We announced initial allocations under the Social and Affordable Homes Programme (SAHP) in August 2026. We confirmed that £9.58 billion is being allocated to 33 Strategic Partners outside of London, including councils, housing associations and other providers to support the delivery of 73,600 new social and affordable homes across England over the next ten years.

Nearly two-thirds of homes delivered through these partnerships are expected to be for Social Rent.

This is the first major wave of funding allocations under the programme. Further funding will be allocated over the lifetime of the programme.

The Government is committed to ensuring that public procurement supports British businesses and helps to build a fairer economy, delivering jobs, skills and opportunities in every postcode.

The new Social Value Model will ensure that contracts valued at £1m and above, but less than £5m, apply a minimum 10% weighting (or equivalent measurement), and contracts valued at £5m or above, apply a minimum 20% weighting (or equivalent measurement), of the total score given to tenders. These will support apprenticeships and other forms of training in construction and other sectors.

Full details of the policy can be found here PPN 026: The Social Value Model (HTML) - GOV.UK.

Data centres are an enabling industry that supports employment, investment and economic growth across the UK. Data centres have been designated CNI which reflects their importance to the secure operation of digital services relied upon by businesses, public services and households. TechUK estimates that the sector supports 43,500 jobs, contributes £4.7 billion in annual GVA and generates £640 million in tax revenue. Each operational job may support a further 1.4 to 2.5 jobs across the economy.

The Government continues to work with industry to maximise local employment, skills and community benefits from new data centre developments.

All providers of all government funded apprenticeships are required to submit information on apprenticeship starts and completions which are held on the Longitudinal Individualised Learner Record.

Starts and achievements on the Level 2 Bricklayer, Level 3 Craft Bricklayer, Level 2 Carpentry and Joinery, Level 3 Craft Carpentry and Joinery, Level 2 Painter and Decorator, Level 3 Craft Painter and Decorator and Level 2 Plasterer apprenticeship standards can be found here and attached. 'Subjects - Starts, Achievements, Enrolments by Age, Sex, Ethnicity, LLDD, SSA, Detailed level, Standard-framework' from 'Apprenticeships', Permanent data table - Explore education statistics - GOV.UK.

Apprenticeships are occupationally specific and employers are responsible for determining whether an individual has the skills, knowledge and behaviours needed to start a particular apprenticeship. There is no general requirement for an individual to have completed a Level 2 apprenticeship in order to begin the corresponding Level 3 apprenticeship.

In relation to the Level 3 Craft Painting and Decorating, Level 3 Craft Plastering, and Level 3 Craft Bricklaying standard, completion of the associated Level 2 apprenticeship is not a mandatory prerequisite. An apprentice may start a Level 3 apprenticeship where they can demonstrate the relevant prior knowledge, skills and experience required by the employer and training provider.

Employers are free to set entry requirements for their vacancies, taking account of the content and level of the apprenticeship standard. The government expects training providers and employers to take account of relevant prior learning and occupational competence when determining whether an applicant is suitable for a particular apprenticeship programme.

Where an individual has already acquired some of the knowledge, skills and behaviours set out in the apprenticeship standard, this must be recognised through an assessment of prior learning and the apprenticeship content and duration adjusted accordingly.

All providers of all government funded apprenticeships are required to submit information on apprenticeship starts and completions which are held on the Longitudinal Individualised Learner Record.

Starts and achievements on the Level 2 Bricklayer, Level 3 Craft Bricklayer, Level 2 Carpentry and Joinery, Level 3 Craft Carpentry and Joinery, Level 2 Painter and Decorator, Level 3 Craft Painter and Decorator and Level 2 Plasterer apprenticeship standards can be found here and attached. 'Subjects - Starts, Achievements, Enrolments by Age, Sex, Ethnicity, LLDD, SSA, Detailed level, Standard-framework' from 'Apprenticeships', Permanent data table - Explore education statistics - GOV.UK.

Apprenticeships are occupationally specific and employers are responsible for determining whether an individual has the skills, knowledge and behaviours needed to start a particular apprenticeship. There is no general requirement for an individual to have completed a Level 2 apprenticeship in order to begin the corresponding Level 3 apprenticeship.

In relation to the Level 3 Craft Painting and Decorating, Level 3 Craft Plastering, and Level 3 Craft Bricklaying standard, completion of the associated Level 2 apprenticeship is not a mandatory prerequisite. An apprentice may start a Level 3 apprenticeship where they can demonstrate the relevant prior knowledge, skills and experience required by the employer and training provider.

Employers are free to set entry requirements for their vacancies, taking account of the content and level of the apprenticeship standard. The government expects training providers and employers to take account of relevant prior learning and occupational competence when determining whether an applicant is suitable for a particular apprenticeship programme.

Where an individual has already acquired some of the knowledge, skills and behaviours set out in the apprenticeship standard, this must be recognised through an assessment of prior learning and the apprenticeship content and duration adjusted accordingly.

