Anna Clarke
@annaclarke.bsky.social
Policy and Public Affairs at The Housing Forum. Interested in UK housing policy, planning, economics, housebuilding, energy, social policy. Views are my own. Cambridge based. https://housingforum.org.uk/
Reposted by Anna Clarke
I am consistently amazed the Building Safety Regulator isn’t a much bigger story. It’s brought house building in London to a total halt, but it’s also brought cladding remedy works to a halt, too. Which is costing leaseholders FORTUNES, halting sales, and leaving people living in unsafe buildings.
... at the Building Safety Regulator - which has lead to 9 month delays at this stage alone:
www.building.co.uk/news/nine-mo...
www.building.co.uk/news/nine-mo...
Nine month wait to get building safety sign-off for new builds, regulator admits
When new regulations were introduced 18 months, planned target was to get decisions made with 12 weeks
www.building.co.uk
December 1, 2025 at 9:28 AM
I am consistently amazed the Building Safety Regulator isn’t a much bigger story. It’s brought house building in London to a total halt, but it’s also brought cladding remedy works to a halt, too. Which is costing leaseholders FORTUNES, halting sales, and leaving people living in unsafe buildings.
These figures are bleak - and nothing at all in the budget yesterday to address them. Instead Local Housing Allowance remains frozen.
New homelessness figures today show a continued upwards trajectory in the numbers of children and households living in temporary accommodation, reaching new record highs.
Yesterday the OBR reported cost of TA to local authorities increased 20% *a year* between 2022-23 and 2024-25.
Yesterday the OBR reported cost of TA to local authorities increased 20% *a year* between 2022-23 and 2024-25.
November 27, 2025 at 10:59 AM
These figures are bleak - and nothing at all in the budget yesterday to address them. Instead Local Housing Allowance remains frozen.
Interesting chart here showing where the impact of the changes to salary sacrifice pension schemes will fall - not the poorest (don't earn enough to pay NI), and not much on the richest (only 2% NI is paid on income>£50k). So the middle earners stand to lose most.
A little bit of analysis I've done shows that the salary sacrifice changes in the budget today fall most heavily in those between 20-60k, and much less on those above, both in absolute and % terms.
This is because NI falls to 2% above ~50k so the impact of the additional NI to pay is much smaller
This is because NI falls to 2% above ~50k so the impact of the additional NI to pay is much smaller
November 27, 2025 at 10:38 AM
Interesting chart here showing where the impact of the changes to salary sacrifice pension schemes will fall - not the poorest (don't earn enough to pay NI), and not much on the richest (only 2% NI is paid on income>£50k). So the middle earners stand to lose most.
So the Times is recommending spending £500,000 on an indoor swimming pool, which will take £392,000 of your property value (total loss: £892,000) in order to save £2,500 a year? Not quite sure that's an attractive offer....
How will mansion tax work? Here’s how to devalue your home to avoid it ⬇️
What is mansion tax and how can I devalue my home to avoid it?
How will mansion tax work? Here’s how to devalue your home to avoid it
www.thetimes.com
November 26, 2025 at 5:18 PM
So the Times is recommending spending £500,000 on an indoor swimming pool, which will take £392,000 of your property value (total loss: £892,000) in order to save £2,500 a year? Not quite sure that's an attractive offer....
Reposted by Anna Clarke
We welcome measures announced in today’s budget to support the housebuilding sector and reductions to the levies on electricity bills but call for more support for councils with the costs of homelessness.
housingforum.org.uk/the-housing-...
housingforum.org.uk/the-housing-...
The Housing Forum welcomes measures announced in today's budget : The Housing Forum
The Housing Forum welcomes measures announced in today’s budget to support the housebuilding sector and reductions to the levies on electricity bills but calls for more support for councils with the c...
housingforum.org.uk
November 26, 2025 at 4:51 PM
We welcome measures announced in today’s budget to support the housebuilding sector and reductions to the levies on electricity bills but call for more support for councils with the costs of homelessness.
housingforum.org.uk/the-housing-...
housingforum.org.uk/the-housing-...
