Monday morning briefing 2025 07 28

It’s Monday and therefore time for a quick catch up on last weeks news.

-> In an attempt to speed up building safety approvals, fresh Gateway 2 guidance has been published. Housing Today reports that the latest advice from the Construction Leadership Committee shows the official wait time for sign off is 9 months

-> The JV between Ballymore and Places for London’s 3,300 home scheme in Edgware gained approval despite 2,000 objections. 

-> Mount Anvil has submitted plans for 274 homes at Lots Road South in Chelsea in partnership with KCSC - Kensington and Chelsea Social Council with 45% affordable housing

-> Lendlease is now able to move the Smithfield Birmingham development to the next stage  after the Enterprise Zone Partnership Board and Birmingham City Council signed off the outline business case, unlocking public funding of £172.8mn reports Bea Patel at BTR News

-> Graham has been shortlisted for an award for its construction work on the MILLERS QUAY MANAGEMENT COMPANY LIMITED BTR development, at the Construction Employers Federation (CEF) NI Excellence Awards 2025. The developer Peel Waters recently won a sustainability award for the same development, congratulations to all involved. 

->  L&Q has put its BTR portfolio of 3,147 homes across 52 schemes for sale, with Urban Living News reporting that Morgan Stanley Real Estate Investing (MSREI) are the preferred party to buy it.

-> Also in the Urban Living News was a great article (link in the comments) reporting that the BTR sector is “poorly understood by many of those it needs to engage: MPs, councillors and local authority planners” and this provides “an obstacle to growth”  The result says Andrew Jones of LRG is BTR will fall short of its potential. 

-> Property District have been reporting on falling planning, starts and then completion numbers in Ireland for around twelve months consistently. However a light at the end of the tunnel this week as they report new dwelling completions were up 35% in the second quarter. 9,214 new homes completed in April, May and June, as programme for government pledges to deliver 41,000 houses this year

-> Amongst the planning proposals submitted were a new proposal for the former site of Holy Cross College in Drumcondra The plans are for 1,131 apartments over 12 blocks on the site with the tallest block coming in at 13 storeys. 

Image this week, obviously is Peel Waters, taken from their website.