledge extra £20m for affordable homes

    05/11/2009

    The Welsh Assembly Government has pledged to put an extra £20 million of funding into housing.

  • Westminster outlines 10-year-plan for housing

    04/11/2009

    Westminster council has unveiled a housing strategy to refurbish and redesign deprived areas to create mixed communities.

  • Builder opens sites as market picks up

    04/11/2009

    Taylor Wimpey has opened 22 sites since the start of July, as market conditions improved.

  • Urban builders offered eco-support

    04/11/2009

    The body that advises the government on the natural environment has set up an advice service for developers on how to make their schemes greener.

  • Private partner sought for £500m regen scheme

    04/11/2009

    Communities secretary John Denham has launched a proposal to transform the Essex town of Purfleet, in the latest phase of the Thames Gateway regeneration.

  • Funding to drive use of renewable materials

    03/11/2009

    The Department of Energy and Climate Change is providing £5 million to increase the use of materials from renewable sources in affordable housing.

  • Boris land plan to deliver 32,000 homes

    03/11/2009

    London mayor Boris Johnson is looking to build more than 32,000 affordable homes on land owned by the Greater London Authority.

  • Farrell unveils vision for Thames Gateway

    03/11/2009

    The Thames Gateway development is an essential part of London’s identity as a ‘world city’, one of England’s leading architects will argue today.

  • Healey: rent fall will not hit building

    03/11/2009

    Housing associations should see no ill-effects from a fall in rents, housing minister John Healey told MPs yesterday.

  • House prices rise despite drop in buyer interest

    02/11/2009

    House prices have continued to rise despite a slow down of interest among buyers, according to a housing intelligence business. 

  • Bored or inspired?

    30/10/2009

    Inside Housing’s first ever hustings heard from the four main political parties about why their housing policies are the ones to vote for in next year’s general election. Lydia Stockdale asked the audience who gets their support.

  • Crucible launches estate agency

    30/10/2009

    A Yorkshire housing association is thought to be the first to launch an open market estate, letting and managing agency.

  • Scottish investment bank could boost house building

    30/10/2009

    The Scottish housing minister has called for the creation of a housing investment bank to help social landlords build more homes.

  • Sustainable Housing Awards 2009

    30/10/2009

    What a crop! Entries for this year’s Sustainable Housing Awards wowed our judges and the winners are revealed here. Marvel at ingenious retrofitting of tenements in a conservation area, sigh over gorgeous green homes in a national park, and most of all be inspired by the groundbreaking eco-ideas on show

  • Kickstart withdrawals leave £500m for round two

    29/10/2009

    Around £500 million will be available in the second round of the government’s flagship regeneration scheme after first round bidders pulled out.

  • Plan to put retirement housing in all HCA builds

    29/10/2009

    A Homes and Communities Agency panel is considering recommending that retirement housing be included in all major developments the body funds.

  • London leads price rise growth

    29/10/2009

    House prices are continuing to rise, but the strongest growth is restricted to London and the south east.

  • Regeneration concerns over CIL

    28/10/2009

    Plans to allow local authorities to levy charges on developments in their area could damage regeneration projects, argue developers and councils.

  • HCA to fund planning for Thames Gateway 'eco-quarter'

    27/10/2009

    The government has launched a consultation on make the Thames Gateway the country’s first ‘eco-quarter’

  • Property firms back Tory council tax plans

    27/10/2009

    British Property Federation endorses proposals to pay councils bonuses for allowing development

  • Planning system must tackle climate change, says coalition

    27/10/2009

    Planning and environmental groups urge local authorities to set renewable energy targets

  • First-time buyer numbers up

    26/10/2009

    Demand from first-time buyers is rising, while buy-to-let investors are now looking at purchasing houses rather than flats, according to the latest research from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

  • Tory plans could lead to more deaths

    26/10/2009

    Unite has voiced concerns over Conservative plans to allow building construction firms to arrange their own audited inspections and ban inspectors from their sites.

  • Land offer tempts new builders

    23/10/2009

    More than a third of companies that have applied to build on Homes and Communities Agency land in a government initiative are non-traditional house builders.

  • Public sector house building down 13 per cent

    23/10/2009

    Applications to build homes from public sector bodies have fallen 13 per cent in the last year.

  • Building relationships

    23/10/2009

    Landlords must heed the implications of price-fixing uncovered in the building industry

  • Let battle begin

    23/10/2009

    ‘No idea what they’re talking about.’ ‘She’s got a point there…’ ‘You couldn’t put a cigarette paper between them.’ These were just some of the responses from members of the 100-strong audience at Inside Housing’s hustings event in Westminster on Monday, with representatives from four of the main political parties.

  • Letter from America

    23/10/2009

    Uncle Sam is finally offering the US housing sector a helping hand

  • The new players

    23/10/2009

    Housing supply is in a hole because we’ve relied too much on private builders. But now other suppliers are waiting on the sidelines ready to join the development game and they need all our support, says Jim Vine.

  • MPs back calls to scrap housing debt

    21/10/2009

    MPs and council housing activists came together yesterday to call for a massive build programme, and the scrapping of £18 billion of housing debt.

  • Rural support urged as HCA misses build goal

    21/10/2009

    The government’s rural adviser is calling for more support for housing after it emerged building goals have been missed.

  • Regeneration must go beyond housing

    21/10/2009

    Regenerating large estates is a long-term process that must go beyond improvements to housing, a study has found.

  • Battersea plans submitted to council

    20/10/2009

    The owners of the Battersea Power Station site have submitted plans for the redevelopment of the area.

  • ALMO starts work on first new homes

    20/10/2009

    Work has started on the first affordable council homes in Rochdale for 20 years.

  • Building boss says Tory plans are 'scary as hell'

    20/10/2009

    The Tory emphasis on localism is as ‘scary as hell’, according to the chief executive of Taylor Wimpey.

  • Focus on the positives

    16/10/2009

    There’s a tough couple of years ahead but housing is still alive and kicking, argues Sir Bob Kerslake

  • Hanover to spend £144 million on 1,000 retirement homes

    16/10/2009

    Hanover Housing has announced it is to build a new design of retirement homes, as part of a £144 million development programme.

  • Healey: give voters US-style live TV debate

    16/10/2009

    John Healey has challenged shadow communities secretary Caroline Spelman to a US-style broadcast debate on social tenants’ rights, ahead of the general election.

  • The price of freedom

    16/10/2009

    Councils may want to be self-financing, but not at any cost

  • Boris sets building goals for all boroughs

    14/10/2009

    East London will take on the greatest responsibility for delivering new housing in the capital under plans that would see 333,800 homes built over the next 10 years.

  • Ministers commit £443m to house building

    13/10/2009

    The government has announced the second group of projects to receive money from its £925 million Kickstart fund, and the allocation of £392 million of grant.

  • Further house price rises predicted

    13/10/2009

    A lack of available housing is continuing to drive prices upwards, according to the latest data.

  • RICS issues guidance for developers

    12/10/2009

    The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors has issued guidance to help development projects run smoothly.

  • Double bubble or double dip?

    12/10/2009

    Justin Sumner, from consultancy GL Hearn, gives his latest assessment of the state of the housing market and wider economy

  • Group demands action to help rural communities

    12/10/2009

    A coalition of organisations representing rural England has criticised 50 years of policies which undermine rural communities.

  • Shapps: we’ll be a nation of builders

    09/10/2009

    The Conservatives will attempt to position themselves as the party that will turn Britain into a ‘nation of house builders’, in the run up to the general election.

  • Side by side

    09/10/2009

    Councils can deliver new build mixed tenure schemes by setting up a special purpose vehicle, says Anne Bowden

  • The devil is in the detail

    09/10/2009

    When you listen to Grant Shapps, it is tempting to assume that you are hearing from the next housing minister. But despite their latest 12 point lead in the polls, the first thing to remember is that the Conservative Party requires the biggest swing since 1931 to win the election.

  • Mayor overrules council to approve skyscraper

    08/10/2009

    The Mayor of London has approved a planning application for a huge high rise block of flats, hotel rooms and office space in Tower Hamlets.

  • Welsh under pressure to revise homes goal

    07/10/2009

    Shelter Cymru is calling on the Welsh government to revise its target on affordable homes and allow empty homes to help reach the goal.

  • Tory reforms to let communities shape planning

    07/10/2009

    The shadow housing minister has unveiled a scheme to give local people more influence over planning.

  • List of brownfield sites to drive development

    07/10/2009

    A new online database of London development sites has been set up by two quangos.

  • Halifax records 1.6 per cent house price rise

    06/10/2009

    A lack of available housing is continuing to push up prices, according to the Halifax.

  • Tories pledge to be pro-development

    06/10/2009

    Shadow housing minister Grant Shapps will be putting forward the Conservatives as the party of development in his speech to the Tory conference today.

  • Scottish construction firms lose 8,500 jobs

    06/10/2009

    Scottish construction firms shed 8,500 jobs in the first eight months of this year, according to figures from the Scottish Building Federation.

  • CLG issues plan to cut £128m from growth areas

    05/10/2009

    The government has started consulting on how it should claw back £128 million of investment promised to growth areas.

  • West Midlands to benefit from HCA investment

    05/10/2009

    More than 360 new homes have been commissioned in the last six months to help people in rural communities in the West Midlands.

  • House prices rise to 2008 levels

    02/10/2009

    House prices have returned to the same level as a year ago, Nationwide has claimed.

  • ‘It’s the right thing to do’

    02/10/2009

    He’s part of iconic indie band Blur, is a qualified pilot and counts Jarvis Cocker and Billy Bragg as mates, but these days Dave Rowntree is more interested in helping London’s hidden ‘underclass’ and campaigning for better social homes. Inside Housing’s guest editor tells Stuart Macdonald what motivates him.

  • Agency ‘very limited’ by fall in sales income and slashed budgets

    02/10/2009

    The government’s regeneration agency has admitted its capacity to get involved in regeneration projects has been reduced by a large drop in sales receipts.

  • Associations urged to plug low income gap

    02/10/2009

    The slump in the number of homes for sale could provide an opportunity for housing associations to build more property for people on low incomes.

  • Brick by brick

    02/10/2009

    Planning systems must evolve in order to cope with the rapid growth of the world’s urban population

  • Pick your sides

    02/10/2009

    Finally a clear dividing line is beginning to emerge in housing policy between Labour and the Conservatives in the run up to the general election.

  • Rhythm and (housing) blues

    02/10/2009

    What a week! I’ve greatly enjoyed guest-editing Inside Housing, but the most surprising thing about being an editor is that the staff still boss you around.

  • Tip of the iceberg

    02/10/2009

    Contractors fined by the OFT are not the only companies profiteering from housing

  • Rural housing champion dies

    30/09/2009

    The chief executive of the Rural Housing Trust who campaigned tirelessly for the housing needs of people in villages has died aged 65.

  • Planning panel dismisses eco-town plans

    30/09/2009

    The proposed location of an eco-town near Stratford upon Avon would make it unsustainable, according to planning inspectors.

  • Million home backlog expected by 2010

    29/09/2009

    Housing production has hit an 80 year low and could take seven years to recover.

  • Experts cautious despite price rise

    28/09/2009

    Housing information agency Hometrack has reported a 0.2 per cent price rise for September, but questioned the strength of the market.

  • HCA to fund half of new homes

    25/09/2009

    The government’s regeneration agency expects to part-fund more than half of all the homes to be built in England this year, its first-ever corporate plan reveals.

  • MPs unaware of new build eco-targets

    25/09/2009

    Most MPs do not know that all new homes are supposed to be zero carbon by 2016, new research has found.

  • Councils set to sue bid-riggers

    25/09/2009

    Social housing providers are considering legal action against construction firms guilty of colluding over building contracts.

  • How low can you go?

    25/09/2009

    The delivery of sustainable homes is a key priority for the UK and last week, Gentoo launched its latest research entitled Codeword.

  • Kept in the dark

    25/09/2009

    The past month has seen house builders continuing to air their recession woes in public: a £140 million loss for Redrow; a whopping £682 million six-month loss for Taylor Wimpey; and this week a £680 million annual loss for Barratt.

  • Renewal quango records £492m loss

    25/09/2009

    The financial crisis wreaked havoc on the government’s regeneration quango, forcing it to write down an astonishing £320 million loss of value on its land holdings, Inside Housing can reveal.

  • Social housing starts fall as private rises

    25/09/2009

    Housing associations and councils applied to start building 8,883 new homes in the three months to September, down 16 per cent on the same period in 2008.

  • Associations told to 'raise game' for extra funding

    24/09/2009

    Housing associations will have to create jobs and apprenticeships for construction workers as a condition of accessing government cash for affordable homes, the housing minister has said.

  • The yellow agenda

    24/09/2009

    Building debates at the seaside usually focus on how many buckets of sand are needed to make a castle. Yet at the Liberal Democrat Conference in Bournemouth it was the more substantial matter of delivering affordable homes that topped the agenda.

  • Builders back Birmingham's housing plans

    24/09/2009

    After interest from more than 50 developers for the first phase of its home building plans, Birmingham city council has unveiled the second stage.

  • Climate campaign targets buildings

    23/09/2009

    Green pressure groups have launched a campaign calling for the importance of cutting carbon emissions from buildings to be recognised by world leaders.

  • Barratt seeks funds as it unveils £678.9m loss

    23/09/2009

    House builder Barratt has announced a £678.9 million pre tax loss for its financial year, which ended on 30 June.

  • HCA invests in 6,000 Bolton homes

    22/09/2009

    The Homes and Communities Agency has announced 6,000 new homes will be built in Bolton over the next 12 years.

  • Construction firms fined £129.5m for fixing bids

    22/09/2009

    The Office of Fair Trading has fined 103 construction companies £129.5 million after finding them guilty of colluding over building contracts.

  • Teather: Labour have failed the poor

    21/09/2009

    Labour have failed to provide housing for the most in need, the Liberal Democrat housing spokesperson said today.

  • Rogers quits as mayor's design adviser

    21/09/2009

    Leading architect Richard Rogers will step down from his role as design adviser to London’s mayor.

  • Number of homes for sale falls

    21/09/2009

    The number of homes coming onto the property market has hit its lowest level for eighteen months, according to an estate agents’ network.

  • HCA names key players in private rented scheme

    18/09/2009

    The Homes and Communities Agency today reported ‘several strong consortia’ have emerged in its search for institutional investors in large-scale developments of private rented housing.

  • Scots slash £173m from housing budget

    18/09/2009

    Housing providers in Scotland have expressed alarm at a £173 million drop in the country’s housing budget for next year.

  • A thinker and a doer

    18/09/2009

    Philosophical pondering is important to RSA chief Matthew Taylor - and he’s got a knack for it. But he also likes to get things done. That includes one or two ideas for social landlords, finds Philippa Ward.

  • Build threat

    18/09/2009

    Have housing associations really failed to the extent that we are heading back to the 1960s and 1970s world of large-scale council housing estates? Or is the government engaged in a one-off attempt to find favour with old Labour voters?

  • Competition laws threaten council deals

    18/09/2009

    Councils engaged in major regeneration projects could see their contracts with housing developers annulled if they fall foul of European procurement laws.

  • Here’s one we made earlier

    18/09/2009

    Modern methods of construction have been the ‘next big thing’ for a decade now. Will they ever fulfil their potential? Neil Merrick investigates.

  • New builder targets rural sites

    18/09/2009

    A West Midlands contractor and a consultant have set up a new affordable house building company to target rural sites.

  • The fight to be heard

    18/09/2009

    Four politicians, one mission - to win your vote and be the next housing minister. Next month the first Inside Housing hustings brings them together to answer your questions. The countdown to a general election starts here: so what would you ask?

  • TUC vote backs council-led building

    17/09/2009

    The Trades Union Congress will campaign for councils to build significantly increased numbers of affordable homes, it was decided at its annual conference.

  • New homes hit by greatest price falls

    16/09/2009

    The decline in the price of new homes over the last year has outstripped the decline in pre-owned prices by more than 4 per cent, according to government figures.

  • Repossession fall attributed to court delays

    15/09/2009

    The number of homes repossessed by lenders dropped between the first and second quarters of this year, but the change could be partly due to court delays.

  • RICS price index positive for first time in two years

    15/09/2009

    House prices are rising despite an increase in new instructions, according to figures from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

  • Affordable providers strengthened by downturn

    14/09/2009

    The recession will leave housing associations as a more powerful presence in the home building sector, an influential property consultancy has reported.

  • Pilots sought for renewable energy project

    14/09/2009

    The government is looking for large renewable heat and electricity schemes to test a new way of managing the planning process.

  • State of the market

    14/09/2009

    Is the recession ending, or are price rises a ‘false dawn’. Justin Sumner, director - new homes at consultancy GL Hearn, gives his monthly update

  • Economists warn house prices will fall in 2010

    14/09/2009

    House prices are likely to fall next year, and may not return to 2007 levels until 2014, according to a group of leading economists.

  • 10 years of CABE

    11/09/2009

    As the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment enters double figures, Martin Spring asks whether a decade of the design watchdog is a cause for celebration - or regret

  • Big hitters face off over councils building

    11/09/2009

    The Audit Commission this week slammed councils’ obsession with house building hours before the government unveiled the local authorities it wants to build a new generation of homes.

  • Don’t believe the hype

    11/09/2009

    Rumours of rising house prices may mask deeper problems, says Jon Cruddas

  • Double whammy

    11/09/2009

    It is not every day that Radio 4’s Today programme carries two headline items on housing. It is unfortunate for the sector that the two stories in question effectively cancelled one another out.

  • Going it alone

    11/09/2009

    Community land trusts have new-found freedom when applying for grants, says Ian Moran

  • Golden opportunity

    11/09/2009

    When the athletes move out of London 2012’s Olympic village, thousands of affordable housing residents will move in. Elliot Lipton, the man behind a public-private partnership charged with delivering that legacy, talks for the first time about its plans. Caroline Thorpe reports.

  • The £60k challenge

    11/09/2009

    Four years ago John Prescott dared house builders to build family homes for £60,000 - did this succeed in making homes more affordable? Neil Merrick reports

  • The green life

    11/09/2009

    We’re all in favour of eco-homes, but do they change lives? Simon Brandon visited some residents of green homes and asked them to spill the beans

  • Associations share £245m build fund

    10/09/2009

    The housing minister has announced that £245 million from the National Affordable Housing Programme has been allocated to allow 3,400 homes to be built.

  • Olympic homes split favours social tenants

    10/09/2009

    Almost half the affordable homes at London’s Olympic site will be let to social tenants, according to the man behind the partnership due to buy them after the 2012 Games.

  • Galliford Try seeks £125m to buy land

    10/09/2009

    Affordable housing specialist Galliford Try has called the bottom of England’s housing crash, unveiling a £125 million issue of new shares to fund a land buying spree.

  • Union demands more ambitious build plans

    10/09/2009

    Super union Unite has called on the government to do more to tackle a ‘severe shortage’ of social and council housing, in response to the government’s announcement of plans to build 2,010 new council homes.

  • Developers queuing up to work on HCA schemes

    10/09/2009

    Regional panels being set up by the Homes and Communities Agency to develop its sites look set to be heavily oversubscribed.

  • Institute backs plans to reallocate £17bn housing debt

    09/09/2009

    The Chartered Institute of Housing has backed the government’s plans to reallocate housing debt to local authorities when it dismantles the housing revenue account.

  • Spending watchdog attacks focus on new housing

    09/09/2009

    Councils are putting too much emphasis on new build housing and not enough on upgrading existing stock, a public spending watchdog has said.

  • Councils to build 2,000 homes for social rent

    09/09/2009

    Councils are to build more than 2,000 homes for social rent, after having their bids for funding approved by the government.

  • Councils call for London shared equity scheme

    08/09/2009

    The umbrella body for local authorities in London is calling on the mayor to develop a shared equity scheme to help first-time buyers.

  • Yorkshire is ‘eye of housing storm’, claims NHF

    08/09/2009

    Only a fifth of the social housing needed in Yorkshire and Humberside is being built each year, according to figures from the National Housing Federation.

  • Northern Ireland funding model is unsustainable

    08/09/2009

    The Northern Ireland housing executive must find new funding, potentially including borrowing, after plummeting capital receipts left a £200 million hole in its finances.

  • Think tank calls for tenancy overhaul to tackle overcrowding

    07/09/2009

    Councils should be given the freedom to offer different types of social tenancy to tackle overcrowding, a local government think tank has warned.

  • Slight pick up for social housing construction

    07/09/2009

    New social housing work rose 3 per cent in the second quarter of 2009 compared to the previous quarter, according to the Office for National Statistics.

  • Charity: we need 30,000 new homes

    04/09/2009

    A housing charity has called on the Scottish Government to put an extra £200 million a year into building affordable homes for rent.

  • Eco doctor: green building

    04/09/2009

    David Pinckney presribes five ways to help us build green in the red

  • Green guru: the Scandinavian way

    04/09/2009

    Morten Schmidt outlines the key principles in designing environmentally friendly housing the Scandinavian way

  • National Trust plans affordable housing in Lake District

    04/09/2009

    The National Trust has drawn up plans for affordable house building on its land in the Lake District, because of the area’s growing housing crisis.

  • The best way to zero gains

    04/09/2009

    Should upgrading nearby homes give a development zero carbon status?

  • They don’t get better than this

    04/09/2009

    The cream of global building design is unveiled today as this year’s World Architecture Festival Awards shortlist is announced. The winners will be revealed in November. In the meantime, Inside Housing presents a peek at some of the main contenders in the completed housing category - and asks the festival’s director for his verdict

  • Tories tell councils: hold build plans until election

    04/09/2009

    The Conservative shadow communities secretary has advised councils to put off controversial housing developments and policy decisions until after the general election.

  • Bovis seeks £60m to buy land

    03/09/2009

    House builder Bovis is looking to raise around £60 million to buy land by placing 12.1 million new shares.

  • Council plans to build on its own gardens

    03/09/2009

    Stroud Council has drawn up plans to build homes on large gardens of empty council house plots.

  • Poor builders face tougher inspections

    03/09/2009

    The government has set out plans to make sure builders understand how to make new housing safe and sustainable.

  • Experts to study Welsh planning system

    03/09/2009

    The Welsh Assembly Government has set up a team of experts to investigate how the planning system can be made to work more quickly.

  • Worst may be over for construction industry

    02/09/2009

    Analysts have suggested the worst of the downturn in the construction sector may be over.

  • HCA puts £98.2m towards Yorkshire homes

    02/09/2009

    The Homes and Communities Agency has allocated £98.2 million to Yorkshire and the Humber, to deliver 1,862 homes.

  • Lack of rural homes drives school closures

    02/09/2009

    Rural primary schools are closing at a rate of more than one a month as a lack of affordable housing drives young families to urban areas, according to figures.

  • Tories promise street-led regeneration

    01/09/2009

    Grant Shapps has promised a Conservative government would give individual streets the power to decide how and when their areas were regenerated.

  • Housing market shows further signs of recovery

    01/09/2009

    The Land Registry has recorded a 1.7 per cent rise in house prices across England and Wales in July.

  • Biting the hand that feeds

    28/08/2009

    The National Housing Federation has attacked the government over proposed rent cuts it claims will cost housing associations £260 million a year. With the attack following a £1.5 billion cash injection into affordable house building, is it justified? Crispin Dowler reports

  • Who lives on an estate like this?

    28/08/2009

    Social housing tenants will, if the National Trust gets its way. But plans to build on land attached to theErddig estate have had the venerable organisation’s members up in arms. Tom Lloyd reports

  • Councils must return grant if they sell homes

    27/08/2009

    Councils will have to return social housing grant to the Homes and Communities Agency if they sell new homes under the right to buy.

  • House prices surge ahead in August

    27/08/2009

    House prices across the UK rose by 1.6 per cent in August, sustaining the trend seen over the last four months, according to Nationwide.

  • Lovell scoops Hampshire contract

    26/08/2009

    Lovell has won a £20 million contract to flatten a 1960s estate in Hampshire and replace it with an 189-home development.

  • Grant to fund 500 south west homes

    25/08/2009

    The Homes and Communities Agency has awarded an extra £28 million to a housing association in the south west.

  • HCA commits funding to low-carbon energy schemes

    25/08/2009

    Projects to build a new generation of eco-friendly power plants and connect them to housing estates have been today given an £8.8 million funding boost by the Homes and Communities Agency.

  • Persimmon upbeat despite fall in profits

    25/08/2009

    House builder Persimmon has said market conditions are improving, despite releasing a set of half year results that are down on 2008.

  • 100,000 homes could fit on public land

    24/08/2009

    The government is sitting on enough land to build 100,000 homes, the Liberal Democrats have claimed.

  • Further write downs hit Bovis results

    24/08/2009

    Bovis Homes has reported an £8.6 million loss for the first six months of 2009, after writing down the value of its land by £8.9 million.

  • Olympic Village builder reports 29 per cent fall in profits

    24/08/2009

    The developer behind the Olympic athletes village saw its profits slump by almost a third in 12 months, it said in a statement last week.

  • Work begins on school for Bournville inspired development

    24/08/2009

    A development modelled on the highly-acclaimed designs of The Bournville Village in Birmingham is to get a new primary school.

  • Moody's gives strong rating to Sovereign bond

    24/08/2009

    Sovereign Housing Group’s good financial position ensured it secured a high-grade rating for its proposed £150 million bond sale.

  • Residents to have their say on building goals

    21/08/2009

    People in the east of England are to be asked the number of homes they want to see built in the region every year between 2011 and 2031.

  • Funding cut stalls ‘thousands’ of homes

    21/08/2009

    A group of councils have handed the housing minister a detailed breakdown of housing and regeneration projects they claim will stall after the government redirected funding.

  • Shoots in the dark

    21/08/2009

    Inside Housing has its nose to the ground again this month, hunting for signs of green shoots in housing developments across the UK. Home registrations nudge up but there are financial clouds on the horizon

  • Highs and lows

    20/08/2009

    Who could have believed that the last three months would have seen construction start on more affordable homes than in any quarter since Labour came to power?

  • English housing starts rise by 63 per cent

    20/08/2009

    Housing starts in England shot up between the first and second quarters of this year, with housing association starts reaching their highest point since 1997.

  • Society signs up to build new homes

    20/08/2009

    Cirencester Housing Society has joined the New Futures Partnership to enable it to build affordable new homes in its local area.

