☀ Your summer gift from us is finally here! ☀ The latest B&C Magazine takes an in-depth look at the state of the UK planning system, as well as the world of refurbishments, uncovering the latest trends in these areas. Read the full issue here:

Investec Bank has provided a £80m loan for the St. Pancras Campus development in North London.

OakNorth has provided a £18.2m loan to Sukhi Gidar, CEO and co-founder at Gold Care Homes, to acquire Delta Hotels by Marriott Heathrow Windsor.

The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) has refreshed its suite of builder contract templates, updating these following the Building Safety Act 2022.

Fines have been issued to a refurbishment company and a roofing contractor after a worker suffered "life-changing” injuries from an onsite fall.

"The government’s New Towns Taskforce has shortlisted 12 locations for the next generation of new towns. While they are varied in scale and setting, what’s striking is that the majority (although not all) lie outside the Green Belt."

Paragon Bank has grown its lending pipeline by 31%, according to the group’s full year results to 30th September 2025.

Momentum in office construction is expected to continue into 2026, with Glenigan forecasting a 13% increase in starts.

The government is backing an extension of the DLR to support the Thamesmead Waterfront redevelopment, which is aiming to unlock up to 25,000 homes in the area.

Sigma Capital has secured a £268m investment debt facility with Morgan Stanley.

Sustainable refurbishment specialist, Better Green Living, has expanded into the office, hotel and nursing home sectors.

The Hill Group has started construction work on Little Chalfont Park, a new 380-home residential development in Little Chalfont, Buckinghamshire.

Paragon Development Finance has increased its maximum loan size from £35m to £60m, reflecting its growing lending appetite and strategic diversification.

Homes England has entered a joint venture with Swiss Life Asset Managers and Capital&Centric to deliver £860m of new homes by 2035.

Atelier has completed a £37.7m loan to fund a Sheen Lane Developments project in Hammersmith.

CapitalRise has completed a £9.6m senior development loan for two homes in Bloomfield Terrace, Belgravia.

Mezzanine finance, historically seen as the go-to plug between senior debt and equity, may be losing its shine. Once a reliable gap-filler for developers and brokers, its use has noticeably slipped in recent years.

Persimmon is on track to hit its full year targets, after its current forward sales increased to £2.79bn.

Construction activity in the UK crept up 0.1% in the third quarter, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS) as the industry holds its breath ahead of the Autumn Budget.

British Land has unveiled plans for a 120,000 sq ft retail, dining and leisure development in the City of London.

Christie Finance Real Estate has arranged a £17m facility for an unnamed hospitality provider, enabling developments for two of the client’s six assets.