Transportation and storage company, H Walton Ltd, was sentenced today for safety breaches after a worker suffered injuries leading to the loss of his left arm.
Link: East Yorkshire company fined after worker loses left arm
Source: Health and Safety
Press release: Minister for Africa announces funding boost for sexual health services in Malawi
Thousands more women in Malawi will benefit from family planning services through new support announced by Minister for Africa Harriett Baldwin today.
During a visit to the Scotland Malawi Partnership in Edinburgh Ms Baldwin set out how the six year programme, called Tsogolo Langa which translates as ‘My Future’, will provide important sexual and reproductive health services for more than 300,000 Malawians and save an estimated 6,000 preventable maternal deaths.
Ahead of the visit Ms Baldwin said:
Every woman has a right to a happy and healthy life. This is about empowering women to take control of their own health and their own futures.
Malawi’s long term success matters to the UK. That is why I am proud UK aid is supporting these vital services for hundreds of thousands of young Malawians, allowing them to make decisions on their families and futures in a safe and informed way.
UK aid will provide access to modern contraceptives, help clinics from running out of stock and provide accurate health information for women in harder to reach rural areas. It will also work with young people to reduce teenage pregnancies and prevent unwanted pregnancies.
The Department for International Development (DFID) will work with the Government of Malawi’s Ministry of Health to deliver the programme, supporting the country’s aim to reduce its high teenage pregnancy rate.
Minister of Health and Population for the Government of Malawi, Atupele Muluzi said:
This assistance is very timely as Malawi continues to further stabilise its population growth that is driven by teenage pregnancy, currently standing at 29%.
Malawi still has a huge gap in providing different choices in contraceptives and this investment will assist in helping young women have more control of their future. Malawi appreciates the support that it receives from the UK Government, as our oldest and largest partner to our development.
DFID’s family planning support in the world’s poorest countries is helping women finish their education, get better jobs, fulfil their potential and in turn provide for their smaller planned families.
This latest support comes after Ms Baldwin’s visit to Malawi last month during which she announced £37.5 million of new UK aid funding to support early grade learning and keep more girls in school. Ms Baldwin also visited Majete National Park to see how the UK is supporting efforts to tackle the illegal wildlife trade.
Chief Executive of the Scotland Malawi Partnership, David Hope-Jones said:
We are delighted to meet Minister Baldwin and discuss the scale and impact of the people-to-people and nation-to-nation friendship Scotland enjoys with Malawi.
We welcome these new DFID funding commitments which will have a significant positive impact in Malawi.
While in Edinburgh, Ms Baldwin also visited the Royal Hospital for Sick Children where she met with the Chief Executive of World Child Cancer Jon Rosser, and Dr Emma Johnson, a paediatric oncologist who has volunteered with World Child Cancer for eight years.
World Child Cancer works to treat children suffering from cancer in developing countries by twinning hospitals with those in richer countries to support training and improve the quality of care available to children with cancer, regardless of where they are born.
Over the last year, World Child Cancer has received UK Aid Match support, meaning for every £1 donated to them by the British public, £1 has been matched by the UK government through DFID.
Notes to editors
- The Department for International Development’s (DFID) programme Tsogolo Langa (£50.1 million) will build on progress made by previous DFID family planning programmes in Malawi, in support of the UK’s commitment to address adolescent and young women’s sexual and reproductive health needs, particularly access to modern contraceptives.
- Tsogolo Langa will enable women in Malawi to make informed voluntary choices regarding whether and when to have children, and how many to have. DFID will work collaboratively with the Government of Malawi through the Ministry of Health Reproductive Health Directorate to deliver the programme.
- The programme is a strategic investment to help the Government of Malawi realise its goal to reach 60% contraceptive prevalence rate for all women and to reduce teenage pregnancies year-on-year by 2020, a commitment made at the Family Planning Summit 2017.
- In July 2017, the UK hosted a major international summit on family planning, in partnership with UN Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
- The Summit brought together leaders from around the world to work together to remove barriers to family planning services so that voluntary, modern contraception could be offered to many more millions of women in the world’s poorest countries across Africa and Asia.
- At the Summit, the UK committed to supporting millions of women in developing countries where there is no or poor access to contraceptives, contraceptive choices are limited or unaffordable, or women are blocked from accessing family planning services due to stigma or lack of information.
