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The point system favours highly-skilled migrants, students and academics, and treats EU applicants on the same footing as the rest of the world. No route is proposed for low-skilled labour or self-employment. The salary threshold has been reduced from £30,000 to £25,600.
The 313,000 sq ft refurbishment project provides a car savings of 56% over a typical new build and 43% operational savings over a typical commercial building.
The NAO has published its review of the prudential framework that has enabled £6.6bn of investment in commercial property by local councils, in efforts to generate income and local regeneration following reductions in funding since 2010-11. The report considered the management of risks and has recommended that the government reviews how risks are evaluated and reported, framework compliance is measured and interventions are arranged.
The cabinet reshuffle has led to the appointment of Christopher Pincher, MP for Tamworth, as housing minister, 10th in the last 10 years. He replaces Esther McVey, who took on the post in July 2019. Robert Jenrick remains in his post as the secretary for housing, communities and local government.
The most high profiles departure is former Chancellor Sajid Javid, to be replaced by Rishik Sunak, while George Eustace is the new environment secretary. Alok Sharma and Grant Shapps remain as the business and transport secretaries, respectively. Read more here >
The long delayed railway project provides high speed links between London, Birmingham, Leeds and Manchester. The project, costing more than £106bn, is expected to be delivered as three projects and fully operational by 2040.
The MAC has recommended retaining the existing system for Tier 2 (General) work visa for those entering the UK with a job offer, but modifiying the points-based system for Tier 1 (Exceptional talent) to reflect promise rather than track record. It has also recommended reducing the general salary thresholds to £24,600 rather than £30,000 per annum, further reducing that for new entrants, and enabling different thresholds for different occupations.
Housing secretary Robert Jenrick has announced a number of proposals relating to fire safety, including a ban on Aluminum Composite Material with polyethelene core on buildings of any height and reducing the threshold for sprinklers and combustibles from 18 to 11m.
The document has taken on board a number of recommendations by the Inspector's report, including targets for new housing delivery, but has retained on issues like restrictions on Green Belt, Metropolitan Open Land and fracking. The draft is with the Communities Secretary to comment or approve.
Read the responses to the Panel's recommendations here > and the Intend to Publish version here >
The Conservatives have secured a majority of at least 76, with 364 seats. This is the largest majority since 1987. Meanwhile, Labour suffered its worse results since 1935, with 203 seats.
The Scottish National Party won 48 out of 59 seats - a gain of 13 over the 2017 general elections This could lead to a second referendum on independence. Liberal Democrats leader Jo Swinson lost her seat for Dunbartonshire East to SNP and has announced her resignation as party leader.
The Technology and Construction court has heard 397 in 2018/19, slighlty higher than the previous year. This follows and spike up from 311 in 2015/16, following the collapse of Carillion.
Following its general elections manifesto, the BPF has launched its more specific manifesto for reforming the planning system. These include better resourced local authority planning departments, more effective intervention by Planning Inspectorate, and publishing good practice guidance for use of Planning Performance Agreements.
The manifesto outlines the policy changes the BPF would like to see following the general elections, including reducing o removing VAT on refurbishment, investing in local authorities to help speed up planning processes, and using business rates to incentivise investment in green technologies.
The Conservatives, Labour and Liberal Democrats have published their manifesto, each pledging investment to address housing, infrastructure, and sustainability issues.
Here is a summary from Building >
Here are the published party manifestos in full:
Read more >The autum 2019 London Development Barometer survey reveals that only 42% of the respondents believe the level of investment will increase or remain the same, compared to 64% just six months ago.
Read the Property Week article here >
Click here for the press release and summary of results
Otherwise known as Elizabeth Line, Crossrail was originally intended to open in December 2018. The latest announcement pushes the operational date back from the previous projection of Q4 2020- Q2 2020.
The projected costs has also increased to over £18bn, well in excess of the £17.6bn agreed among the Mayor, the Government and Transport for London. TfL is in talks with the Department for Transport to discuss how the additional costs will be funded.
The National Audit Office has published a report on its Investigations into Starter Homes, revealing that no starter homes have yet been delivered despite having earmarked £2.3bn in the November 2015 Spending Review. An estimated £250m has been spent buying land and preparing sites. However no legislation or planning guidance has been passed to support the programme. Policy shifts has also meant that funds allocated to Starter Homes have been expended more generally on housing delivery.
Drone operators are required to register drones between 250 gram and 20kg with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), set to become law 30 November 2019.
The new regulations required drone operators to pass an online test to obtain a flyer ID, register for an operator ID, and register any drones or model aircraft for which the oeprator is responsible. Children must also pass the online test to fly a drone.
Members of five model aircraft associations are exempt. Read more here >
Following EU's agreement to extend the Brexit deadline to 31 January, Parliament has voted to hold general elections 438-20. More than 100 Labour MPs did not vote.
This is the first December general elections since 1923.
According to StuRent's Annual UK Student Accommodation Report 2019, more than 34,000 private beds will be added in 2019, with more than 120,000 beds approved or awaiting a decision.
The Government has stated that making changes will take time, but cites actions undertaken and underway. These include the conclusion of consultations for ‘Building a Safer Future: proposals for reform of the building safety regulatory
system’ in July 2019; consultations on building height thresholds for sprinklers closing at the end of November, and funding for private building owners to replace ACM cladding systems.
A number of bills revolve around crime, NHS and Brexit, including the EU bill itself and bills on trade, agriculture, fishing and immigration.
The speech sets out the intention to bring forward a National Infrastructure Strategy covering digital, transport and energy infrastructure; a white paper to "unleashing regional potential in England", building safety standards and an Environmental Bill.
Read the Queen's speech here >
The 100-home energy efficient council housing scheme for Norwich City Council was selected over London Bridge Station by Grimshaw; Cork House by Matthew Barnett Howland with Dido Milne and Oliver Wilton; the Macallan Distillery and Visitor Experience by RSHP, Nevill Holt Opera by Witherford Watson Mann Architects and The Weston, Yorkshire Sculpture Pak by Feilden Clegg Bradley.
The scheme was the winner of a numer of 2019 RIBA awards, inlcuding the RIBA East Award, RIBA East Sustainability Award and the Neave Brown Award for Housing. Read more here >
The Supreme Court has unanimously ruled that the Prime Minister's advice to the Queen to prorogue Parliament from week of 9th September until 14 October was unlawful, void, and of no effect, on the basis that:
Parliament is expected to reconvene 25th September. Read president of the court Lady Hale's statement here >
Furthermore SMBC has committed to a further 22,000 sq ft, taking 184,000 sq ft in total at 100 Liverpool Street.
In the run up to the prorogation, Parliament has passed a law to require a deal or parliamentary for no deal by 19 October. Otherwise, the prime minister must request a further extension to 31 January.
Opposition parties have also rejected the call for a general election before 31 October.