  • Eco-town hopefuls to set out affordable housing aims

    19/08/2009

    The four eco-town proposals that are currently going ahead are to be asked to submit high-level plans for the developments, covering subjects including affordable housing.

  • Rok reports 47 per cent drop in profits

    18/08/2009

    Pre-tax profit at maintenance and house building company Rok fell 47 per cent in the first half of 2009, compared with the same period of 2008.

  • Fed launches attack on government rent cut plans

    18/08/2009

    The National Housing Federation has accused the government of undermining plans to build social housing by imposing a 2 per cent cut on housing association rents.

  • Charity demands tougher right to buy restrictions

    18/08/2009

    Shelter Scotland is calling for the government to end the right to buy for all new tenancies, and impose tougher conditions on existing tenants.

  • Social housing work boosts construction sector

    18/08/2009

    Government funding has helped social housing projects give a much-needed boost to the construction industry, according to market research.

  • Redundancy hits 900 construction trainees

    17/08/2009

    More than 900 construction trainees and apprentices will have been made redundant over the past year by the end of August, according to figures.

  • August sees largest price drop of 2009

    17/08/2009

    Asking prices for UK homes fell 2.2 per cent in August, according to property website Rightmove.

  • Community trusts want more support from lenders

    17/08/2009

    Stakeholders have urged the government to set up model agreements for community land trusts to improve lenders’ understanding of the groups.

  • First-time buyers miss out

    14/08/2009

    Three quarters of London’s first-time buyers mistakenly believe they earn too much to qualify for low-cost homeownership.

  • In the driving seat

    14/08/2009

    Local authorities can and should lead the way on building new homes

  • No time like the present

    14/08/2009

    As a general election approaches, social housing is due a renaissance

  • ALMO buys homes from council

    12/08/2009

    A Brent ALMO has become the first in the UK to buy a large-scale housing development.

  • Too small rooms prevent normal lives

    11/08/2009

    Rooms are so cramped in newly built houses that families lack the space to carry out day-to-day activities, a study by the government’s design watchdog reveals.

  • HCA updates affordable housing tool

    10/08/2009

    The government’s housing and regeneration agency has updated the device that helps councils and developers make successful bids for affordable housing cash.

  • Cash for renewable houses

    10/08/2009

    The government plans to spend £6 million on building up to 60 new social homes from renewable materials such as hemp.

  • Bid to replace axed open market schemes

    07/08/2009

    Councils have entered talks with housing associations in a bid to fund replacements for the £182 million open market homebuy scheme axed by the government last month.

  • Homes target now 290,000

    07/08/2009

    England will need even more new homes than previously thought to prevent another affordability crisis, the government’s housing advisors have warned.

  • The lure of bricks and mortar boards

    07/08/2009

    Over the past decade big private sector players have muscled in on the student accommodation market, which was once housing associations’ territory. But with the UK’s student population growing fast, there are still opportunities for the social sector. Keith Cooper reports

  • The target man

    07/08/2009

    Establishment figures may have been hoping the nation’s supply guru would sit quietly in his ivory tower at Oxford. But Steve Nickell isn’t that sort of academic, as Caroline Thorpe finds out.

  • Build stats show social housing still doing better

    06/08/2009

    Slight pick-up up in construction doesn’t compensate for decline over past year

  • Figures show housing suffering the most

    05/08/2009

    New figures from the Chartered Institute of Purchase and Supply reveal that housing construction continues to shrink.

  • Gentoo in successful bid for kickstart cash

    05/08/2009

    Gentoo Group has set out plans to build new homes with £40 million of kickstart money from the government fund.

  • GHA leader on stock transfer quits

    04/08/2009

    The director behind the transfer of stock from Glasgow Housing Association to community-based organisations has resigned.

  • CIL will not fund affordable housing

    31/07/2009

    Charges imposed by local authorities on developers through the new community infrastructure levy will not be used to fund affordable housing.

  • Affinity writes down £13m

    31/07/2009

    Mega-association Affinity Sutton has written down losses of £13 million in its 2008/09 accounts - the biggest-ever write-down by a housing association.

  • No place like home

    31/07/2009

    Politicians are missing the chance to rethink the housing system because their eyes are on the next election, says Jon Cruddas

  • North west leads efforts to kick-start house building

    31/07/2009

    The north west is set to build almost 800 more homes than any other region under the government’s £925 million kick-start programme for stalled house building schemes.

  • Stick to the rules

    31/07/2009

    Just as Aviva was outlining plans for a £1 billion private rental sector fund to boost housing supply, figures have come to light showing how far the reputation of private sector landlords still has to rise.

  • The instant eco-home

    31/07/2009

    Is it true that retrofitting uses less energy than building new green homes? A new pilot home suggests so. Anita Pati reports

  • Ministers warned building goals will not meet demand

    30/07/2009

    England will need even more new homes than previously thought to prevent another affordability crisis, the government’s housing advisors have warned.

  • Grants to improve planning in Wales

    30/07/2009

    The Welsh government assembly has given information on how it will use £250,000 to improve planning services.

  • Nationwide records further house price rise

    30/07/2009

    House prices have risen for the third month in a row, according to new figures released by Nationwide.

  • MPs frustrated by regional plan delays

    29/07/2009

    The government has defended delays to the south west regional spatial strategy caused by a court ruling on the east of England plan.

  • State of the market

    29/07/2009

    Dark clouds or green shoots? Justin Sumner, director of new homes at property consultants GL Hearn, gives an update on the housing market.

  • Land Registry records first price rise for a year

    28/07/2009

    The Land Registry’s house price index moved up in June for the first time since January 2008.

  • Aviva to launch private rented sector fund

    28/07/2009

    A consortium seeking to raise up to £1 billion to invest in private rented housing is in discussions with a number of potential housing association partners.

  • Building costs fall as demand slows

    28/07/2009

    Falling demand for construction work continued to drive down tender prices in the first quarter of 2009, new Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors data shows.

  • Healey shortlists 270 schemes for £925m investment

    27/07/2009

    The government has shortlisted 270 projects across England which have applied for £925 million from its kickstart fund.

  • A sense of deja vu

    24/07/2009

    Only six months ago, the fallout from the financial crisis was considered so severe that many believed it would end reckless borrowing and an unhealthy infatuation with rising property prices.

  • Derwent nets £40m RBS loan

    24/07/2009

    Housing association Derwent Living has secured an additional £40 million loan facility from the Royal Bank of Scotland to fund the development of around 750 affordable homes.

  • Green light for four eco-towns a ‘victory for common sense’

    24/07/2009

    The Local Government Association has backed the government’s decision to give the go-ahead to just four environmentally friendly eco-towns.

  • I.O.U. £18 billion

    24/07/2009

    Few will be sorry to see council housing finance overhauled under new government plans. But there’s the small matter of reallocating £18 billion of debt along the way. David Hall looks at how redistribution might work

  • Mixed fortunes

    24/07/2009

    Depending on who you are, it has been a week of the good, the bad and the ugly. There’s been something for everyone to get excited - or exercised - about in the barrage of housing announcements rolling out of Whitehall.

  • New starts fall 13%

    24/07/2009

    Housing associations applied to build 7,492 homes in England between April and June, down 13 per cent on the same period last year.

  • Shake-up touches all bases

    24/07/2009

    The housing world tallied its wins and losses this week after the government unveiled plans that will affect almost every major programme.

  • Wales asks Europe for £75m homes loan

    24/07/2009

    Community Housing Cymru will ask the European Parliament for financial help to make sure housing associations can help the Welsh government reach its goal of building 6,500 affordable homes by 2011.

  • Work in progress

    24/07/2009

    Local housing companies were on the scene long before the current vogue for local authority-led building. As developers prepare to break ground on the first scheme, Simon Brandon assesses whether LHCs are shaping the mould for the next generation of council house builders.

  • House building applications reach year high

    23/07/2009

    Applications to build new homes rose to their highest level since July 2008 last month, National House Building Council figures have revealed.

  • Mortgage lending up as market strengthens

    23/07/2009

    Mortgage lending continued to rise in June as lenders agreed new home loans, according to British Bankers’ Association figures.

  • Rural residents face 280-year wait for a home

    23/07/2009

    Residents in some areas of rural England would have to wait 280 years to be allocated a new home because so few new properties are being built, a study reveals.

  • Welsh seek powers to hit efficiency goal

    23/07/2009

    The Welsh government has asked for the power to set building regulations to be transferred from Westminster.

  • Proposals set out to reform council housing finance

    21/07/2009

    Housing minister John Healey has said he wants to move ‘as rapidly as possible’ to reform the way council housing is financed.

  • Low carbon schemes win share of infrastructure fund

    21/07/2009

    Seven schemes have been awarded a share of £11.85 million to help housing developments benefit from low carbon energy sources.

  • Minister to unveil plans for £17bn housing debt

    21/07/2009

    Housing minister John Healey is set to unveil the detail of his roadmap for dismantling the council housing finance system later this morning.

  • Eco-town round up

    20/07/2009

    Last week the government announced it is pressing ahead with four eco-towns, which it hopes will be built by 2016. Isabel Hardman looks at the detail of the proposals

  • CLG rapped for finance skills gap

    20/07/2009

    The Communities and Local Government department does not have enough finance professionals to manage a budget of its size, the National Audit Office has found.

  • Decisions delayed on zero carbon definition

    20/07/2009

    The government has held back decisions on key elements of its definition of zero carbon, which it aims to apply to all new homes by 2016.

  • HCA revises planning guidance to cope with downturn

    20/07/2009

    The Homes and Communities Agency has produced guidance for getting more affordable housing from the planning system during the economic downturn.

  • Bottom of housing market has already passed

    20/07/2009

    House prices hit their lowest point last winter, and are likely to remain stable for the rest of 2009, according to property website Rightmove.

  • Decent homes cut to pay for £1.5bn building pledge

    17/07/2009

    The government’s £1.5 billion investment in building affordable housing will be paid for through cuts to existing schemes, including decent homes.

  • Ten councils will share £1.7bn private finance pot

    17/07/2009

    Ten councils will share £1.7 billion of private finance initiative credits after the government rejected a further 14 bids.

  • Councils get fast track to freedom

    17/07/2009

    Town halls have been told they could escape the reviled council housing finance system ahead of a change in law, if they agree a settlement among themselves.

  • Healey plays a cunning game

    17/07/2009

    John Healey played a deft hand in his first appearance as housing minister in front of MPs on the Communities and Local Government committee this week.

  • Hey, good looking

    17/07/2009

    Hot on the heels of Gordon Brown’s cash boost for council housing comes proof that cutting-edge design and social housing can go hand in hand. A local authority-led development has scooped top prize at this year’s prestigious Housing Design Awards, while four other awards go to housing associations. Martin Spring presents the winners

  • London can’t afford mayor’s 50,000-home pledge

    17/07/2009

    London does not have enough money left to meet mayor Boris Johnson’s election pledge of 50,000 new affordable homes by 2011.

  • Out of the shadows

    17/07/2009

    Caroline Spelman could be less than a year away from a cabinet seat. Simon Brandon finds out what the shadow communities secretary is thinking.

  • Plenty to go around

    17/07/2009

    A radical new approach will give everyone the chance to access to a decent, affordable home, explains prime minister Gordon Brown

  • PM: building is a ‘moral duty’

    17/07/2009

    The prime minister has declared his government has a ‘moral duty’ to build more homes.

  • Regulator says Moray not ready for funds

    17/07/2009

    The Scottish Housing Regulator has said a housing association must do more to prove it is a ‘credible investment partner’, despite removing statutory appointments from its board.

  • Building goals drive local disputes

    16/07/2009

    Disagreements over housing proved to be one of the main problems councils faced in deciding on economic indicators for their Local Area Agreements, a new study reveals.

  • Four eco-towns given the green light

    16/07/2009

    The government has given the go ahead to four environmentally friendly eco-towns, having whittled down a list of 12.

  • UK risks isolation on sustainability aims

    16/07/2009

    The UK is at risk of isolating itself from the rest of the world because of the way it is tackling sustainability in buildings, a report has found.

  • Landlords hit out at student housing plans

    15/07/2009

    The National Landlords Association has struck out at Newcastle Council for investing in accommodation for 6,000 students instead of family housing.

  • CLG reports progress on housing targets

    15/07/2009

    The Communities and Local Government department is making progress on its housing goals, but has struggled to improve planning, according to its annual report.

  • Westminster sets up company to build 500 homes

    14/07/2009

    Westminster Council has set up a development company to help it build more than 500 new council homes over the next four years.

  • Prices show signs of stability

    14/07/2009

    House prices across the UK fell just 0.4 per cent in the three months to the end of May, according to government figures.

  • Mortgage guarantees fail to drive lending

    14/07/2009

    An influential committee of MPs has called for the government to do more to help sub-prime mortgage lenders access private funding.

  • Buyer enquiries fuel housing market optimism

    14/07/2009

    Optimism on house prices is returning to the sector after more buyer enquiries, the latest figures from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors suggest.

  • Three rumoured to be on eco-town shortlist

    13/07/2009

    Housing minister John Healey is expected to unveil which eco-towns will go ahead this week, with three rumoured to be on the shortlist.

  • Kier reopens sites as market improves

    13/07/2009

    Kier has restarted work on stalled sites and begun work on new developments, in response to improving market conditions.

  • HCA outlines £1.1bn spend for Yorkshire and Humber

    13/07/2009

    The Homes and Community Agency has set out plans a £1.1 billion investment in the Yorkshire and Humber region.

  • Councils bid to use future taxes to fund development

    10/07/2009

    Several local authorities have expressed an interest in a pilot scheme that would allow them to finance development by borrowing against future tax revenues.

  • Social housing completions plummet at Bovis

    10/07/2009

    House builder Bovis completed on just 16 social homes in the first half of 2009, and expects its total for the year to be half what it was in 2008.

  • Affordable housing target cut despite £1.5bn investment

    10/07/2009

    The government has dropped its affordable house building targets from a previous pledge of 70,000 a year to about 55,000 a year in the next two years, despite the £1.5 billion boost to building programmes.

  • Man versus machine

    10/07/2009

    John Healey has pledged to dismantle the intricate system of council housing finance. But the twin obstacles of debt redistribution and timing could throw a spanner in the works. Clara Story reports.

  • New for old

    10/07/2009

    As the population ages, Anita Pati finds that the design of homes for older people is finally being taken seriously

  • Targets could be in doubt

    10/07/2009

    London mayor Boris Johnson’s housing advisor has fired off a letter to the Communities and Local Government department amid concerns about plans that could slash house building targets in London.

  • Tories consider quango merger

    10/07/2009

    The Conservative Party could look at merging the Homes and Communities Agency with the Tenant Services Authority, as part of its pledge to reduce the number and influence of UK quangos if it wins the next general election.

  • Banks relax demands on borrowers

    09/07/2009

    Mortgage lenders have stopped tightening criteria for borrowers, according to figures from the umbrella body for the sector.

  • Quick guide: housing debt

    09/07/2009

    Sorting out the £17 billion of housing debt carried by local authorities has been a major headache in the reform of the Housing Revenue Account. Clara Story explains why

  • House building shows signs of recovery

    09/07/2009

    Trading statements issued by two major house builders today have indicated the market has picked up in the last six months.

  • Brown explains 'radical' reforms to CIH members

    08/07/2009

    Gordon Brown has written to members of the Chartered Institute of Housing to explain his decision to inject £1.5 billion into the sector.

  • Halifax finds house price decline is easing

    08/07/2009

    The latest house price figures from the Halifax have added to evidence that the market is stabilising.

  • Mayor sets out standards for London homes

    08/07/2009

    All publicly funded homes built in London after 2011 will have to meet minimum standards on space and comfort under plans set out by the mayor today.

  • Shelter promotes house building alternatives

    07/07/2009

    Charity Shelter has published a report promoting different ways to increase the development of affordable housing.

  • Persimmon positive as sales pick up

    07/07/2009

    House sales during the first half of 2009 are tracking ahead of those recorded the previous year, according to Persimmon.

  • Government to miss building goals despite £1.5bn boost

    06/07/2009

    The £1.5 billion house building boost announced by the government last week will not allow it to meet its development goals, according to analysts.

  • Construction drop leaves sector on a 'knife edge'

    06/07/2009

    The UK construction industry continued to contract in June, according to the latest survey data from the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply.

  • Politicians urged to look to Europe for eco-town answers

    06/07/2009

    The Homes and Communities Agency Academy has called for a three-year work programme to learn from the European experience of developing eco-towns.

  • Welsh on track to meet building goal

    03/07/2009

    The Welsh Assembly Government has said it is half way to reaching its goal of delivering 6,500 homes by 2011.

  • Give them a big hand

    03/07/2009

    It is a long time since a Labour minister received a spontaneous round of applause. But that is what happened to John Healey at the Local Government Association conference in Harrogate on Tuesday evening, when the housing minister announced his plan to ‘dismantle’ the reviled housing revenue account.

  • Government ‘complacent’ about investment trusts

    03/07/2009

    Lords have attacked the government for failing to promote investment vehicles that landlords say could attract £5 billion to the housing sector.

  • Healey axes £182 million homebuy scheme

    03/07/2009

    Uptake of homeownership schemes could decrease dramatically after the government revealed plans to scrap a flagship scheme that has helped more than 14,000 people onto the property ladder.

  • It’s a small world

    03/07/2009

    Too many of us are stuck in the ‘think big’ era. It’s time to realise things have changed, argues Tim Dwelly

  • Lady in waiting

    03/07/2009

    As yet another minister settles in, can the opposition steal a march on housing policy? Emily Rogers asks Liberal Democrat Sarah Teather whether she’s ready for action.

  • Reviled council cash system bites the dust

    03/07/2009

    Finance experts have welcomed plans unveiled by housing minister John Healey for dismantling the deeply unpopular national system of council housing finance.

  • Tighter FSA rules could restrict loans

    03/07/2009

    Experts fear housing associations could face higher loan interest payments and reduced access to long-term funds as a result of tougher banking sector regulation.

  • Uncertainty over source of £1.5bn housing fund

    03/07/2009

    There is uncertainty over where the £1.5 billion for affordable housing announced by Gordon Brown this week is coming from.

  • What Canada has to teach us

    03/07/2009

    A different style of mortgage planning that could help to keep credit sensibly moving in the housing market

  • Housing finance reforms were nearly scrapped

    02/07/2009

    Efforts to reform the housing finance system came close to being shelved, it has emerged.

  • MPs warn planning must speed up to meet housing demand

    02/07/2009

    The planning process must be speeded up to allow enough homes to be built to meet demand, MPs have found.

  • Architecture body appoints new chief executive

    02/07/2009

    Harry Rich is to replace Richard Hastilow as chief executive of the Royal Institute of British Architects from October.

  • Building goals put pressure on greenfield land

    01/07/2009

    Councils are coming under pressure to allow development on greenfield land to meet house building goals, a study has found.

  • Councils to be put in charge of housing finance

    01/07/2009

    Control over the financing of council housing is to be devolved from central government to local authorities, under plans being developed by the government.

  • Land for equity deal part of £1.5bn fund

    30/06/2009

    Public land is to be offered to builders in return for an equity stake in developments, as part of plans to spend the extra £1.5 billion for housing announced yesterday.

  • Local policy is a sham

    30/06/2009

    Whitehall’s ‘local’ housing policy is an irony that the British people cannot afford, argues shadow housing minister Grant Shapps

  • National housing week celebrates best practice

    30/06/2009

    Housing minister John Healey was among the guests at the launch of National Housing Week yesterday.

  • Guiding lights

    30/06/2009

    The work of councils who achieved beacon status for ‘homes of the future’ is being highlighted as part of National Housing Week. Camille Ward finds out more

  • Scots revise plans after associations revolt

    30/06/2009

    The Scottish Government has released watered-down plans for its £675 million housing spend for the coming year.

  • House prices show steady rise

    30/06/2009

    House prices continued to rise in June by a steady 0.9 per cent, latest figures from Nationwide show.

  • Healey to 'dismantle' housing finance system

    30/06/2009

    Housing minister John Healey has said he will ‘dismantle’ the current council housing finance system, and replace it with a new scheme for councils.

  • Brown finds £2.1bn to build social housing

    29/06/2009

    Gordon Brown has pledged to put £2.1 billion into housing to ensure 20,000 affordable homes are built in the next two years.

  • L&Q to appeal over public bodies ruling

    29/06/2009

    Mega-landlord London & Quadrant Group is to appeal to the House of Lords against a landmark ruling that housing associations are public bodies.

  • Rising demand keeps house prices static

    29/06/2009

    A lack of supply and rising demand have helped halt falling house prices for the second consecutive month.

  • Brown to unveil social housing plan

    29/06/2009

    The government is shifting money from Home Office and transport budgets to pay for more affordable housing.

  • Land Registry finds house price slump is easing

    26/06/2009

    Government figures show house prices fell 0.2 per cent in May across England and Wales.

  • Pidgley steps down as Berkeley boss

    26/06/2009

    The influential managing director and co-founder of house builder Berkeley, Tony Pidgley, has announced he is standing down.

  • Association to offer mortgages on its own homes

    26/06/2009

    Housing association Places for People is offering its own mortgage range on a development of 300 homes, including a buy-back guarantee to protect buyers against negative equity.

  • An ill wind blows no good

    26/06/2009

    Question marks over their viability threaten to make eco-towns undeliverable. Ahead of a government announcement on their future next month, Chris Ames investigates.

  • Are we being dense?

    26/06/2009

    The prevailing view that high-density dwelling equals low quality of life needs to be challenged, says Sir Terry Farrell

  • We can be heroes

    26/06/2009

    Passion, commitment and bundles of talent - the housing sector has it all. And Inside Housing’s inaugural Housing Heroes awards are here to celebrate it. By Emily Twinch

  • East midlands beats house building goal

    25/06/2009

    The East Midlands Regional Assembly oversaw the development of 3,437 affordable homes during 2008/09, beating its target by 46 per cent.

  • Lords criticise residential REIT 'failure'

    25/06/2009

    Peers have said the government must do much more to help the creation of residential real estate investment trusts.

  • Triathlon secures £95m EU loan for Olympic Village

    24/06/2009

    The joint venture company that is buying homes from the 2012 Olympic Village to use as affordable housing has secured a £95.2 million European loan.

  • Council to sell land to social landlords

    24/06/2009

    A west midlands council wants to sell off four acres of its land to a housing association to allow more affordable homes to be built.

  • Beyond zero carbon

    24/06/2009

    For some people, zero carbon just isn’t green enough. James West, the winner of the HCA’s Future Vision competition explains more to Camille Ward

  • Developer launches attack on housing policy

    24/06/2009

    The chair of house builder Countryside Properties has questioned the ability of either the current government or the Conservatives to deliver sufficient housing.

  • Consortium chosen to build Commonwealth village

    24/06/2009

    Glasgow City Council has named its preferred bidder for the construction of the athletes village for the 2014 Commonwealth Games in the city.

  • House purchase mortgages reach £4bn

    23/06/2009

    Mortgage lending for house buying has risen from £3.6 billion in April to £4 billion in May, according to British Banking Association figures.

  • Minister promises to address climate change danger

    23/06/2009

    Housing minister John Healey has promised to ensure tackling climate change is a core part of his work, as scientists issued a stark warning on the increased risk of water shortages, heat stress, and flooding.

  • New CIH president seeks public confidence

    22/06/2009

    The new president of the Chartered Institute of Housing used his closing speech in Harrogate last week to call for action to restore public confidence in the housing sector.

  • Half of Olympic Village homes will be affordable

    22/06/2009

    Nearly half of the homes that will be created from the Athletes’ Village after the 2012 Olympic Games will be affordable housing.

  • Lack of affordable housing threatens rural life

    22/06/2009

    The lack of affordable housing in the country is leading to the demise of pubs and village shops, according to a National Housing Federation report.

  • Taylor Wimpey cautious despite stability

    22/06/2009

    House builder Taylor Wimpey has reported that the UK housing market has remained stable since its full year results were issued on 30 April.

  • Sellers drop prices to match demand

    22/06/2009

    Asking prices dropped during June, for the first time this year, according to property agency Rightmove’s monthly index.

  • Agency calls for flood budget to double

    22/06/2009

    Government spending on flood defences needs to double to more than £1 billion a year by 2035, the Environment Agency has warned.

  • Build starts feel the squeeze

    19/06/2009

    Housing associations applied to start more new homes than the private sector in three English regions over the past three months.

  • Healey: freedoms for councils within a month

    19/06/2009

    New housing minister tells CIH conference that one of his first acts will be to hand local authorities greater financial leeway

  • Hit for six

    19/06/2009

    These are the UK’s first homes to be built to level 6 of the code for sustainable homes. Philippa Ward takes an exclusive look round and finds out how Metropolitan Housing Partnership did it.

  • How much does it cost to build a social home?

    19/06/2009

    Landlords are scoring cheap building deals now, but will the true cost of developing in tough times come back to haunt them? Kenneth Wood and Scott Ripley investigate

  • Mutual benefits

    19/06/2009

    Amid economic gloom, the mutual housing model could shine

  • Olympics accountant to join HCA

    19/06/2009

    An executive who took responsibility for the Olympic Village at developer Lend Lease has been appointed head of private finance at the Homes and Communities Agency.

  • Plans for 8,000 homes help L&Q knock Affinity off top spot

    19/06/2009

    L&Q Group has pushed Affinity Sutton from the top spot of Inside Housing’s annual list of the 50 biggest developing housing associations.

  • The show must go on

    19/06/2009

    The Homes and Communities Agency has made much of its role targeting funds and advice at struggling developments, such as Sheffield’s Park Hill estate. Has it made a difference? Simon Brandon examines three projects to find out

  • The talking’s over, now time for action

    19/06/2009

    Although this was the week of the Chartered Institute of Housing’s annual conference, the three-letter acronym on everyone’s lips wasn’t ‘CIH’.

  • Three ways to be proactive about land

    19/06/2009

    With crashing markets and stalled development, land supply management may not seem like a top priority. In fact, says the CIH’s Abigail Davies, it’s now more important than ever, to prepare for the recovery

  • Too good to be true?

    19/06/2009

    It’s the perfect solution to the housing shortage - institutional investors plough money into the private rental sector, kick-starting building, generating demand and giving tenants more choice. But there are some obstacles in the way, writes Philippa Ward

  • Top 50 developers 2009

    19/06/2009

    Inside Housing’s exclusive annual survey of the top 50 developing housing associations shows supply pipelines are holding up - but for how much longer? Chris Bazlinton reports

  • When will green be viable?

