Tag: Government
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Solar panels will be part of Future Homes Standard, government confirms
The UK government has confirmed that the Future Homes Standard will be published this autumn, making it clear that new homes will require solar panels as standard. The announcement forms part of the government’s wider Plan for Change, aimed at improving energy efficiency, reducing carbon emissions, and lowering energy bills for future homeowners. While many…
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Government pledges £39bn for affordable homes in Spending Review
The UK government has announced a £39 billion plan over ten years to build 1.5 million affordable new homes. This big spending promise, part of the Chancellor’s latest review, is being called the “biggest boost to social and affordable housing in a generation.” However, many will be watching closely to see if this huge investment…
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How’s the government going to ‘get Britain building’?
The government has published two major planning announcements aimed at the housebuilding sector. David Parry explains what’s in each of them. (Image: Paul Maguire via Dreamstime) The end of May saw the publication of two major government announcements for the construction sector, both setting out further intentions to free up the planning system and get…
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Government to appoint interim chief construction adviser this summer
The government is planning to announce an interim chief construction adviser this summer ahead of a permanent appointment next year. The update was included in the government’s progress report on the Grenfell Tower Inquiry’s Phase 2 recommendations, published today (29 May). One of the Inquiry’s recommendations was the appointment of a chief construction adviser to…
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Government tells industry to continue using its advice to determine HRBs
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has published a notice asking the sector and regulatory bodies to continue using government guidance to determine whether a building is higher-risk. It follows confusion arising from a first-tier tribunal decision last July, which ruled that a roof terrace in a residential property in East London…
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Government urges industry to continue using its advice on HRBs
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has published a notice asking the sector and regulatory bodies to continue using government guidance to determine whether a building is higher-risk. It follows confusion arising from a first-tier tribunal decision last July, which ruled that a roof terrace in a residential property in East London…
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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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Housebuilders will have to set delivery timeframes under new government plans
The government said that the proposed Delayed Homes Penalty, which would be worth “thousands per unbuilt home”, would be a last resort measure for local authorities where a developer has agreed a build-out schedule in their planning permission, but falls materially (10% or more) behind it without a good reason. View the original article and…
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MPs criticise ‘stop-start’ government retrofit schemes
“Our sector has well-documented skills and worker shortages, so instead of short-term, ever-changing schemes, long-term policies that provide a steady pipeline of demand for retrofitting must be the way forward. This would provide the industry with the assurance to invest in training and upskilling the workforce, which in turn gives households confidence that retrofit works…
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Would you volunteer? Government launches new ‘Dad’s Army’ Home Guard to protect power plants and pipelines
The UK government plans to bring back a volunteer ‘Home Guard’ to protect critical infrastructure like power plants and energy pipelines. This move aims to reduce risks of disruptions that could trigger energy price rises and impact household bills. It forms part of a broader Strategic Defence Review responding to increasing global threats and aiming…