This is in line with the UK Government’s landmark Infrastructure Strategy – a targeted, long-term plan to invest in Britain. The Modern Industrial Strategy focuses on ensuring every penny of taxpayer money spent delivers real returns for working people, through stronger local economies, better jobs and more resilient communities.
Ambitious housing and planning reforms set to transform property market
The UK Government has unveiled major initiatives in its Modern Industrial Strategy that will significantly influence the housing supply and overall property market, signalling huge opportunities and implications for our members. Proper consultation and partnership will be key to delivering genuine benefits, and we remain committed to providing representation to ensure the best outcomes for agents and the wider property market.
Spending review 2025
£4.2 billion will also be spent on the flooding programme over the next three years (2026/7 to 2028/9). This was announced as part of the 2025 Spending Review, focusing on both capital and resources, such as building new defences and repairing and maintaining existing ones.
Alongside this, the Government launched a consultation on proposals to introduce a simplified, more transparent approach to bidding for government funding for flood defences. This will benefit councils that have fewer resources to commit to the application process, and ensure money is distributed more effectively across the country.
Learning from others
Severe flash flooding hit London in the summer of 2021. The rain caused damage and disruption to homes and businesses, with many having to be accommodated elsewhere as their homes were flooded with stormwater and sewage.
Whilst work is underway to reduce the impact, it cannot entirely be prevented. The Mayor of London stated that, as the climate changes, we expect severe flooding to happen more frequently in our city; however, guidance and information have recently been issued to help prepare for flash floods.
Property agents’ responsibilities
Pollution levels and flood risks are issues likely to be considered material information by an average consumer, and whilst it isn’t wholly necessary to include this information for every property marketed; however, where pollution level is high, or the property is in a flood risk zone then it may well be a misleading omission not to include it.
The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 has a section on ‘Omission of Material Information from Invitation to Purchase’, which refers to omitting information, including providing information in a way that is unclear or untimely, or in such a way that the consumer is unlikely to see it.