    19/06/2009

    It is cause for celebration that a social landlord has built the first commercially built houses to hit level 6 of the code for sustainable homes.

  • Where to begin?

    19/06/2009

    Payment terms can be a headache for developers, says Rory Fordyce

  • Whitehall restrains HCA

    19/06/2009

    Government reluctance is preventing the Homes and Communities Agency from taking equity stakes in affordable housing developments, a senior director at the quango has claimed.

  • Affordable housing to be key election issue

    18/06/2009

    Affordable housing will be a major issue in the upcoming national election, the new junior housing minister predicted today.

  • Healey to raise new build efficiency standards

    18/06/2009

    Housing minister John Healey has announced that all new buildings will have to beat current energy efficiency standards by 25 per cent from 2010.

  • Social housing ‘is killing the planet’

    18/06/2009

    It’s official, social housing is killing the planet, at least according to delegates at an Inside Housing debate last night.

  • Tories would force HCA to prove its worth

    17/06/2009

    The Homes and Communities Agency has been warned it would be scrapped under a Conservative Government it if could not prove its worth.

  • HCA officials put emphasis on design

    17/06/2009

    Homes and Communities Agency officials have stressed the importance of striving for good design despite the recession.

  • Union pushes for council-led building

    17/06/2009

    Representatives from super-union Unite are planning meetings with the newly-appointed housing ministers to press for renewed action on reviving council house building.

  • HCA and Norwich agree 1,300 home deal

    17/06/2009

    The Homes and Communities Agency has set up a partnership with Norwich City Council to jointly develop around 1,300 homes in the city.

  • Housing minister promises councils more freedom

    16/06/2009

    John Healey promised council housing departments greater freedom to set allocations policies and control their finances, in his maiden speech as housing minister.

  • Funding overhaul would deliver 300,000 homes

    16/06/2009

    The Local Government Association has said councils could build 309,000 homes in 10 years if they were given freedom from the existing housing finance system.

  • Scots commit £31m to house building

    15/06/2009

    £31 million extra is being made available for new housing in Scotland, as part of the Scottish Government’s economic recovery plans.

  • Government backs empty homes call

    15/06/2009

    The government has agreed that bringing empty homes back into use is an effective way of providing housing, in response to an Inside Housing campaign.

  • Duties confirmed for new CLG ministers

    15/06/2009

    The responsibilities of the ministers at the new look Communities and Local Government department have been finalised following the reshuffle.

  • Royal 'meddling' delays affordable housing plans

    12/06/2009

    The Prince of Wales has been criticised for meddling in a landmark housing project, after the plans he opposed were withdrawn by the developer.

  • Loan deal used to buy affordable homes

    12/06/2009

    A landmark loan deal between a Scottish housing association and a local authority is to result in a village getting affordable rented homes for the first time in nearly 60 years.

  • Blueprint

    12/06/2009

    Michael Heseltine masterminded the seminal housing programmes of the Thatcher years. The Tory grandee tells Simon Brandon he has a few ideas for the current crop of Conservatives, too.

  • Builders scramble for kick-start cash

    12/06/2009

    Individual developers and housing associations have bid for large chunks of a £400 million government fund to kick-start stalled housing schemes.

  • Green dream

    12/06/2009

    Social landlords must not allow the controversy at Whitehall to eclipse the fight against climate change

  • L&Q Group plans £250m bond issue

    12/06/2009

    Mega housing association L&Q Group is planning to issue £250 million of bonds within the next six months.

  • Lead developer plans amended

    12/06/2009

    The Scottish Government is watering down its unpopular plans to give housing grant to a handful of lead developers, following widespread opposition from housing associations.

  • Let's not waste the next 10 years

    12/06/2009

    The squeeze on public finances means we need to rethink the case for mixed-use regeneration, writes Sir Bob Kerslake

  • Musical chairs must end

    12/06/2009

    Another Harrogate conference and another housing minister – John Healey. This will be the third time running that a different minister will address the sector at its flagship event, and that is simply not good enough.

  • Party on

    12/06/2009

    Low cost homeownership marks an important birthday this year. Is it over the hill, or does life begin at 30? Isabel Hardman joins the celebrations

  • Political positioning

    12/06/2009

    A general election is guaranteed by this time next year and housing will be a key battleground. As politicians begin to clamour for votes, Caroline Thorpe examines the three main parties’ policies.

  • Prime minister calls on the two Johns

    12/06/2009

    Gordon Brown has appointed his fourth housing minister, less than two years after striding into Downing Street promising to take the issue much more seriously.

  • The Holyrood files

    12/06/2009

    Housing associations have complained of favouritism towards councils north of the border. Now Martin Hilditch delves into a dossier of previously unpublished memos that lift the lid on the row and helped forge Scottish housing policy

  • Mortgage lending up 16 per cent in April

    11/06/2009

    The number of mortgages issued for house buying rose 16 per cent in April, the Council of Mortgage Lenders has reported.

  • House building sector shows signs of life

    11/06/2009

    The construction industry may be coming through the worst of the downturn, with public housing work in particular showing signs of life.

  • Planning body calls for garden city revival

    10/06/2009

    Towns and cities should be reshaped as garden cities to meet the challenges of the 21st century, the Town and Country Planning Association has claimed.

  • CLG figures back house price trend

    10/06/2009

    The Communities and Local Government department has recorded a 1.1 per cent rise in house prices between March and April.

  • Quick guide: John Healey

    09/06/2009

    He may not be a household name, but he is housing minister. Get the lowdown on the man in charge of the housing crisis

  • Birmingham sets out house building goals

    09/06/2009

    Birmingham council has announced plans to build more than 131 homes in the next twelve months.

  • Wright follows Beckett as CLG shake up continues

    09/06/2009

    Junior housing minister Iain Wright has followed ex-housing minister Margaret Beckett out of the Communities and Local Government department in a major shake-up.

  • Housing market picks up as supply weakens

    09/06/2009

    A lack of supply and increased buyer interest is driving the housing market, according the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors’ latest survey.

  • Brown promises new vision for homes

    08/06/2009

    The prime minister has promised to set out a plan to build Britain’s future, including his vision for housing.

  • £400m regeneration fund to be 'hugely oversubscribed'

    08/06/2009

    Property consultants preparing bids for the government’s £400 million fund to kick start stalled housing developments are predicting it will be massively oversubscribed.

  • Permission granted for first large-scale zero carbon site

    08/06/2009

    England’s first large-scale development to be built to the highest zero carbon sustainability standards has been given planning permission.

  • Planner issues eco-town warning

    08/06/2009

    A leading planning lawyer has warned the government must take decisive action on eco-towns, as ministers said it is possible none will be built.

  • Healey replaces Beckett as housing minister

    05/06/2009

    Local government minister John Healey has replaced Margaret Beckett as housing minister, making him the fourth person to hold the job in less than two years.

  • Denham replaces communities secretary Blears

    05/06/2009

    John Denham, secretary for innovation, universities and skills, is to replace Hazel Blears as communities secretary.

  • Actions speak louder than words

    05/06/2009

    Rural communities need more than a few reports and reviews to save them

  • Authorities launch build plans

    05/06/2009

    Birmingham Council is poised to make a funding bid to the Homes and Communities Agency, as part of a drive to build more than 100 new homes.

  • Blears exit sparks fears CLG will lose focus

    05/06/2009

    Housing professionals have voiced concern that major reforms could be delayed by the resignation of communities secretary Hazel Blears.

  • Council faces CLG scrutiny

    05/06/2009

    Hazel Blears has asked to personally scrutinise any contentious planning applications in a Conservative London borough with controversial social housing policies.

  • Follow the golden brick road

    05/06/2009

    ‘Golden brick’ schemes allow landlords to avoid tax on new units without penalising developers

  • Growing pains

    05/06/2009

    Any sign of a green shoot? Or is house building still trapped in the recession’s grip? Over the next few months Inside Housing will track the progress of four housing developments across the UK in a bid to find out

  • HCA fund pulls global interest

    05/06/2009

    The Homes and Communities Agency’s bid to attract institutional finance into private rented housing has attracted ‘very strong’ interest from domestic and overseas investors, it revealed this week.

  • Landlord handed access to cheap council cash

    05/06/2009

    A Scottish housing association is believed to be the first in the UK to gain access to cash borrowed by a council at low rates from the Treasury.

  • The legacy of Hazel Blears

    05/06/2009

    Given the ongoing expenses scandal and deepening sense of doom engulfing the government, the departure of communities secretary Hazel Blears this week cannot be described as a shock.

  • House prices rise by 2.6 per cent

    04/06/2009

    House prices rose 2.6 per cent in May, to an average of £158,565, according to the Halifax.

  • Mayor approves controversial Ferrier estate plans

    04/06/2009

    The London mayor has approved controversial plans to completely redevelop a south London estate.

  • Communities secretary Blears quits cabinet

    03/06/2009

    The minister in charge of the Communities and Local Government department has announced she is resigning from the cabinet.

  • Welsh planning system to be overhauled

    03/06/2009

    Welsh environment minister Jane Davidson has announced a shake up of the planning system in the country.

  • Mortgage data fuels recovery hopes

    02/06/2009

    The latest Bank of England mortgage lending figures have fuelled hopes of a housing market recovery.

  • Rochdale ALMO joins development club

    02/06/2009

    Rochdale’s arm’s-length management organisation is planning to develop its first 22 homes after securing a £1.2 million affordable housing grant.

  • House building jump slows construction decline

    02/06/2009

    Activity in the house building sector jumped by record levels in May, cutting the rate at which the industry is contracting.

  • European candidates told to support Scottish builders

    02/06/2009

    Scotland’s builders are urging the country’s European election candidates to protect their industry by making tax cuts, health and safety, fair procurement rules and licensing top of their agenda.

  • Funding deal to finance 500 north east homes

    01/06/2009

    North east housing association NomadE5 is planning to build 500 new affordable homes after securing a £25 million loan from the Abbey bank.

  • Association wins development battle with council

    01/06/2009

    A housing association has been granted permission to build 112 homes in Surrey after a battle with the local council.

  • Official figures show 0.3 per cent house price fall

    01/06/2009

    Government figures have added to evidence that the decline in the housing market may be easing.

  • Housing density up 84 per cent in seven years

    01/06/2009

    The density of new housing developments has increased by 84 per cent since 2001, according to new government research.

  • Portsmouth to build homes with council-led developer

    01/06/2009

    Portsmouth council is looking to develop 1,200 social homes over five years through its own housing company.

  • Hometrack finds house prices have stabilised

    01/06/2009

    House prices remained steady in May, according to the latest survey from housing research firm Hometrack.

  • House prices rise 1.2 per cent in May

    29/05/2009

    Nationwide has recorded a 1.2 per cent house price rise in May, and says there are signs the market is improving.

  • ‘Building slumped to lowest level in 60 years’

    29/05/2009

    Housing starts in England for the first three months of 2009 totalled 18,270, down 44 per cent on the same period last year, new Communities and Local Government department figures show.

  • Break through

    29/05/2009

    Despite the barriers being thrown up in their way, pathfinders are continuing to fulfil their mission

  • GHA slams council for ‘crude power grab’ as it faces being broken up

    29/05/2009

    Glasgow Housing Association has accused the city council of attempting a ‘crude power grab’ after it emerged the association could be split into five pieces and stripped of its new build cash.

  • How to get things moving

    29/05/2009

    The flexible affordable housing model is a way to unlock stalled projects

  • It’s time to wield our political clout

    29/05/2009

    At the time of writing The Daily Telegraph has devoted the past 20 days to revelations about MPs’ expenses. It’s easy to see why.

  • South scoops lion’s share of HCA grant

    29/05/2009

    London and the south east scooped up two-thirds of the £2.8 billion in grant allocated by the Homes and Communities Agency in its first four months.

  • Building campaign launches in Scotland

    28/05/2009

    Construction bodies have launched a campaign calling on the Scottish Government to prevent 16,000 job losses across the sector.

  • Average council home is more than fifty years old

    28/05/2009

    The average council home in England was built more than half a century ago, according to statistics published this month.

  • Olympic legacy body appoints chief executive

    28/05/2009

    A man who oversaw a series of major regeneration programmes in Philadelphia and Washington DC has been drafted in to oversee the creation of the Olympic housing legacy.

  • HCA fund attracts institutional investors

    28/05/2009

    At least five major institutional investors are expected to submit expressions of interest in the Homes and Communities Agency’s plan to set up a private rented housing fund.

  • Mortgage lending hits eight-year low

    27/05/2009

    Net mortgage lending reached an eight-year low in April, according to figures from the British Bankers’ Association.

  • Eco-town developers misled public

    27/05/2009

    The developers behind one of the government’s proposed eco-towns have been criticised by the advertising watchdog for misleading the public.

  • Property sector calls for regeneration shake up

    27/05/2009

    The British Property Federation has issued a manifesto calling for a range of financial and legislative changes to kick start regeneration.

  • House building slump shows signs of easing

    27/05/2009

    The rate at which house building work is declining slowed in the first three months of 2009, but remained in negative territory.

  • Scottish completions reach 8-year high

    27/05/2009

    The number of affordable homes completed in Scotland last year reached an eight-year high, although the number of new homes started dipped in the last few months as the recession took hold.

  • Housing businesses feature in green list

    26/05/2009

    House builders, an arm’s-length management organisation and a housing association are among the greenest companies in the UK, a competition has found.

  • Lawyer finds planners can demand art

    26/05/2009

    Developers could be required to pay for public art if they want to secure planning permission, a barrister has claimed.

  • Banking 'prejudice' leaves low-cost homes standing empty

    22/05/2009

    Banks are snubbing more than £1 billion of shared ownership mortgage business because of misguided ‘prejudice’, the National Housing Federation has claimed.

  • High Court backs council opposition to building plans

    22/05/2009

    A High Court judge has demanded that plans to build thousands of new homes in Hertfordshire are reconsidered.

  • Access granted

    22/05/2009

    What happens when private developers turn to grant to build affordable housing?

  • GHA set to lose new build programme

    22/05/2009

    Responsibility for building new homes could be stripped from Glasgow Housing Association as early as next month.

  • How the HCA spent £2.8bn in four months

    22/05/2009

    The Homes and Communities Agency dished out £2.8 billion of grant in its first four months, in a bid to revive social home building.

  • Mayor’s housing deals fall 10,000 shy of target

    22/05/2009

    Boris Johnson’s attempt to extract affordable housing commitments from every London borough is 10,000 homes short of his 50,000 target.

  • Race to the bottom

    22/05/2009

    Like many politicians, social housing needs a better profile, writes Jon Cruddas

  • Services cut as income plunges

    22/05/2009

    The Northern Ireland Housing Executive has been forced to cut services following a sharp drop in its income.

  • Tax change frees landlords to sell

    22/05/2009

    The charities regulator has changed its rules to allow credit-crunched housing associations to offload unsold shared ownership homes on the open market tax-free.

  • The last white knight

    22/05/2009

    When Sir Bob Kerslake spoke at Inside Housing’s Question Time last November to mark the launch of the Homes and Communities Agency and Tenant Services Authority he said: ‘The first [thing we need to think about] is to keep appetite and capacity for development going.’

  • Annual home starts fall to 90,000

    21/05/2009

    The number of home started in 2008/09 fell to just 90,000, government figures have revealed.

  • Lib Dems tell Boris to get tough on targets

    21/05/2009

    The Liberal Democrats have slammed Boris Johnson for failing to wheedle commitments to deliver 50,000 affordable homes from London’s boroughs.

  • Mayor promises to halve overcrowding

    21/05/2009

    London mayor Boris Johnson has pledged to halve severe overcrowding in the city’s social housing by 2016.

  • Lend Lease unveils shortlist for Olympic Village build

    20/05/2009

    Olympic Village developer Lend Lease has announced the shortlist of companies bidding to build on a 300 home plot on the site.

  • US house building hits record low

    20/05/2009

    House building in the United States has reached its lowest level ever recorded, damaging hopes of an upturn in the market.

  • London Thames Gateway boss predicts 10-year slump

    20/05/2009

    The head of the body responsible for the regeneration of the London area of the Thames Gateway has issued a stark warning to MPs on the damage being done by the recession.

  • Lovell starts work on £5m scheme

    19/05/2009

    House builder Lovell is starting work on a £5 million scheme to build affordable homes for Merthyr Tydfil Housing Association.

  • Anger as Scottish Government cuts grant rate

    19/05/2009

    The Scottish Government has sparked anger among housing associations by making a £1,000 cut in its target level of grant per home.

  • Boris plans outer London growth hubs

    19/05/2009

    London mayor Boris Johnson is considering proposals to concentrate housing growth in outer London in certain areas rather than allowing it to spread more evenly.

  • Water restrictions introduced for new homes

    18/05/2009

    All new homes will have to conform to tough water efficiency standards from October.

  • Asking price rise at six-year high

    18/05/2009

    Ambition, optimism and necessity have resulted in the biggest May house price increase recorded for six years, according to property website Rightmove.

  • Mortgage lending rises in March

    18/05/2009

    Mortgage lending in the UK rose in March, but the market remains tough for those who do not possess a significant deposit, according to new figures.

  • ‘We have been here before’

    15/05/2009

    The move back towards mono-tenure housing schemes will create a new generation of welfare-dependent ghettos

  • Beckett cuts £75 million from planning grant to fund lower rent rises

    15/05/2009

    The government has cut a fund that encourages local authorities to boost their housing supply in order to fund a reduction in rent rises for tenants.

  • Big spending days are numbered

    15/05/2009

    Housing providers have been told to ramp up their spending plans this year because affordable housing budgets are set to slump.

  • Builders and associations battle for slice of £400m

    15/05/2009

    Private home builders are facing stiff competition from housing associations for a £400 million government fund to kick-start stalled housing developments.

  • Eco-impact of social housing up for debate

    15/05/2009

    The extent to which social housing providers and tenants are contributing to the destruction of the planet is to come under the microscope in a debate hosted by Inside Housing.

  • Hungry to build

    15/05/2009

    £100 million will whet councils’ appetite to develop new homes, but a fairer finance system and more resources are needed to satisfy their craving

  • Let councils fulfil their potential

    15/05/2009

    The word of the day in other parts of Westminster last Friday may have been ‘expenses’, but at Inside Housing’s second Question Time event at nearby Millbank Tower, it was ‘kick-start’.

  • Response to CABE

    15/05/2009

    Social landlords should place good design at the heart of what they do

  • The ideas store

    15/05/2009

    Some of the sector’s biggest players revealed their plans to kick-start house building at Inside Housing’s latest Question Time. Caroline Thorpe reports.

  • This is what good design looks like...

    15/05/2009

    …but a damning CABE report has found that 80 per cent of recent social housing schemes came nowhere near it. Can future developments avoid the ugly mistakes of the past? Clara Story reports

  • Unfinished business

    15/05/2009

    Landlords need to be more proactive around delivery agreements, writes Andrew Shaw

  • Pathfinders agree recession priorities

    14/05/2009

    The market renewal pathfinders have agreed to concentrate on a series of recession busting measures over the next year, after reaching agreement with the Homes and Communities Agency about their future direction.

  • Welsh government looks to private finance

    14/05/2009

    The Welsh Assembly Government is looking to bonds and local authority mortgages to finance social housing.

  • Associations switch sale homes to rent

    13/05/2009

    Housing associations have converted 4,832 homes from low-cost home ownership to general needs housing or intermediate rent in the last quarter.

  • No private cash for £1bn Olympic Village

    13/05/2009

    The government will fund the £1 billion Olympic Village for the 2012 games, which is to form affordable housing after the event, without any private investment.

  • Delay leaves tenants in 'sub-standard' homes

    13/05/2009

    Tenants in Bristol have been left in homes the council admits are ‘sub-standard’ because it can’t find a developer to rebuild them.

  • Redrow restarts work on stalled sites

    13/05/2009

    Work on Redrow sites stalled by the credit crunch has restarted, as the builder responds to increased stability in the market.

  • Recession is ‘worst timing’ for pathfinders

    13/05/2009

    Watchdog warns that market renewal of work faces a difficult year and needs closer monitoring

  • Galliford Try to review four-day week

    12/05/2009

    Galliford Try has said it will review the four-day week that is operating across its house building division in early summer.

  • Home buyer enquiries hit 10-year high

    12/05/2009

    Enquiries from new buyers have risen to the highest level in almost a decade, according to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

  • Buyers exhaust shared equity cash

    12/05/2009

    First-time buyers are being turned away from a government scheme set up to help them, because of a lack of funding.

  • Lack of affordable housing drives rural exodus

    11/05/2009

    More than 100,000 young adults will leave rural England over the next three years, as a lack of affordable housing threatens village life.

  • Regeneration vital for northern economy

    11/05/2009

    Regeneration to improve the quality of homes and neighbourhoods in the north of England is vital to long-term economic growth, a new report has argued.

  • Builders shift £350m of stock to housing associations

    11/05/2009

    The government has spent £350 million through its national clearing house to buy private developers’ unsold stock for use as affordable housing.

  • Culture change needed to drive rural development

    11/05/2009

    Members of the Scottish Parliament are calling for an end to an ‘over-cautious planning culture’, which they claim is hampering new housing development in rural areas.

  • MPs demand support for council-led building

    11/05/2009

    MPs have called for major action in the pending review of council housing finance to allow a mass programme of local authority house building.

  • Kerslake unveils details of £500m funding scheme

    08/05/2009

    The Homes and Communities Agency revealed how councils, housing associations and developers can access hundreds of millions of pounds worth of new funding at Inside Housing’s Question Time event on Friday.

  • Taylor Wimpey raises £510m to cut debt

    08/05/2009

    House builder Taylor Wimpey has turned to shareholders to cut its debts by £510 million.

  • A question of neutrality

    08/05/2009

    Should the ambitious goal to make all new homes zero carbon by 2016 be abandoned? RICS and WWF square up

  • Council builders must start onsite in a year

    08/05/2009

    Local authorities looking to bid for the £100 million government council house building pot would have to be able to start onsite in less than a year.

  • Councils courted over reform plans

    08/05/2009

    The Scottish Government made concerted efforts to entice councils to endorse its controversial plans for housing reform, before it published consultations on its proposals.

  • Live within your means

    08/05/2009

    We have to make the effort to live sustainably now or risk having the earth give up on us, writes Barbara Thorndick

  • Looks can be deceiving

    08/05/2009

    New test houses are being built at the BRE innovations park. Three hit the highest eco-standards, but there isn’t a contemporary curve in sight

  • Now or never

    08/05/2009

    Despite tough environmental targets for social housing, only nine housing associations employ fully fledged eco-experts. Footprint asked this select group of specialists about the obstacles to going green and what their prognoses are for a sustainable future. Interviews by Keith Cooper

  • Oh my pod!

    08/05/2009

    A congregation of social eco-pods in west London is preaching code for sustainable homes level 5 to the masses. Philippa Ward reports

  • Pick up tools

    08/05/2009

    The Budget brought good news for the private sector - so let’s get building

  • New Town research to inform eco-towns

    07/05/2009

    The government has promised to commission research into New Towns to help develop its ideas for future large-scale planning experiments, including eco-towns.

  • Bovis social home completions to halve

    07/05/2009

    Bovis Homes expects to build half the number of social homes in 2009 that it completed the previous year.

  • Ministers seek space for south east homes

    07/05/2009

    More than 650,000 new homes will be built in the south east of England, under plans unveiled this week.

  • CIH argues case for Scottish investment

    07/05/2009

    The Scottish Government should take action to protect the future funding of housing, the Chartered Institute of Housing Scotland has told a finance committee.

  • First-time buyers tempted by shared ownership

    06/05/2009

    A survey carried out by property website Rightmove has found 43 per cent of first-time buyers would consider shared ownership schemes.

  • House prices hit five-year low

    06/05/2009

    House prices have dropped back to the same average level as in April 2004, according to the Halifax.

  • Experts warn downturn will not solve housing crisis

    06/05/2009

    Housing affordability problems could return with more force after the current economic downturn, the government’s housing supply advisers have warned.

  • Government attempts to streamline planning

    06/05/2009

    The government has launched a consultation on a single planning document that will replace four existing policies.

  • Tax change paves way for ALMO-led building

    05/05/2009

    Arm’s-length management organisations have been freed to build more homes after the government changed tax rules that placed them at a disadvantage compared with councils and housing associations.

  • Housing struggles despite construction lift

    05/05/2009

    An index that records activity in the construction sector rose to its highest point for seven months in April.

  • London regeneration schemes get £16m boost

    05/05/2009

    The Homes and Communities Agency has handed out £16 million to get two London regeneration projects back on track.

  • House price report predicts further falls and slow recovery

    05/05/2009

    House prices have about 8 per cent left to fall and will recover by less than 6 per cent in the next two years, according to economists.

  • Birmingham: we’ll take the whole £100m

    01/05/2009

    The race to build the next generation of council housing began in earnest this week as England’s largest local authority landlord said it would bid for the entire £100 million pot made available in last week’s Budget.

  • Bring on the big bucks

    01/05/2009

    Today marks a turning point for the future of house building in the UK. After months of behind-the-scenes discussions, an announcement is imminent from the Homes and Communities Agency about how it plans to work with institutional investors.

  • Councils' reasons to be cheerful

    01/05/2009

    Councils are fretting. They are worried that they are going to be squeezed even further following last week’s Bichard review on the latest round of efficiency savings.

  • New horizons

    01/05/2009

    The UK’s expertise in urban design has global appeal, says Sir Terry Farrell

  • Notting Hill signs land deal

    01/05/2009

    Notting Hill Housing has splashed out £7.6 million on land on the border of Hammersmith and Chiswick in London.

  • Private pain

    01/05/2009

    Despite a £1 billion boost, the Budget failed to encourage new residential investors. Crispin Dowler reports.

  • Stand and deliver

    01/05/2009

    Following 2,000 job cuts and multimillion pound losses, major house builder Persimmon is seeking comfort in the social sector. But its interest isn’t simply down to the recession, boss Mike Farley tells Philippa Ward.

  • Struggle over zero carbon

    01/05/2009

    A major consultation of developers, housing associations and energy companies has found more than four-fifths under-estimated the difficulty of delivering zero carbon homes.

  • The new blue

    01/05/2009

    Twelve months on from Boris Johnson’s election as London mayor Tory politicians are stamping their mark on the capital. Crispin Dowler meets the key players and discovers the national significance of their housing policies.

