Category: Government
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U-turn as Government makes solar panels mandatory on all new homes by 2027
The Labour Government has announced a major policy shift, confirming that all new homes in England must be fitted with solar panels by 2027. The move comes just months after ministers rejected the Sunshine Bill, marking a significant U-turn on renewable energy policy. Environmental campaigners, including CPRE, have hailed the decision as a major victory…
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Government caves in as wood burning stoves allowed in Future Homes Standard, despite health warnings
The UK government has confirmed that modern wood-burning stoves will be permitted as secondary heating sources in new and self build homes under the forthcoming Future Homes Standard. The Ministry of Housing confirmed in a letter: “Under the standards proposed in the consultation, a wood burning stove would be permitted as a secondary heating source…
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Labour MP sparks internal split over planning reforms for housing due to environmental concerns
A newly elected Labour MP has triggered a major public fallout over the party’s stance on planning reforms. Chris Hinchliff has come under fire from senior Labour figures after criticising the government’s Planning and Infrastructure Bill and calling for a “left alternative” that prioritises environmental protections and mass council housebuilding. His remarks have sparked a…
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Will the UK’s solar power boom be built on the back of slave labour?
Is the UK’s clean energy transition at risk of being powered by modern slavery? That was the stark question raised in a heated Parliamentary debate on the Great British Energy Bill, as MPs clashed over whether the government is doing enough to prevent solar panels linked to forced labour from entering the UK’s energy supply…
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Has Labour just quietly abandoned its 1.5 million homes pledge?
Labour’s ambitious pledge to build 1.5 million homes by the end of this parliament appears to be faltering. Following the Spring Statement, the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) projected that just 1.3 million homes will be built by 2029-30, sparking fresh scrutiny of the Labour Government’s plan for homebuilding and whether they are on course…
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Building Safety Levy delayed until 2026 after government bows to industry pressure
The government has pushed back the implementation of the Building Safety Levy from autumn 2025 to autumn 2026. This comes after the government was criticised by homebuilding groups, particularly the Home Builders Federation (HBF) who said the move would seriously discourage housing construction. The levy, designed to fund building safety improvements, will now give developers…
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Spring Budget brings major boost for homebuilders, homeowners and housing market
In today’s Spring Budget Statement, Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced measures aimed at reviving the UK housing sector. With a shortage of skilled tradespeople holding up the building of houses, the government is injecting significant funding into training the next generation of builders. Alongside this, energy efficiency initiatives are being introduced, with the government claiming these…
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Industry says Planning & Infrastructure Bill offers a ‘blueprint for the future, but will it be built to last?’
The government’s newly introduced Planning & Infrastructure Bill has ignited discussions across the industry, with its promise to accelerate housing construction and infrastructure delivery. From speeding up planning decisions to reforms on compulsory purchase orders, the bill touches various aspects of the planning process that could reshape the landscape of housing and development. But will…
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What is the Planning & Infrastructure Bill? We explain the key reforms to the planning system
The Planning & Infrastructure Bill is a new law introduced by the government to make the planning system simpler, speed up housebuilding, and remove legal hurdles that have slowed down housing projects. The bill, which has been described by Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner as enabling the “biggest building boom in a generation”, plans to…
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The end of leaseholds? Government pushes major housing reform
The Government has announced sweeping changes to homeownership, taking a step toward banning new leaseholds in England and Wales. The move, aimed at replacing the controversial system with commonhold ownership, promises to give homeowners greater control over their properties while addressing mounting complaints over spiraling service charges. These reforms could transform the way people manage…