New HBF research finds smaller builders delaying sites as planning delays, viability costs and weak demand undermine development pipelines.
SME housebuilders: 63% delay or halt sites
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Budget News
UK Budget announcements and their effects on planning, housing, development, infrastructure and property.
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Acorn carbon capture faces Budget funding rethink
The Budget reduces wider carbon capture grants and leaves Scotland’s Acorn project seeking possible loan or equity support.
Housing supply forecast cut by 190,000 homes
The OBR cuts expected UK housing additions by 190,000, while retaining its view that planning reforms will increase building.
Cardiff Parkway funding: £30m moves station forward
Budget 2026 commits £30 million to Cardiff Parkway while Wales challenges the wider rail settlement and existing planning conditions remain.
Budget 2026: A roundup of what was announced and how it might affect you
Budget 2026 changes brownfield housing, social housing, landlord taxes, council regeneration and commercial property. Our roundup links to 13 detailed Planning Geek reports.
Strategic Sites Accelerator opens £700m project call
A £700m UK strategic sites programme opens its first call for major industrial projects, targeting investment barriers and stalled development land.
Derelict Buildings Fund: 60 councils share £125m
Sixty English councils will share £125m to revive long-empty buildings, with allocations confirmed and project development beginning this year.
Crichel Down rules reform promised for 2027
Budget 2026 promises a spring 2027 overhaul of government land offer-back rules, potentially affecting surplus defence sites and housing delivery.
Business rates 2027: new multipliers and pub relief
England’s 2027 business rates multipliers are confirmed, with wider pub relief, new shop thresholds and important exemptions still to be finalised.
VAT on land for social housing changes in April 2027
HMRC confirms an April 2027 zero rate for qualifying social housing land sales, enabling earlier transfers and raising Section 106 questions.
Council tax surcharge to double on empty £2m homes
Budget 2026 confirms a double surcharge on empty £2m homes, with deferrals and new discounts for farmhouses and developers.
Budget pledges building regulations stability
Budget 2026 promises regulatory stability for English builders, while existing Future Homes deadlines and Grenfell safety reforms remain on course.
Budget promises planning AI for councils by 2027
The Budget promises planning AI for English councils and mandatory open planning data by end of 2027, subject to further testing.
BNG exemption promised for brownfield housing up to 1.5ha
Chancellor John Healey plans to exempt smaller brownfield housing schemes, but developers must wait for the start date and final rules
Property income tax to hit 24%, 44% and 49%
Landlords face another two-point increase next April, taking the planned rates to 24%, 44% and 49% after Labour’s Autumn Budget
First Time Buyer ISA confirmed with Lifetime ISA charge cut
Labour confirms a new savings account for 2029 and cuts the Lifetime ISA charge for qualifying purchases above £450,000
Social housing Budget: £1.5bn for affordable homes
Labour prioritises Social Rent and council homes, alongside cheaper council borrowing and a planned tax change to help providers buy land
National Wealth Fund set for £15.4bn Budget boost
The Treasury plans £15.4bn extra National Wealth Fund capital and £5bn for the British Business Bank, with infrastructure implications.
Mayoral funding: £285m growth plan ahead of Budget
England’s mayors could gain £285m for local growth, £150m for delivery teams and access to a proposed £1.5bn borrowing facility.
Your First Home: Healey confirms caps and April 2027 loans
Labour confirms income limits, property caps and launch dates for its new-build equity loan scheme, with first loans due next April
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