The Government has been clear that those responsible for unsafe buildings should contribute towards the cost of fixing them. As of March 2025, the Government estimated that it will cost between £11.8bn and £22.7bn to remediate residential buildings 11 metres and above in height that have or had unsafe cladding in England.

Under the Developer Remediation Contract (DRC), 53 major developers have committed to fix or pay to fix over 2,600 buildings at a cost to themselves of around £4.2bn.

Where a building which was not developed by one of the 53 major developers requires cladding remediation, the Government has committed to grant funding. Under the terms of the grant funding agreement, the applicant is required to pursue reasonable cost recovery efforts from third parties, including developers where appropriate.

In addition, the Government is taking legal action to recover costs from those responsible using powers in the Building Safety Act 2022. For example, in May 2026 the department secured a remediation contribution order for £3.7m from a developer responsible for a building in London which the taxpayer had paid to remediate.

The Government does not publish data on the number of small and medium housebuilders who have building safety remediation liabilities. Data on the liabilities of developers under the Developer Remediation Contracts is published on gov.uk here.

The wider housebuilding sector will contribute to remediation costs through the Building Safety Levy, which comes into force from 1 October 2026. Measures within the levy to support smaller developers include an exemption for developments of fewer than 10 units, a 50% discount for new developments on previously developed land and an exemption for affordable housing.

The Government keeps the impact of building safety measures on housing delivery under review.

This Government is taking steps to support rainwater harvesting and recycling in homes. We have committed to reforming how rainwater is used in homes through the Clean Water Bill. This sits alongside our review of the water efficiency and drainage standards in Building Regulations (2010).

East West Rail Company consulted on proposals for Tempsford station in its Spring consultation which closed on 9 June. The company is considering feedback to this and is currently progressing design work as part of preparation for its Development Consent Order application in 2027.

The number of small reservoirs built on farmland in the last year is not collected centrally. Many small reservoirs are not subject to regulation and there is no requirement for farmers to report on these.

The consultation on the draft Heathrow Expansion National Policy Statement (HENPS) closed on 1 September 2026, and Parliamentary scrutiny by the Transport Select Committee is ongoing. The Government will carefully consider the views received through the consultation, alongside the Committee’s recommendations, before setting out its response and any next steps in relation to the HENPS.

The government does not agree compensation for individual landowners or businesses affected by the proposed Norwich to Tilbury project. This is a matter for the transmission owner, National Grid, and the landowners or businesses concerned. Where acquisition of land rights are required, whether by voluntary agreement or through compulsory purchase powers granted in a Development Consent Order, the requirements for compensation of affected parties are set out in relevant legislation.

Responses are currently being analysed and the Government response to the brownfield Biodiversity net gain consultation will be published in due course.

This evaluation examines tax reliefs relevant to housebuilding. It aims to:

1. Assess stakeholders’ awareness and understanding of the reliefs.
2. Understand how and when the tax reliefs are considered during the development process.
3. Explore the reliefs’ influence on project viability and housing supply.

Following a competitive tendering exercise, the contract to conduct this research project was awarded to Verian. A report on the findings will be published in due course.

Transmission Owners are responsible for delivering transmission projects and are regulated by Ofgem. Ofgem monitors delivery against agreed regulatory delivery dates and holds Transmission Owners accountable for the efficient and timely delivery of network upgrades. The licence delivery date for Yorkshire Green is 31/12/2028. Government is taking action to accelerate the build out of electricity network infrastructure, through reforms to planning, regulation, strategic network planning, unlocking supply chains and taking a strategic approach to workforce and skills.

Ofgem estimates that transmission owners will invest up to around £70 billion in Great Britain's electricity transmission network between 2025-26 and 2030-31. The majority of this spend remains subject to further in-period approval.

As well as supporting delivery of Clean Power 2030, this will accommodate growing electricity demand and reduce network constraints resulting from generation build having historically outpaced network build. Some expenditure also reflects essential asset replacement and maintenance.

Government monitors the progress of transmission projects required to meet our goal of clean power through regular engagement with industry and regulators. Cost estimates for individual projects are developed and maintained by the relevant transmission owners and are subject to regulatory scrutiny by Ofgem. Transmission owners are only permitted to recover costs that Ofgem determines are efficiently incurred.

Transmission Owners are responsible for delivering transmission projects and are regulated by Ofgem. Ofgem monitors delivery against agreed regulatory delivery dates and holds Transmission Owners accountable for the efficient and timely delivery of network upgrades. The licence delivery date for Norwich to Tilbury is 31/12/2031. Government is taking actions to accelerate the build out of electricity network infrastructure, through reforms to planning, regulation, strategic network planning, unlocking supply chains and taking a strategic approach to workforce and skills.

Transmission Owners are responsible for delivering transmission projects and are regulated by Ofgem. Ofgem monitors delivery against agreed regulatory delivery dates and holds Transmission Owners accountable for the efficient and timely delivery of network upgrades. The licence delivery date for Sea Link is 31/12/2031. Government is taking action to accelerate the build out of electricity network infrastructure, through reforms to planning, regulation, strategic network planning, unlocking supply chains and taking a strategic approach to workforce and skills.