New figures this week show 700,000 more homes have been delivered in this Parliament with empty homes at a 10-year low, Housing Minister Brandon Lewis has announced.

The figures show the government’s plan to increase house building to help hard-working families onto the property and boost jobs and growth in the British house building industry is working.

The figures show:

• in the 12 months to September, there were 138,640 housing starts – an increase of 16% compared to the same period last year, and 84% higher than at the bottom of the housing crash in June 2009

• a total of 700,000 new homes delivered in England since the end of 2009

• a fall in the numbers of empty homes by 160,000 since the end of 2009 – meaning the number of empty homes in England is now at a 10-year low

More affordable and Right to Buy homes

The Housing Minister also welcomed the latest figures showing more hard-working tenants taking up their Right to Buy, and an increase in the number of affordable homes built.

• between July and September this year, 2,845 council-owned properties were sold under the Right to Buy, with councils in London accounting for nearly a third of these – the second highest total for any quarter since 2006 to 2007

• between April and September this year building work started on 11,556 affordable homes – and means almost 217,000 new affordable homes have been delivered since 2010

Housing Minister Brandon Lewis said: “Whether it’s building new homes or bringing empty properties back into use, we have pulled out all the stops and are delivering the homes this country needs.

“There are now 700,000 more homes in England than there were in 2009, house building is up 16% compared to last year, hard-working tenants are taking up their Right to Buy and the numbers of empty homes are now at a 10-year low.

“This is all thanks to the efforts we’ve made since 2010, reforming the planning system, paving the way for developers to do their job and giving aspiring homeowners the help they deserve as part of our wider and long-term economic plan.”

VINCI‘s joint venture with St. Modwen Properties and its partner the Covent Garden Market Authority (CGMA), has received the go-ahead to deliver the landmark redevelopment of the 57 acre New Covent Garden Market site in Nine Elms, London.

This major, multi-phased project will modernise and secure the future of the iconic market whilst delivering one of the largest schemes in London’s Nine Elms regeneration area.

This major 10-year project will see the delivery of over 500,000 sq ft of new state-of-the-art market facilities across a 37 acre site. The remaining 20 acres of land will be transformed into three high quality residential neighbourhoods comprising of 3,000 new homes, 135,000 sq ft of office space and 100,000 sq ft of retail, leisure and new community facilities, including shops, cafés and restaurants.

Bill Oliver, Chief Executive, St. Modwen and director of VSM said: “This landmark scheme is another example of VSM’s ability to progress large scale, nationally important, developments that create both jobs and homes and attract investment in areas ready for regeneration.

“Wandsworth Council’s decision allows us to contribute to the long-term transformation of London’s newest residential and commercial quarter whilst securing the future of New Covent Garden Market by delivering vitally important world-class market facilities.

“The VSM and CGMA teams have worked closely with the Council, local businesses and the local community to ensure that the scheme benefits all stakeholders and we look forward to continuing our work with them to enable a start on site in the first half of 2015.”

Pam Alexander, Chair of CGMA, said: “I am grateful to Wandsworth Council and all who have worked so hard to ensure the future of New Covent Garden Market as a key landmark at the heart of Nine Elms on the South Bank in the week that the market celebrates 40 years here at Nine Elms.

“New Covent Garden Market is central to supplying London’s fresh produce. With our development partners VSM, we can now deliver the modern facilities that will enable our 200 business to grow and thrive whilst welcoming the public to a new Food Quarter for London.”

VINCI‘s joint venture with St. Modwen Properties and its partner the Covent Garden Market Authority (CGMA), has received the go-ahead to deliver the landmark redevelopment of the 57 acre New Covent Garden Market site in Nine Elms, London.

This major, multi-phased project will modernise and secure the future of the iconic market whilst delivering one of the largest schemes in London’s Nine Elms regeneration area.

This major 10-year project will see the delivery of over 500,000 sq ft of new state-of-the-art market facilities across a 37 acre site. The remaining 20 acres of land will be transformed into three high quality residential neighbourhoods comprising of 3,000 new homes, 135,000 sq ft of office space and 100,000 sq ft of retail, leisure and new community facilities, including shops, cafés and restaurants.

Bill Oliver, Chief Executive, St. Modwen and director of VSM said: “This landmark scheme is another example of VSM’s ability to progress large scale, nationally important, developments that create both jobs and homes and attract investment in areas ready for regeneration.