General media queries
Email
mediateam@dfid.gov.uk
Telephone
020 7023 0600
Follow the DFID Media office on Twitter – @DFID_Press
Link: Press release: Minister for Africa announces funding boost for sexual health services in Malawi
Source: Gov Press Releases
The Social Security (Treatment of Arrears of Benefit) Regulations 2018
These Regulations amend the Income Support (General) Regulations 1987 (S.I. 1987/1967) (the “IS Regulations”), the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations 1996 (S.I. 1996/207) (the “JSA Regulations”), the State Pension Credit Regulations 2002 (S.I. 2002/1792) (the “SPC Regulations”), the Housing Benefit Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/213) (the “HB Regulations”), the Housing Benefit (Persons who have attained the qualifying age for state pension credit) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/214) (the “HB (SPC) Regulations”), the Employment and Support Allowance Regulations 2008 (S.I. 2008/794) (the “ESA Regulations”) and the Universal Credit (Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2014 (S.I. 2014/1230) (the “UC (TP) Regulations”).
Link: The Social Security (Treatment of Arrears of Benefit) Regulations 2018
Source: Legislation .gov.uk
Sports Minister responds to letter on movement of people post-Brexit
The Sub-Committee receives a response to its letter on the movement of people in the field of sport after Brexit
Link: Sports Minister responds to letter on movement of people post-Brexit
Source: Parliamentary News
Press release: Gearing up for the August getaway
To help those miles flow as smoothly as possible, teams from Highways England are working around the clock to remove more than 300 miles of roadworks – meaning more than 97 per cent of motorways and major A roads will be roadworks-free for the last weekend of the month.
Highways England’s customer service director, Melanie Clarke, said:
We’re doing everything we can to make journeys as smooth as possible for this August getaway and that’s why we’re keeping more than 97 per cent of the road network we manage, free from roadworks.
We’d remind people about the importance of checking their vehicle before setting off and simple things like checking fuel and oil levels, tyre pressure and that all the lights work properly, can keep you moving and the network flowing.
Where it is safe to do so, roadworks will be lifted or suspended on England’s motorways and major A-roads from 6am Friday 24 August until 12.01am on Tuesday 28 August.
Highways England traffic officers will be working around the clock, patrolling the network to help those people who do get into difficulty.
And to help ensure road users get to their destinations safely, Highways England is once again calling on motorists to check their vehicles before setting off.
Research shows almost half of all breakdowns are caused by simple mechanical problems which could be avoided with simple checks and nearly a quarter are caused by tyre problems.
Before they set off, Highways England is urging motorists to:
- check fuel: make sure you have enough to get to your destination
- check tyres: check your tyre pressure and the condition of your tyres, including the spare. Look out for cuts or wear and make sure the tyres have a minimum tread depth of 1.6mm, which is the legal limit
- check engine oil: use your dipstick to check oil before any long journey, and top up if needed – take your car back to the garage if you’re topping up more than usual
- check water: to ensure you have good visibility, always keep your screen wash topped up so you can clear debris or dirt off your windscreen
- check your lights: if your indicators, hazard lights, headlights, fog lights, reverse lights or brake lights are not functioning properly, you are putting yourself at risk. In addition, light malfunctions can be a reason for your vehicle to fail its MOT
It is also advising anyone towing a caravan, boat, horse box or trailer to take some simple steps to ensure a trouble-free journey, including:
- carry out a final maintenance check before setting off, and leave plenty of time for your journey
- be aware that driving while towing will inevitably affect the vehicle’s performance, especially braking distances
- check that the vehicle and load are secure and the weight is correctly distributed in accordance with the manufacturers’ specifications
- make sure you are adequately covered for recovery and breakdown
- know the correct speed limit for your vehicle and the roads you travel on, and don’t drive faster than the speed limit for the type of road
- towing mirrors not only allow you to view to the rear, in most cases they are a legal requirement when towing a wider trailer
- driving licences place restrictions on the trailers that you can tow, you may need to take a further test to progress to towing larger trailers
- if your caravan or trailer starts to snake or swerve, it’s a sign you’re going too fast or the trailer is loaded incorrectly. Ease off the accelerator and reduce your speed gently
- don’t brake harshly on a bend, as it makes the trailer unstable. Reduce your speed in plenty of time for any hazard
- you shouldn’t drive in the right hand lane of a motorway with three or more lanes
Highways England also has a series of specialist videos online to help people carry out basic vehicle checks before they set off on their travels. The videos can be viewed on the Think! website.
Highways England is also urging drivers to stay safe this August by adhering to motorway signage.
