At a glance
Bans on Section 21 no-fault evictions and new renters’ rights rules take effect, reshaping England’s private rented sector and housing risk profile.
Housing completions fall 13% year-on-year as government trails seven new towns and readies the Building Safety Levy for October 2026.
UK construction remains in contraction with a March PMI of 45.6, rising insolvencies and a 266,000-worker shortfall threatening recovery.
Government refocuses the major projects portfolio on ~80 schemes and confirms a £718bn, 10-year infrastructure pipeline anchored in transport, health and clean energy.
Record renewable generation in 2025 and new biodiversity and safety levies point to a more regulated, decarbonised delivery environment.
Today’s update: sharper protections for renters, a looming Building Safety Levy and new biodiversity rules are tightening the regulatory frame just as output weakens and skills gaps widen. At the same time, a streamlined major projects portfolio and a £718bn pipeline underline that long-term demand is intact, if delivery models can keep pace. Here’s what you need to know to stay ahead today.
Ongoing Stories
Following earlier coverage of renters’ reforms, the Section 21 ban is now in force across England alongside new rules on pets and rent increases, immediately affecting around 11 million tenants and the risk profile of PRS portfolios. (Sources: GOV.UK, Osborne Clarke)
Returning today, government’s programme of built environment reform now includes a confirmed October 2026 start for the Building Safety Levy, with consultation under way on raising the exemption threshold for smaller residential schemes. (Sources: GOV.UK, Osborne Clarke)
Top 5 Headlines
🏗️ New renters’ regime lands as housing completions fall 13%
England’s long-trailed reforms have taken effect, banning Section 21 no-fault evictions, tightening rules on rent increases and giving most tenants greater ability to keep pets. The changes come as housing completions are reported to be down 13% versus 2024, while UK house prices still rose 2.2% in the year to March 2026, led by a 9.5% jump in Northern Ireland. For developers, investors and build-to-rent operators, the combination of softer delivery, firmer tenant protections and modest price growth will reshape viability assessments and long-term asset strategies. (Sources: GOV.UK MHCLG, LendInvest, Brick Weaver)
🏗️ Seven proposed new towns to target up to 280,000 homes
Government has outlined proposals for seven new towns across England, each expected to deliver between 10,000 and 40,000 homes. Site selection and funding models have not yet been confirmed, but the ambition signals a shift back towards large, masterplanned settlements to address housing shortages. If progressed, the new town programme would create large, multi-decade pipelines for developers, infrastructure providers and local authorities, while intensifying scrutiny of planning, transport links and environmental impacts. (Source: GOV.UK MHCLG)
🏗️ Returning today: Building Safety Levy timetable crystallises for residential schemes
Building on previous briefings, the government has confirmed the Building Safety Levy will commence on 1 October 2026, applying to residential developments of 10 or more dwellings, with an active consultation on raising the exemption threshold. The levy is intended to help fund building safety remediation, adding a new cost line for developers already facing margin pressure. Project sponsors will need to factor levy liabilities into land bids, appraisals and timing of planning consents, particularly on high-density schemes. (Sources: GOV.UK, Osborne Clarke)
⚙️ Construction downturn deepens as workforce gap widens
The UK construction PMI for March 2026 came in at 45.6, confirming ongoing contraction amid rising insolvencies and a 37% quarter-on-quarter fall in civil engineering work starts. At the same time, industry forecasts suggest overall growth of 2.8%–4.5% in 2026, but only if a workforce shortfall of around 266,000 can be addressed against a backdrop of high material and energy costs linked partly to Strait of Hormuz tensions. The tension between near-term weakness and medium-term demand reinforces the need for firms to manage cash, capability and supply chain resilience carefully through 2026. (Sources: Construction Magazine, S&P Global PMI)
🚆 Government trims major projects portfolio and confirms £718bn pipeline
The Government Major Projects Portfolio has been reshaped from more than 200 schemes to around 80 “high-impact” projects as of 1 April 2026, in an effort to concentrate resources and improve delivery. Alongside this, the latest UK infrastructure pipeline identifies 734 projects worth £718bn over 10 years, spanning hospitals, schools, rail, reservoirs and clean energy. The refocus should provide greater clarity on priority schemes and long-term visibility for supply chains, but also raises the bar on performance and scrutiny for those projects that remain. (Sources: GOV.UK Infrastructure News, ICE Knowledge Hub)
🚆 Major rail upgrades advance as calls grow for system-level planning
The Lower Thames Crossing is scheduled to enter construction in August 2026 as a £9.2–£10.2bn road and tunnel scheme to ease Dartford Crossing congestion, while the Transpennine Route Upgrade has secured £589m for electrification and capacity improvements. A new report from Egis argues these projects highlight the need for system-level infrastructure planning rather than a purely project-by-project approach. For contractors and consultants, the direction of travel suggests increasing emphasis on integrated corridor planning, interfaces and long-term operational outcomes when bidding and designing. (Sources: GOV.UK Infrastructure News, ICE Knowledge Hub, The Highfield Company)
Also in the news
🌱 Renewables generated 52.5% of UK electricity in 2025, with wind at 30% and solar output up 37%, while gas and nuclear hit record lows, reinforcing the demand outlook for grid, storage and flexible generation projects. (Source: UK Government Energy Trends March 2026)
🌱 Policy work continues on the Future Homes Standard, heat network zoning from 2026, tougher waste enforcement funding and refined greenhouse gas accounting, all pointing towards tighter carbon and performance expectations for new assets. (Sources: GOV.UK, Osborne Clarke, IIGCC)
🏛️ Biodiversity Net Gain requirements for nationally significant infrastructure projects take effect this month, mandating at least a 10% uplift through on-site measures, off-site units or statutory credits. (Source: Osborne Clarke)
⚙️ The government’s new Science and Engineering Profession strategy aims to strengthen technical capability across departments, with implications for how central government scopes, procures and oversees complex projects. (Source: GOV.UK)
💰 Market analysis suggests UK construction output could exceed £390bn in 2026, driven largely by infrastructure spend, though workforce shortages and persistent inflation continue to cap productivity gains. (Sources: GOV.UK, Arcadis, Roofers Coffee Shop)
The Daily Build is written for people shaping the UK’s construction and infrastructure pipeline, from boardrooms to site offices. If today’s briefing is useful, consider forwarding it to colleagues working on housing, major projects or net-zero delivery.