Reposted by Anna Clarke
I know there's a budget n all, but a huge CONGRATULATIONS to @mauricelange.bsky.social for winning the @thinkhouseinfo.bsky.social Early Career Researcher's Prize for his paper 'The past, present and future of public housebuilding in England'. www.thinkhouse.org.uk/about/early-...
November 26, 2025 at 3:13 PM
I know there's a budget n all, but a huge CONGRATULATIONS to @mauricelange.bsky.social for winning the @thinkhouseinfo.bsky.social Early Career Researcher's Prize for his paper 'The past, present and future of public housebuilding in England'. www.thinkhouse.org.uk/about/early-...
Details of this now out - and it does indeed look like very good news - Government has listened to concerns and I don't think they really meant add £25k to cost of a new home, via massive taxes on the rubble and topsoil which is removed and then used to fill a former quarry!
November 26, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Details of this now out - and it does indeed look like very good news - Government has listened to concerns and I don't think they really meant add £25k to cost of a new home, via massive taxes on the rubble and topsoil which is removed and then used to fill a former quarry!
Social landlords will be disappointed not to get the details of rent convergence today - the sector was hoping to be allowed to increase below-target rents at up to £3 a week, but will have to wait until January to find out if this is allowed.
November 26, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Social landlords will be disappointed not to get the details of rent convergence today - the sector was hoping to be allowed to increase below-target rents at up to £3 a week, but will have to wait until January to find out if this is allowed.
Full budget document now out: www.gov.uk/government/p...
Budget 2025 document
This is the full Budget 2025 document in print, web and HTML accessible versions.
www.gov.uk
November 26, 2025 at 1:57 PM
Full budget document now out: www.gov.uk/government/p...
Reeves has just confirmed that she is scrapping the plans for huge increases in landfill tax - which could have added £25k to the cost of building a house. This is very good news for the housing sector.
November 26, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Reeves has just confirmed that she is scrapping the plans for huge increases in landfill tax - which could have added £25k to the cost of building a house. This is very good news for the housing sector.
If correct, this would be a much better move to encourage people to move to more carbon forms of heating (eg heat pumps).
Rachel Reeves decides against cutting VAT on energy bills in Budget
The Chancellor is expected to remove some social and environmental levies from electricity bills instead, for example those that fund energy efficiency in low income or vulnerable households.
buff.ly/lDgCTaM
The Chancellor is expected to remove some social and environmental levies from electricity bills instead, for example those that fund energy efficiency in low income or vulnerable households.
buff.ly/lDgCTaM
November 26, 2025 at 9:43 AM
If correct, this would be a much better move to encourage people to move to more carbon forms of heating (eg heat pumps).
What might we see in the budget for housing? Here's my personal list of what seems likely, possibly and unlikely.
November 25, 2025 at 1:52 PM
What might we see in the budget for housing? Here's my personal list of what seems likely, possibly and unlikely.
Have seen lots of criticism but:
- Expensive homes currently pay the least council tax, relative to value. This fixes that.
- No cliff edges if it's only on the value above £2m.
- Doesn't raise very much yet, but would do so in time if the £2m cap is frozen.
- Expensive homes currently pay the least council tax, relative to value. This fixes that.
- No cliff edges if it's only on the value above £2m.
- Doesn't raise very much yet, but would do so in time if the £2m cap is frozen.
Homes worth more than £2mn set to be hit by Budget raid on.ft.com/4rocFhe
Homes worth more than £2mn set to be hit by Budget raid
‘Mansion tax’ set to affect more than 100,000 properties, mostly in London and the south-east
on.ft.com
November 24, 2025 at 10:41 PM
Have seen lots of criticism but:
- Expensive homes currently pay the least council tax, relative to value. This fixes that.
- No cliff edges if it's only on the value above £2m.
- Doesn't raise very much yet, but would do so in time if the £2m cap is frozen.
- Expensive homes currently pay the least council tax, relative to value. This fixes that.
