UK construction and property
- Housebuilding | Housing associations have cut their housebuilding rate by 22% as they try to counter the effects of inflation, interest rate rises, and regulatory pressures. A report by Octopus Real Estate revealed that a third of housing associations have reported deficits of 11%-25% on individual schemes as the cost of debt has increased.
- Pollution rules | Last week’s removal of nutrient neutrality rules has unlocked 140,000 homes, according to the House Builders Federation. The changes will also see the funding for the Nutrient Mitigation Scheme doubled to £280m, with agricultural runoff and wastewater treatment plants being targeted, but many are concerned that it will negatively impact the health of rivers.
- RAAC concrete | Schools built from lightweight concrete have been ordered to close and begin the new academic year online, over fears they could collapse. There are concerns that other public buildings could be impacted.
- Civils work | A survey by the Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA) of its members showed that 46% said that their workload had increased over the past year, while only 15% said that they had seen a slow down, with Scotland and Wales showing more improvement than England. Workload growth is concentrated in four sectors: nuclear, renewables, water & sewerage and harbours & waterways. It fell in seven other sectors, including motorways/trunk roads, preliminary works and railways.
- Sizewell C | £341m was released by the Government – from already allocated funds – to help prepare the site, procure key components, and expand the workforce. The site is expected to support 1500 apprenticeships.
- Carbon and planning | After its high-profile refusal of planning permission for the redevelopment of its Oxford Street site, Marks & Spencer is lodging a legal challenge with the High Court, stating that the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities had “wrongly interpreted” planning policy.
