Housing Today Focus - key issues in the housing sector

In Focus

The housing sector was delighted with the spending review – but lack of transport investment could scupper its delivery in London

After setting out a vision for development centred on public transit links, the mayor of London came out of the spending review empty handed. Can London build 88,000 homes a year without new infrastructure? Daniel Gayne reports.

Who is Amy Rees? Everything you need to know about new Homes England chief

MHCLG’s pick to lead the government’s delivery agency came out of left field. So what do we know about the new quango boss? And what does her appointment tell us about Homes England’s future?

Ahead of a £1.5bn development, Populo Living shares its plan to boost regeneration in Newham

In 2018, a new mayor tasked Newham’s housing company with building more affordable homes. Seven years later, its getting ready for its biggest scheme yet. Daniel Gayne headed east to find out more.

Nansledan: can design codes and long-term stewardship deliver better housing?

Mary Richardson visits Nansledan, the Duchy of Cornwall’s urban extension to Newquay. While its traditional architecture divides opinion, she finds that the project raises important questions about planning and designing new housing at scale

‘The sector now feels a sense of responsibility to play its part’ – Gavin Smart on the blizzard of policies announced in the past few weeks

The Chartered Institute of Housing chief executive reflects on the sector’s to-do list for the next few months. Carl Brown reports

‘We brought Livv back from the brink of destruction’…Léann Hearne on personal and professional challenges and what comes next

The CEO of Livv Group announced in April that she was stepping down in response to a series of “personal challenges” involving her family. She tells Matilda Battersby about her journey

Is the government’s Building Safety Regulator shake-up enough to fix the delays?

The government has promised to speed up approvals for high-rise residential schemes which have been languishing for up to a year in the new building safety regime. With patience running out and costs mounting, Tom Lowe speaks to the people caught up in the delays

Briefing: Why Durkan is eyeing rapid expansion through social housing stock upgrades

Contractor and housebuilder Durkan is pivoting towards improving existing stock for social landlords. Dan Germann, MD of its rebranded Durkan Regen business, explains his plans to grow the asset regeneration arm to the tune of £100m

‘Simply no alternative for many home purchases’: The sector group hoping Rayner doesn't leave shared ownership out in the cold

The government did not mention shared ownership in its spending review, nor did it feature in the Labour manifesto. Jo Short, who is leading a social landlord-backed campaign to raise awarness about the tenure, tells Matilda Battersby why it is needed more than ever

‘Bewildered but joyous…’ Ian McDermott explains what the spending review means for London as he takes the G15 hotseat

In his first interview as chair of the influential housing association group, the Peabody boss talks about the housing crisis in London, recapitalising housing associations and rebuilding the sector’s reputation

CIH vice-president election 2025: a guide to the candidates

Chartered Institute of Housing members can now vote in the election for the institute’s president in 2026. Here is a guide to the five candidates

What will the Treasury’s 'green book' review mean for construction and housing?

Boris Johnson’s 2020 review of the Treasury’s appraisal process for government investments led to some improvements in how value in schemes is judged, but a new review commissioned by Labour this year found many of the old practices remain embedded. Rachel Reeves has now said she wants to go further.