Industry veteran launches partnerships housebuilder
Phoenix Sustainable Investments has launched a new partnership-led housebuilder, Ardena Homes. Phoenix Sustainable Investments, led by industry veteran Karl Hick, has brought together its land, planning and delivery capabilities to create Ardena Homes, based near Bourne in Lincolnshire, which will work in partnership with housing associations, local authorities and sector stakeholders “to deliver high-quality, sustainable homes across the East of England”.
HBF report highlights BNG legislation concerns
Housebuilders have warned that issues with biodiversity net gain rules are slowing home delivery, with 84% continuing to find the legislation challenging two years after its introduction, according to the Home Builders Federation. HBF’s new report, based on a survey of HBF members undertaken in early 2026, highlights the difficulties surrounding BNG legislation. HBF said the rules, dictating that sites achieve a 10% improvement in BNG, were “having a clear and growing impact on development viability and housing delivery, particularly on smaller sites”.
Bellway refreshes brand
Bellway has refreshed its brand as it celebrates its 80-year history and ten years as a five-star housebuilder. The housebuilder said it was updating its branding to meet the changing needs of its customers, with the modernised brand showing “greater flexibility and character, designed to appeal to a broad range of buyers”. Bellway has created a “digital-first” framework to reflect its evolution and growth trajectory, it said. It added that it was developing new digital tools and “enhanced online journeys” for customers.
April edition of Housebuilder magazine out now
The April edition of Housebuilder is now out and available to read on the www.house-builder.co.uk website. The latest issue features Julie Baker, winner of the 2025 Housebuilder Star Award. Baker, Keepmoat North West's social value manager, speaks about why social value means so much to her. We also look at what other housebuilders are doing in this space. Suzie Mayes interviews Dave Smith and Matt Vincent, Spitfire Homes’ managing director and operations director respectively. They talk about offering design-led homes in different markets, changes to the company and moving from being an SME to a more regionalised business.
Helen Moore appointed Greencore Homes chair
Greencore Homes has chosen Helen Moore as its chair. Moore joins the sustainable housebuilder’s board with more than 35 years’ experience in the housebuilding sector. She held senior roles at large housebuilders Countryside and Crest Nicholson and was managing director of SME City & Country for more than nine years. She moved onto Orbit Homes, the development arm of Orbit Group, as managing director before becoming group director.
Berkeley pauses buying land
Berkeley Group is suspending buying new land and reducing work in progress investment in response to “geopolitical events” and escalating taxes and costs. In a strategy update ahead of reporting its full year results for the year ending April 30 2026, Berkeley said that its concerns, reflected in its recent trading update, that the Middle East conflict could reduce confidence in “a near-term market recovery” had “now become a reality”.
National Housing Bank launches
Homes England has launched the National Housing Bank, with the government agency announcing the first investment of a £100 million partnership with Aviva. The National Housing Bank is open for business alongside the publication of a new Investment Prospectus, setting out Homes England’s full range of funding and support. The Bank will work with developers, investors and registered providers, deploying up to £16 billion of debt, equity and guarantees to aid the delivery of more than 500,000 homes and “a raft of” major regeneration and mixed-use schemes.
Scotland heading for a “housing catastrophe”
Scotland is heading for a housing catastrophe according to Homes for Scotland (HFS), the body representing housebuilders in the country. The stark claim is in response to the latest Scottish Government housing statistics published today (March 31) which show continued declines in all-tenure housing starts and completions.