- No cliff edges if it's only on the value above £2m.
- Doesn't raise very much yet, but would do so in time if the £2m cap is frozen.
This is really important research - roll out of heat pumps and the Future Home Standard in new homes is currently held up by concerns from electricity suppliers that all-electric homes will draw too much power.
If we've been over cautious about that, we should update our calculations.
If we've been over cautious about that, we should update our calculations.
NEW from me: A recent study finds that fully electrified homes in Handsworth, built to adhere to a draft version of the Future Homes standard, put less pressure on the grid than researchers expected.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Heat-pump homes put less strain on grid than expected, study shows
Analysis of new-builds in Birmingham suggests all-electric homes not only use less energy but vary in peak usage
www.theguardian.com
November 19, 2025 at 10:07 AM
This is really important research - roll out of heat pumps and the Future Home Standard in new homes is currently held up by concerns from electricity suppliers that all-electric homes will draw too much power.
If we've been over cautious about that, we should update our calculations.
If we've been over cautious about that, we should update our calculations.
Detail here on today's planning reforms:
1) Default permission for new homes "within reasonable walking distance" of train station, even on greenbelt
2) Government intervention if councils plan to refuse large sites
3) Review of statutory consultees
questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-stat...
1) Default permission for new homes "within reasonable walking distance" of train station, even on greenbelt
2) Government intervention if councils plan to refuse large sites
3) Review of statutory consultees
questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-stat...
Written statements - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament
Information from UK Parliament on written questions & answers, written statements and daily reports.
questions-statements.parliament.uk
November 18, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Detail here on today's planning reforms:
1) Default permission for new homes "within reasonable walking distance" of train station, even on greenbelt
2) Government intervention if councils plan to refuse large sites
3) Review of statutory consultees
questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-stat...
1) Default permission for new homes "within reasonable walking distance" of train station, even on greenbelt
2) Government intervention if councils plan to refuse large sites
3) Review of statutory consultees
questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-stat...
Reposted by Anna Clarke
Government is planning changes to the planning system to streamline it:
- Removing Sports England, The Gardens Trust & Theatres Trust as statutory consultees
- Reducing the scope of statutory consultees
- Measures to ensure they don't hold up planning applications.
www.gov.uk/government/c...
- Removing Sports England, The Gardens Trust & Theatres Trust as statutory consultees
- Reducing the scope of statutory consultees
- Measures to ensure they don't hold up planning applications.
www.gov.uk/government/c...
Reforms to the statutory consultee system
We are seeking views on reforming the role of statutory consultees in the planning system in England.
www.gov.uk
November 18, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Government is planning changes to the planning system to streamline it:
- Removing Sports England, The Gardens Trust & Theatres Trust as statutory consultees
- Reducing the scope of statutory consultees
- Measures to ensure they don't hold up planning applications.
www.gov.uk/government/c...
- Removing Sports England, The Gardens Trust & Theatres Trust as statutory consultees
- Reducing the scope of statutory consultees
- Measures to ensure they don't hold up planning applications.
www.gov.uk/government/c...
This is particularly good news for people living in flats. Air to air heat pumps are particularly good for small properties, or if damp and mould is an issue. They can provide cooling too, which will help with overheating in flats.
Heat pumps news! DESNZ is expanding the Boiler Upgrade Scheme to cover air to air heat pumps and heat batteries.
Both will be eligible for a £2,500 grant if it fully replaces a gas or oil boiler…
www.businessgreen.com/news/4521952...
Both will be eligible for a £2,500 grant if it fully replaces a gas or oil boiler…
www.businessgreen.com/news/4521952...
Boiler Upgrade Scheme: Government set to expand scheme to include air conditioning heat pumps
Government expands heat pump scheme to include heat batteries and 'air-to-air devices' that can cool homes in summer, despite speculation over budget cuts
www.businessgreen.com
November 18, 2025 at 11:51 AM
This is particularly good news for people living in flats. Air to air heat pumps are particularly good for small properties, or if damp and mould is an issue. They can provide cooling too, which will help with overheating in flats.
