Lawrence Kenwright, founder of Signature Group, has been disqualified from acting as a director until August 2031 following an Insolvency Service investigation into misleading investment material linked to a co-working scheme in Liverpool. The case involved investor losses of more than £4.8m and allegations that the company implied investors would obtain a legal interest in properties it did not own.
X1 Media City Limited, the special purpose vehicle behind a four-tower scheme at Salford Quays, has entered administration with one tower still unbuilt. The administrators report says the company owed more than £20m to investors who had paid deposits, alongside £2.4m to contractor Vermont Construction, and the site is now being marketed for sale to recover funds for creditors.
Right to Buy sales in England rose sharply in 2025 to 2026, with 14,275 council homes sold, while replacement supply funded through receipts fell to 3,452 homes. The article links the increase to proposed reforms under the Social Housing Bill and notes that reduced discounts and tighter eligibility may prompt tenants to buy before further changes take effect.
New research indicates a sharp contraction in Build to Rent development, with starts on site falling 79% year on year to June and the steepest decline outside London. The article links the slowdown to viability pressures and policy uncertainty, while noting that completions continue to outpace new starts for a tenth consecutive quarter.
Construction sector insolvencies reached a record July high, with 32 business failures reported and year-to-date administrations running ahead of last year. The article highlights pressure from rising costs, low margins, reduced activity and liquidity strain, with some firms ceasing to trade and others rescued through administration processes or pre-pack sales.
Peel has launched a £582.9m cash offer to buy the remaining shares in Harworth Group, with the aim of taking the regeneration and strategic land business private. The bid would see Harworth delist from the London Stock Exchange if successful, and Peel says it would then review the business structure, costs and asset base over the following six months.
Build to Rent starts on site fell sharply across the UK in the year to June 2026, with the steepest declines outside London, according to delivery statistics prepared by Savills for Real Estate:UK. The article links the slowdown to viability pressures and wider policy uncertainty, while noting that BTR still accounts for around 8% of new homes delivered.
