Pitch-perfect planning: What football infrastructure can teach UK housing policy
When the Lionesses lifted the UEFA Women’s Euro trophy, the nation rightly celebrated their sporting prowess — but their journey to the top was no fluke. It was the product of years of targeted investment in grassroots infrastructure, coaching, and pathways for talent development. In short, a long-term plan with delivered results.
Support smaller developers to unlock housing delivery
Propertymark has responded to the UK Government’s consultation on Reforming Site Thresholds, a key element of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government’s wider planning reform agenda. The proposed reforms aim to simplify the planning system and ease regulatory barriers for small to medium-sized housing developments, which will help more homes to be built in a shorter timeframe.
Ambitious house building with £36 billion funding
The Social and Affordable Homes Programme, as outlined in the June 2025 Spending Review, has been announced, which will see 300,000 homes delivered across England, with at least 60% for social rent.
Major overhaul of Right to Buy Scheme
Reforms include longer tenancy requirements, reduced discounts, and new protections to improve delivery, reduce fraud, and help councils replace the homes they lose have been announced by the UK Government following a consultation period.
Building Safety Regulator reforms promise faster approvals, but delivery is key
Sweeping changes have been announced in a bid to accelerate housebuilding and clear the backlog of stalled high-rise projects, with updated operational guidance expected in the Autumn alongside further steps to establish the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) as a standalone construction regulator.
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.
London’s housing future hinges on bold action
Propertymark has issued a robust response to the Mayor of London’s consultation on the next London Plan, warning that without urgent action to address the capital’s acute housing shortage, the Plan risks failing to meet its fundamental aims. The proposals lack critical focus on the role of the Private Rented Sector (PRS), underplay the challenge of housing delivery, and fail to fully embrace the potential of private landlords to meet housing need.
AI planning tool is a positive step, but wider reform is essential
Propertymark has welcomed the launch of Extract, the UK Government’s new technology solution, which aims to reduce delays and support the delivery of 1.5 million homes through its Plan for Change. However, we urge ministers to recognise that digitising the planning system is only one part of the solution to tackling the housing crisis – recruitment, inefficient processes, and skills gaps must still be addressed.
Rooftop solar to become standard for new builds
The UK Government has confirmed the change will be part of the upcoming Future Homes Standard, to be published this autumn. Propertymark supports efforts to reduce household energy costs and improve energy efficiency in new homes but has urged Ministers to address practical implementation challenges and ensure support is in place for the UK’s 29 million existing homes.
Spending review promises £39bn cash injection for affordable housing
Chancellor Rachel Reeves, MP, delivered her first Spending Review on 11 June 2025, setting out the UK Government’s financial plans through to 2029. With major implications for the housing sector, the review includes a headline investment in social and affordable housing – the biggest such commitment in 50 years. Propertymark welcomes this clear signal that housing is a top priority. We also recognise the importance of scrutinising how this investment will be delivered in practice and what it means for agents across the property sector.
Welsh Government unlocks land for new homes with £24 million investment
The funding, delivered through the Land Division, will support 17 projects aimed at addressing housing need and creating stronger communities. Propertymark has consistently called for greater collaboration between devolved governments and the private sector to support housing delivery. This latest announcement reflects similar calls raised in our reports on planning reform and housing supply.
Further planning reforms and SME builder support to stimulate housing delivery
The UK Government has unveiled a major plan to get Britain building by backing small and medium-sized housebuilders with funding, regulatory reform, and new guidance aimed at speeding up completions. Keeping pace with housing demand remains an incredibly challenging ambition to achieve, and it is vital that reforms identify areas of potential housing need and deliver a streamlined process that supports the provision of sustainable housing.
Building the best future for the Scottish housing sector?
The Scottish Government has set out detailed plans to tackle Scotland’s ongoing housing challenges in its Programme for Government 2025-26, with significant implications for property agents across the country. Propertymark welcomes the renewed focus on affordable housing and tenant protections, issues we have consistently highlighted through our policy engagement, particularly with regard to the Housing (Scotland) Bill. However, we reiterate our stance that truly resolving Scotland’s housing crisis requires the Scottish Government to urgently reassess the broader financial landscape affecting housing.
England's land must work harder and more flexibly for a secure future
A major consultation for a new Land Use Framework aims to balance the need for 1.5 million new homes, expansion of energy infrastructure, and the creation of new towns, alongside the protection of the environment and the transition to a low-carbon economy. Propertymark supports a balanced approach to changes in land use, however, we believe the UK Government has significantly underestimated the land required for residential development.
Modernised planning committees will still need more planning officers
The UK Government has published proposals to reform planning committees in England as part of its broader planning reform agenda, setting out significant changes that could affect how planning decisions are made locally. Propertymark supports reform to improve the consistency and speed of decisions but warns that the current proposals may miss the mark, especially around delegation and local flexibility.
Propertymark calls for greater focus on accessible homes
The UK Government has responded to a report on the experiences of disabled people in the housing sector, which was published by the former Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee in 2024. Propertymark provided evidence to the inquiry and has written to current housing minister Rushanara Ali, MP, renewing our calls for a more robust and inclusive approach within the UK’s wider housebuilding agenda.