  • Taylor Wimpey reports £2bn loss as refinancing ends

    30/04/2009

    House builder Taylor Wimpey has reported a loss of nearly £2 billion for 2008, but successfully concluded talks with its lenders.

  • Nationwide records 0.4 per cent house price fall

    30/04/2009

    House prices fell 0.4 per cent in April, reversing the 0.9 per cent rise recorded in March, according to Nationwide.

  • Mayor rethinks affordable housing goal

    30/04/2009

    London mayor Boris Johnson is to ‘review’ his manifesto commitment to deliver 50,000 new affordable homes ‘in light of current resources’, City Hall has said.

  • Under the skin

    29/04/2009

    From the outside Stadthaus looks much like any other mixed-use block with a fancy colour scheme, but its secret lies below the surface

  • Regional agreement sparks review of housing boards

    29/04/2009

    The role of regional housing boards is to be reviewed as part of a commitment by the Homes and Communities Agency and regional development agencies to work together more closely.

  • Business leaders call for construction rethink

    28/04/2009

    The authors of a four-year $15 million study on buildings’ energy efficiency have said global public intervention in the construction sector is necessary to meet climate change targets.

  • Experts chosen for HCA design panel

    28/04/2009

    The Homes and Communities Agency has appointed a team of six industry experts to advise it on the design quality and sustainability of its developments.

  • Contractors cut prices as work dries up

    28/04/2009

    Contractors are slashing their prices to compete for scarce work, new data from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors shows.

  • Scots propose widespread right to buy ban

    28/04/2009

    The Scottish Government has paved the way for a blanket axing of tenants’ right to buy, through proposals in a draft housing bill.

  • Westminster gears up for house building

    27/04/2009

    Work on a 500-home council-led house building programme is due to start in London next month.

  • Figures cast doubt on recovery hopes

    27/04/2009

    Figures showing mortgage approvals fell in March following three months of growth have dampened hopes of a housing market recovery.

  • Arson suspected as fire guts building site

    27/04/2009

    A new shared ownership development being built in Blackpool has been burnt to the ground in a suspected arson attack.

  • Hometrack warns against optimism

    27/04/2009

    Housing market information agency Hometrack has warned against optimism despite recording the lowest monthly price fall for a year.

  • Budget cuts threaten Northern Irish housing plans

    24/04/2009

    Northern Ireland faces a fresh blow to its housing finances after a cut of £123 million for the region’s funding was announced in the Budget.

  • Public building outstrips private development

    24/04/2009

    Applications from housing associations to build new homes have outstripped those from private developers for the first time since records began.

  • Money talks

    24/04/2009

    As the dust settled on another Budget, members of the British Property Federation gathered to mull over its contents. Here its leaders give their views

  • Affordability goals for all public land

    24/04/2009

    The Scottish Government has said all surplus public land should be subject to councils’ affordable housing policies.

  • Chancellor gambles on developers and buyers

    24/04/2009

    The government has taken a £1 billion gamble on helping struggling developers and first-time buyers at the expense of demands for major funding boosts to private and social rented sectors.

  • Cornwall council to build 1,000 homes

    24/04/2009

    Cornwall’s new unitary council is planning to build 1,000 homes across the county, after taking over the housing responsibilities of six district authorities.

  • Councils to compete for HCA cash

    24/04/2009

    The Homes and Communities Agency will launch a £100 million funding competition for councils, following this week’s Budget.

  • In the know

    24/04/2009

    The social sector must not allow itself to be undermined by poorly informed critics, writes Sir Bob Kerslake

  • This is a house builders' Budget

    24/04/2009

    A fortnight ago hopes were high that chancellor Alistair Darling had been persuaded by housing lobbyists to pump several billion pounds into an emergency house building programme.

  • Timing is everything

    24/04/2009

    Deciding when to use your homes as security for a loan can be a tough decision

  • No surprises

    23/04/2009

    Circle Anglia’s executive director of operations explains what the Budget means for his housing association

  • Budget soundbites

    23/04/2009

    The death of eco-towns, relief for homeowners, or just not enough cash? Housing leaders offer their views on yesterday’s Budget

  • Economists warn £500m will not go far

    23/04/2009

    The £500 million package announced in the Budget to help kick start new housing schemes and build council homes could benefit as few as 10 sites nationally, according to Pricewaterhouse Coopers.

  • Consultants predict end of eco-towns

    23/04/2009

    Labour’s eco-town programme appears to have ‘bitten the dust’ following this week’s Budget, according to consultancy EC Harris.

  • Council building fund 'not enough'

    22/04/2009

    The government has announced £100 million of funding for local authorities to build new council housing at higher energy efficiency standards.

  • Manchester and Leeds win city-region status

    22/04/2009

    Greater Manchester and Leeds have been given ‘London-style’ city-region status in the Budget, which will allow closer work across council areas.

  • Budget ‘not bold enough’ warns Fed

    22/04/2009

    The umbrella body for housing associations has warned measures in the Budget do not go far enough to tackle the housing crisis.

  • Darling unveils £1bn boost for housing

    22/04/2009

    Chancellor Alistair Darling has unveiled a £1 billion funding package to help struggling homeowners, boost housing supply and help the house building industry through the recession.

  • Civic Trust closes after 50 years

    22/04/2009

    An independent charity that promotes excellence in the built environment has been forced to close by financial problems.

  • Critics dismiss £1bn Budget boost

    21/04/2009

    Measures to support social housing expected in the Budget have been dismissed as inadequate by the Liberal Democrats.

  • Sector issues Budget demands

    21/04/2009

    Leading figures in the housing sector have set out their demands for the government ahead of tomorrow’s crucial Budget.

  • MPs call for council investment in housing

    21/04/2009

    Councils must be given more maintenance money for their housing stock and be allowed to borrow more freely to assure the future of council housing, a group of MPs have said.

  • Councils vow to build homes if given financial control

    20/04/2009

    Councils have told the government they could get 30,000 new homes built over the next decade if it cancels their housing debt and gives them control of their housing revenue.

  • First-time buyers struggle despite house price falls

    20/04/2009

    This year’s fall in house prices has failed to open the door to first-time buyers, due to a doubling in deposits they have to stump up, according to the latest research.

  • Scottish Government doubles council development budget

    20/04/2009

    The Scottish Government is to double the amount of money it is giving councils as part of its drive to get them building homes again.

  • Newcastle ALMO pushes ahead with build plans

    20/04/2009

    Newcastle City Council has identified 13 sites to build hundreds of new houses which it hopes will encourage older tenants to downsize.

  • Design of a fifth of social housing rated poor

    17/04/2009

    The government’s advisor on architecture has rated the design of a fifth of affordable housing schemes as poor.

  • Buoyed by success, campaign lands on prime minister’s desk

    17/04/2009

    Three demands, 11 weeks, 380 backers. Inside Housing’s Empty Promise campaign to tackle empty homes ended this week with a trip to Number 10 Downing Street.

  • Councils invest in legacy

    17/04/2009

    The five host councils of the London 2012 Olympics have commissioned research into how they can invest in improving the area’s housing legacy.

  • Downturn hits HCA housing starts

    17/04/2009

    The Homes and Communities Agency faces a tough delivery battle this year after it revealed it had failed to hit several key targets for new house building starts.

  • Government doles out £17m build fund

    17/04/2009

    The Scottish Government has announced the first councils to get a share of the £25 million it has pledged to help them build homes.

  • Not an empty promise

    17/04/2009

    On the face of it, Inside Housing’s Empty Promise campaign to tackle the rising number of empty homes in the UK has failed.

  • Northern Irish associations seek building boost

    16/04/2009

    The umbrella body for housing associations in Northern Ireland has called on the chancellor to take action to revitalise house building in next week’s Budget.

  • Designs chosen for Lancashire town squares

    15/04/2009

    Two towns in the East Lancashire will be the first to be given new public spaces through a design competition set up by the region’s housing market renewal pathfinder.

  • House price slump resumes after January rise

    15/04/2009

    House prices fell 2.7 per cent between January and February reversing a slight rise the previous month, according to government figures.

  • Fed warns of surge in overcrowding

    15/04/2009

    Another 350,000 people may be forced to live in overcrowded homes within two years as unemployment and repossessions rise, the National Housing Federation has warned.

  • Recession harming a quarter of housing bodies

    15/04/2009

    The number of housing organisations being hit by the recession has increased 30 per cent since October, with one in four now suffering.

  • Rok wins £86m framework deals

    15/04/2009

    Repairs and maintenance company Rok has won two social housing deals worth a total of £86 million.

  • Lenders increase loans to first-time buyers

    14/04/2009

    Mortgage lenders have reported a 7 per cent increase in loans to first-time buyers in February.

  • HCA misses shared ownership goal

    14/04/2009

    The Homes and Communities Agency has missed its target to fund new shared ownership properties by more than 3,000 homes.

  • Olympic Village granted £225m European loan

    14/04/2009

    The Olympic Delivery Authority has been given access to a £225 million European loan to help build affordable housing.

  • Back to the drawing board

    10/04/2009

    With development paralysed by the collapse of the market, the means to deliver affordable housing need a radical rethink

  • HCA willing to rip up ‘onerous’ ALMO deals

    10/04/2009

    The Homes and Communities Agency is looking to rewrite its rule book to help arm’s-length management organisations access social housing cash.

  • London mayor plans own developer to build homes

    10/04/2009

    London mayor Boris Johnson wants to set up a city-wide housing company to bring forward public land for affordable housing development.

  • English Partnerships chair heads Olympic legacy

    08/04/2009

    Former English Partnerships chair Margaret Ford has been appointed as the new Olympics legacy chief.

  • West Midlands gets £700m for new homes

    08/04/2009

    More than £700m is being injected into the West Midlands to provide new homes and help save jobs in construction.

  • Co-op designs zero carbon housing system

    08/04/2009

    Britain’s largest housing cooperative is designing a prefabricated housing system to meet the highest level of the code for sustainable homes.

  • Land values halve in a year

    08/04/2009

    The value of development land across the UK plummeted by 15 per cent in the last quarter of 2008, according to new figures.

  • Housebuilders call for government funds

    08/04/2009

    House builders have called on the government to bring forward more public money to gap fund stalled housing schemes in this month’s budget

  • Eco towns could be unlawful, says barrister

    07/04/2009

    Council leaders called on the government to reconsider controversial eco town schemes after a lawyer said the process could be challenged in court.

  • North West and West Midlands see biggest low cost home slowdown

    07/04/2009

    A study for the Tenant Services Authority found flats in those regions had seen the biggest drop in sales.

  • Prince wades into Chelsea Barracks design row

    07/04/2009

    Prince Charles has appealed to the Qatari government to scrap the design of the £1bn Chelsea Barracks development.

  • HIPs come into force

    07/04/2009

    Home information packs are now required for all residential properties put on the market after 5 April.

  • Government could face eco towns challenge

    06/04/2009

    An environmental group has said the government could face a court challenge over the planning process for its proposed eco towns.

  • Europe backs £100m upgrade to UK social housing

    06/04/2009

    The European Union has ruled that the UK government can spend cash from an €8 billion fund on improving the energy efficiency of existing housing.

  • ALMOs call for freedom to borrow and build

    06/04/2009

    Public borrowing restrictions should be waived to allow arm’s-length management organizations to expand and build new homes, said a new a report.

  • Housebuilding targets are main worry for sector

    06/04/2009

    A conference poll says the viability of new building targets is the top priority for housing professionals

  • Livingstone wants space standards and green homes

    03/04/2009

    Former London mayor Ken Livingstone has called for developers to be held to tough environmental standards for new homes to tackle the ‘biggest crisis humanity has ever seen’.

  • Halifax finds house prices continue to fall

    03/04/2009

    The Halifax has recorded a fall in house prices for March, going against the surprise rise reported by Nationwide.

  • Development model explores tenure switch

    03/04/2009

    New social rented homes could be sold on the open market or switched to market rents under a new model for development.

  • Landlord wins right to reclaim VAT

    03/04/2009

    Community Housing Association has won a High Court battle against HM Revenue & Customs to claim back hundreds of thousands of pounds in VAT spent developing social housing.

  • Look who’s laughing now

    03/04/2009

    Two failed stock transfer votes, a zero-star rating, a repairs department under supervision and miserable staff - Birmingham’s housing department was a national joke. Then along came John Lines and Elaine Elkington. Caroline Thorpe describes a dramatic turnaround

  • People first

    03/04/2009

    With development in the doldrums, we have time to concentrate on building confident communities

  • Protect your position

    03/04/2009

    Your contractor is at risk of insolvency. As a housing association, how can you protect yourself?

  • Room with a view

    03/04/2009

    The recession hasn’t scuppered Highland Council’s plans to provide sites for 2,000 new homes. Emily Twinch reports on the landbank scheme making it happen

  • Housing strategy opens door to private investment

    02/04/2009

    Housing leaders in the north west have unveiled a strategy for taking forward the sector in the current economic climate.

  • Rate of construction decline slows

    02/04/2009

    The construction sector continues to be battered by the recession although the rate of decline is slowing, according to the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply.

  • House prices up 0.9 per cent in March

    02/04/2009

    House prices took a surprise move upwards in March, according to the Nationwide’s house price index.

  • Olympic boroughs slam transport cut

    02/04/2009

    London’s Thames Gateway boroughs have slammed mayor Boris Johnson for scrapping a key Olympic transport scheme, saying he will undermine their plans for new housing.

  • House building leaders call for industry overhaul

    01/04/2009

    Representatives of the house building industry have called for a radical overhaul of the way developments are planned and funded.

  • Builders turn to public sector as private work vanishes

    01/04/2009

    House builders are increasingly relying on the public sector for work as private development stagnates.

  • Residents lose battle against demolition

    01/04/2009

    Residents fighting a compulsory purchase of their area as part of a major regeneration project in Liverpool have lost a last-ditch High Court challenge to save their homes from demolition.

  • Fed calls for £3bn efficiency scheme

    31/03/2009

    The chief executive of the National Housing Federation has written to the chancellor calling for £3 billion to improve the energy efficiency of social housing.

  • Report urges builders to go green

    31/03/2009

    House builders can have a positive environmental impact and ‘create habitats in which wild species thrive’, according to a new report.

  • Bellway reports £48.6m loss as land values plummet

    31/03/2009

    House builder Bellway made a pre-tax loss of £48.6 million in the six months up to the end of January.

  • Cautious welcome for mortgage approval jump

    31/03/2009

    Lenders have responded cautiously to Bank of England figures showing a rise in mortgage approvals.

  • Minister prioritises building in face of £200m shortfall

    30/03/2009

    Northern Ireland’s social development minister has pledged to concentrate on house building in the face of a £200 million housing budget shortfall over the next two years.

  • Guide outlines economic vision for eco-towns

    30/03/2009

    The Town and Country Planning Association has set out its vision of how businesses should operate in eco-towns.

  • House price decline slows as buyer interest picks up

    30/03/2009

    The rate at which house prices are falling has reached its lowest level for 10 months, according to market intelligence company Hometrack.

  • Housing-linked infrastructure gets £170m boost

    27/03/2009

    The government is putting £170 million into 29 transport projects to help get 40,000 new homes off the ground over the next 10 years.

  • Land Registry records 2 per cent house price fall

    27/03/2009

    House prices across England and Wales fell for the 18th month in a row during February according to government figures.

  • £22 million fund set to tackle voids in London

    27/03/2009

    The government is set to approve £22 million worth of funding to tackle empty homes in London.

  • A chance to detox

    27/03/2009

    The downturn means the building industry can make a fresh start

  • A persistent problem

    27/03/2009

    Delving into Inside Housing’s archives, Simon Brandon discovers that with 700,000 voids in England in 1984, the problem of empty homes is nothing new

  • Builders lobby to cut out the middle man

    27/03/2009

    Scottish house builders are lobbying to get their hands on housing association grant for the first time.

  • Cash flow solution

    27/03/2009

    A new bill aims to simplify payments and improve access to adjudication

  • Cause to celebrate

    27/03/2009

    Inside Housing’s founding editor, Bill Randall, reflects on the magazine’s early scoops and campaigns

  • Equity stake model delayed

    27/03/2009

    The Homes and Communities Agency has held back from taking an equity stake in a flagship housing scheme, saying there is ‘work to do’ before it can move away from grant-based funding.

  • Minister doubts GHA expansion

    27/03/2009

    The Scottish Government has called into question the ability of Glasgow Housing Association to expand its business outside the city.

  • Those were the days

    27/03/2009

    From the Thatcher years to John Prescott’s communities plan, ALMOs to ASBOs, and homes for votes to decent homes. Since it was first published in 1984, Inside Housing has covered all the issues that have gripped the housing world, taking in five redesigns and seven editors along the way. Katie Puckett charts an incredible 25 years.

  • National park landowners suggest sites for homes

    26/03/2009

    More than 100 landowners in a national park have put forward sites for affordable housing following an appeal by the park authority.

  • Government backs rural homes review

    25/03/2009

    The government has published a raft of ‘subtle but important’ measures to get affordable homes off the ground in rural communities.

  • Building campaign moves to Wales

    25/03/2009

    A campaign calling for more government action to prevent 300,000 job losses in the construction sector has turned its attention to Wales.

  • CLG blocks sale aspect of L&Q plan

    25/03/2009

    The government has blocked the introduction of parts of a scheme to shift affordable housing set up by the Homes and Communities Agency and London & Quadrant.

  • Councils call for empty homes tax cut

    24/03/2009

    The umbrella body for local authorities has called for tax cuts on work to bring empty homes back into use.

  • Borrowers get tough as loan costs rise

    23/03/2009

    Banks seeking to re-price their social housing loan books have caused ‘deep unhappiness’ among housing associations, that are now looking to ‘play hardball’ with their lenders.

  • Prefab listing forces development rethink

    23/03/2009

    The redevelopment of an estate of prefabricated council bungalows has been dealt a blow after the government ordered the preservation of some of the historic buildings.

  • Redrow founder back in charge of firm

    23/03/2009

    The founder of house builder Redrow has taken charge of the firm nine years after leaving the business.

  • ‘Zero carbon unachievable due to cost’

    20/03/2009

    The House Builders’ Association has warned that the government’s ‘zero carbon’ green standards are unachievable due to the costs involved.

  • A good start

    20/03/2009

    Much has been achieved in the Homes and Communities Agency’s first 100 days, says Sir Bob Kerslake, but there’s much still to do

  • And… action!

    20/03/2009

    With hundreds of backers, cross-party support and a major victory already in the bag, Inside Housing’s Empty Promise campaign has been a blockbusting success. Caroline Thorpe puts our three campaign demands in the spotlight to determine how the fight to fill the UK’s voids can have an even happier ending

  • Property sales crucial for 59 housing associations

    20/03/2009

    Fifty-nine housing associations were entirely dependent on selling homes to generate a surplus last year.

  • Rok: cash stimulus ‘won’t last’

    20/03/2009

    Government efforts to stimulate social housing development by pumping in extra cash cannot last more than ‘a year or so’, the boss of construction firm Rok has warned.

  • Struggling builders attempt to force refunds from councils

    20/03/2009

    House builders are attempting to claw back millions of pounds from planning agreements they have signed with councils.

  • The first 100 days of the HCA

    20/03/2009

    ‘Yes, they can,’ seems to be the overwhelming verdict on the agency’s first 100 days - not that it’s been a cakewalk exactly. Simon Brandon reports.

  • The single-minded conversation

    20/03/2009

    Caroline Thorpe finds housing minister Margaret Beckett preoccupied by supply

  • Waiting lists to soar as recession bites

    19/03/2009

    More than 200,000 households will join social housing waiting lists over the next two years, the National Housing Federation predicts.

  • Development plans branded 'unworkable'

    19/03/2009

    Scottish housing associations have branded their government’s plans to group them into administrative super-regions forced to compete for housing grant as ‘bureaucratic and unworkable’.

  • FSA considers tough lending controls

    18/03/2009

    The government’s financial watchdog has opened the door to tighter restrictions on the amount people can borrow to buy homes.

  • Homebuy guide

    18/03/2009

    How the government’s £400 million attempt to entice first-time buyers back into the market is intended to work

  • First buyers sign up to homebuy direct

    18/03/2009

    The first buyers have signed up to the government’s latest homebuy initiative, which is intended to get first-time buyers back into the housing market.

  • Government records house price rise

    17/03/2009

    House prices rose in January for the first time since last April, according to government figures.

  • CIH questions homeownership drive

    16/03/2009

    The Chartered Institute of Housing in Scotland is questioning whether the Scottish Government should steer its policies away from promoting homeownership.

  • Campaigners warn homes pledge fall short

    16/03/2009

    The Scottish Government’s drive to swell the country’s affordable housing stock by at least 6,500 in the coming year does not go far enough, housing organisations have warned.

  • Buyers put off by 'unrealistic' prices

    16/03/2009

    Increased interest from home buyers is not leading to sales because of unrealistic asking prices, property website Rightmove has claimed.

  • Councils expect ‘perfect storm’ to drive demand

    13/03/2009

    Almost 90 per cent of councils have seen or are expecting a surge in demand for social housing due to the recession, new research shows.

  • Arm’s-length funding deals ‘need a revamp’

    13/03/2009

    The Homes and Communities Agency should draw up special funding agreements with arm’s-length management organisations to help them build homes more quickly, according to the last chief executive of the Housing Corporation.

  • Better late than never

    13/03/2009

    There have been two major victories for the sector in the past week, both involving long-overdue decisions from the government.

  • Build drive from councils ‘unlikely’

    13/03/2009

    The chances of a major council house building drive are slim, despite the prime minister’s pledge to give it his full backing, a new report claims.

  • Councils ‘should be allowed to borrow’

    13/03/2009

    Councils should be allowed to borrow to cover the cost of building schools, roads and energy infrastructure for new housing developments, a planning charity has said.

  • Liverpool Council latest to unveil plan for regional bank

    13/03/2009

    Liverpool Council has agreed to look into plans to kick-start housing schemes by setting up a new regional bank with other councils in the north west.

  • One down, two to go on Empty Promise demands

    13/03/2009

    The government has signed up to one of the main demands of Inside Housing’s empty homes campaign.

  • Procurement plan ‘may curb delivery’

    13/03/2009

    Housing associations have warned that the Northern Ireland Executive’s new procurement policy is likely to stifle the production of new homes.

  • Ready for a comeback

    13/03/2009

    Are councils wise to step back into the house building ring? Ben Cook finds out how the former champs are shaping up

  • Rethink on flood risk rules

    13/03/2009

    The government is reviewing the rules on granting planning permission for housing and other developments in flood risk areas.

  • Setting up home together

    13/03/2009

    Partnerships between knowledgeable social landlords and inexperienced local authorities would speed up delivery of high-quality homes

  • Survival tips

    13/03/2009

    Dave Poulter has just closed a PFI deal for Swan Housing Group - here are his top tips to make a project happen despite the downturn

  • Tragic irony

    13/03/2009

    As the government relents on councils building homes, Jon Cruddas mourns the loss of Labour’s greatest housing activist

  • Tributes paid to council housing champion

    13/03/2009

    Tributes have flooded in for tireless tenant activist Alan Walter, who died this week, aged 51.

  • Housing leads construction order slump

    12/03/2009

    Construction orders from the public sector and housing associations fell by 43 per cent in the three months to January, compared with the previous three months.

  • Study finds just two eco-towns are viable

    12/03/2009

    The financial viability of the government’s planned eco-town programme has been called into question by a new report which gave only two of the proposals a glowing bill of health.

  • Plan to build 430,000 east midlands homes

    12/03/2009

    More than 430,000 homes are to be built in the east midlands by 2026, under government plans.

  • Repairs work keeps Rok in the black

    12/03/2009

    Maintenance and building firm Rok has reported a sharp fall in profits during 2008, but managed to remain in the black.

  • House building down 76 per cent in Wales

    11/03/2009

    New house building in Wales plummeted by 76 per cent in the last quarter of 2008 compared with the same period the previous year.

  • Performance bonus to reward pathfinders

    11/03/2009

    Housing market renewal pathfinders will have access to nearly £350 million this year to regenerate some of England’s most deprived areas.

  • Gateway developers cut low cost homes

    11/03/2009

    The Thames Gateway is being hit by developers seeking to renegotiate lower levels of affordable housing on their sites in response to the housing crash.

  • Scottish associations cut build plans

    11/03/2009

    A question mark hangs over house building affordability for more than a third of Scottish developing housing associations.

  • Enquiries fail to revive housing market

    11/03/2009

    A surge in interest from home buyers is failing to translate into sales, surveyors have reported.

  • Scots budget £644m to fund 6,500 homes

    10/03/2009

    Scotland’s new housing minister has promised to invest £644 million for social rented or low cost home ownership homes from April.

  • Minister backs action on empty homes

    10/03/2009

    Housing minister Margaret Beckett has backed an ‘increased focus’ on bringing empty homes back into use.

  • Build forecast drops to 70,000 homes

    10/03/2009

    Just 70,000 homes will be built in 2009/10 with housing associations building more than private developers, according to the latest forecast.

  • Council housing champion dies

    09/03/2009

    Alan Walter, the devoted tenant activist and chair of Defend Council Housing, has died, aged 51.

  • Government seeks to quantify section 106 gains

    09/03/2009

    The government is attempting to quantify the benefits planning obligations on developers have for local communities as it prepares to introduce a new charge.

  • Association steps in to save green homes

    09/03/2009

    A threatened eco-home scheme in Sheffield looks set to go ahead after housing group Places for People stepped in.

  • Bovis Homes hit with £78.7m loss

    09/03/2009

    Bovis Homes has described 2008 as an ‘unprecedented’ year for house builders as it reported a £78.7 million loss.

  • House builders used covert employee database

    06/03/2009

    House builders are among the construction firms accused of subscribing to a covert index holding personal information about workers in the sector.

  • ‘Banks have a moral duty to benefit housing associations'

    06/03/2009

    Banks have a moral duty to do all they can to help housing associations through the recession, Scotland’s newly appointed housing minister has claimed in his first interview since taking the job.

  • Build plans axed as lenders reprice loans

    06/03/2009

    The government has stepped in to ask lenders to think twice before ‘aggressively repricing’ housing association loans, amid warnings that new developments could grind to a halt.

  • Fifty associations hit as land values plunge

    06/03/2009

    Fifty housing associations have seen the value of their homes and land plummet so much they expect to make write-downs in their 2009 accounts.

