Category: Government
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Starmer’s crackdown on housebuilders sparks debate
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has sent a clear warning to housebuilders: “If you promise homes, you have to build them.” Backed by Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, Labour’s new housing policy introduces tough penalties for developers who delay construction – including potential land seizures, public reporting requirements and thousands of pounds in “delayed homes” fines.…
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Rayner’s reforms promise SME housebuilding revival
In a speech at the UK Real Estate and Infrastructure Forum (UKREiiF) in Leeds, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner unveiled a new strategy to rejuvenate the UK’s housing sector. Emphasising the crucial role of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), Rayner introduced planning reforms aimed at accelerating housebuilding, including the development of ‘grey belt’ land and…
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Government cuts higher level apprenticeship funding
The UK government has announced plans to “refocus” funding away from Level 7 (masters level) apprenticeships from January 2026. From next year, only existing apprentices or those aged 16-21 will be eligible for levy-funded training. According to the government, the new measures will allow levy funding to be “rebalanced towards training at lower levels, where…
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Nature protections ‘not the problem’ — so why is the government rolling them back?
The UK government’s Planning & Infrastructure Bill aims to expedite housing and infrastructure projects by streamlining environmental regulations. Central to the bill is the establishment of a Nature Restoration Fund (NRF), allowing developers to offset environmental obligations through financial contributions. While the government asserts that these latest planning reforms will support development without compromising environmental…
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Great British Energy blocks use of solar panels linked to forced labour
The UK government has announced that Great British Energy, the state-owned energy company, will be prohibited from using solar panels linked to forced labour practices in China’s Xinjiang region. This decision comes amid mounting pressure from MPs, campaigners, and international observers to ensure that the UK’s transition to renewable energy does not come at the…
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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…