CPA Weekly Notes – 12th December 2025

Issue No. 1181, 12th 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.
Mark Wilkinson, CPA Senior Technical Manager, will meet with the OPSS to develop the joint project on white labels / private labels guidance; and will meet with UKAS.
Jane Thornback, CPA Sustainability Policy Advisor, will meet with the Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO) to discuss how producers meet their packaging obligations, and attend the CARES annual Christmas lunch.
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.

ONS Construction Output (October 2025)
Arcadis Construction Market View (Winter 2025)
RICS UK Residential Market Survey (November 2025)

This will be the final CPA Economic Update for the year. The next update will be on Friday, 9 January 2026.
The Autumn Forecasts were published on Monday 27th October and can be found here.

Government Update

Homes England Strategic Plan
Homes England has published its Strategic Plan 2025 to 2030. Amongst its key objectives, most relevant to CPA members include:

Supporting the private and social sectors with buildings remediation and partnering with Mayoral Strategic Authorities to accelerate local remediation programmes.
Embed Building for a Healthy Life (BfHL) standards on schemes, establishing a benchmark for higher quality and sustainability that partners can adopt.
Support adoption and scale-up of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) and other innovative technologies by helping partners de-risk new approaches, improve productivity and accelerate delivery.
Collaborate with academic and industry leaders to strengthen the evidence base and share sector learning, including through a new Evidence and Insight Centre for Housing and Regeneration.
Support the wider market in understanding and complying with safety legislation, working with the Building Safety Regulator to give residents and leaseholders confidence in the safety of new homes.
Continue administering the Cladding Safety Scheme (CSS) across England and drive its rapid acceleration to benefit residents and leaseholders.
Manage the National Remediation System as a unified operational approach for all buildings undergoing remediation related to combustible materials.
Work closely with the Building Safety Regulator and local regulatory teams to ensure independent scrutiny, compliance with the code of remediation, quality of work, and accountability for underperformance.

SMEs, Sustainability and Funding Support
Government announces a new funding boost to help SMEs invest in sustainability measures and cut their operating costs and boost business. This is part of the Government response to the Willow Review which showed that investing in sustainability measures reduced operational costs for SMEs such as less money spent on energy, waste and materials, as well as attracting new customers. The government response addresses all eight recommendations from the Willow Review. For further information contact Jane Thornback.

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.

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

New research reveals the hidden costs of the Building Safety Act – as architects demand greater product transparency
“This will enable them to build for what’s next – with a focus on innovation without compromising on safety. ”The Code for Construction Product Information (CCPI), initiated by the Construction Products Association (CPA), sets clear standards for how manufacturers record, verify, and communicate product data. The consensus is that its framework could ultimately become the long-sought single source of truth for compliant product information.
Architects Data File | 20/12/2025 | Online

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