  • Jobs go as NHBC closes three offices

    06/03/2009

    The National House Building Council has made 70 job cuts and closed three regional offices. 

  • Lenders need to see sense

    06/03/2009

    When Vince Cable, the man who predicted the downfall of Northern Rock, says that development by housing associations is making the current downturn worse, we should take notice.

  • London gets £93m

    06/03/2009

    The Homes and Communities Agency has announced it intends to spend £93 million over the next year to kickstart five major London developments.

  • March 31st

    06/03/2009

    It’s a date that looms large in housing association diaries - at the end of the month they will tally their losses. There will be some nasty surprises, writes Crispin Dowler

  • Marked card

    06/03/2009

    Two years on from its election victory, has the SNP delivered on its campaign housing pledges? Neil Merrick asks Scotland’s housing workforce if they’ve made the grade

  • No one home

    06/03/2009

    Even one empty home is too many, says Shelter’s Gavin Corbett, and Scotland has 87,000 of them. But with politicians not interested in filling them, what’s to be done?

  • Sector is ‘hindering’ economic recovery

    06/03/2009

    Social housing is hindering the country’s economic recovery at a time when it should be helping it, the Lib Dem’s Treasury spokesperson has claimed. 

  • The eyes have it

    06/03/2009

    The recession has brought social housing to its knees, says Vince Cable. So what does the man dubbed ‘the soothsayer’ think will happen next, asks Simon Brandon.

  • Time for Plan B

    06/03/2009

    Only the most rigid of civil servants would insist that their prescriptive pre-crunch plans be adhered to now, says Tim Dwelly

  • Words of advice

    06/03/2009

    New Scottish housing and communities minister Alex Neil must work to restore confidence in the socialhousing sector

  • Halifax records 2.3 per cent house price fall

    05/03/2009

    Mortgage lender Halifax has reported a 2.3 per cent drop in house prices during February, after a surprise rise last month.

  • Lack of European lender damages market

    05/03/2009

    Badly-hit housing markets in Europe are being further damaged by the lack of a pan-European mortgage lender, an academic has claimed.

  • Union demands grant equality for councils

    05/03/2009

    Public sector union Unison this week urged the Scottish Government to allow councils to bid for housing grant alongside housing associations.

  • Housing a minority in £13bn PFI bail out

    04/03/2009

    Only a minority of the private finance initiative projects that will benefit from a £13 billion government cash injection involve housing.

  • Housing associations may stop building

    04/03/2009

    Housing associations need to develop new business models or give up and let councils recover the reins of social housing development, the chief executive of L&Q Group said this week.

  • Boris attacked for 'premature' pledge

    04/03/2009

    Government officials have attacked the Conservative mayor of London for announcing spending plans without their approval.

  • Redrow founder seeks to rejoin board

    04/03/2009

    The founder of house builder Redrow has made moves to rejoin the board of the company he left in 2000.

  • Construction sector in record decline

    04/03/2009

    Construction activity fell at an ‘unparalleled’ rate during February, driven by the housing sector.

  • CLG under fire on HIPs and eco-towns

    04/03/2009

    The Communities and Local Government department needs to work harder on its effectiveness or risk failing in its policy objectives, a committee of MPs has said.

  • L&Q unveils plan to shift homes for sale

    03/03/2009

    Housing group London & Quadrant has unveiled a Homes and Communities Agency-backed drive to shift homes intended for sale.

  • HCA cash to kick start regeneration

    03/03/2009

    The Homes and Communities Agency is putting up £93 million to kick start five mothballed developments across London.

  • Persimmon reports £780m loss

    03/03/2009

    House builder Persimmon has reported a £780 million loss for its 2008 financial year.

  • Empty homes powers only used 17 times

    03/03/2009

    Powers given to local authorities in 2006 to allow them to bring empty homes back into use have only been used 17 times.

  • Councils calls for debt relief to aid building work

    02/03/2009

    The councillor in charge of housing in the Highlands has travelled to Westminster to plead for relief from the council’s housing debt burden.

  • Consumer watchdog to investigate home buying

    02/03/2009

    The Office of Fair Trading is to investigate whether the home buying and selling market is sufficiently open to innovation.

  • No 'green shoots' for housing market despite sales rise

    02/03/2009

    Housing information group Hometrack has found the number of registered house buyers and sales increased in February.

  • Government extends eco-town consultation

    27/02/2009

    The government has extended its consultation on eco-towns for an extra month to give the public more of a chance to air their views.

  • Land Registry records 15 per cent house price drop

    27/02/2009

    House prices across England and Wales have fallen by 15.1 per cent in the last year, according to the government’s figures.

  • ‘Machines for living in’

    27/02/2009

    Le Corbusier’s opinion of housing may have been controversial, but an exhibition of his work shows why he is still revered. Simon Brandon reports

  • A brave face

    27/02/2009

    As the South East England Regional Assembly winds down, its development director Martin Tugwell has just weeks to find a way to continue its work. Clara Story reports

  • Beleaguered builders reveal £676.1 million losses

    27/02/2009

    Three house builders revealed they suffered a combined loss of £676.1 million in the last six months of 2008.

  • In a bind

    27/02/2009

    Mortgagee protection clauses allow social landlords to get better loan deals

  • Long-term unsold homes up by 20 per cent

    27/02/2009

    The number of long-term unsold homes on housing association books surged by 20 per cent at the end of 2008 despite urgent moves to turn the tide.

  • Minister backs landlords against banks

    27/02/2009

    Scotland’s new housing minister, Alex Neil, has pledged to help housing associations get better borrowing deals, amid reports they are being slapped with excessive charges and shorter payback periods.

  • The last scrum in a bruising game?

    27/02/2009

    The hits this week have come harder than a Six Nations scrum. First there was the quarterly report on the financial health of the sector’s largest housing associations from the Tenant Services Authority.

  • Why are there 2.4 empty homes for every household on the waiting list in Sunderland?

    27/02/2009

    Caroline Thorpe examines the latest government figures to find out, and considers the local problems in Hull and Cambridge that contribute to a national blight

  • MPs demand more power for councils

    26/02/2009

    Councillors and MPs have called on the government to give councils more power to invest in building new homes.

  • House price falls continue in February

    26/02/2009

    House prices fell by 1.8 per cent in February, according to Nationwide’s price index.

  • Edinburgh plans to build 1,300 homes

    26/02/2009

    Edinburgh Council is hoping to get its hands on £10 million of the £25 million the Scottish Government has set aside to encourage council-led house building, to help fund a plan for 1,300 new homes.

  • Inconsistency found in Scottish housing aims

    26/02/2009

    Scottish local authorities are being inconsistent in the level of priority they show to housing issues, according to the Chartered Institute of Housing Scotland.

  • Construction work reaches 14-year low

    26/02/2009

    Construction workloads fell to the lowest level for more than 14 years in the last three months of last year.

  • Home forecast cut as applications dry up

    25/02/2009

    The umbrella body for house builders has cut its house building forecasts in response to its latest application figures.

  • Officials set out plans for HRA reform

    25/02/2009

    Communities and Local Government officials are considering three routes for reform of the housing revenue account subsidy system.

  • Social housing work slows Kier slump

    25/02/2009

    House building and maintenance group Kier has seen its profits fall by more than 40 per cent despite increasing its social housing work.

  • MPs to put price on council-led building

    25/02/2009

    MPs are meeting today to gather evidence on the level of investment needed to allow councils to build social housing.

  • Barratt losses reach £592.4m

    25/02/2009

    House builder Barratt Developments made a £592.4 million loss in the first half of its financial year.

  • CIH demands house building bail out

    24/02/2009

    The house building industry is in greater need of a government bail out than car makers or the Post Office, the Chartered Institute of Housing has claimed.

  • Scottish home starts hit new low

    24/02/2009

    The number of new homes being built in Scotland has dropped 43 per cent in a year according to the latest figures.

  • Study calls for regeneration to target low mobility areas

    24/02/2009

    Regeneration should be focused on deprived areas with low mobility such as those with large amounts of social housing, a government-backed study has said.

  • Lovell turns to refurbishment work

    24/02/2009

    Affordable housing group Lovell has turned to refurbishment and new build social housing work to limit the impact of the credit crunch.

  • House builder reveals £46.2m loss

    24/02/2009

    Builder Redrow has reported a £46.2 million loss for the first half of its financial year, down from a £35.8 million profit in 2007.

  • MPs warn housing goals will be missed

    24/02/2009

    A cross-party committee of MPs has said the government will miss its housing targets without more money for social homes.

  • Social housing plan to beat credit crunch

    23/02/2009

    Gordon Brown must increase social housing spending by billions of pounds or miss his ambitious house building targets, a chorus of MPs, housing associations and councils has warned.

  • Planning application slump costs councils

    23/02/2009

    Planning applications have dropped by an average of nearly 19 per cent and many councils have seen a major drop in income from fees, a study has found.

  • Thinking bigger

    20/02/2009

    Hank Dittmar talks to Footprint about the problems with eco towns – and what the Prince’s Foundation for the Built Environment is doing to push sustainable boundaries

  • Green goals next for decent homes

    20/02/2009

    The government has signalled a possible extension to its decent homes programme by setting out plans to upgrade the environmental performance of its existing social housing stock.

  • Green goals within reach

    20/02/2009

    The all-party group on sustainable housing will have a down-to-earth and accessible approach

  • Labour forces SNP’s hand on housing crisis

    20/02/2009

    The Scottish National Party has caved in to demands from opposition parties to do more to tackle a ‘crisis in Scottish housing’, following a bruising parliamentary debate.

  • Landlords wary of developers’ homes

    20/02/2009

    The majority of social landlords have little or no intention of buying up any homes from private developers in order to ease the housing crisis.

  • New mission for churches: build homes

    20/02/2009

    The Archbishop of Westminster is pushing churches to use their position as major landowners to build affordable housing.

  • Opposition parties join empty homes fight

    20/02/2009

    The government is facing increased pressure to take action against empty homes after the Liberal Democrats became the second opposition party in a week to announce plans to tackle the UK’s burgeoning vacant stock.

  • Power behind the throne

    20/02/2009

    Hank Dittmar tells Philippa Ward why advising Prince Charles on the built environment is the best job in the world

  • Public works

    20/02/2009

    The scale and ambition of Obama’s plans could - and should - be replicated here, says Tony Soares

  • The Welsh revolution

    20/02/2009

    It has taken 20 years but Wales is finally rising up to redraw the housing landscape. Beena Nadeem reports

  • Housing starts fall to new low

    19/02/2009

    Housing starts in the last quarter of 2008 fell to the lowest level since quarterly data was first published in 1980.

  • Lib Dems demand empty homes action

    19/02/2009

    The Liberal Democrats are calling for a repair and renewal loan scheme for empty property owners and a £40 million fund for short-life housing.

  • Galliford Try records £37.5m loss

    19/02/2009

    House builder Galliford Try recorded a £37.5 million loss for the last six months of 2008 as house prices dropped.

  • Provision of sites a homelessness issue

    18/02/2009

    North west England will have to more than double the number of sites it provides for Gypsies and Travellers under a new draft policy for the region.

  • Kerslake backs energy efficiency plans

    18/02/2009

    The head of the government’s housing and regeneration body has said the organisation is well placed to tackle climate change.

  • Falling prices prompt buyer interest

    17/02/2009

    Potential home buyers are being attracted back to the market by falling prices.

  • GHA goes ahead with 400 home build

    17/02/2009

    Glasgow Housing Association has joined forces with developers Cruden Estates to build around 400 new homes.

  • Tories would scrap house building goals

    17/02/2009

    A Conservative government would scrap house building targets, replacing them with a system of incentives.

  • House prices dropped 10 per cent in 2008

    17/02/2009

    House prices fell by 10.2 per cent across the UK during 2008, according to government data.

  • Churches urged to use land for homes

    17/02/2009

    Churches are being urged to work with housing associations to convert their land and property into affordable housing.

  • Housing sector welcomes Tory empty homes plan

    16/02/2009

    Conservative Party plans to use empty homes to ease the shortage of social housing have been welcomed by the sector.

  • House builders warn of 1 million home shortfall

    16/02/2009

    England faces a shortage of more than 1 million homes, house builders have warned.

  • Hastoe to take on work of defunct rural builder

    16/02/2009

    The Rural Housing Trust has struck a deal with Hastoe Housing Association for the landlord to take over most of its development projects.

  • Asking prices rise as agents fight for business

    16/02/2009

    Asking prices for homes rose 1.2 per cent in January as agents fought for business, according to property information company Rightmove.

  • Plans unveiled for scandal-hit Norwich homes

    13/02/2009

    Plans have been unveiled for the Norwich homes at the centre of a row that led to the sacking of a council housing chief.

  • Tory plan would use empty homes for temporary housing

    13/02/2009

    The Conservatives have unveiled a scheme to tackle social housing waiting lists by bringing some of the UK’s estimated 1 million empty homes back into use.

  • Authority to agree £680m cash injection

    13/02/2009

    North Tyneside Council is set to agree a £680 million plan to build new homes and upgrade its existing stock.

  • Back to the future

    13/02/2009

    Experiments in eco-housing are nothing new. Philippa Ward learns the lessons of designs from the 1970s, 80s and 90s

  • Build prices set to fall 10 per cent during two years of deflation

    13/02/2009

    Contractors are slashing the cost of their tenders for housing projects and preparing themselves for up to two years of deflation.

  • Carbon cut petition goes to Number 10

    13/02/2009

    Almost 200 housing associations have petitioned the government over concerns that private developers are shirking environmental standards.

  • Care in the community

    13/02/2009

    With plans for net zero carbon emissions and thousands of metres of solar panelling, Graylingwell has top notch green credentials and a community focus too

  • Councils announce major build plans

    13/02/2009

    Two of England’s largest stock-owning local authorities have set out multimillion pound investment plans to develop new homes.

  • Giant steps

    13/02/2009

    In volunteering for a rigorous test of their eco-credentials, four housing associations towered above the rest. Philippa Ward reports

  • HCA’s private finance pot £2.2bn oversubscribed

    13/02/2009

    Local authorities will struggle to fund major developments because they are demanding £2.2 billion more for housing private finance initiative schemes than the government has made available.

  • Johnson is 12,750 homes shy of target

    13/02/2009

    Boris Johnson’s negotiations to extract affordable housing commitments from every London borough have so far fallen 12,750 homes short of his 50,000 target

  • Man and machine

    13/02/2009

    The architectural model of standard house design is dead - here’s how it can be reborn, says Sir Terry Farrell

  • Net gain

    13/02/2009

    David Moon looks at how online tools and guides can help cut waste to landfill

  • Pulling power

    13/02/2009

    At a time when housing associations are becoming ever more coy in their attempts to avoid having their loans re-priced by lenders (see page 2), an interesting potential new set of suitors is emerging.

  • Survival of the fittest

    13/02/2009

    It is perhaps just as well that contractors are likely to cut their tender prices by up to 10 per cent over the next two years, according to the latest figures from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

  • Tender spot

    13/02/2009

    All details of the evaluation process must be disclosed to bidders under EU rules, explains Susie Smith of Bevan Brittan

  • The hard sell

    13/02/2009

    It’s now or never to attract the elusive billions of pounds managed by institutional investors into the housing market. Martin Hilditch asks whether they’ll go for the HCA’s pitch

  • Up to the challenge

    13/02/2009

    Using super-insulation, a green spine and a waterfront location, the pPod development won the Carbon Challenge bid by pushing sustainable boundaries

  • Would like to meet…

    13/02/2009

    Gordon Brown wants to introduce home and job seekers to councils that can build - a simple rule change would allow the perfect match

  • Yes, in my backyard

    13/02/2009

    Persuade villagers to welcome new affordable homes and their communities will thrive, rural champion Dr Stuart Burgess tells Simon Brandon

  • Construction figures prompt bail out calls

    12/02/2009

    Construction orders have fallen by a quarter over the last year, according to official figures.

  • Ministers accused of wasting housing cash

    12/02/2009

    The Conservatives have attacked the government for not investing enough in social housing.

  • Beckett calls for fresh ideas

    12/02/2009

    The housing minister has praised the way the sector has responded to the recession, and appealed for fresh ideas.

  • Scots raise house building grant rates

    11/02/2009

    Scottish social housing grants are to be increased by £4,000 to £5,000 a home, to keep housing associations building through the recession.

  • Task force unveils building blueprint

    11/02/2009

    An expert report for the Scottish Government has set out a blueprint for helping to stimulate housing supply through the downturn.

  • Olympic site will hold 10,000 homes

    10/02/2009

    Between 10,000 and 12,000 homes will be built on the Olympic Park after the 2012 games.

  • Empty homes soar as recession bites

    10/02/2009

    The recession has led to the largest annual rise in empty homes for 17 years across England.

  • Contractors cut prices as orders fall

    10/02/2009

    Contractors in the construction sector are starting to cut their tender costs as orders dry up.

  • Builders eye up extra care market

    10/02/2009

    Developers are looking to extra care housing as a safer investment in the recession but many lack expertise, a report has warned.

  • Buyer interest fails to revive market

    10/02/2009

    Increasing interest from buyers is failing to translate into increased activity in the housing market.

  • Rok agrees £153m of social housing work

    09/02/2009

    Construction and maintenance company Rok has signed framework agreements worth £153 million in the social housing sector.

  • Targets leave Boris to find 13,000 homes

    09/02/2009

    Conservative London mayor Boris Johnson has agreed affordable housing targets with 14 of the capital’s 33 boroughs. 

  • City seeks partner for 2,500 home scheme

    09/02/2009

    Sheffield City Council is planning to form a local housing company with a private partner in a deal which could see 2,500 homes built in the city over the next 15 years.

  • Olympic stadiums swallow 2012 budget

    06/02/2009

    The stadiums for the 2012 Olympics will swallow £196 million more of the budget for the games than previously anticipated.

  • Welsh authorities get £15m to buy homes

    06/02/2009

    The Welsh Assembly Government has handed out the first £15 million of a £42 million package to fund affordable housing.

  • Brown opens the door for councils

    06/02/2009

    In a last-ditch bid to save the UK from the worst ravages of recession, Gordon Brown has said that nothing will obstruct councils’ efforts to build more homes. Emily Rogers and Crispin Dowler examine the story behind the prime minister’s historic pledge - and its implications

  • Brown to rewrite council rule book

    06/02/2009

    The government is looking to rewrite the rule book for councils who apply for house building cash, after the prime minister pledged to remove all obstacles in their path.

  • Empty Promise gets Tory vote of support

    06/02/2009

    The Conservative Party has thrown its weight behind Inside Housing’s campaign to slash the number of empty homes across Britain.

  • Help is at hand

    06/02/2009

    When the capital is poised to launch an innovative, multi-million pound construction rescue package, it is worth reflecting on another scheme born of very different circumstances – the 1944 Abercrombie Plan for Greater London.

  • Is this the real deal?

    06/02/2009

    With the previously impossible increasingly becoming commonplace (the first black president of the United States; high street banks rescued by taxpayers; much of Britain actually experiencing a proper winter), it is difficult not to be blasé about the astonishing pledge made last week by prime minister Gordon Brown.

  • Just six boroughs agree with Boris

    06/02/2009

    Only six of London’s 33 local authorities have accepted the affordable housing targets proposed to them by mayor Boris Johnson, according to a report by umbrella group London Councils.

  • Shock house price rise bucks trend

    05/02/2009

    House prices made a surprise shift upwards in January, according to figures from mortgage lender Halifax.

  • Social housing work drives down prices at Bellway

    05/02/2009

    House builder Bellway’s increased focus on social housing has contributed to a £14,800 reduction in its average sale price.

  • Communities split by modern homes

    03/02/2009

    Modern building trends are undermining efforts to create integrated communities, an academic has warned.

  • MPs to address green housing issues

    03/02/2009

    A parliamentary group has been formed to push the government on its sustainable housing policy.

  • Optimism as construction index rises

    03/02/2009

    The rate of decline in the construction sector has slowed, according to the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply.

  • Questions raised over council-led building

    03/02/2009

    Questions have been raised about councils’ readiness to build homes after Gordon Brown announced he would ‘put aside anything that stands in their way’.

  • Green watchdog given more freedom

    03/02/2009

    The government’s sustainability watchdog has been given more freedom from Whitehall control.

  • Lenders warn against further rate cuts

    03/02/2009

    Building societies have warned that further cuts in interest rates may limit the availability of mortgages.

  • Economists warn of record house price falls in 2009

    02/02/2009

    This year could see the greatest annual fall in house prices ever recorded, economists have warned.

  • Council plans straw bale social homes

    02/02/2009

    A Lincolnshire council is hoping to increase its supply of affordable homes by building them from straw bales.

  • Advisory body told to improve local planning work

    02/02/2009

    The body that advises the government on the built environment should do more to make its influence felt locally, a review has found.

  • Council-led house building

    30/01/2009

    The Chartered Institute of Housing outlines how the government is planning to encourage councils to build homes, and assesses the likely impact of the measures.

  • Campaigners wary of Brown's building vow

    30/01/2009

    Campaigners have warned that promised investment in council-led house building must not be shackled with unwelcome conditions.

  • ‘Lead developer’ plans flawed

    30/01/2009

    The Scottish Government’s proposals to put most of its housing cash in the hands of a few ‘lead developers’ could create difficulties in financing new homes, lenders have warned.

  • £17m chunk of fast-tracked cash dished out in Scotland

    30/01/2009

    The Scottish Government has announced how it will spend the latest tranche of the £120 million it has promised to pump into the ailing housing market.

  • A return to the boom years?

    30/01/2009

    The government has opened the door for councils to build more, but construction rates are still unlikely to match the post-war era, finds Clara Story

  • Council mulls ‘Bank of Birmingham' to help boost house building

    30/01/2009

    England’s largest council landlord is drawing up plans to launch a bank to help it fund house building.

  • Get with the programme

    30/01/2009

    A dialogue needs to be opened between the private and public sectors to aid regeneration

  • Marsh warns sector to fear the worst

    30/01/2009

    Housing associations’ business plans may be rocked by punishing writedowns and derailed by deflation in the coming year, the regulator has warned.

  • Providers versed to boost builds

    30/01/2009

    The Scottish Federation of Housing Associations has piggy-backed on the country’s campaign to mark the 250th anniversary of the birth of poet Robert Burns.

  • Time to build on the green belt

    30/01/2009

    If we don’t, we are condemning people to a lifetime of poor housing, says Tim Leunig

  • PM vows to clear path for council building

    29/01/2009

    The prime minister has pledged to give councils his full backing if they want to build housing and put aside any obstacles that stand in their way.

  • Welsh government outlines homes plan

    29/01/2009

    A Welsh housing strategy to be launched later today will focus on tackling poverty, improving sustainable development, and making homes affordable.

  • Planning bids in for £1.9bn Barking scheme

    28/01/2009

    Planning applications have gone in for the initial phases of the £1.9 billion redevelopment of Barking Riverside.

  • Trade body calls for green homes boost

    28/01/2009

    The trade body for environmental industries is calling for a £6 billion investment in green social housing.

  • Legal challenge fails to stop eco-towns

    28/01/2009

    Attempts to use a judicial review to derail the government’s eco-towns scheme have failed in the High Court.

  • Boris' strategy splits London planning committee

    27/01/2009

    Boris Johnson’s plan to drop London’s ‘50 per cent affordable’ target for new homes has divided the committee overseeing the mayor’s planning policies.

  • Former CIH president Brian Griffiths dies

    26/01/2009

    Tributes are being paid to former Chartered Institute of Housing president Brian Griffiths, who died last week after a battle with cancer.

  • Solihull gets £9.5 million funding boost

    26/01/2009

    Solihull has received £9.5 million from the Homes and Communities Agency to fund a major housing and regeneration scheme.

  • London build target 'cannot be truly met'

    23/01/2009

    Boris Johnson can only meet his 50,000 affordable homes target by fiddling the figures, his Labour opponents have warned.

  • £25m fund attracts councils

    23/01/2009

    More than half of Scotland’s councils have applied for a share of a £25 million pot designed to encourage them to build again.

  • A digital new deal

    23/01/2009

    I was impressed with the prime minister’s plan, flagged up over Christmas, for a Franklin D Roosevelt-style ‘new deal’ programme of public investment to mitigate the effects of the recession.

  • Across the barricades

    23/01/2009

    In the first of this week’s series focusing on renewal, Caroline Thorpe visits Crumlin Road Gaol in Belfast. Regeneration plans for the site, aiming to create homes and jobs for Catholics and Protestants, can only work if both communities get on side.

  • Banks can’t have their cake and eat it

    23/01/2009

    For housing association bail outs to work, aggressive loan repricing must stop

  • Beckett backs council-led building

    23/01/2009

    The government has opened the way for thousands of new council homes to be built.

  • Hyde bucks trend to secure £65m PFI

    23/01/2009

    Hyde Group has bucked the credit crunch to secure £65 million for one of the only housing private finance initiative deals to close in the past year.

  • It’s a time warp – almost

    23/01/2009

    Barack Obama may have dominated the headlines this week, but it was 30 years ago this spring that another new leader began a premiership that would change the face of this ailing country.

  • RHT to cease building homes

    23/01/2009

    The Rural Housing Trust is to stop building homes and make almost all of its staff redundant after being hit hard by the economic downturn.

  • Salon selective

    23/01/2009

    Few would argue that planning needs a makeover. With applications down and a government committed to reform, now could be the perfect time for planners to work on their new look. Neil Merrick reports

  • Surveyors call for swift return to council-led building

    22/01/2009

    Plans to encourage councils to build social homes must be taken forward quickly, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors has warned.

  • Legal challenge threatens eco town programme

    22/01/2009

    A judicial review that could end the government’s eco towns programme reaches the Royal Courts of Justice today.

  • Gentoo beats private rivals to decent homes contract

    22/01/2009

    The construction arm of housing association Gentoo has been hired to carry out a £27 million refurbishment of Berwick’s former council housing.

  • Pathfinders 'must improve value for money'

    21/01/2009

    Public spending watchdog the Audit Commission is going to get tougher on housing market renewal pathfinders as ‘public resources get tighter’.

  • Councils given freedom to build social homes

    21/01/2009

    The government has unveiled plans for a new generation of council-led affordable home building.

  • Eastern assembly finds space for homes

    20/01/2009

    Large scale growth should be encouraged in Cambridge, Norwich and Chelmsford, a report by the East of England Regional Assembly has recommended.

  • Carbon Challenge plans shown to the public

    20/01/2009

    Plans for a 344 home zero carbon development in Peterborough have been unveiled.

