Docklands News

Homebuyer demand has fallen for the third consecutive month, with sales also subdued, according to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). In September, a net balance of 19% of property professionals reported declining new buyer inquiries, while 16% saw a drop in agreed transactions. Surveyors cited caution ahead of the November Budget, affordability pressures, and weak sentiment as key constraints. House price expectations remain negative in the short term, particularly in the South East and East Anglia, though modest gains are seen in Scotland and Northern Ireland. New seller instructions are also down, while rental demand is flat, but landlord listings fell sharply, with rents expected to rise by around 3% over the next year. 

The Daily Telegraph (09/10/2025)   The Times (09/10/2025)  

Britain faces a shortfall of 1m builders to meet the government's housing and infrastructure ambitions, according to the Chartered Institute of Building. Delivering 1.5m homes by 2029, decarbonising properties, and expanding infrastructure could require a 40% increase in construction output. The sector currently employs 2.1m workers but has lost 150,000 to retirement over five years. Reliance on overseas labour has grown, with the number of foreign-born builders increasing from 10.6% to 16.7% in a decade, but tighter immigration rules may limit this. 

The Daily Telegraph (07/10/2025)  

The government plans to cut homebuying times by four weeks and shift some costs from buyers to sellers under new proposals. Proposed changes include requiring property sellers and estate agents to provide more information upfront, implementing earlier binding contracts, and setting new qualifications and standards for agents and conveyancers. Housing Secretary Steve Reed said that these reforms should simplify the buying process, potentially saving first-time buyers an average of £710 and cutting transaction time by one month. 

BBC News (06/10/2025)   Financial Times (06/10/2025)   The Daily Telegraph (06/10/2025)   The Standard (06/10/2025)  

Over 150 high-rise construction projects in the UK are stalled due to delays from the Building Safety Regulator, with over half in London. The Construction Plant-Hire Association (CPA) reports that crane fleets remain idle as developers await approvals. Steven Mudholland, CPA chief executive, said: "Everything's on a downward spiral." 

City AM (06/10/2025)  

Property prices in the UK rose by 0.5% month-on-month in September to £271,995, with annual growth at 2.2%, according to Nationwide. However, flat prices decreased by 0.3%, highlighting a disparity between property types. In London, house prices nudged up by 0.6% in the third quarter of the year compared with the previous three months, to an average of £527,694, However, Budget uncertainty has caused a slowdown in price increases, particularly among buyers at the top end of the market. 

Daily Mail (02/10/2025)   Financial Times (02/10/2025)   The Daily Telegraph (02/10/2025)   The Guardian (02/10/2025)  

London has maintained its position as the top city in the European Cities Growth Index (ECGI), according to LaSalle Investment Management's latest report. The capital's strong expected employment growth contributed to its ranking. Paris follows closely, boasting the highest human capital score. In the UK, the Manchester-Liverpool area and Bristol improved their rankings due to anticipated defence spending impacts. 

City AM (30/09/2025)