“Wandsworth Council’s decision allows us to contribute to the long-term transformation of London’s newest residential and commercial quarter whilst securing the future of New Covent Garden Market by delivering vitally important world-class market facilities.

“The VSM and CGMA teams have worked closely with the Council, local businesses and the local community to ensure that the scheme benefits all stakeholders and we look forward to continuing our work with them to enable a start on site in the first half of 2015.”

Pam Alexander, Chair of CGMA, said: “I am grateful to Wandsworth Council and all who have worked so hard to ensure the future of New Covent Garden Market as a key landmark at the heart of Nine Elms on the South Bank in the week that the market celebrates 40 years here at Nine Elms.

“New Covent Garden Market is central to supplying London’s fresh produce. With our development partners VSM, we can now deliver the modern facilities that will enable our 200 business to grow and thrive whilst welcoming the public to a new Food Quarter for London.”

VINCI‘s joint venture with St. Modwen Properties and its partner the Covent Garden Market Authority (CGMA), has received the go-ahead to deliver the landmark redevelopment of the 57 acre New Covent Garden Market site in Nine Elms, London.

This major, multi-phased project will modernise and secure the future of the iconic market whilst delivering one of the largest schemes in London’s Nine Elms regeneration area.

This major 10-year project will see the delivery of over 500,000 sq ft of new state-of-the-art market facilities across a 37 acre site. The remaining 20 acres of land will be transformed into three high quality residential neighbourhoods comprising of 3,000 new homes, 135,000 sq ft of office space and 100,000 sq ft of retail, leisure and new community facilities, including shops, cafés and restaurants.

Bill Oliver, Chief Executive, St. Modwen and director of VSM said: “This landmark scheme is another example of VSM’s ability to progress large scale, nationally important, developments that create both jobs and homes and attract investment in areas ready for regeneration.

“Wandsworth Council’s decision allows us to contribute to the long-term transformation of London’s newest residential and commercial quarter whilst securing the future of New Covent Garden Market by delivering vitally important world-class market facilities.

“The VSM and CGMA teams have worked closely with the Council, local businesses and the local community to ensure that the scheme benefits all stakeholders and we look forward to continuing our work with them to enable a start on site in the first half of 2015.”

Pam Alexander, Chair of CGMA, said: “I am grateful to Wandsworth Council and all who have worked so hard to ensure the future of New Covent Garden Market as a key landmark at the heart of Nine Elms on the South Bank in the week that the market celebrates 40 years here at Nine Elms.

“New Covent Garden Market is central to supplying London’s fresh produce. With our development partners VSM, we can now deliver the modern facilities that will enable our 200 business to grow and thrive whilst welcoming the public to a new Food Quarter for London.”

VINCI‘s joint venture with St. Modwen Properties and its partner the Covent Garden Market Authority (CGMA), has received the go-ahead to deliver the landmark redevelopment of the 57 acre New Covent Garden Market site in Nine Elms, London.

This major, multi-phased project will modernise and secure the future of the iconic market whilst delivering one of the largest schemes in London’s Nine Elms regeneration area.

This major 10-year project will see the delivery of over 500,000 sq ft of new state-of-the-art market facilities across a 37 acre site. The remaining 20 acres of land will be transformed into three high quality residential neighbourhoods comprising of 3,000 new homes, 135,000 sq ft of office space and 100,000 sq ft of retail, leisure and new community facilities, including shops, cafés and restaurants.

Bill Oliver, Chief Executive, St. Modwen and director of VSM said: “This landmark scheme is another example of VSM’s ability to progress large scale, nationally important, developments that create both jobs and homes and attract investment in areas ready for regeneration.

“Wandsworth Council’s decision allows us to contribute to the long-term transformation of London’s newest residential and commercial quarter whilst securing the future of New Covent Garden Market by delivering vitally important world-class market facilities.

“The VSM and CGMA teams have worked closely with the Council, local businesses and the local community to ensure that the scheme benefits all stakeholders and we look forward to continuing our work with them to enable a start on site in the first half of 2015.”

Pam Alexander, Chair of CGMA, said: “I am grateful to Wandsworth Council and all who have worked so hard to ensure the future of New Covent Garden Market as a key landmark at the heart of Nine Elms on the South Bank in the week that the market celebrates 40 years here at Nine Elms.

“New Covent Garden Market is central to supplying London’s fresh produce. With our development partners VSM, we can now deliver the modern facilities that will enable our 200 business to grow and thrive whilst welcoming the public to a new Food Quarter for London.”