  • Highland Council ditches build plans

    20/01/2009

    Highland Council has abandoned plans to start building council homes again because of a lack of government subsidy.

  • Bank bail out to kick-start lending

    19/01/2009

    Gordon Brown today announced plans to provide government guarantees for mortgage-backed debt, as part of a second bid to bail out the banks and boost lending.

  • Shareholders revolt over house builder bonuses

    19/01/2009

    Shareholders at one of the countries largest house builders have voted against bonuses paid to its top executives.

  • Spelman takes over as communities shadow

    19/01/2009

    Caroline Spelman has replaced Eric Pickles as shadow communities secretary in a reshuffle of the shadow cabinet.

  • Insolvency risk to major house builders

    19/01/2009

    The number of construction firms with ‘critical problems’ jumped by 190 per cent in the last three months of 2008, according to administrators Begbies Traynor.

  • Beckett attacked for recovery claims

    19/01/2009

    The housing minister has come under fire for suggesting housing market recovery may be imminent.

  • Rural developer forced to close

    19/01/2009

    The Rural Housing Trust will stop building homes and make most of its staff redundant after being hit by the economic downturn.

  • Heathrow to cost 70 social homes

    16/01/2009

    The expansion of Heathrow Airport will mean 70 council homes will be demolished and many more affected by noise and disruption.

  • Builders warn of 90,000 redundancies

    16/01/2009

    Up to 90,000 employees of small and medium-sized builders are facing redundancy in the next six months, the Federation of Master Builders has warned.

  • £169m of housing rescue fund unused

    16/01/2009

    The government has spent just £31 million of a £200 million pot set up eight months ago to help housing associations buy up developers’ unsold homes.

  • Brace for impact

    16/01/2009

    For his housing strategy to work, Boris Johnson will need to stand up to his Tory colleagues in the boroughs, writes Jon Cruddas

  • Builders struggling

    16/01/2009

    Leading house builders reported dire trading conditions this week, with one introducing a four-day week to cut costs.

  • Grant rates rise for associations

    16/01/2009

    The Homes and Communities Agency is upping grant rates for social housing schemes threatened by the credit crunch, according to housing associations.

  • HCA chief stresses the rural agenda

    16/01/2009

    Access to housing is the most pressing issue facing rural communities, the chief executive of the Homes and Communities Agency has said.

  • Scottish growing pains

    16/01/2009

    Development must remain sustainable in hard times

  • The pursuit of happiness

    16/01/2009

    The architects at BPTW Partnership are at pains to point out that they are not dedicated followers of fashion.

  • Public housing orders follow private slump

    15/01/2009

    Orders for public and housing association homes dropped sharply at the end of 2008.

  • Businesses predict huge construction decline

    15/01/2009

    The property and construction industry could lose more than 70 per cent of its turnover and profitability by the end of the year, a study by Grant Thornton suggests.

  • HCA seeking new private investment

    14/01/2009

    The Homes and Communities Agency is in talks with institutional investors in an attempt to find new sources of finance for affordable housing.

  • Redrow completions fall by half

    14/01/2009

    House builder Redrow has reported it completed just half the number of homes in the six months to December than it did at the end of 2007.

  • Taylor Wimpey build rates plummet

    14/01/2009

    Taylor Wimpey has become the latest house builder to report a sharp decline in business and an increased reliance on social housing.

  • Scots want £30m to get housing on track

    14/01/2009

    Scottish housing associations are pushing for another £30 million this year to get the stalled affordable housing machine moving again.

  • Home sales fall to record low

    13/01/2009

    House sales have plummeted to the lowest level on record over the last three months, according to the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors.

  • Rok looks to social housing for support

    13/01/2009

    Contractor Rok has said its social housing maintenance work is holding up well, despite tough trading conditions.

  • Slump drives demand for housing services

    12/01/2009

    Nearly half of councils have seen a rise in housing benefit claims since the economic downturn and a quarter have found more homelessness.

  • Credit rating paves way for L&Q developments

    12/01/2009

    London and Quadrant Housing Trust has been awarded a top credit rating for its long term prospects.

  • Galliford Try brings in four day week

    12/01/2009

    Galliford Try has introduced a four day working week across its house building businesses to reduce costs.

  • Scottish affordable homes get extra £10m

    09/01/2009

    The Scottish Government has brought forward another £10 million for affordable housing this year.

  • Bovis redundancies cut staff levels by half

    09/01/2009

    House builder Bovis Homes expects its staff numbers to fall by 60 per cent compared with the start of 2008, a trading statement has revealed.

  • Barratt submits plans for zero carbon scheme

    09/01/2009

    Barratt has submitted plans for one of the biggest ever zero carbon housing schemes in England.

  • Olympic Village homes moving ahead

    09/01/2009

    The latest images released by the Olympic Delivery Authority show work is underway on the first floor of the Olympic Village residential buildings.

  • Cuts affect Calvay scheme

    09/01/2009

    A housing association has claimed it is the first victim of a controversial change in housing development rules by the Scottish Government.

  • Guarantee to buy unsold stock could kick-start stalled industry

    09/01/2009

    Housing associations could be asked to guarantee that they would buy house builders’ unsold stock, under proposals being developed by the Home Builders’ Federation.

  • The golden age is over

    09/01/2009

    The operating context could hardly be worse.

  • Welcome to the revolution

    09/01/2009

    Angela Maye-Banbury visited Shanghai and Beijing to witness housing reform on a grand scale

  • London green homes plan to be scrapped

    08/01/2009

    London’s £7 million green homes programme will be scrapped in its current form, the London Development Agency has said.

  • Builders unimpressed by interest rate cut

    08/01/2009

    House builders today gave a lacklustre response to the Bank of England’s announcement of a further 0.5 per cent interest rate cut.

  • First UK homes meet German eco-standard

    08/01/2009

    Sunderland-based housing association Gentoo is planning to build the first houses in the UK to meet a highly energy efficient German eco-standard.

  • Completions fall by a third at Persimmon

    08/01/2009

    Persimmon built over 5,000 fewer homes in 2008 compared with the previous year, a trading statement from the builder has revealed.

  • Building rates threaten Welsh goals

    08/01/2009

    A massive drop in house construction in Wales is threatening the government’s home building targets.

  • Bovis offloads 379 homes in £18m deal

    07/01/2009

    Housing associations are buying 379 unsold homes from house builder Bovis in an £18 million deal funded by the government.

  • Scottish federation criticised for stance on development

    07/01/2009

    The Scottish Federation of Housing Associations has been attacked for not being critical enough of the Scottish Government’s affordable housing development plans.

  • Taylor Wimpey scraps affordable housing team

    06/01/2009

    Home builder Taylor Wimpey has laid off its entire national affordable housing team, Inside Housing has learned.

  • Nationwide records 15.9 per cent fall in house prices

    06/01/2009

    House prices fell 15.9 per cent in 2008, according to the latest figures from Nationwide.

  • National park body seeks land for homes

    06/01/2009

    Landowners in the Yorkshire Dales National Park are being urged to put forward sites for development to ease a severe affordable housing shortage.

  • Planning shake up to aid rural homes

    05/01/2009

    The government is expected to throw its weight behind calls for a shake up in planning policy to make homes in rural areas more affordable.

  • Housing leads drop in construction work

    05/01/2009

    Activity in the construction industry fell by the sharpest rate ever recorded in December, according to figures.

  • Age-friendly building will be enforced

    05/01/2009

    The government has resisted calls to water down age-friendly housing standards, despite the problems facing the house building industry.

  • Government urged to grab cheap land

    02/01/2009

    The government should take advantage of falling land prices to boost the amount of affordable housing, the Liberal Democrats have said.

  • 2009 Housing Forecast

    02/01/2009

    The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors gives its predictions for the development of the housing market in 2009.

  • Home starts expected to slump as prices fall

    02/01/2009

    Surveyors are predicting fewer than 80,000 new homes will be built in 2009 as prices continue to fall.

  • Corporation chair in New Year Honours List

    02/01/2009

    The former chair of the Housing Corporation has been given a knighthood in the New Year Honours List.

  • Housing market slump to continue in 2009

    23/12/2008

    There will be no let up in the decline in the housing market next year, according to market intelligence agency Hometrack.

  • A year in arrears

    19/12/2008

    This has been the year of the downturn. Just what has the impact been, and what will 2009 hold? Simon Brandon finds out.

  • Beckett warns 2009 will be tough for social landlords

    19/12/2008

    Social landlords should prepare themselves: 2009 is set to be an ‘equally challenging’ year, the housing minister has warned.

  • Fighting on two fronts

    19/12/2008

    Responding to the economic crisis while looking to the future will be worth the hard work

  • Head above water

    19/12/2008

    In her final week as editor of Inside Housing, Kate Murray plots social housing’s course since the mid-1990s and finds that a return to the numbers game has come just at the wrong time.

  • Let’s get radical

    19/12/2008

    There will be many working in social housing who will be only too glad to see the back of 2008.

  • Needs study gets go-ahead

    19/12/2008

    The government has commissioned a new study on housing need that is intended to ‘go beyond’ the estimates in the influential Barker report.

  • Stuck in the middle

    19/12/2008

    Dave and Elisa Hynes own their ex-council home, but are being told to move. Not without a fight, they tell Keith Cooper

  • Connaught picks up social housing work

    17/12/2008

    Maintenance contractor Connaught has picked up £320 million of social housing contracts since 1 September.

  • Eco rules changed to meet carbon goal

    17/12/2008

    Stringent requirements on the energy supply to zero carbon homes are to be relaxed, under government proposals.

  • London ALMO buys in to property market

    17/12/2008

    An arm’s-length management organisation in London is to become the first to buy homes.

  • Planning investment has limited effect

    17/12/2008

    Attempts to speed up planning applications for large housing developments have met with limited success, a study has found.

  • Government rethinks ownership demand

    16/12/2008

    The government has commissioned a major study of housing need to determine whether people want to rent, buy, or are interested in shared ownership.

  • Beckett unveils £400m plan to get first-time buyers back

    15/12/2008

    The government has beefed up its drive to get first-time buyers back into the market with an extra £100 million.

  • Backbenchers demand council-led building

    15/12/2008

    Backbench Labour MPs are pressing housing minister Margaret Beckett to accelerate the review of the housing finance system to help councils build again.

  • Boris makes Parker Morris stance clear

    12/12/2008

    London mayor Boris Johnson backed away from imposing minimum space standards on private house builders because advisers warned him against the move, he revealed this week.

  • On special offer

    12/12/2008

    Neil Merrick tracks the progress of the government’s £200 million scheme to encourage social landlords to snap up private developers’ unsold homes

  • Sink or swim

    12/12/2008

    A recession might bring about a change as fundamental to social housing as the right to buy, argues Mark Lupton

  • The bottom line

    12/12/2008

    It’s time for Alistair Darling to take his head out of the sand, says Bill Randall

  • Build targets must take migration into account

    11/12/2008

    The government should rethink its housing targets to take into account a likely fall-off in European migration, a leading housing academic has said.

  • Growth areas get £605m to deliver homes

    10/12/2008

    Local authorities that have agreed to increase housing supply in their areas been allocated £605 million to deliver more than 380,000 homes in two years.

  • Housing and the credit crunch

    10/12/2008

    The group of MPs that scrutinises the work of the Communities and Local Government department has been examining the impact of the credit crunch on housing. Here the Chartered Institute of Housing gives its views on the subject.

  • Pre-Budget report

    10/12/2008

    A Chartered Institute of Housing briefing on the pre-Budget report 2008.

  • Elite group set to lead the way

    09/12/2008

    The Scottish Government has pressed ahead with a controversial plan to hand most of its housing cash to a small number of housing associations.

  • Cash injection for London regeneration schemes

    09/12/2008

    The London mayor is putting £77 million towards kick-starting stalled regeneration schemes as part of a £133 million housing package.

  • Tories set up rival community land group

    09/12/2008

    The Conservatives have launched a taskforce to increase community ownership of land for house building, just months after the government begun its own consultation.

  • HCA deputy says recession has arrived

    08/12/2008

    The UK is already in recession and the housing sector needs to react, according to the deputy chief executive of the Homes and Communities Agency.

  • Berkeley sales halve as demand falls

    08/12/2008

    Regeneration and building firm Berkeley has reported its sales are down 55 per cent for the six months to 31 October.

  • Rate cuts fail to revive housing market

    05/12/2008

    Government efforts to resolve the financial crisis have done little to improve the ‘extremely testing’ housing market, home builder Bellway has reported.

  • Affordable homes in Wales get £54m boost

    05/12/2008

    The Welsh government has put another £12 million into affordable housing just days after announcing a £42 million boost.

  • A green fix

    05/12/2008

    When times are tight, high-density housing offers efficiencies for less, says Aurore Julien

  • Answer to the supply crisis is lying empty

    05/12/2008

    The box of financial tricks opened in last week’s pre-Budget report was welcomed by most in the housing world.

  • Boris needs help with site identification

    05/12/2008

    London mayor Boris Johnson has called on developers and landowners to help him pinpoint potential housing development sites in the capital.

  • Calls to overhaul ‘punitive’ grant

    05/12/2008

    The government is facing growing calls to overhaul its new housing and planning delivery grant system, which critics accuse of punishing councils during the property slump.

  • Crossing the line

    05/12/2008

    Existing social housing estates can be transformed into pioneering model developments, writes Terry Farrell

  • Firms reluctant to invest in eco-energy

    05/12/2008

    One of the UK’s largest regeneration projects will struggle to meet government eco-homes targets because of the credit crunch.

  • Help for developers has strings attached

    05/12/2008

    Government help for housing providers will be reserved for those which pledge to build through the economic downturn, a senior government official has said.

  • Renewed efforts

    05/12/2008

    Chancellor Alistair Darling’s pre-Budget announcement that £775 million will be spent on housing and regeneration over the next 18 months came at just the right time, and is most certainly welcome - but the real work has only just begun.

  • Retrofit and replicate

    05/12/2008

    Done up to the highest environmental standards, a 1930s terraced house in south London is blazing the trail for eco-refurbishment.

  • Single eco-town judged to be suitable

    05/12/2008

    Only one of the proposed eco-towns is in an entirely suitable location, according to the government.

  • The green green roofs of home

    05/12/2008

    Look up to find a route to better sustainability, says Ian Moores

  • The time is now

    05/12/2008

    In times of difficulty, there are opportunities as well as challenges. The world in which the government conceived its housing targets is very different from the situation now. But necessity is often the mother of invention.

  • Triple whammy

    05/12/2008

    If everyone in the world lived as we do in the UK, we would need three planets to support us. Sue Riddlestone looks at how eco-towns can help us achieve one-planet living.

  • Winning designs for flood zones

    05/12/2008

    The future of building in flood zones has been set out, as imagined by the winners of a competition run by the Royal Institute of British Architects.

  • Welsh find £42m to deliver 500 homes

    03/12/2008

    The Welsh government is giving £42 million to local authorities to boost affordable housing.

  • Social housing helps Telford Homes profits

    02/12/2008

    East London-based developer Telford Homes has reported increasing profits despite the economic slowdown.

  • HCA sets out aims for £18bn spend

    02/12/2008

    The government’s new housing body has made responding to market conditions one of the priorities for its £18 billion budget.

  • New agencies will face 'huge challenges'

    01/12/2008

    The two new agencies charged with spending housing cash and keeping tabs on landlords face ‘huge challenges’, a senior government official has said.

  • Agencies will not be government lapdogs

    28/11/2008

    The new social housing regulator and investor vowed the agencies would avoid becoming tools to ‘enforce the will of government’, as they prepared to open their doors for business.

  • Boris reveals his plans to thaw frozen market

    28/11/2008

    Boris Johnson has unveiled plans to use London’s £5 billion housing budget to ‘kick-start’ the market and boost affordable homeownership by a third.

  • Difficult times for infant agencies

    28/11/2008

    If you were planning to reinvent social housing, you wouldn’t start from here. Launching two new agencies to fund and regulate social housing looks a much riskier proposition in these turbulent times than it did just a year ago.

  • Don’t look back in anger

    28/11/2008

    After 44 years, the Housing Corporation closes its doors for the final time today. Neil Merrick reviews the agency’s highs and lows

  • Fixer upper

    28/11/2008

    Development has, until recently, been the glamorous side of the social housing business.

  • Flexible spending to beat the bite

    28/11/2008

    Glasgow Council has pledged to be more flexible in the way it spends its social housing cash, in an attempt to combat the credit crunch.

  • Landing a winner

    28/11/2008

    When the HCA and TSA open for business next week the social housing landscape will begin to appear very different. Simon Brandon asks those with a vested interest what success - and failure - might look like for the two agencies.

  • Millions pledged to lift the gloom

    28/11/2008

    Alistair Darling is to bring forward another £775 million for housing and regeneration, as part of a £20 billion spending spree to offset the shocks of recession.

  • On your marks

    28/11/2008

    The Homes and Communities Agency and the Tenant Services Authority offer a chance for change. Let’s run with it

  • Prime minister’s build target a ‘pipe dream’

    28/11/2008

    House building rates have almost halved over the past year, pushing them down to their lowest level for three decades, government figures reveal.

  • The big ask

    28/11/2008

    We are entering a new era for social housing. To mark the launch of the two new agencies for regulation and investment, Inside Housing invited readers to quiz the men in charge.

  • Window of opportunity

    28/11/2008

    Grant Shapps is willing to give the new guard a chance. But under a Tory government he wouldn’t be afraid to shake things up

  • Builders reassured after government briefing

    27/11/2008

    Representatives of the house building industry have said they are confident of political support following a meeting with the prime minister.

  • Grainger suffers £112m loss as prices slump

    27/11/2008

    Residential landlord Grainger has reported a £112 million pre-tax loss for the year ending 30 September.

  • Direct development 'if things get sticky'

    27/11/2008

    The Homes and Communities Agency may set itself up as a direct developer of new housing if the home building slowdown worsens next year.

  • Old-fashioned views hold back eco homes

    26/11/2008

    Moving towards sustainable energy in homes is being hampered by old-fashioned thinking, a government think tank has said.

  • Home starts fall to all time low

    25/11/2008

    The number of new homes completed this year will hit an all time low, builders are predicting.

  • Number crunching

    25/11/2008

    Chancellor Alistair Darling is betting £20 billion that he can spend his way through the worst of the economic downturn. Here is our quick guide to the proposals.

  • Darling funds cash injection for social homes

    24/11/2008

    Chancellor Alistair Darling has announced plans to bring forward another £775 million to spend on social housing, to stimulate the shrinking economy.

  • Money is 'drop in the ocean'

    24/11/2008

    Consultants have warned that the chancellor’s promised investment in social housing is a ‘drop in the ocean’ compared with need.

  • Downturn fails to cut land prices

    24/11/2008

    Social housing providers in the north need better strategies to buy land as prices remain high, an umbrella body has claimed.

  • Welsh house building goals under threat

    24/11/2008

    A key election promise to build 6,500 more affordable homes in Wales by 2011 could be in jeopardy, a study has found.

  • Town plans delayed by economic woes

    24/11/2008

    The credit crunch has delayed the start of work on a new town in Cambridgeshire by a year.

  • New leaders vow to work together

    21/11/2008

    The chief executives who will take charge of funding and regulating England’s housing have vowed to work closely together to beat the economic downturn.

  • Critics slam home ownership plans

    21/11/2008

    Opponents of London mayor Boris Johnson have criticized his housing plans for promoting home ownership over social renting.

  • Fair trade

    21/11/2008

    Tenure make-up must be handled with care, says Ruth Armstrong of HBJ Gateley Wareing

  • HCA chief aims to beat 'perfect storm'

    21/11/2008

    Sir Bob Kerslake has outlined his strategy to beat the credit crunch, as England’s outgoing head of social housing investment warned housing associations were facing a ‘perfect storm’.

  • Landlords in hardest pressed areas snap up just 18 unsold homes

    21/11/2008

    Social landloards in the 20 areas with the longest social housing waiting lists bought just 18 homes between them through the government’s £200 million rescue package.

  • Northern promise

    21/11/2008

    The theme for our northern housing summit this week was ‘global issues, local context’ - challenging us to see the bigger picture.

  • Waste not, want not

    21/11/2008

    Among all the talk of falling house building rates, another threat to housing supply is rearing its head again - vacancies.

  • Dive in build figures piles pressure on Brown

    20/11/2008

    The government has come under renewed pressure to take radical action to revive house building in next week’s pre-budget report.

  • Boris takes hammer to housing market

    20/11/2008

    Mayor Boris Johnson today unveiled his strategy for spending London’s £5 billion housing budget and delivering 50,000 affordable homes by 2011.

  • Boris needs 'radical action' to hit goal

    19/11/2008

    A London Assembly committee has warned the mayor he must take radical action to reach his affordable homes target.

  • Glasgow aims to kick start home building

    19/11/2008

    Glasgow Council has pledged to allocate grants for social housing more flexibly, as part of a set of credit crunch-busting measures announced this week.

  • Douglas: don't risk '2020 sink estates'

    18/11/2008

    The outgoing head of the Housing Corporation has used his final speech to urge developers to focus on quality.

  • Councils urged to support developers

    17/11/2008

    Local authorities should invest in infrastructure to revitalise flagging housing markets, a study has found.

  • Welsh put £80m into green homes

    17/11/2008

    The Welsh government is spending £80 million on 22 pilot sustainable housing schemes.

  • Empty gesture

    17/11/2008

    The revelation that there are £640 million worth of unsold low-cost home ownership homes standing empty might make you question encouraging more shared ownership. 

  • Manifesto sets direction for north east

    17/11/2008

    Housing providers in the north east should prioritise regeneration, and improve support services for the area’s high proportion of elderly and deprived residents, according to a manifesto for the region.

  • Eastern plans in motion

    14/11/2008

    Developers in the east of England have come up with plans to build more than 200,000 homes.

  • Make this a problem shared

    14/11/2008

    In troubled times, the tendency is to turn inwards. But in this housing downturn, thoughts are rightly turning to abroad and to how other countries are attempting to get their flagging housing markets back on track.

  • Mayor will not insist on social homes

    14/11/2008

    London councils will not have to deliver new social housing to meet the affordable housing targets they are negotiating with mayor Boris Johnson, a key aide has said.

  • Surplus spending

    14/11/2008

    Local housing companies are being launched at an uncertain time, reports Martin Cannon of Beachcroft

  • The American dream

    14/11/2008

    When Simon Randall and Neville Pressley hit the Obama campaign trail they witnessed a nation’s housing in distress. But they also found hope for a better future.

  • The eco-achievers

    14/11/2008

    From water butt enthusiasts to wild flower growers, meet the winners of Inside Housing’s first sustainable housing awards

  • Thousands of new homes stand empty

    14/11/2008

    Thousands of homes built by housing associations to help people on to the property ladder have lain unsold for more than six months, figures obtained by Inside Housing reveal.

  • Minister promises infrastructure levy concessions

    13/11/2008

    Affordable housing providers will pay a ‘significantly reduced’ rate of the community infrastructure levy, junior housing minister Baroness Andrews has promised.

  • Fighting the crunch

    13/11/2008

    Working together is helping councils keep their affordable housing developments on track. Sarah Richards, from local government best practice body IDeA, explains how.

  • Taylor Wimpey orders down 40 per cent

    11/11/2008

    House builder Taylor Wimpey has reported demand for its homes has fallen by 40 per cent in the last year.

  • Regeneration pathfinders face tough times

    11/11/2008

    Organisations created to tackle hous­ing market failure in the north and midlands must change their regener­ation plans because of the economic downturn, the Audit Commission has warned.

  • Slowdown hits planning authority grants

    10/11/2008

    Nearly half of England’s 397 planning authorities have not won any cash reward for housing growth from the government’s new housing and planning delivery grant.

  • Kier redesignates land as private sales slump

    10/11/2008

    House builder Kier is planning to use land earmarked for private homes for social housing.

  • Minister denies lack of commitment to building

    07/11/2008

    Housing minister Margaret Beckett has denied backing away from the government’s commitment to build 3 million new homes by 2020 by replacing the word ‘target’ with ‘ambition’.

  • Planning Bill changes calm fears

    07/11/2008

    Developers have been reassured by a set of changes to the Planning Bill which remove a widely contested link between a new infrastructure charge and land value hikes.

  • Galliford Try says market has stalled

    07/11/2008

    A leading house builder has said the market for affordable housing has ‘paused’.

  • Back to basics

    07/11/2008

    The first large-scale council building projects in 30 years are forcing authorities to relearn old skills, writes Alex Klaushofer

  • Crunch could raise design standards

    07/11/2008

    The credit crunch could be good for the built environment by halting badly designed and inadequate buildings, according to the chief executive of English Heritage.

  • Estates to be rent-only

    07/11/2008

    England’s next generation of housing estates are set to start life made up entirely of rented homes.

  • More than words

    07/11/2008

    Another week, another new definition of a target. Hot on the heels of last week’s claim by English housing minister Margaret Beckett that the government’s 3 million homes commitment was an ‘ambition’, Scottish communities minister Stewart Maxwell tells Inside Housing that his country’s housing target should be regarded as a ‘motivational tool’.

  • Scottish 35,000 homes goal a ‘motivational tool’, says minister

    07/11/2008

    Scotland’s target of building 35,000 homes a year by the middle of the next decade should be seen as a ‘motivational tool’, the country’s communities minister has said.

  • Corporation advises successor to grab cheap land

    06/11/2008

    The Homes and Communities Agency should use the coming recession to snap up cheap land in areas with high housing demand, according to the Housing Corporation.

  • Design plan to make estates safer

    05/11/2008

    A forensic psychologist is to work out ways to make housing estates safer places to live by improving the design of homes, as part of a £1.6 million government funded programme.

  • Rok to reduce workforce by 15 per cent

    05/11/2008

    Building and maintenance company Rok is cutting its workforce by a further 15 per cent as market conditions continue to deteriorate.

  • House builders demand rate cut

    04/11/2008

    House builders are calling for the Bank of England to cut interest rates by 1 per cent to revive the housing market.

  • CLG finds only one eco-town is 'suitable'

    04/11/2008

    Only one of the 12 shortlisted bids to build eco-towns is ‘generally suitable’ for the flagship government programme, according to the Communities and Local Government department.

  • Seaside towns lack social housing

    04/11/2008

    Seaside towns have a low share of households in social housing and high levels of private renting, a report shows.

