Far East Orchard and HG Construction have secured Gateway 2 approval for the 239-studio Apex purpose-built student accommodation scheme in Manchester, allowing construction to begin. The project is the developer’s first in the city and is expected to complete by 2028, subject to delivery progress.
The Regulator of Social Housing’s 2026 casework review draws lessons from its recent regulation of social landlords, focusing on governance, financial viability, consumer standards and tenant safety. It says landlords need stronger risk management, better use of data, and more robust assurance to demonstrate compliance and deliver safe, good-quality homes.
Robertson has completed a 10,000 sq ft modular outpatients facility at Leighton Hospital in Crewe, providing new accommodation for audiology and ENT services. The work sits alongside wider estate redevelopment plans for the hospital, which is affected by RAAC and forms part of the government’s new hospitals programme.
The government has rejected calls to exempt certain construction contracts from its planned ban on retentions, arguing that the practice is ineffective at preventing defects and creates cashflow and insolvency risks. Ministers said they will instead work with industry during a transition period to develop alternative forms of surety, while also confirming 30-day payment requirements for contracts under the Procurement Act 2023.
London Square has reported increased losses, which the company attributes to unprecedented strain linked to delays in building safety processes. The article notes that the reported figure does not necessarily reflect the underlying profitability of the business.
The Glasgow School of Art has announced plans to remove the external scaffold around the Mackintosh Building and replace it with an internal support system from 2027, alongside a temporary roof, selected permanent steelwork and internal repairs. The first phase is intended to stabilise the Category A-listed building after the 2018 fire, but it will not make the building usable and further reinstatement phases will still be required.
Prosper has launched a four-year, £500m framework for building safety works and services across the UK, covering consultancy, passive fire protection, active fire protection and principal contractor delivery. The framework is aimed at public sector bodies and social landlords, with regional sub-lots across England and Wales and contract awards expected in September 2026.
Sir Robert McAlpine is facing a High Court damages claim over alleged fire safety defects at a London mixed-use development, with the freeholder alleging the 13 residential units were not fit for habitation. The claim references EWS1-related review work, remediation already completed, and alleged breaches of contract, warranty rights and the Defective Premises Act 1972.
The Building Safety Regulator says its oversight is helping to restore confidence in London’s flat market by improving perceptions of safety, credibility and value in existing residential buildings. BSR leaders also argued that closer engagement with industry is reducing delays in the gateway process and improving the passage of schemes through regulation.
South East Refurbishment Ltd has been fined after a worker suffered life-changing injuries in a fall from a raised forklift bucket while carrying out dismantling work at a site in Kent. The HSE said the incident arose from poor contractor management, inadequate training, and a lack of supervision and safe systems of work for work at height.
Cumberland Council is relying on agency staff to keep its building control service operating, with 13 of 15 roles vacant and the function described as under significant resource pressure. The article also highlights wider staffing shortages across local authority building control, with some councils reporting backlogs and paused inspections.
The Building Safety Regulator has warned main contractors that it will scrutinise how they oversee subcontractors on higher-risk building projects. The warning comes as projects progress from gateway two design approval towards gateway three, with the regulator expecting tighter management and control.