Logic Leeds, the £5 million construction of 80,000 sq ft of industrial premises for modern manufacturing, has started on site in the Leeds City Region Enterprise Zone.

The construction follows planning approval and the signing of a landmark £2.5 million grant agreement with Leeds City Council, funded through the government’s Building Foundations for Growth programme.

Councillor Richard Lewis, Leeds City Council’s executive member for transport and the economy, said: “This is another significant step forward for the Leeds City Region Enterprise Zone. The council has worked proactively with developers and the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership to get development moving in the enterprise zone.

“We now have 260,000 sq ft of industrial space under construction and committed, presenting manufacturing and supply chain companies with a prime location for expansion, consolidation and relocation of their operations.”

Logic Leeds, Muse Developments’ flagship 110-acre manufacturing and distribution development, forms part of the largest speculative project of its kind in West Yorkshire since the recession. The contract to build the new 80,000 sq ft unit was awarded to Esh Build.

David Wells, developer director of Muse Developments in Leeds said: “We are delighted to be on site with the first building at Logic Leeds, which will set the tone for the whole development.”

Situated next to the A63, just half a mile from Junction 45 of the M1 and minutes from Leeds city centre, Logic Leeds presents a huge opportunity for the Leeds and wider Yorkshire industrial and distribution market.

Logic Leeds is part of the Leeds City Region Enterprise Zone, which means that it benefits from a range of incentives for occupiers. These incentives include a discount on business rates, worth up to £275,000 per business over a five-year period; a simplified and accelerated planning process; an opportunity for enhanced capital allowance claims; and high-speed fibre-optic broadband.

A £200 million increase in Scottish Government funding to stimulate Scotland’s housing industry will safeguard construction jobs and is expected to deliver thousands of new affordable homes.

According to new Scottish Government calculations, the boost in next year’s housing supply budget is forecast to support at least 6,500 jobs and lever in significant private investment to deliver £600 million of total investment.

The £200 million additional funding for housing was set out last week by the Deputy First Minister during her appearance before the Scottish Parliament’s Infrastructure and Capital Investment committee.

Housing Minister Margaret Burgess will meet housing leaders this week, when she will urge them to work with the Scottish Government and each other to help shape a five year joint delivery plan for housing in Scotland.

A breakdown of the £200 million funding allocation will be announced in the coming weeks.

Margaret Burgess said:“We want to make sure that everyone in Scotland has access to good quality housing that meets their needs.

“Providing social rented homes, safeguarding jobs, helping to finance infrastructure, and supporting the construction industry to build for both private and public markets is a top priority for the Scottish Government.

“We are taking action to increase the supply of affordable housing – in fact we have boosted housing supply budgets by investing £1.7 billion in affordable housing over the lifetime of this Parliament.

“Through our partners in councils and housing associations, we have now delivered more than 21,000 affordable homes and are two-thirds of the way towards our target of 30,000.

“Despite challenging economic conditions and Scottish budgets being cut, our rate of house building per head continues to outperform other parts of the UK.

“We have delivered over 4,000 new council houses since 2009 and are committed to preserving Scotland’s social housing stock by abolishing the Right to Buy, which will protect up to 15,500 social houses from sale and safeguard social housing for future generations.”

Transport Minister Keith Brown and EGIP director Rodger Querns

Morgan Sindall’s Construction and Infrastructure division has secured work on two significant frameworks with BAE Systems and Network Rail.

Morgan Sindall will tender alongside two other contractors to deliver a major £300 million eight-year redevelopment programme for BAE Systems, which will transform its submarine building capabilities.

The programme will include a mix of new build projects and the refurbishment of existing facilities in what is the most significant redevelopment of the Barrow-in-Furness site since the 1980s.

In addition, Morgan Sindall plc has secured a £113 million position on the £250 million Edinburgh-Glasgow Improvement Project (EGIP) alliance for Network Rail.

This two-year project will deliver a critical rail infrastructure upgrade between Scotland’s two principal cities, Edinburgh and Glasgow, and forms part of the £742 million Scottish Government-funded investment to transform transport in the country.

The alliance agreement between Network Rail and Morgan Sindall plc allows all parties to share in end-of-contract losses or profits. This model of risk-share is designed to create a collaborative environment between all members of the alliance.

Transport Minister, Keith Brown said: “The Scottish Government’s record levels of investment in our railways is achieving even more than improved train journeys. It’s providing jobs and training opportunities such as those in the Babcock Training Facility in Hamilton where we are making this announcement.