Is the Telegraph economically illiterate? If you put a hefty charge onto higher value properties their price would go down, not up! www.telegraph.co.uk/business/202...
Access Restricted
www.telegraph.co.uk
November 17, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Is the Telegraph economically illiterate? If you put a hefty charge onto higher value properties their price would go down, not up! www.telegraph.co.uk/business/202...
New planning reforms confirmed that allow Government to intervene if a large housing development would be otherwise refused by the local planning committee. www.thetimes.com/article/c471...
Councils to lose power to block large housing developments
The housing secretary will take the ability to veto local objections and speed up planning delays, but councils see it as an attack on local democracy
www.thetimes.com
November 17, 2025 at 9:37 AM
New planning reforms confirmed that allow Government to intervene if a large housing development would be otherwise refused by the local planning committee. www.thetimes.com/article/c471...
Renters’ Rights Act to come into effect from May - ending S21 evictions.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Renters’ Rights Act: No-fault evictions banned from May 2026
The government confirms timeline for reforms to England’s rental market, including ending bidding wars.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 13, 2025 at 11:18 PM
Renters’ Rights Act to come into effect from May - ending S21 evictions.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Couldn't agree more with Crisis here that "the solution to homelessness is housing". But acquiring housing that already exists doesn't create more homes. It just changes the landlord.
November 10, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Couldn't agree more with Crisis here that "the solution to homelessness is housing". But acquiring housing that already exists doesn't create more homes. It just changes the landlord.
Reposted by Anna Clarke
The GLA allocates is own share of the grant for London. And announced today, six northern mayors will also £7bn between them to allocate. (Greater Manchester, West Midlands, North East, West Yorkshire, Liverpool City Region and South Yorkshire)
November 7, 2025 at 9:26 AM
The GLA allocates is own share of the grant for London. And announced today, six northern mayors will also £7bn between them to allocate. (Greater Manchester, West Midlands, North East, West Yorkshire, Liverpool City Region and South Yorkshire)
Reposted by Anna Clarke
UK brick deliveries are a useful proxy for new house building starts in the absence of monthly house building starts data & the latest data from the Department for Business & Trade (DBT) covers September 2025. (1/n)
#ukhousing #ukconstruction
#ukhousing #ukconstruction
November 5, 2025 at 9:41 AM
UK brick deliveries are a useful proxy for new house building starts in the absence of monthly house building starts data & the latest data from the Department for Business & Trade (DBT) covers September 2025. (1/n)
#ukhousing #ukconstruction
#ukhousing #ukconstruction
What are people's thoughts on this paper setting out a case for government grant on hybrid heat pumps? They're saying the heat pump can do 94% of the heat, but the gas backup helps in very cold weather.
www.worcester-bosch.co.uk/img/PR/hybri...
The figures here look quite compelling:
www.worcester-bosch.co.uk/img/PR/hybri...
The figures here look quite compelling:
November 5, 2025 at 11:42 AM
What are people's thoughts on this paper setting out a case for government grant on hybrid heat pumps? They're saying the heat pump can do 94% of the heat, but the gas backup helps in very cold weather.
www.worcester-bosch.co.uk/img/PR/hybri...
The figures here look quite compelling:
www.worcester-bosch.co.uk/img/PR/hybri...
The figures here look quite compelling:
Reposted by Anna Clarke
Niche blog post #1: what stamp duty statistics say about how many home purchases are for "additional" dwellings rather than primary homes jamesjgleeson.wordpress.com/2025/10/19/a...
Additional property purchases and ‘surplus’ housing
The Green Alliance recently hosted a webinar on whether it’s possible to build to build 1.5 million homes (the UK government target for this parliament) without accelerating the climate crisi…
jamesjgleeson.wordpress.com
October 31, 2025 at 9:42 AM
Niche blog post #1: what stamp duty statistics say about how many home purchases are for "additional" dwellings rather than primary homes jamesjgleeson.wordpress.com/2025/10/19/a...