Weekly planning news

Housing market sees boost as more homes listed on property sale sites

The UK housing market has begun 2026 on a positive footing, with 6% more homes listed for sale than at the same point last year, according to reporting in The Guardian.¹

According to the article, new data from Zoopla shows February is on course to record the highest number of newly listed homes for sale in any February for a decade - signalling renewed seller confidence after last year’s slowdown.

The uplift adds to a growing body of more positive housing indicators. Earlier this week, we published figures showing the highest number of new housing applications submitted in a decade.²

Improving mortgage conditions are also supporting activity. The Guardian reports³ that rates are at their lowest level in four years, alongside increased availability of lower-deposit and more accessible mortgage products - particularly for first-time buyers.

While affordability pressures remain, the data points to a market that is stabilising and gradually regaining confidence. For deeper insight into housing activity trends, read our latest Planning Application Index report.⁴

Homes England open bidding for Social and Affordable Homes Programme

Homes England has opened bidding for its new Social and Affordable Homes Programme⁵ (2026–2036), inviting housing providers to apply for a major long-term funding package designed to accelerate the delivery of affordable housing across England.

The government has committed at least £27 billion to the programme - part of a wider £39 billion housing investment - to support the development of social rent, affordable rent and shared ownership homes over the next decade.

A key requirement of the programme is that at least 60% of homes delivered through the funding must be for social rent. Alongside boosting supply, the scheme places strong emphasis on high design quality, building safety, sustainability and demonstrable value for money.

Housing providers can access the programme through two routes:

• Continuous Market Engagement (CME): allowing partners to apply for grant funding on a scheme-by-scheme basis throughout the life of the programme.
• Strategic Partnership Framework: aimed at larger providers delivering at pace and scale, offering longer-term funding certainty and access to larger funding allocations.

Further details, including bidding guidance, are available on the government’s website.⁶

Sector calls for freedom to set higher net zero standards for new builds

More than 60 local authorities, businesses and environmental charities have urged ministers to rethink proposed changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), warning they could restrict councils’ ability to set higher environmental standards for new homes.

In a joint letter to government - coordinated by the Town and Country Planning Association - the group calls for draft measures to be revised so that local authorities can continue to go beyond national building regulations, particularly on energy efficiency and carbon reduction.

The signatories argue that building regulations should act as a minimum baseline rather than a ceiling, and that local planning policy plays a crucial role in driving innovation and accelerating decarbonisation.

Currently, some councils - including Cornwall and Bath and North East Somerset - require all new homes to achieve net zero carbon in operation through their local planning frameworks.

You can read more on Show House.⁷

1. https://www.theguardian.com/money/2026/feb/25/uk-housing-market-more-homes-for-sale-zoopla
2. https://www.terraquest.co.uk/news-and-insights/q4-2025-index
3. https://www.theguardian.com/money/2026/feb/25/uk-housing-market-more-homes-for-sale-zoopla
4. https://www.terraquest.co.uk/news-and-insights/q4-2025-index
5. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/social-and-affordable-homes-programme-sahp-2026-to-2036
6. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/homes-england-opens-bidding-for-ten-year-social-and-affordable-homes-programme
7. https://www.showhouse.co.uk/government-urged-to-allow-councils-to-set-higher-environmental-standards-in-nppf/news/