  • Affordable homes feature in Trump plan

    04/11/2008

    A controversial Scottish development planned by billionaire American businessman Donald Trump is to include low-cost housing.

  • Enquiry hears calls for funding rethink

    03/11/2008

    Housing associations and lenders are using a parliamentary enquiry to urge the government to re-write its system for funding social housing.

  • Campaigners demand green belt protection

    03/11/2008

    A swathe of countryside the size of Birmingham will be lost over the next 12 years in England if the government continues to impose its ‘top-down’ policies on regions, an environmental group has claimed.

  • Development warning for garden towns

    03/11/2008

    Garden suburbs and cities must be protected from excessive development, the Town and Country Planning Association has warned.

  • Call for urgent rethink of new homes target to protect greenfield

    03/11/2008

    MPs have told the government it should ‘urgently review’ its target of 3 million new homes by 2020 to protect greenfield sites in light of the falling housing market.

  • London's affordable housing goals

    31/10/2008

    Last week each borough council in London received a letter telling it how many affordable homes mayor Boris Johnson wants it to deliver by 2011.

  • ‘In turbulent times, it is a brave person who buys a house’

    31/10/2008

    With the housing market taking a pounding, shared ownership has become a tricky subject for housing associations.

  • Build target ‘not a target’

    31/10/2008

    Housing minister Margaret Beckett has backed away from the government’s commitment to build 3 million new homes by 2020 by insisting it was never a target.

  • Caught in the storm

    31/10/2008

    It’s tough out there for developing housing associations. How are they faring, asks Emily Twinch

  • Crisis management

    31/10/2008

    Faced with a collapsing market, home builders have been forced to adopt a defensive posture, says Neil Merrick

  • Cruddas to join pressure group

    31/10/2008

    A campaigning MP who had discussions about becoming housing minister is to join forces with a working group to thrash out his ideas for tackling the housing crisis.

  • Mayor’s affordable homes plan revealed

    31/10/2008

    A quarter of London’s boroughs would have to deliver more than half of the 50,000 affordable homes Boris Johnson has promised by 2011, if the mayor’s proposals are accepted.

  • Minister seeks to fast-track mortgage rescue

    31/10/2008

    Housing minister Margaret Beckett has urged officials to speed up delivery of a promised ‘mortgage rescue’ programme to bail out homeowners facing repossession.

  • Moving targets

    31/10/2008

    Builders with strong links to social housing are proving more adept at handling the credit crunch than their rivals, discovers Simon Brandon

  • National Trust steps up its greenfield fight

    31/10/2008

    The National Trust is set to strengthen its stance against the government’s house building plans.

  • Region acts to tackle the downturn

    31/10/2008

    The Yorkshire and Humber Assembly’s regional housing board has agreed to pay for a strategic ‘action plan’ to tackle the downturn in the housing market.

  • Renaissance man

    31/10/2008

    How can a volume house builder survive the downturn? Keith Cooper met Galliford Try’s Stephen Teagle to find out.

  • The show must go on

    31/10/2008

    In the second part of our series examining the effects of the credit crunch, Simon Brandon continues his look at the prospects for flagship projects

  • U-turn on sales points the way to a return to rent

    31/10/2008

    Like an articulated lorry stuck in a cul-de-sac, housing associations are facing up to a difficult change of direction.

  • What a difference a month makes

    31/10/2008

    Choosing your language carefully is a key political skill. It’s a technique which housing minister Margaret Beckett deployed artfully this week by describing her government’s pledge to build 3 million homes as ‘an ambition’ rather than a target.

  • Builders rated for sustainable development

    30/10/2008

    Home builders are stepping up to the challenge of addressing climate change set by the government, according to an assessment.

  • Tenant empowerment

    29/10/2008

    A New Local Government Network paper outlining how the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 can help empower tenants.

  • Planning reforms to speed up home building

    29/10/2008

    The Scottish Government has overhauled the country’s planning system to make it quicker and simpler.

  • Three million homes is an 'ambition' not a target

    28/10/2008

    Gordon Brown’s pledge to build 3 million new homes by 2020 is an ‘ambition’ not a ‘target’, his new housing minister insisted last night.

  • In the running?

    27/10/2008

    With 12 eco-town proposals still on the table we examine which may make the final cut, when the latest government consultation ends.

  • CLG claims eco-towns are on track

    27/10/2008

    The Communities and Local Government department has insisted its eco-town plans are making progress despite economic pressures.

  • House building figures fall by half

    24/10/2008

    House builders are applying to construct fewer than half the homes they were planning to a year ago.

  • Blown off course

    24/10/2008

    The financial crisis has accelerated fast. In the first of a two-part series examining its effect on the government’s flagship housing policies, Simon Brandon takes a look at the damage so far

  • Darling keeps the show on the road

    24/10/2008

    A Treasury plan to accelerate social housing spending would revive development and ‘keep the show on the road’, the man tasked with managing the budget has said.

  • Dialogue must translate into action

    24/10/2008

    By pledging to spend public money where it will make a difference, Alistair Darling has offered a glimmer of hope to social landlords wondering how they’re ever going to build homes on the scale we need.

  • Go-ahead to slash affordable quota on flagship scheme

    24/10/2008

    Southwark Council has allowed a developer to slash the proportion of affordable housing on a major development on condition it starts work on the site within nine months.

  • Market rescue deal ‘a fudge’

    24/10/2008

    The housing market rescue package unveiled by the government last month was counter-productive ‘tokenism’ that damaged buyer confidence, according to a new survey of major home builders.

  • No reason to be cheerful

    24/10/2008

    How interesting that our new housing minister chose to make her first speech to the Home Builders’ Federation.

  • Boris bins Ken's affordable housing goals

    23/10/2008

    Boris Johnson has put into action his pledge to scrap previous mayor Ken Livingstone’s affordable housing target.

  • Housing market package could fund development

    20/10/2008

    Funding designed to shift developers’ unsold stock to housing associations could result in further construction, it has emerged.

  • Napier recommends 'extreme bottom fishing'

    20/10/2008

    The incoming chair of the Homes and Communities Agency has insisted there are still opportunties for development despite the economic gloom.

  • Heading into the future

    17/10/2008

    The board members of the government’s new housing and regeneration agency, and its regulatory counterpart, will set the direction of travel for the sector.

  • HCA and TSA board members named

    17/10/2008

    Experts who will lead the most influential bodies in social housing have been appointed to the boards of the government’s new social housing watchdog and regeneration agencies.

  • A new deal

    17/10/2008

    Fresh ways to boost affordability are needed across Europe

  • Crisis has caught us all out

    17/10/2008

    There’s never been a time like it in social housing. It’s not just the unprecedented economic turmoil and its knock-on effects on social landlords’ businesses.

  • Downturn will give public sector the chance to shine

    17/10/2008

    The economic crisis will give the public sector the chance to take the lead in improving poor quality post-war estates, a leading architect has said.

  • Growing pains

    17/10/2008

    As urban neighbourhoods grow we must be careful not to leave pockets of disconnected deprivation, warns Terry Farrell

  • Olympic Village landlord in cost-cutting drive

    17/10/2008

    The housing association involved in building the London Olympic Village has shed scores of jobs in a bid to reduce its reliance on property sales.

  • Pathfinders to slash targets

    17/10/2008

    The organisations set up to fix the failing housing markets are being forced to slash their house building goals following the downturn in the economy.

  • Safe as houses

    17/10/2008

    Landlords can soothe their residents’ perceptions of high crime risk by making neighbourhoods safer in reality, says Caroline Thorpe

  • Security forces

    17/10/2008

    Designing out crime doesn’t have to mean fortifying a community, good layout and shared facilities are just as important. Clara Story reports.

  • Winning housing scheme is a joy

    17/10/2008

    The prestigious Royal Institute of British Architects’ Stirling prize has been won by a housing scheme for the first time.

  • Beckett promises to help revive market

    15/10/2008

    New housing minister Margaret Beckett used her first speech in the job to promise house builders she is ‘willing to listen’ to the industry’s problems.

  • Land write down hits Bellway profits

    14/10/2008

    Home building giant Bellway has revealed a £130.9 million write down on its land investments and unsold properties.

  • Welsh councils demand fresh powers

    14/10/2008

    Local authority leaders across Wales have asked ministers to give them the same powers as English councils to tackle the worsening housing crisis.

  • London build targets threatened by 'tsunami'

    13/10/2008

    Experts have warned the London Assembly that the mayor’s target to build 50,000 affordable homes in the capital by 2011 is unachievable.

  • High house prices hinder innovation

    13/10/2008

    Cities that want to help innovative industries must address the supply of affordable housing, researchers have warned.

  • An ‘old-fashioned and dunderheaded’ approach

    10/10/2008

    It took longer to make than all three Lord of the Rings films put together, numbers almost 350 pages and if the Conservative Party was ever elected it would be binned.

  • Battered accounts reveal extent of downturn damage

    10/10/2008

    The housing association financial reporting season has revealed plummeting profits and eye-watering writedowns among some of England’s largest social housing developers.

  • Boris ‘more focused’ on building affordable homes than Ken

    10/10/2008

    London mayor Boris Johnson’s plan for getting boroughs to build affordable housing is in some ways more ‘focused and aggressive’ than Ken Livingstone’s, a City Hall chief has claimed.

  • Call for cash boost to fund land grab

    10/10/2008

    The chair of English Partnerships has called for an urgent cash injection from the government to help it snap up land during the credit crunch.

  • Collective vision

    10/10/2008

    The success of eco-towns will depend on meaningful resident engagement - from concept to reality, says Chris Ames

  • Hit the ground running

    10/10/2008

    Margaret Beckett has held just about every job going in government since she first served as a minister in the 70s.

  • Important Park Hill a historic high

    10/10/2008

    English Heritage has named the redevelopment of the iconic Park Hill estate in Sheffield as one of the 20 best development schemes in historic places.

  • Lenders voice Scottish spending spree fears

    10/10/2008

    Lenders’ tightening purse strings are likely to damage the Scottish Government’s plan to fund a £100 million housing association spending spree.

  • Prime minister plays it safe

    10/10/2008

    Experienced ‘big-hitter’ Margaret Beckett has been appointed as housing minister after Gordon Brown failed to reach agreement with a leftwing candidate for the job.

  • The go-between

    10/10/2008

    Adjudication can be a quicker and less hostile way to resolve disputes

  • We can fix it

    10/10/2008

    The Tory’s review of social housing aims to make the system fit for purpose

  • Rural housing group wins HCA role

    09/10/2008

    Rural housing issues are to gain greater priority under the Homes and Communities Agency.

  • Mayor told to impose space standards

    09/10/2008

    London mayor Boris Johnson should abolish ‘super-density’ housing developments and impose minimum space standards for all new homes, an influential planning charity has said.

  • Rural homes face 'staircasing' ban

    08/10/2008

    The government is considering how to introduce powers to ensure shared ownership homes in the countryside stay affordable.

  • Amendment seeks security for planning deals

    08/10/2008

    The National Housing Federation is teaming up with Shelter to table an amendment to the Planning Bill, in an attempt to safeguard affordable housing contributions from developers.

  • Cash injection for Scottish developments

    07/10/2008

    The Scottish Government has announced how it plans to spend the first £9 million slice of its £100 million housing market rescue package.

  • Northern Irish associations urged to join forces

    07/10/2008

    Housing associations in Northern Ireland have been urged to band together on development projects so they can build more homes.

  • Economic leaders should have housing goals

    07/10/2008

    Umbrella groups are calling for regional development agencies to be given specific objectives on housing, in response to a parliamentary review.

  • Opik steps down from housing role

    07/10/2008

    Sarah Teather is to speak for the Liberal Democrats on housing issues, after Lembit Opik stepped down from the role to focus on his bid to be party president.

  • Public housing work hits six year low

    06/10/2008

    The amount of work available in public housing has fallen for the first time in six years, according to surveyors.

  • Alarm at growth in rural waiting lists

    03/10/2008

    An average of almost 15,000 people are joining housing waiting lists in rural areas every month, the National Housing Federation has warned.

  • Down to earth

    03/10/2008

    Philippa Ward previews the best sustainable builds, starting with an earth-sheltered development designed to break new ground

  • Eco-town criteria unveiled

    03/10/2008

    The government’s design advisory body has come up with its own definition of an eco-town.

  • Fears aid will bypass rural areas

    03/10/2008

    The government has been warned that its mortgage rescue package must be targeted at rural communities as well as urban areas.

  • Housing boost for north west

    03/10/2008

    A new regional strategy for the north west of England has set out a plan to build more than 400,000 houses by 2021.

  • Watchdog’s GB-wide gas safety warning

    03/10/2008

    Developers, landlords and residents across Britain have been warned to check the safety of their homes, following the death of a woman from suspected carbon monoxide poisoning.

  • Zero carbon site developers sign up

    03/10/2008

    A development group has been chosen for the second Carbon Challenge site in Peterborough.

  • Builders urge Flint to delay development tax

    01/10/2008

    The House Builders’ Association is pressing for an urgent review of the costs faced by small and medium-sized developers.

  • Housing goals will be ditched

    01/10/2008

    The Conservative’s would scrap house building targets, decimate the government’s collection of regional quangos and make those left more accountable to town halls, the party’s shadow communities secretary has warned.

  • Market uncertainty halts land sell-offs

    01/10/2008

    Birmingham ends sales programme intended to plug hole in decent homes budget

  • Raynsford's warning to HCA

    24/09/2008

    The Homes and Communities agency should ‘look again’ at housing associations’ business model because of their over-dependence on the tanking property market, former housing minister Nick Raynsford has warned.

  • Development goals require 'radical change'

    22/09/2008

    The head of the new Homes and Communities Agency has admitted the government’s target to build 3 million homes by 2020 could be doomed unless the housing sector ‘thinks more creatively’.

  • Welsh associations get freedom to borrow

    22/09/2008

    Housing associations in Wales are to be given more freedom to deliver affordable housing, deputy housing minister Jocelyn Davies has announced.

  • Social house building bucks market trend

    22/09/2008

    Applications to build social homes are rising, despite massive falls in the private housing market.

  • A hard bargin

    19/09/2008

    For someone like me, who was closely involved in commenting on the last housing market boom/bust, the sense of déjà vu today is overwhelming.

  • A tale of two chiefs

    19/09/2008

    As housing assocation execs’ pay tops £300,000 for the first time, how does the working life of one of the top earners compare with that of one at the lower end of the scale?

  • Amid the gloom, salaries soar

    19/09/2008

    The credit crunch may have dampened economic growth, but so far it has failed to arrest the growth of housing association bosses’ pay packets.

  • British Council makes small gesture in Venice

    19/09/2008

    Britain has the smallest average room sizes in Europe, the British Council warned last week.

  • Builders call for direct help

    19/09/2008

    Home builders want the government to give them more direct help to build through the downturn – instead of offering incentives via housing asso­ciations and councils, new research has found.

  • Callcutt tells architects to speak up or lose out

    19/09/2008

    Architects should concentrate on pressing the government to improve new housing design instead of obsess­ing over grand projects and TV appearances, a former government advisor has urged.

  • 'Extraordinary'

    19/09/2008

    To launch Inside Housing’s special focus on the built environment, we ask the experts to pick their favourite affordable schemes

  • In limbo

    19/09/2008

    As the credit crunch takes hold, builders are packing up their tools and residents are left living among half-finished developments.

  • Nooks and crannies

    19/09/2008

    With development land still at a premium, homes are being shoehorned onto sites of all shapes and sizes. Kath Grant reports on the art of building between the gaps.

  • Party moots £90 billion splurge for authorities

    19/09/2008

    Senior Liberal Democrats are calling for councils to go on a £90 billion spending spree with borrowed cash to boost their housing stock.

  • Time to rein in the rises

    19/09/2008

    There might be more than a few newly unemployed bankers and private developers casting envious glances at the housing association sector this week.

  • Kier house sales fall by a third

    18/09/2008

    Builder Kier has reported a 35 per cent fall in its house sales in the second half of its trading year.

  • Brown blamed for eco town woes

    17/09/2008

    The government’s handling of its eco-town plans was described this week as ‘catastrophic’.

  • Eco town advert misled the public

    17/09/2008

    The Communities and Local Government department has admitted publishing an inaccurate advert which extolled the virtues of one of its eco towns.

  • Lib Dems to block eco towns

    16/09/2008

    The Liberal Democrats have agreed to oppose the government’s eco-town plans.

  • Eco town plans face legal battle

    12/09/2008

    A legal challenge to the government’s eco towns programme has been given the go ahead.

  • Brown’s plans lay foundations but will not finish job

    12/09/2008

    When Gordon Brown unveiled his housing market crisis plan last week, he created a rare moment of unity in the housing world.

  • Model is broken say mega-associations

    12/09/2008

    UK housing policy is ‘broken’ and will not deliver the number of social homes the government wants, some of the country’s most powerful housing associations have warned.

  • Round two

    12/09/2008

    Anthony Mayer, chair of the new regulator, returns to housing determined to shake things up and, he tells Caroline Thorpe, with some unfinished business to resolve

  • The good old days are over

    12/09/2008

    With a target of 3 million new homes by 2020 and a housing market in paralysis, last week’s government announcements are good news.

  • Builder doubles affordable housing profits

    11/09/2008

    Galliford Try more than doubled its profits from affordable housing and regeneration in the year to 30 June, it reported today.

  • Labour review advocates key role for councils

    11/09/2008

    Councils should be placed ‘centre stage’ in the government’s effort to complete its decent homes programme, a senior Labour Party figure has urged.

  • Social housing props up Barratt sales

    10/09/2008

    Social housing is making up an increasing proportion of sales for house builder Barratt, as the overall market falls.

  • Offsite power generation would save £30bn

    09/09/2008

    Housing developers could save more than £30 billion if they are allowed to meet their 2016 carbon emissions targets with ‘offsite’ renewable energy, new research has found.

  • Redrow calls for support as market collapses

    09/09/2008

    House builder Redrow has urged the government to take further action to prop up the housing market, as its profits slumped.

  • Who’s who at HCA

    05/09/2008

    The nine regional directors of the Homes and Communities Agency have been announced. Who’s in charge in your area?

  • Agency's regional power nine revealed

    05/09/2008

    The nine power players who will help decide where the Homes and Communities Agency spends its multibillion pound budget were unveiled this week.

  • Because we're worth it

    05/09/2008

    This year sees the 20th anniversary of the creation of the first stock transfer housing association, Chiltern Hundreds, which is now part of the Paradigm Group.

  • Fierce determination

    05/09/2008

    Margaret Ritchie tells Caroline Thorpe why sectarianism and the credit crunch won’t stop her from revitalising Northern Ireland’s social housing sector

  • Saving phase

    05/09/2008

    With house building stagnant, what measures can be taken to ensure that deals are done?

  • The unusual suspects

    05/09/2008

    The powerbase of the government’s housing and regeneration superagency looks as diverse as its remit.

  • Vacant land availability falls by a fifth

    04/09/2008

    The amount of vacant brownfield land has fallen by nearly a fifth in the last five years, according to government figures.

  • CLG bins efficiency goals to revive build rates

    02/09/2008

    Housing associations are to be offered more generous government grants to keep them building through the housing market crisis.

  • Housing market package

    02/09/2008

    A Chartered Institute of Housing overview of the government’s latest proposals to revive the housing market.

  • Blears announces £1bn rescue package

    02/09/2008

    The government has freed up an extra £400 million from its affordable housing budget to give an immediate boost to social housing supply.

  • Scots demand tax relief on affordable homes

    02/09/2008

    The Scottish communities minister is calling for freedom from Treasury tax rules to stop affordable housing being blighted in rural areas.

  • House sales reach new low as prices fall

    29/08/2008

    House sales have fallen by 43 per cent in the last year, according to the latest Land Registry figures.

  • The Housing and Regeneration Act

    29/08/2008

    Emma Tarran, partner at law firm Trowers & Hamlins, explains how the Housing and Regeneration Act will change social housing regulation.

  • Councils set to gain housing powers

    29/08/2008

    The government is considering giving councils greater power to intervene in the housing market.

  • Acting on Essex

    29/08/2008

    Housing in Wales is about to undergo its biggest shake-up in years.

  • Blears steps into White City development row

    29/08/2008

    Communities secretary Hazel Blears has intervened in a controversial plan to cut all social housing from a major development in west London.

  • Social home surge

    29/08/2008

    Volume house builders are piling into the social sector in a bid to shore up their businesses against the sales slump.

  • Eco-town plans in disarray as Tesco pulls plug

    28/08/2008

    A death knell has sounded for one of the government’s remaining eco-town proposals after the supermarket giant Tesco pulled out.

  • House price drop hits double figures

    28/08/2008

    House prices continued to fall in August, pushing the annual drop over 10 per cent for the first time since 1990.

  • Housing aspirations and shared ownership

    27/08/2008

    This is one of a series of briefing papers on various aspects of affordable housing prepared by the Housing Corporation and the Chartered Institute of Housing.

  • Taylor Wimpey issues market warning

    27/08/2008

    House builder Taylor Wimpey has warned that the ‘very challenging’ UK market shows little immediate sign of recovery.

  • Buy-to-let lending holds up as market falls

    26/08/2008

    The buy-to-let market is holding up well compared to wider mortgage lending.

  • Construction figures increase pressure on government

    26/08/2008

    Pressure on the government to take radical action to get the housing market moving again has intensified as figures showed construction growth reversed between the first two quarters of this year.

  • Eco-towns drive hit again

    22/08/2008

    The government’s proposed eco-towns have taken another hit after it emerged the announcement of the towns still in the running would be delayed.

  • Government underspends on supply

    22/08/2008

    The Communities and Local Government department spent £255 million less than planned on improving housing supply and meeting demand last year, its accounts have revealed.

  • Perfectly planned

    22/08/2008

    Terry Farrell is in no doubt that good planning is the basis of healthy, happy and successful communities

  • Squeeze strands tenants in wasteland

    22/08/2008

    Tenants on an exemplar 900-home development have been left surrounded by wasteland because building work has ground to a halt following the economic downturn.

  • Stunted growth makes life hard

    22/08/2008

    Credit crunch coverage has focused largely on the blows to the housing and mortgage markets.

  • Associations buck house building trend

    21/08/2008

    Housing associations are bucking the home building trend by increasing the rate of construction, according to government figures.

  • Affordable housing argument convinces planners

    20/08/2008

    London-based housing group Genesis has overturned a planning decision made by councillors in Haringey by arguing the case for affordable housing.

  • Fed issues north east warning

    20/08/2008

    The National Housing Federation has warned that the government must invest in social housing in the north east to meet rising demand.

  • Pressure yields Scots buy-up fund

    20/08/2008

    The Scottish Government has bowed to pressure from struggling developers and housing associations by handing social landlords £100 million to buy up unsold homes and land.

  • Sustainability guide favours offsite construction

    18/08/2008

    Evidence from builders has backed the use of offsite construction and simple home designs to meet sustainability criteria.

  • Lib Dems to debate eco-town block

    18/08/2008

    The Liberal Democrats are to consider blocking the development of eco towns, in a debate at the party’s autumn conference.

  • Boris faces Labour fight on social plans

    15/08/2008

    Mayor Boris Johnson faces a fight if he intends to ‘dump’ all new social housing in the east of London, a senior local government source has said.

  • By cutting corners we go round in circles

    15/08/2008

    Things are looking increasingly shambolic for the eco-towns.

  • Eco-towns shortlist gets even shorter

    15/08/2008

    The government’s plans for eco-towns look increasingly rocky, as developers pull out of the shortlist.

  • Fears housing will lose priority spot

    15/08/2008

    Housing could play second fiddle to other priorities when housing and planning powers pass to regional development agencies, regional assemblies have warned.

  • Go with the flow

    15/08/2008

    The UK should learn from Australia on sustainable water design, says Bob Sargent

  • Health check shows shared ownership slide is worsening

    15/08/2008

    The slowdown in shared ownership sales has spread in the past three months, according to the Housing Corporation’s latest financial health check on developing associations.

  • Home economics

    15/08/2008

    As the economy falters, what will become of sustainable building? Philippa Ward predicts a tough future withsome silver linings.

  • It is time to change gear

    15/08/2008

    Our attitude problem is blocking sustainable solutions, says Erik Bichard

  • Market for retrofitting worth £6.5 billion

    15/08/2008

    Retrofitting existing housing stock to make it green could be worth £6.5 billion a year to builders, according to research from Oxford University.

  • Mayor falls at first hurdle

    15/08/2008

    At first sight the plans to redevelop the site of the old Janet Adegoke leisure centre in White City, a deprived area of west London, seemed unremarkable.

  • Optimism wearing thin

    15/08/2008

    If you’re a glass half full type of person, then you’ll probably go along with the assessment of the housing association development market published by the Housing Corporation this week.

  • Outrageous behaviour

    15/08/2008

    Incredible, outrageous, fantastic and brilliant: the buzzwords of Home Group’s new chief executive Mark Henderson. Can he live up to them, asks Simon Brandon

  • Still angry after all these years

    15/08/2008

    Bill Dunster is a man both triumphant and disappointed.

  • Sustainable research centres launched

    15/08/2008

    Two new research centres to showcase cutting-edge sustainable technology are being built.

  • Sustainable, achievable

    15/08/2008

    Eco-friendly housing doesn’t have to be a headache. Here five homegrown projects - and one Swedish suburb - show how it’s done

  • Worth the wait?

    15/08/2008

    Councils must be seen as true equals, as they capitalise on their long-awaited freedom to build

  • Builder looks to housing associations for sales

    14/08/2008

    Newcastle-based house builder Bellway is looking to housing associations to shore up its struggling market.

  • Councils to build homes under Labour plan

    14/08/2008

    Councils are to play a central role in providing new social housing, according to a policy brief to be presented to Labour’s annual conference next month.

  • Developers chosen for zero carbon site

    13/08/2008

    A consortium of housing associations and architects has been picked to build an environmentally friendly development in Peterborough.

  • Timely reminder

    12/08/2008

    Remember the days before the credit crunch? The time when 3m homes by 2020 still looked possible, zero carbon homes by 2016 seemed inevitable and section 106 seemed a surefire delivery mechanism for affordable homes.

  • Aggressive response to recession

    12/08/2008

    Building firm Rok has announced plans to cut back work for commercial developers and ‘aggressively’ expand its social housing business in anticipation of a coming recession.

