The UK government is “absolutely committed” to delivering 1.5 million new homes in England by 2029, Housing Secretary Steve Reed has told the BBC. The target, originally part of Labour’s pre-election manifesto, is central to the government’s housing strategy.

“It’s what we’re going to do,” Reed said. “We’ll do it by working in partnership with the developers and with the builders. My job is to get every barrier out of the way that is stopping that construction going ahead.”

Reed’s comments underline the government’s determination to push ahead with housebuilding, despite ongoing challenges in the planning and construction sectors.

Student housing: adapting to regulatory pressures

Meanwhile, the private rented student housing market is showing how landlords are adjusting to regulatory and financial pressures. Joe Lister, CEO of Unite, commented on the recent acquisition of Empiric Student Property, highlighting a long-term decline in HMO landlord supply, which has fallen 8% over the past two years due to stricter regulation and rising finance costs.

This reduction in traditional HMO availability has helped Unite capture an increasing share of students continuing into their second and third years, bolstering occupancy across its purpose-built student accommodation.

Despite average rent rises of 8%, Unite reports that profits remain broadly flat due to the rising costs of operations and maintenance in the sector, illustrating the balance between demand and cost pressures in student housing.

Analysts say the Unite/Empiric consolidation reflects broader trends in the PRS, where providers are adapting portfolios to ensure stable occupancy while navigating both financial and regulatory headwinds.

See also Student housing providers report strong lettings as demand continues to climb