Govt announces technical education routes
The government will offer 14-year-olds early access to technical education and skills training including potentially in construction, as new prime minister Andy Burnham stated that Britain would “value the hard hat as much as the graduation cap”. Announcing a “fundamental change to the education system”, the government said that year 10 students would have the chance to combine core academic subjects with “high-quality technical education” linked to jobs available in their area.
Private home registrations down 5% in Q2 2026 – NHBC
New home registrations continued their downward trend in the second quarter of 2026, according to NHBC, with those for private homes falling 5% against the equivalent period last year. The new homes warranty and insurance provider’s latest statistics show that 19,045 new homes were registered in the private sector during Q2 2026. Meanwhile, registrations in the rental and affordable sector during the period were level with Q2 2025 at 10,117. Overall, registrations slipped 4%.
Housing minister steps in on 27-year-old local plan
Housing minister Matthew Pennycook has intervened in Basildon Borough Council’s local plan which was last updated 27 years ago. Writing to the council, Pennycook has instructed it to submit an emerging plan by December 31 2026. He expressed his “serious concern” that the borough had opposed the standard method and objected to progressing a plan “that meets housing need in full”.
Govt consults on extending judicial reform to housing
The government could extend judicial reforms to housing, with a brief consultation underway until August 27. The Ministry of Justice has proposed that the reforms, introduced through the Planning and Infrastructure Act and currently applying to Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs), should also apply to major housing – including affordable homes – transport and energy developments.
Govt consultation on London CIL relief regs
The government has launched a consultation on regulations to implement time-limited relief from the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) to aid housebuilding in London. Following the government’s announcement of the Homes for London emergency package in October 2025, the consultation seeks to amend the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Regulations 2010 to enact the change, providing borough-level CIL relief for qualifying developments across Greater London.
Private capital key element of affordable housing - Winckworth Sherwood
Private capital is now a key component of funding for affordable housing, according to Winckworth Sherwood. The law firm’s report, Rethinking the Affordable Housing Funding Machine, states that the UK’s affordable housing model is “undergoing the greatest structural financial shift in decades”, with private capital moving from a peripheral source of funding to a “central part” of how affordable homes get built, retrofitted and managed.
Lovell Partnerships sees challenging economic conditions
Lovell Partnerships saw the effects of waning consumer confidence in its half year, with revenue and completions down and operating profit in line with last year. During the six months to June 30 2026, Lovell Partnerships’ operating profit remained the same as the equivalent period in 2025 at £13.2 million.
Devolution agenda moves to new PM office
The devolution agenda will now be part of prime minister Andy Burnham’s new office remit, with most of the strategy’s functions transferring from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). Meanwhile, MHCLG has acquired equality responsibilities as the new PM restructures government departments. In a statement detailing “changes to the machinery of government”, Labour’s Baroness Smith of Basildon wrote that local economic growth and devolution would move to No 10 North, part of the new Office for the Prime Minister and the Cabinet (OPMC), which also includes No 10 and teams within the Cabinet Office.