  • Planning policy slammed for neglecting rural housing

    11/08/2008

    Revised planning rules on industrial and commercial development should take into account the need for affordable homes in rural areas, according to consultation responses.

  • ‘Give local authorities the tools and we will do the job’

    08/08/2008

    Housing minister Caroline Flint has promised help for councils whose tenants had rejected traditional routes such as stock transfer to raise cash to meet the decent homes standard.

  • Battle for councils to build is won but war is far from over

    08/08/2008

    Politicians and professionals call for substance behind housing minister’s ‘level playing field’ promises

  • Cost analysis

    08/08/2008

    The media recently reported that Raglan Housing Association used a section 106 planning deal to provide social housing in the Sandbanks area of Poole popularly known as Millionaires’ Row.

  • Crunch-hit landlords to escape sanctions

    08/08/2008

    The Housing Corporation will not punish housing associations that miss their house building targets because of the credit crunch.

  • Green town plans ‘greatly improved’

    08/08/2008

    The experts monitoring eco-town progress has reported huge improvements in the proposals of the ten remaining bidders.

  • Numbers game not the one to play

    08/08/2008

    Local authorities are urging the government to place less emphasis on housing numbers and more on affordable housing and sustainability.

  • Builder wins £84.5m for affordable housing

    07/08/2008

    Galliford Try has won four affordable housing contracts worth a total of £84.5m.

  • Boris lets Tory council slash social housing

    07/08/2008

    London mayor Boris Johnson’s right-hand man has given a Conservative council permission to cut all social housing from a major development on public land.

  • Planning changes could boost affordable homes

    07/08/2008

    Planners could increase the supply of affordable homes by using standard policies on section 106 agreements.

  • Southwark residents face double move

    06/08/2008

    Residents of one of the largest housing estates in Europe face having to move twice if they want to stay there, under redevelopment plans.

  • Infrastructure levy could 'top up' affordable housing funds

    06/08/2008

    Builders could be made to contribute to affordable housing through a new infrastructure charge, the government has revealed.

  • Council homes to be built after 20-year hiatus

    06/08/2008

    Proposals are being drawn up in Edinburgh to build the city’s first council homes in nearly 20 years.

  • Economists warn building targets will be missed

    05/08/2008

    House building will remain below government targets for the next five years, economists have warned.

  • ‘Major breakthrough’ on fourth option

    01/08/2008

    Campaigners have claimed a major breakthrough after the housing minister opened the door for direct investment in council homes.

  • About face for Labour

    01/08/2008

    For years, the Labour hierarchy has attempted to head off calls for direct investment in council housing.

  • Dramatic planning cut challenges mayor

    01/08/2008

    London mayor Boris Johnson is facing the first big test of his housing policies after a Conservative council approved plans to cut all social housing from a major development.

  • Dramatic shift: a new act for a new world

    01/08/2008

    After months of debate and hundreds (and hundreds) of amendments, the Housing and Regeneration Bill finally gained royal assent last week.

  • Eco-homes to meet lowest demands

    01/08/2008

    The proportion of affordable housing in the proposed eco-towns is only likely to meet the lowest of the government’s original demands.

  • Voice of the people

    01/08/2008

    The National Tenant Voice will be a force for change - nationally, regionally and locally

  • Eco-town bidders told to improve plans

    31/07/2008

    Eco-town developers need to improve their plans for how residents would travel and work, according to experts.

  • Regions to bid for £90 billion of development cash

    31/07/2008

    The nine English regions have been asked to outline how much money they want to spend on housing over the next decade.

  • Transport fund to aid house building

    31/07/2008

    More than 30 transport schemes in housing growth areas have been shortlisted for a share of a £200 million government fund.

  • Developers force council to scrap affordability goals

    30/07/2008

    Three developers have forced a council to drop its affordable housing targets after an appeal judge described the area’s properties as ‘cheap as chips’.

  • Council evaluates Flint's credit crunch plans

    30/07/2008

    Birmingham Council is launching a committee to evaluate how central government suggestions on housing can be applied locally.

  • Swimming against the tide

    28/07/2008

    The National Housing Federation makes a prediction today that at first sight appears so bold that you wonder if it’s a misprint: house prices to rise 25% over the next five years.

  • Social housing investment threatened by price rises

    28/07/2008

    The drive to increase the availability of social housing must not be derailed by falling house prices, the National Housing Federation has warned.

  • Billion pound regeneration scheme wins approval

    25/07/2008

    A £1 billion regeneration project providing 4,300 new homes has been given the go-ahead in Manchester.

  • Agency staff win pay boost to stay on board

    25/07/2008

    Executives at the Housing Corporation have picked up a £100,000 sweetener to stop them leaving their jobs while the Homes and Communities Agency and the Tenant Services Authority are being set up.

  • Councils caught in vicious target circle

    25/07/2008

    Councils face critical long-term problems delivering more homes because they risk financial punishment if they fail to hit targets that were set before the credit crunch.

  • Developers seek social respite

    25/07/2008

    Developers have been flocking to the affordable housing market in a bid to protect their businesses from the credit crunch.

  • Heroic attempt

    25/07/2008

    New Chartered Institute of Housing president Steve Benson tells Caroline Thorpe he’ll be focusing on housing’s heroes.

  • Look for the silver lining

    25/07/2008

    Every cloud has a silver lining: the private sector housing crisis could benefit social landlords.

  • Meet the victims of the crunch

    25/07/2008

    From prospective tenants to out-of-work builders, the credit crunch has claimed victimsfrom across the housing world. Simon Brandon profiles five of the worst-hit groups.

  • Regions told to raise ambitions

    25/07/2008

    The government has instructed England’s regions to plan for a huge increase in the number of homes they build by 2020 – despite the credit crunch.

  • Renewed focus on northern housing

    25/07/2008

    The Northern Way is to refocus its attention on housing after dropping it from its list of priorities last year.

  • Sleight of hand? Government plans to fight the crunch

    25/07/2008

    Last week housing minister Caroline Flint opened up a box of tricks designed to save England from the worst ravages of the credit crunch.

  • There may be trouble ahead

    25/07/2008

    As I write, Caroline Flint has launched a rescue package as a response to the damage caused by the international credit crunch.

  • Unfavourable conditions do shared equity no favours

    25/07/2008

    For governments, arm twisting cash out of the private sector is a bit like winning a golden egg-laying goose in a raffle.

  • Strict guidelines proposed for eco towns

    24/07/2008

    Eco towns will have to comply with existing planning policy as well as meeting strict environmental standards.

  • Planning shortages threaten house building goals

    24/07/2008

    A group of MPs has slammed the government for failing to tackle skills shortages in local authority planning departments.

  • Regional plans raise house building targets

    23/07/2008

    Revised development plans for the east midlands and south west have upped the number of homes that will be needed.

  • Second wind

    23/07/2008

    Why did the government ask Matthew Taylor to conduct an independent review of rural economies and affordable housing if it was going to reject any form of action on second homes?

  • Rural review calls for planning overhaul

    23/07/2008

    A government commissioned review has called for a massive shake-up of planning policy to make homes in rural areas affordable.

  • Corporation exceeds affordable housing goals

    23/07/2008

    The Housing Corporation is set to go out on a high note after hitting the majority of its targets for 2007/08.

  • Welsh taskforce to drive rural development

    22/07/2008

    A housing taskforce charged with boosting the supply of affordable homes across rural Wales has been launched by the country’s government.

  • Zero sums

    22/07/2008

    The 2016 zero carbon homes target has always been strikingly ambitious and new cost estimates released yesterday do not make it seem any less so.

  • Cost of sustainable building hits £50,000

    22/07/2008

    The cost of building a house that meets the highest environmental standards is up to 50 per cent greater than a conventional home.

  • Land trusts to gain legal status

    21/07/2008

    A scheme that allows prospective homeowners to buy houses without also having to pay for land is to gain legal status.

  • London borough to build 500 homes

    21/07/2008

    Westminster City Council plans to build more than 500 homes, including 246 for social rent, in the biggest local authority house building project to go ahead in England for over a decade.

  • Kier cuts workforce as housing orders plunge

    21/07/2008

    The residential division of Kier is to turn its attention to affordable housing and regeneration after shedding 60 per cent of its workforce.

  • Welsh associations encouraged to borrow against assets

    21/07/2008

    The Welsh Assembly Government has announced a shake up of housing association finance.

  • Councils receive share of £510 million fund

    18/07/2008

    The government has announced how a £510 million fund to ensure land is available for housing development will be allocated.

  • Local housing companies

    18/07/2008

    Public and private sector come together to build more homes.

  • Across-the-board space standards improbable

    18/07/2008

    Boris Johnson’s bold pledge to reintroduce Parker Morris space standards in London is unlikely to include market housing, one of his key aides has indicated.

  • An open mind to change

    18/07/2008

    When the National Housing Federation decided to run a high-profile campaign against some parts of the Housing and Regeneration Bill, a few of our members told me they were unsure if we were adopting the right tactics.

  • Callcutt ideas acted upon

    18/07/2008

    The government is progressing ‘in line with the broad thrust’ of John Callcutt’s review of house building, housing minister Caroline Flint has told him.

  • No spending limit on developer sell-offs

    18/07/2008

    The government has removed the limit on the amount of grant money housing associations can use to buy up homes private house builders are struggling to sell.

  • Strategy sets out regional potential

    18/07/2008

    The north east needs nearly 129,000 new homes by 2021 according to the latest regional plan announced by the government this week.

  • Worried private sector workers fire off their CVs

    18/07/2008

    Housing associations are being inundated with CVs from private developer staff whose jobs are at risk because of the credit crunch.

  • Another one along soon

    17/07/2008

    Another week, another rescue package, another response to the housing market crisis that fails to do much apart from give the impression that the government is doing something.

  • Associations set to escape planning levy

    17/07/2008

    The junior housing minister has suggested housing associations may be exempt from a forthcoming planning charge.

  • Flint launches housing market rescue package

    16/07/2008

    Housing minister Caroline Flint today unveiled a package of measures to tackle the housing market crisis and protect long-term targets for new homes built.

  • London mayor nominates deputy for planning

    15/07/2008

    London mayor Boris Johnson has nominated Local Government Association chair Sir Simon Milton as his deputy mayor for policy and planning.

  • Be grateful for buy to let?

    15/07/2008

    So buy to let has helped stabilise the housing system?

  • Wandsworth development gets go ahead

    15/07/2008

    The final phase of a mixed-use development in south London is to go ahead after being approved by Wandsworth Council.

  • Councils hit by sweeping budget cuts

    14/07/2008

    Councils in Scotland are facing an average 16 per cent cut in their affordable housing funding.

  • Renewal pathfinders should broaden remit

    14/07/2008

    Housing market renewal pathfinders should focus on the regeneration of urban areas rather than homes, according to a report from three government agencies.

  • New-town ignorance threatens eco plans

    14/07/2008

    A group of MPs has claimed the government is neglecting post-war new towns.

  • Government commits to house building goals

    11/07/2008

    The government is determined to press ahead with its ambitious house building targets in the face of the housing market slowdown.

  • Chill factor

    11/07/08

    Nick Clegg is predicting a winter of discontent. Philippa Ward finds out what the Liberal Democrat leader would do to beat the freeze.

  • City links

    11/07/08

    Housing markets are undeniably local, yet policy makers maintain a national focus. That needs to change, argues Adam Marshall

  • Napier: support at this ‘critical time’ will give HCA a fighting chance

    11/07/08

    The man appointed to chair the Homes and Communities Agency has described the next five months as a ‘critical time’ for those tasked with helping the ailing industry.

  • New mayor looks to ditch 50 per cent affordability rule

    11/07/08

    London’s new mayor this week launched a consultation on his ideas for a massive shake-up of the city’s planning rules.

  • Pathfinders turn to plan B

    11/07/08

    Organisations set up to fix failing housing markets in the north of England are plotting major back-up plans to keep new build programmes on track in the face of shrinking investment.

  • Properties add value to mixed-use

    11/07/08

    Adding housing to mixed-use developments adds value and helps them get planning permission, according to commercial property developers polled by Ipsos Mori.

  • Time to bring excluded tenants in from the cold

    11/07/2008

    No one can fault the government for ambition. All social homes, it said when it launched the decent homes programme, would reach its minimum standard by 2010.

  • Crashes, cassandras and confidence

    10/07/2008

    The housing market increasingly resembles an imminent train crash that only some people can see.

  • Redundancies soar at house building groups

    09/07/2008

    Two major house builders have announced they will each be making around 40 per cent of their workforces redundant.

  • No respite for house builders

    08/07/2008

    That’s 3,000 job cuts announced by leading house builders and there are still no signs that the housing market is getting any easier for them.

  • Innovative consultancy forced into administration

    08/07/2008

    Top affordable housing consultancy Avebury International has gone into administration after an ‘absolutely catastrophic’ response to the economic downturn.

  • Development agency backs away from enforcement

    08/07/2008

    The government’s new housing agency will enable rather than enforce housing delivery, a strategy has revealed.

  • Leading house builder lays off 1,100 staff

    08/07/2008

    House building giant Persimmon has made 1,100 workers redundant after the ‘most challenging period’ in its recent history.

  • Time for an eco rethink?

    07/07/2008

    What are the odds on eco-zones or eco-quarters?

  • Robin Hood should be saved

    04/07/2008

    Robin Hood Gardens, to some brutalist architectural masterpiece, to others, failed modernist social experiment and East End eyesore, is slated to take the wrecking ball.

  • Keep the faith

    04/07/2008

    With the right approach, affordable housing providers can benefit from shrinking congregations, says Paul Donovan

  • State of the nation

    04/07/2008

    Housing association grant in Scotland is being cut in a bid to boost efficiency. Has the government miscalculated? Mike Lloyd reports.

  • Space: the final frontier

    04/07/2008

    Unlike the rest of Europe, England lacks national minimum space standards for homes. Unsurprisingly, we build the smallest dwellings in Europe.

  • Huge problem needs huge solutions

    04/07/2008

    ‘We’re too busy thinking about Taylor Wimpey to talk about Caroline Flint.’

  • Construction group reveals home price slump

    04/07/2008

    Construction firm Galliford Try has announced a 12 per cent fall in the sale price of its homes in the last year.

  • Capital Moves to be reinvented

    04/07/2008

    London’s council leaders are to vote on plans for a drastically reduced version of the controversial Capital Moves programme.

  • Demands of the job

    04/07/2008

    There’s plenty to do in a typical week for David Reavill, development officer at St Albans District Council

  • Eco-conscious EP chair appointed to steer agency

    04/07/2008

    A former conservation boss who branded developers ‘dinosaurs’ has been named chair of the Homes and Communities Agency.

  • Further job losses hit house building sector

    04/07/2008

    Barratt Homes has become the latest house builder to slash jobs, announcing 1,200 redundancies.

  • Harvest’s tax haven

    04/07/2008

    A northern housing association has set up a joint venture company in Jersey in order to help one of its partners reduce its tax bill.

  • Hub to guide zero carbon build process

    04/07/2008

    The government has teamed up with house builders to create a new group charged with ensuring that all new homes are zero carbon by 2016.

  • Internal investigation launched after council blows its budget

    04/07/2008

    A London council has launched an internal investigation following a huge overspend.

  • Regulator to open up free-for-all on bids

    04/07/2008

    The Housing Corporation is to rewrite its rulebook to allow landlords to bid for grant any time they want.

  • Rescue bid a ‘token effort’

    04/07/2008

    Housing minister Caroline Flint this week unveiled a package of measures to prop up the ailing housing market – but major house builders warned it was nowhere near enough.

  • Tories pull support for eco-towns

    04/07/2008

    Hundreds of eco-towns protestors rallied in Westminster this week on the day the Conservative Party withdrew its support for the controversial government plan.

  • Whitehall urged to tear up subsidy rules

    04/07/2008

    A huge coalition of housing organisations has called for the government to rip up its current housing finance regime and start again.

  • Getting it wrong

    03/07/2008

    When house builders spend billions acquiring their rivals just as house prices peak it’s hardly surprising that the government too can get the housing market wrong.

  • MPs slate regeneration pathfinders

    03/07/2008

    Housing market renewal pathfinders have not yet proved they are regenerating low-demand areas, a select committee has claimed.

  • Government acts to make house building easier

    03/07/2008

    Housing minister Caroline Flint this week announced a raft of measures to get the languishing house building machine moving again.

  • Launching the lifeboats

    02/07/2008

    Today might have marked the beginning of the end of the housing crisis.

  • Tories drop support for eco-towns

    01/07/2008

    The Conservatives this week withdrew their support for the government’s eco-town plans, saying they would impose unsustainable development and ignore the views of local communities.

  • Right to buy to remain

    01/07/2008

    Suspending the right to buy across Wales could contravene the European Convention on Human Rights, MPs heard this week.

  • Tax guidance threatens low-cost homes

    01/07/2008

    The umbrella body for housing associations has warned that extra costs will be piled on them following the publication of guidance setting out when low-cost home ownership should be taxed.

  • Cold steel

    01/07/2008

    As the government’s housing agencies work on the market rescue plan demanded by housing minister Caroline Flint, one consolation is that at least they have some inside knowledge of the market where prices are falling fastest.

  • One year on

    30/06/2008

    Affordable housing was meant to be one of the key issues of Gordon Brown’s premiership.

  • Boards must regain control

    27/06/2008

    Board members are failing to hold housing association managers to account because they are intimidated by them, delegates at the Chartered Institute of Housing conference heard.

  • Contractors in employee row

    27/06/2008

    An employment row centring on one of Sheffield Homes’ decent homes contractors has resulted in 24 staff being made redundant.

  • Door open for landlords to ‘lead on development’

    27/06/2008

    Councils and larger housing associations could take a much bigger lead on house building under the new Homes and Communities Agency, its chief executive has revealed.

  • From eco-towns to eco-slums

    27/06/2008

    Eco-towns are at risk of becoming the ‘eco-slums of the future’, the Local Government Association warned this week.

  • Half a million extra homes recommended

    27/06/2008

    The government’s aff ordability advisor has challenged England’s regions to deliver up to 3.5 million homes by 2020, a 500,000-home jump on government demands.

  • Increase in grant matches increase in building costs

    27/06/2008

    Scottish housing associations have seized on academic research to argue against the government’s drive to cut the cost of building affordable homes.

  • Let your creative juices flow

    27/06/2008

    You don’t look twice at the bags of salad lining the shelves in our supermarkets, but 20 years ago they didn’t exist.

  • Little and often

    27/06/2008

    Bidding for development cash at regular intervals allows for greater flexibility in uncertain times. Neil Merrick reports

  • Mayor targets rabbit hutches

    27/06/2008

    London mayor Boris Johnson has pledged to stop the trend for building ever-smaller homes in the capital by reinstating the 1960s Parker Morris space standards.

  • New build starts plummet by more than half

    27/06/2008

    The number of new homes started in May plummeted by 52 per cent compared with the same period last year.

  • Welsh review reveals host of opportunities

    27/06/2008

    Housing associations in Wales will be encouraged to borrow much more money, following a large-scale revamp of regulation.

  • We're building the last resorts of the future

    27/06/2008

    We are building the smallest homes in Europe. Householders moving into their new home in the UK can expect to get a third, or even a half, less living space than their counterparts in Germany, France or Denmark.

  • Who's bonkers now?

    26/06/2008

    By a perverse irony, news that housing starts are now down 52 per cent on a year ago arrives in the same week as the government gets advice that its targets of 2 million extra homes by 2016 and 3 million by 2020 may not be enough to meet demand.

  • Top 50 developers – Inside Housing, June 2008

    24/06/2008

    A housing association that declared its ambition to become a 100,000 home mega-association within four years has been crowned the most prolific producer of new homes.

  • The credit crunch

    24/06/2008

    How dodgy US mortgages are affecting our social housing.

  • Family-sized homes – 11 January 2008, Inside Housing

    20/06/2008

    The proportion of private sector family homes built in 33 authorities surveyed by Inside Housing dropped from 37 per cent in 2004/05 to 29 per cent last year. In the social sector the proportion fell from 30 to 24 per cent.

  • Housing market packages

    20/06/2008

    Could housing associations cash in on the crumbling property market?

  • The Homes and Communities Agency

    20/06/2008

    The idea to create a single agency responsible for housing and regeneration in England came from the Housing and Regeneration Review, which was announced in April 2006.

  • A win-win situation

    20/06/2008

    A London borough is forging ahead with one of the first major builds by a local housing company. Simon Brandon talks to Ken Jones, the man running the show.

  • Agency team takes shape

    20/06/2008

    The senior management team responsible for the future of housing in England has become clearer with the appointment of two senior posts.

  • Ambitious Affinity Sutton bags top developing spot

    20/06/2008

    A housing association that declared its ambition to become a 100,000 home mega-association within four years has been crowned the most prolific producer of new homes.

  • Back in the fray

    20/06/2008

    He was a popular housing minister, but moved on less than a year into the job. Now he’s back, with a mission to help a troubled housing association. Philippa Ward reports

  • Bubble burst is for the best

    20/06/2008

    I’ve been confidently predicting an imminent housing crash for about seven years – during which time house prices doubled.

  • Chiefs make rescue plans

    20/06/2008

    Government agencies are drafting rescue plans to entice investors into the house building market and release more public sector land, following a cry for help from housing minister Caroline Flint.

  • Falconer seeks cutting edge

    20/06/2008

    Former housing minister Lord Falconer of Thoroton has outlined his plans for completely turning around the troubled housing association AmicusHorizon Group.

  • Homebuy

    20/06/2008

    The key facts about the government’s most frequently re-launched affordable homes scheme.

  • Joining the club

    20/06/2008

    Long denied access to affordable homes grant, MHS Homes has finally won a slice of the cake. Kate Murray finds out how it’s spending the cash.

  • Journey south

    20/06/2008

    As the Housing and Regeneration Bill moves through Parliament, Simon Brandon finds out how legislation filters down to the frontline.

  • Missing the wood for the trees

    20/06/2008

    Home design can only do so much - it’s neighbourhood design that will really affect how we’ll live in the future.

  • Now it's our turn

    20/06/2008

    Are 3 million homes deliverable by 2020? It will be tough but it’s still achievable, though it won’t be done using the existing model.

  • Press stereotypes were unwarranted

    20/06/2008

    It was good to read your supportive editorial comment (Inside Housing, 13 June) after the attempt last week by some newspapers to generate controversy over the construction of section 106 housing at Hamworthy in Poole.

  • Some assembly required

    20/06/2008

    Can offsite construction solve house builders’ problems? Simon Brandon examines the pros and cons of modern methods of construction.

  • Tread carefully

    20/06/2008

    Landlords will need government help to kep building through tough economic times. But there are opportunities as well as risks, says Circle Anglia’s Mark Rogers

  • Trouble at the top

    20/06/2008

    Inside Housing’s annual look at the top 50 developing housing associations reveals a dark shadow looming over them all: the credit crunch. Chris Bazlinton reports.

  • A house is more than just a home

    13/06/2008

    Look beyond putting roofs over people’s heads, and see the people instead

  • All change please

    13/06/2008

    His message is one of radical reform, but are housing associations ready to hear it? Kate Murray speaks to Genesis chief Anu Vedi

  • Associations forced to scale back build plans

    13/06/2008

    One of the top five developing housing associations has seen a quarter of its 1,000-unit a year programme stall because of the credit crunch.

  • Boris to revise Ken’s target within weeks

    13/06/2008

    London mayor Boris Johnson’s team will issue new planning guidance in the ‘next couple of weeks’ in the first move away from his predecessor Ken Livingstone’s 50 per cent affordable target for all new housing.

  • Corporation plans rental package as crisis deepens

    13/06/2008

    The Housing Corporation is drawing up a new package of measures to help social housing providers take the lead in the delivery of the government’s housing targets.

  • Last man standing

    13/06/2008

    With the credit crunch biting, many lenders are bowing out of social housing. Steve Amos isn’t one of them.

  • Leaders need to hold their nerve

    13/06/2008

    To borrow a line from Housing Corporation boss Steve Douglas, who in turn borrowed it from Donald Rumsfeld, we’re facing a known unknown.

  • Pathfinders seek answers on demolition

    13/06/2008

    The organisations created to fix failing housing markets in the north of England are part-funding research to help them make the legal case for demolition projects.

  • Preparation is all

    13/06/2008

    Alison Mathias suggests ways to get fit for a greener future.

  • Steep descent

    13/06/2008

    No one wants to talk numbers. Where once the big developers were keen to trumpet their house building records from the rooftops, now they are reluctant to talk about how many homes they will build by the end of 2008.

  • The F word

    13/06/2008

    Caroline Flint has been  housing minister for fewer than five months, during which efforts to tackle a serious housing supply problem have been overtaken by a housing market crisis of gloom-ridden proportions. ‘My feet haven’t really touched the ground,’ she says.

  • Tough talk to end supply crisis

    13/06/2008

    Councils should get £2 billion to bail out homeowners struggling to pay their mortgages, a think tank has argued.

  • Brown set to fall well short of build targets

    06/06/2008

    The prime minister is set to miss his first major home building target by three years, according to a new indicator devised by Inside Housing to keep track of the government’s performance.

  • Conversions halted over budget fears

    06/06/2008

    Schemes to convert temporary accommodation into permanent homes are stalling because of uncertainty over future funding.

  • Empty homes a private problem as social demand remains strong

    06/06/2008

    When the latest empty homes figures were released last week, one town was cast firmly into the spotlight.

  • Former Gateway chief lands new job

    06/06/2008

    The former chief executive of the troubled Thames Gateway project will be taking over the reins of the Ashford growth area later this month.

  • Homes at risk of being unsaleable as more are built in flood zones

    06/06/2008

    One in every 10 homes is being built in areas of high flood risk, with some regions reaching record highs.

  • Public on Flint’s side

    06/06/2008

    The public believes that tenants should risk losing their home when they shun help to find work, an exclusive Ipsos Mori poll for InsideHousing has revealed. Nearly three-quarters backed the controversial idea floated by housing minister Caroline Flint in February.

  • Rural housing agenda 'stifled by officials'

    06/06/2008

    A ‘policy of restraint’ is still hampering the delivery of rural housing, a progress report has found.

  • Supply task force will tackle stalled developments

    06/06/2008

    Scotland’s housing supply task force will place four stalled housing schemes under scrutiny to work out what is holding them up.

  • Ujima: why didn't anyone step in?

    06/06/2008

    The charismatic chief executive of Ujima Housing Association made no secret of his ambition for the thriving organisation he took control of in January 2006.