Category: Government
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Planning bill U-turn changes new home build rules
After mounting pressure from environmental groups and rebel MPs, the government has quietly rewritten a major section of its flagship planning bill. The key changes strengthen nature protections, particularly in greenbelt and rural areas, and introduce new conditions around development timelines. For homebuilders, renovators, and self-builders, this shift could affect how and when you break…
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What is ‘Pot Zero’? The energy policy gaining attention
The majority of UK electricity now comes from low-carbon sources, yet household energy prices are still rising as they are still heavily affected by global gas prices. This is due to the structure of the UK’s electricity market, where wholesale prices are usually set by the most expensive generator, typically gas-fired power. Now a new…
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What is ‘Pot Zero’? The energy policy gaining attention
The majority of UK electricity now comes from low-carbon sources, yet household energy prices are still rising as they are still heavily affected by global gas prices. This is due to the structure of the UK’s electricity market, where wholesale prices are usually set by the most expensive generator, typically gas-fired power. Now a new…
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Self-builders could skip building regulation delays thanks to new scheme
New Government planning reforms could be a game‑changer for self‑builders struggling with delays in gaining building regulations approval. The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) has unveiled a fast‑track process to speed up approvals, backed by a 100‑strong recruitment drive. This shake‑up injects inspectors and engineers straight into the regulator, potentially getting self‑builders building sooner. You may…
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New planning reforms could help fix broken housing market
The UK government’s new Planning and Infrastructure Bill, expected to come into force by late 2025, promises major changes to how housing is delivered in England. The aim is to reduce delays, make it easier to get permission for new homes, and support smaller builders, including people who want to build their own homes. These…
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What is the Government’s New Housing Bank?
The Government is launching a £16 billion National Housing Bank, a major new financial institution aimed at tackling the UK’s long-standing housing crisis. But while the headlines focus on big numbers and national plans, the impact on self-builders may be much closer to the ground. The bank, part of the government’s “Plan for Change,” will…
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New construction skills body seeks 100,000 more workers a year
“Every year, over 100,000 people receive construction training. I want many more of them to forge lasting careers in the sector,” Balcon said. “This is why the partnership with DWP is so vital, as it helps ensure individuals are not just trained but truly prepared for careers in construction. View the original article and our Inspiration…
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Apprenticeship funding cuts are a ‘major blow’ for construction employers
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Mandy Crawford-Lee, chief executive for UVAC, said: “The government’s policy to remove vital levy funding – that is supporting nine in 10 Level 7 apprentices – is a major blow to construction employers and will leave them facing both huge training bill costs and a skills shortage headache. View the original article and our Inspiration…
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UK government announces £275m skills package
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“Our modern industrial strategy will be powered by investing in British people. It will help transform our skills system to end the overreliance on foreign labour, and ensure British workers can secure good, well-paid jobs in the industries of tomorrow and drive growth and investment right across the country, making our Plan for Change a…
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New AI tool aims to speed up planning permission approvals
The UK government has introduced a new AI-powered tool aimed at speeding up planning permission by reducing the amount of time it takes to process paperwork from hours to just a few minutes. Announced at London Tech Week, Extract is designed to help local councils process planning documents more quickly and efficiently. This technology supports…