Morning Briefing: Serco urged to halt ‘inhumane’ Glasgow asylum seeker evictions

In the news

The Guardian has a new report on the ongoing crisis in Glasgow, where Serco plans to evict 300 asylum seekers who have been told they cannot stay in the UK.

Charities have called on the company to reconsider, as various legal challenges continue to be filed.

Meanwhile, The Ferret says the Scottish government is failing to meet affordable homes targets for rural and island communities.

The investigative site has obtained data showing that only 80 of the 500 new homes promised by 2021 have been approved, and just 23 have been built.

Further south, the BBC asks the question, ‘Could London learn from Europe’s housing schemes?’

In a short video, it runs through self-build in Amsterdam, rent cuts in Berlin and a large amount of social housing in Vienna.

On London’s latest post certainly suggests some change is needed. It reports on YouGov polling and interviews by property company Grosvenor that show public trust in property developers and the planning system is “at rock bottom”.

Grosvenor’s chief executive has called on fellow developers and local government leaders to take a new approach.

Elsewhere, City AM looks at the Labour Party’s plans for leaseholds, which sees buyers renting land from a freeholder rather than owning it outright. Labour has pledged to scrap the practice, which many see as exploitative.

Kier’s troubles continue, as Construction Enquirer reports that chief executive John Anderson has quit Kier Living, the contractor’s housing business.

It says Mr Anderson’s departure comes alongside a massive decline in the group’s share price, which has fallen to below £1 from around £10 in September.

Lastly, Yahoo has a story on the house builder Bovis Homes, which said in a trading update on Tuesday that it had raised its expectations for profits in the first half of the year, after increasing prices on its more affordable homes.

Bovis added that market fundamentals remain stable and demand is still high, despite continuing uncertainty concerning Brexit.

On social media

Thanks @TheAccordGroup @LoCaL_Homes for showing @HomesEngland colleagues round the factory yesterday- great to see innovative modern methods of construction on the ground pic.twitter.com/5kzi5onHyN

— Lisa Cattanach (@LisaCattComms)

Thanks @TheAccordGroup @LoCaL_Homes for showing @HomesEngland colleagues round the factory yesterday- great to see innovative modern methods of construction on the ground pic.twitter.com/5kzi5onHyN

— Lisa Cattanach (@LisaCattComms) July 10, 2019