Housebuilder hits a wall: How did Vistry become the UK’s most shorted stock? Property Vistry, the “nation’s favourite housebuilder,” has become the UK’s most shorted stock. From a shift to a bold new model to hopes that it can fuel Burnham’s housing vision, Felix Armstrong unpicks the firm’s recent history Back in 2024, Vistry boss Greg Fitzgerald was brimming with optimism. The housebuilder’s ambitious switch from a private market [...]
Barratt Redrow urges Burnham to slash tax to boost housebuilders Property Barratt Redrow has called on Prime Minister-to-be Andy Burnham to cut taxes to encourage housebuilding and remove “barriers to home ownership”. The FTSE 100 housebuilder urged the government to address “the increasing regulatory and tax burdens that are constraining viability” to “unlock higher levels of housing delivery, including affordable housing”. Burnham has pledged to back [...]
‘It’s gone’: How a social housing scheme left amateur investors tens of millions out of pocket Property A social housing investment scheme that promised amateur investors huge returns with no risk has collapsed into administration owing its backers nearly £27m, City AM has learned. Alderley Group, which invested in affordable housing projects across the North West of England, has left around 1000 investors out of pocket after claiming it could guarantee returns [...]
London was once a destination for the young, now it’s a compromise May 29, 2026 New research shows a third of young Londoners expect to leave within two years. The city is pricing out its talent, says Festus Akinbusoye.
Is housebuilding in London impossible? May 25, 2026 After its 900-home development in Peckham was blocked, housebuilder Berkeley said it can “no longer invest” in London. Felix Armstrong asks whether development in the capital really has hit a brick wall At the Aylesham Centre in Peckham, south London, shoppers are met with graffitied walls, peeling paint and shuttered retail units. The site began [...]
‘Downright offensive’: Southwark council slammed for blocking 900 homes May 19, 2026 Southwark council has been blasted for celebrating the blocking of an 867-home development on the site of a Peckham shopping centre. The local authority hailed a “great day for Peckham” after housebuilder Berkeley failed to overturn a ruling against the development, which would have delivered retail, leisure and commercial space alongside the hundreds of homes. [...]
£9bn in housing funds sit idle in council accounts March 1, 2026 More than £9bn in developer contributions earmarked for schools, transport, healthcare and affordable housing is sitting unspent in council bank accounts, according to new research. A freedom of information survey by the Home Builders Federation (HBF) estimates that £6.6bn in Section 106 payments and £2.2bn raised through the community infrastructure levy (CIL) remain unspent. Of [...]
John Lewis blames high costs as it axes build-to-rent venture February 25, 2026 Retail giant John Lewis is to withdraw from its build-to-rent business in a shock U-turn on its diversification plans, after bemoaning high interest rates and a downturn in the London property market. John Lewis Partnership (JLP), which also owns Waitrose, took on management of around 1,000 homes in Bromley, West Ealing and Reading as part [...]
London Docklands might get a new 820-home development October 23, 2025 A new 820-home planning application in the Docklands has been submitted in what could be a major housebuilding scheme for the capital. The 54-storey scheme, submitted by Areli Developments, would occupy 77 Marsh Wall in Canary Wharf. Rob Tincknell, founder and CEO at Areli, said it would be a “landmark building… for all types of [...]
L&G: FTSE 100 giant reveals £2bn plan to create 24,000 jobs October 20, 2025 FTSE 100 giant Legal & General (L&G) has revealed plans to invest £2bn in regeneration projects across the UK in a move which it said will create around 24,000 jobs. The group said it would invest into ‘productive assets’ such as infrastructure, affordable housing and urban regeneration between now and 2030. L&G added that it [...]