CPA Weekly Notes – 5th December 2025

Issue No. 1180, 5th December 2025 FOR MEMBERS ONLY

Association Activities

CPA Weekly Calendar of Meetings

Jeff May, CPA Deputy Chief Executive, will join a regular meeting of the Construction Leadership Council.
Professor Noble Francis, CPA Economics Director, will meet with the Association’s Forecast Panel to begin planning for the Winter Forecast; and will join the BESA Annual Lunch.
Mark Wilkinson, CPA Senior Technical Manager, will meet with the OPSS to develop the joint project on white labels / private labels guidance; will meet with UKAS to discuss UK / US trade related issues; chair a regular meeting of the CLC’s Standards and Regulatory Alignment Group.
Jane Thornback, CPA Sustainability Policy Advisor, will attend regular meetings of both the Green Construction Board’s Infrastructure Working Group and Construction Products Europe’s Sustainability Group, and meet with the Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO) to discuss how producers meet their packaging obligations.
Rob Lee, CPA Senior External Affairs Manager, will attend the CIOB Parliamentary Reception.
Hanna Clarke, Digital and Policy Manager, will have a variety of meetings with industry colleagues and civil servants around both competence and digitalisation of product information.

Economics Update

CPA Weekly UK Economic and Construction Update
The weekly update can be found here.

S&P Global UK Construction PMI (November 2025)
DBT UK Brick Deliveries (October 2025)
HMRC UK Residential Property Transactions (October 2025)
Bank of England UK Mortgage Approvals (October 2025)
Nationwide UK House Price Index (November 2025)

The Autumn Forecasts were published on Monday 27th October and can be found here.

Government Update

Government Consultations re London Housebuilding Relief
The Government is seeking views on two proposals to support housebuilding in London. These are:

temporary relief from the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL)
changes to the Mayor of London’s planning powers

Part 1: temporary relief from the CIL
Part 1 of the consultation is about a proposal to give eligible developments in Greater London temporary relief from the CIL. It covers:

the rationale for emergency CIL relief in London
the developments that will qualify for relief
how that relief will be accessed and administered
the next steps the government proposes to take to implement the relief

Part 2: changes to the Mayor of London’s planning powers
Part 2 of the consultation is about a proposal to make permanent changes to the Mayor of London’s existing planning powers to strengthen oversight of planning applications of potential strategic importance. It covers:

a new application of potential strategic importance category, which will be subject to a streamlined process, for development of 50 or more homes where Boroughs are minded to refuse
bringing applications involving development of over 1,000 square metres within Green Belt or Metropolitan Open Land within scope of his call-in power

Further information:

This consultation closes at 11:59pm on 22 January 2026
Respond online
Email: londonhousingconsultation@communities.gov.uk

BSR Seek New Chair for Building Advisory Committee
The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) is seeking an independent Chair for its Building Advisory Committee (BAC). They would like your help in advertising the role and ask if you can share among your members and networks. The successful candidate will demonstrate proven leadership to drive the BAC, which advises BSR on building functions, focusing on:

emerging issues
industry trends
engagement to inspire change

The BAC operates via a high-level steering group and dedicated subgroups. This is an ongoing fixed-term appointment for up to three years. Applications close midday on Monday 5 January 2026. Applications can be made here.

Review published setting new course for mainstreaming property flood resilience
The CPA have contributed to the FloodReady Review and Action Plan that provides recommendations and practical steps to improve the take up of property flood resilience (PFR) measures. The Review, led by Professor Peter Bonfield, brought together leaders from across various sectors who all have an important role in improving the PFR uptake.
Property flood resilience measures – such as flood doors, non-return valves and air bricks – can help to keep as much water out of a property as possible. They also include measures like tiled floors and raised electrics, so if water does enter, it minimises damage and helps people get back on their feet quicker. The use of Sustainable Drainage Systems at property level, for example permeable paving and rain gardens, can also reduce the risk of surface water flooding.

Government consultation on water efficiency requirements in building regulations
Government is proposing a plan to strengthen Water Efficiency Standards in the Building Regulations 2010, Part G, to require tighter standards in new homes. It also seeks more information on enabling water reuse systems in new developments to enable even greater water efficiency in homes. The deadline is 16 December. Find the documents here Water Efficiency Standards: a review of Building Regulations 2010 Part G2 – GOV.UK

Industry News

The Built Environment Competence Hub
The Hub, developed by BSI in collaboration with Industry Competence Steering Group (ICSG), is almost ready to launch and is open for people to register ahead of the official start date in the new year. Launching in January 2026, the hub is a central space for professionals to access the latest competence frameworks, standards and practical guidance—all in one trusted location.
The Hub is designed for all those working in the built environment sector, including designers, contractors, regulators and anyone involved in competence development or oversight. It brings together the work of all the ICSG Sector Led Groups and provides curated tools, resources and insights from ICSG, BSI and wider stakeholders of competence. You can register at the Hub here.

CPA in the News

What does the latest data show?
Overall, 43% of responding NFRC Members reported an increase in workload compared to the same period last year, up from 36% when we asked in spring. This contrasts with much of the construction sector, where activity has slowed amid planning delays and flat economic growth. According to the Construction Products Association’s (CPA) latest Construction Industry Forecasts, total construction output is expected to grow by just 1.1% in 2025 and 2.8% in 2026, down from earlier projections, as private housing and commercial offices slow.
Total Contractor | 28/11/2025 | Online

How Reeves’ autumn budget dealt a brutal blow to Labour’s 1.5 million new homes pledge
Noble Francis, economics director at the Construction Products Association, said the autumn budget forecasts show the government is likely to miss its 1.5 million home target “significantly. The OBR’s latest economic forecasts alongside the budget say that net additional new homes in 2023-24 and 2024-25 were lower than expected, but they will be much higher than expected this year (2025/26), which is strange,” said Francis.
Big Issue | 27/11/2025 | Online

Industry reacts to Chancellor’s Autumn Budget and insists more could have been done
Professor Noble Francis, CPA Economics Director, said speculation in advance of the Autumn Budget had been at an all-time high and it couldn’t come quickly enough, if only to get rid of the uncertainty. “The majority of the Budget was unsurprisingly focused on where the tax rises would be and how financial markets would react, rather than on capital investment, which was the focus of the government’s Spending Review earlier in the year…”
Specification Online | 27/11/2025 | Online

What the Autumn Budget Means for UK Housebuilders
In the weeks leading up to the announcement, the Construction Products Association highlighted sharp downward revisions to construction output expectations, citing widespread hesitation as firms waited for clarity from the Treasury. The construction sector, already the most heavily affected by insolvencies over the past year, is braced for further strain if investment decisions continue to be delayed.
Showhome | 26/11/2025 | Online