“That is, in turn, contributing to Scotland’s growth and the sustainability of our engineering sector, as well as a bright future for the young people here setting out on a career path in the rail industry.

“This announcement signifies a massive step forward for EGIP, for Scotland’s railways and for many benefits far beyond.”

John Morgan, Chief Executive, Morgan Sindall Group plc said: “We are delighted to have been appointed to these two critical projects which will enable BAE Systems and Network Rail to deliver on their strategic and operations ambitions.

“The redevelopment of BAE Systems’ submarine building capabilities at Barrow-in-Furness is a highly complex project which will draw on Morgan Sindall’s expertise and innovative approach to construction design and build.”

Building work is set to start on the £100 million regeneration of a former Forest of Dean mining area after plans were given the go-aheead by the Forest of Dean District Council.

The Homes and Communities Agency’s (HCA) planning application to build a new access road, business space and a new college facility was welcomed by supporters as a ‘massive boost’ for the district.

The planning committee decision will unlock investment opportunities and create around 1,000 new jobs to the district, while boosting the local constructon industry

An outline planning application for a new hotel, employment and business space, a visitor information point and up to 195 new homes were also approved as part of the application.

David Warburton, HCA head of area, told the committee meeting that the project represented a ‘once in a generation opportunity’ for the Forest of Dean.

He said: “This decision will help to bring huge benefits to the Forest of Dean for generations to come and is a massive boost for the area. Local people and councillors have supported proposals for the regeneration of this former mining area for years. Their continued support has been demonstrated by their strong backing of the proposals.

“A great deal of work has been undertaken and investment made to get to this stage, in progressing plans, preparing the site and carrying out extensive ecological measures. The next phase of hard work starts now and we will work with partners to help make their vision for the Northern Quarter a reality.”

Leader of Forest of Dean district council Patrick Molyneux said: “This is a huge step forward in implementing our vision for Cinderford. The decision removes uncertainty and means that working in partnership we can now progress the regeneration of the Northern Quarter in Cinderford for the benefit of local residents and the district’s economy.”

Councillor Graham Morgan Chairman of the Cinderford Regeneration Board said: “This is fantastic news and provides a huge opportunity for people in the Forest. We have already been receiving enquiries from businesses who want to move to the Northern Quarter, which shows confidence in the project.”

The HCA has already started its search for a development partner to lead the construction of the new access road. Once an appointment is made construction work will start next year, after the completion of extensive environmental work, which is expected by next spring.

Small and medium-sized (SME) manufacturers’ output grew over the last three months according to the CBI’s latest SME Trends Survey.

The survey shows that demand for the goods made by the 406 manufacturers surveyed was stronger at home than abroad.

Domestic orders rose for the fifth quarter in a row in the three months to October, while export orders fell sharply, despite firms expecting modest improvement.

Prospects for the next three months are better. Firms predict export orders will stabilise and domestic orders will continue to grow.

There was more good news on jobs, with numbers employed rising briskly for the third quarter in a row. And, employment is expected to go on rising over the next three months, though at a slightly slower pace.

Fears that a lack of skilled workers will hold back firms’ ability to meet demand reduced, though concern is still above its long-run average.

Rain Newton-Smith, CBI Director of Economics, said: “It’s reassuring to see smaller manufacturers sharing in the continuing recovery, with optimism, output and jobs all rising over the last three months. Sales in the strengthening UK market are looking good but firms are finding export orders much harder to secure.

“International political instability and weak growth in the Eurozone is holding back overseas demand.

“But, sentiment is still improving and firms expect overall orders and output to expand at a healthier pace over the next three months.”

Key findings – three months to October

• 26% of small & medium sized enterprise (SME) manufacturers said they were more optimistic than three months ago, while 16% said they were less optimistic. The rounded balance of +9% is the weakest since July 2013 when it was also +9%

• 28% said their volume of output was up, and 19% said it was down, giving a balance of +9%, which compares with +15% in the previous quarter.

• 36% said their domestic orders were up, while 22% said they were down, a balance of +14%                       

• 12% said export orders rose over the past three months, 26% said they fell, leaving a rounded balance of -13% the weakest since October 2012 when the balance was -21%

• The balance for expected export orders over the next three months was +4% and for expected domestic orders was +17%

• 29% are employing more people than three months ago, 12% less. The resulting balance of +17% compares with +24% in the three months to July

• The balance for employment expectations over the next three months is +10%