Weekly planning news

Housing associations sell 25,000 social and affordable homes to private buyers 

Housing associations in England have sold around 25,000 social and affordable homes to private buyers since 2018- 2019, according to new research from the Local Councils Network (LCN).¹ 

The number of homes sold reached a record of 5,250 in 2024-2025, recording an 89 per cent increase over two years. The homes were sold to private buyers at market value and were separate from properties sold to tenants through existing home ownership schemes. 

The LCN has proposed changes to how funding is managed when Social Rent homes are sold, including reinvesting recovered funding in replacement homes in the same area. It has also recommended giving councils and other registered providers the opportunity to make an offer before a property is sold. 

Inside Housing² reported that housing associations had a net gain of 2,864 social-rent homes in 2024 2025, around 7 per cent of their total net gain across all tenures. 

Planning Portal Index data³ also highlights continued planning activity for social and affordable housing. The data recorded 5,053 applications in Q2 2026, the strongest second quarter for this type of housing since the beginning of the decade. 

LCN social housing spokesperson, Paul Harvey said the organisation’s proposals are intended to support the Government’s plans to increase social housing supply, while considering how existing homes are managed. 

The National Housing Federation said housing associations remain committed to delivering new social homes. It said they had built 333,165 new homes since 2018 - 2019, including 40,651 for social rent, and that some disposals are used to fund investment in existing homes and new development. 

Government plans new jobs strategy to tackle construction worker shortage 

The Government is developing a new plan to address the construction industry’s workforce shortage, with a comprehensive package of support expected to be announced later this year. 

Housing and Planning Minister, Matthew Pennycook has confirmed that work is in progress to deliver a Construction Jobs Plan, which is expected to set out measures to support skills and employment across the industry. 

Pennycook said the unpredictable pipeline of work presents a particular challenge for the construction industry and its workforce, especially for firms using modern methods of construction (MMC). 

He also highlighted the New Towns Programme as an important source of future work, while noting that the necessary workforce will need to be available to deliver it. 

Few details have been confirmed about what the new plan will contain. However, the Government is already developing Jobs Plans with industry and other partners to address workforce needs across construction and other priority sectors. 

Industry organisations are also taking steps to increase the number of people entering the sector. In June, the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) launched its Accelerated Apprenticeships programme, aimed at increasing apprenticeship numbers and helping address regional skills shortages. 

The new plan is expected to build on these wider efforts, with a focus on ensuring the construction workforce has the skills and capacity needed to meet future demand. 

Government puts major council reorganisation on hold 

Plans to adapt local government models across England have been put on hold after the Government launched a review of its proposals - following ‘legal advice’. 

The Government has withdrawn plans to merge smaller councils into larger unitary authorities in Essex, Hampshire, Norfolk and Suffolk. Proposals in a further 14 areas will also be paused as part of the review. 

According to the government, the review will assess whether the proposed reorganisation is following the correct legal process and whether the plans continue to meet the priorities of the new administration. 

The proposals, first announced in 2024⁴, would replace the current two-tier system in affected areas, where county and district councils share responsibility for local services, with single unitary authorities. 

The changes could have implications for how local services are organised, including responsibilities linked to planning and housing, as councils move towards different structures and boundaries. 

Reorganisation in Surrey will not be affected by the review, with councillors for two new unitary authorities having been elected in May. The Government has also confirmed that local elections in May 2027 will go ahead on existing council boundaries. 

The decision follows legal challenges from councils in several of the affected areas, including judicial reviews launched in June. 

1. https://www.localcouncilsnetwork.gov.uk/record-numbers-of-social-homes-sold-to-private-buyers-by-housing-associations/
2. https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/home/housing-associations-sell-record-number-of-social-homes-to-private-buyers-new-analysis-shows-98630
3. https://www.terraquest.co.uk/news-and-insights/q2-planning-application-index-2026
4. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/english-devolution-white-paper-power-and-partnership-foundations-for-growth/english-devolution-white-paper