Planning and Housing

Council scrutiny report found ‘dishonourable culture’ and aggressive overpricing among housing contractors

16.04.19: Hackney Council has defended the management of its £246m of housing contracts after a probe revealed aggressive pricing, excessive claims for works, and a “dishonourable culture” amongst contractors. The probe, a two-year...

Calls for ‘fundamental review’ of Scottish councils’ funding system with new property levies

15.04.19: A new system of environmental and property levies has been proposed to boost council funding in a call for a “fundamental review” of Scottish local government finances. The joint paper, launched by trade union Unison and the Jim...

New laws to abolish ‘no-fault’ evictions in government overhaul of private rental sector

15.04.19: New proposed laws mean landlords will no longer be able to evict tenants at short notice without a good reason in a government pledge to overhaul the private rental sector. Housing secretary James Brokenshire has announced the new legislati...

Self-build builds potential for more and better homes

15.04.19: The director of The Right to Build Task Force – which advises stakeholders on bringing on more custom and self-build homes – Mario Wolf, who is currently on secondment from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, d...

Councils to press housing developers to pay for new schools under DfE guidance

11.04.19: The government has published new guidance for councils to encourage housing developers to fund the new schools created by their developments. The Department for Education has published the new advice setting out how local authorities can be...

Government awards framework for modular building revolution across the public sector

05.04.19: The Crown Commercial Service (CCS) has awarded 24 firms with its framework for a number of modular building projects in the public sector. The modular building solutions framework will “provide the public sector with a low-cost soluti...

Bristol council brings in licencing scheme for private landlords to protect renters

04.04.19: Private landlords in 12 areas across Bristol will now have to pay £1,200 for licensing to rent properties as part of a council’s bid to improve protection for renters. Bristol City Council has agreed to expand the licensing sche...

Discover the benefits of custom and self-build homes with the Right to Build Task Force learning visit

04.04.19: Housing supply growth has been at the top of the political agenda – bar Brexit – for the last few years now, and has been a key domestic policy of the Conservative government. But custom and self-build homes, in the words of Lor...

Sunderland council backs £61m move to new cost-effective headquarters

03.04.19: A city council has backed £61m proposals for a new, smaller and more cost-effective headquarters as a “catalyst for regeneration” in Sunderland. Cabinet members at Sunderland City Council have approved the business case to...

Man’s body not found for weeks after council padlocked his flat

29.03.19: Aberdeen City Council has pledged to make changes after a man’s body wasn’t found for weeks inside a flat the authority had padlocked. The body of 32-year-old Michael Stewart was discovered in his property after police broke int...

Essex council announces £1bn construction deal

22.03.19: An Essex council has announced a £1bn contract in a joint venture to regenerate council sites and deliver new homes and commercial facilities. Brentwood Borough Council has named Morgan Sindall as its partner for the Limited Liability...

Tees Valley to use compulsory purchase powers to bring former steelworks back into public ownership as Houchen declares ‘we won’t be held to ransom’

18.03.19: Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA) has opted to use a compulsory purchase order (CPO) to bring the remaining 870 acres of land at a former steelworks site back into public ownership, ending a long-running dispute. Nearly 3,000 people at...

Interserve to go into administration as rescue deal rejected

15.03.19: One of the largest providers of public services in the UK is to go into administration after its largest shareholder led a rebellion against its financial rescue plan. Interserve has announced its parent company has applied for administrati...

Unitary council leader resigns over abuse ‘beyond what any reasonable person should have to endure’

13.03.19: The leader of a unitary authority has announced he is resigning with immediate effect, blaming abuse he has received from campaigners and “health challenges.” The leader of North East Lincolnshire Council, Ray Oxby, has revealed...

Developer drops £10m legal case against Northumberland County Council over housing proposals

05.03.19:   A £10m High Court legal challenge against Northumberland County Council and three of its leaders over delayed plans for 2,000 homes has now been dropped. An arms-length body of the developers Lugano Property Group issued a...