If you are driving through roadworks on a smart motorway, look out for one of the most important signals – the Red X. When displayed it will identity when a lane is closed and indicates that drivers should move into an open lane to continue their journeys. Driving in a closed lane is unsafe, as there could be debris in the road or an accident or breakdown up ahead. Keeping the lane clear gives the emergency services the access they need to help. Visit the website for further advice on how to drive on a smart motorway.
Drivers planning to use the Dartford Crossing are reminded to pay Dart Charge in advance or by midnight the day after crossing.
Real-time traffic information for England’s motorways and major A roads is available via the Traffic England website, local and national radio travel bulletins, electronic road signs and mobile apps. Local Twitter services are also available. More information can be found by calling the Highways England Customer Contact Centre (0300 123 5000).
For more detailed information on how to carry out your vehicle checks, visit the Think! website.
General enquiries
Members of the public should contact the Highways England customer contact centre on 0300 123 5000.
Media enquiries
Journalists should contact the Highways England press office on 0844 693 1448 and use the menu to speak to the most appropriate press officer.
Link: Press release: Gearing up for the August getaway
Source: Gov Press Releases
Press release: Adur tidal walls scheme harnesses the unique power of the Giken
The Environment Agency’s Adur tidal walls scheme in Shoreham-by-Sea is making great strides as it nears the final stages of construction with completion expected by the end of the year.
A major component to making good progress has been the use of the Giken press piling train to drive in the steel piles. This is a Giken silent piling unit, power pack, and crane mounted onto the piles (a ‘reaction stand’), using the installed piles as tracks – like a train. The Giken piler drives piles silently by pressing them into the ground. This is located at the front of the ‘train’ pressing piles in at the front. The whole train walks along, following the Giken silent piler to install piles in a linear fashion.
This equipment has proved to be key to working in the tight spaces between the Shoreham houseboats and the houses landside of the path, driving in the steel piles to form the wall’s core support.
The planning process needed to be carefully managed to ensure that stakeholder agreements were completed on time because of the specialist Giken press piling train required to install the sheet piles. This needed to be booked 6 months in advance as there are only a few in the world. Scheme contract partners Team Van Oord developed a stakeholder engagement programme to set out the process to obtain the agreements and the roles of project team organisations at each stage.
Following completion of sheet piling in the W5 reach*, the Giken train will be decommissioned on Thursday 2 August. The W5 reach is scheduled for reopening this autumn.
*The 7.2 kilometre long defence is split into 10 sections labelled as E for east or W for west of the river, ie E1, E2, E3, W1, W2, W3, W4, W5, W6, W7.
An Environment Agency spokesperson said:
We would like to thank everyone in Shoreham-by-Sea for their continued patience and support. More than two-thirds of the Shoreham Adur tidal walls flood defence scheme has now been completed. Having started construction in October 2016 we expect to finish by the end of this year.
A Team Van Oord spokesperson said:
In the W5 reach we have had to install some 1,176 sheet piles – each one 11 metres long. The work was complicated by being close to 40 houseboats along a stretch of 700m. However, we made sure to consult with stakeholders and houseboat owners keeping them informed on developments.
Thanks to their cooperation, we were able to continue the pile driving works in this reach without closing a larger area to the public.
Further information about the scheme is available on GOV.UK.
In addition, there is a dedicated visitor centre for the project, located in the Beach Green car park in Shoreham, and open from midday to 5pm Monday to Friday.
Contact details: email shorehamwestbank@environment-agency.gov.uk or write to:
SSD Enquiries
Environment Agency
Guildbourne House
Chatsworth Road
Worthing
BN11 1LD
For general information on how to prepare for flooding and the latest flood warnings in force please visit our floodline page or ring Floodline on 0345 9881188.
Notes to editors
The Shoreham Adur tidal walls scheme, made up of raised walls and embankments along the River Adur, is being constructed by the Environment Agency. Once complete, it will reduce the tidal flood risk to thousands of homes and commercial properties in the area, as well as protecting important local infrastructure such as roads, railway lines and Shoreham Airport. It is part of the Environment Agency’s 6-year plan to reduce the risk of flooding to at least 300,000 homes by 2020/21.
Adur tidal walls scheme in numbers
- 7.2km of defences
- 2,527 properties protected
- 2.5km of steel sheet piling
- 3km of flood embankment
- 1km of concrete walls
- ½km of flood glass
- ½km of rock revetment
- 2,316 lizards and slow worms relocated
- 14,000m2 saltmarsh habitat to be created
Other key points of the scheme
The scheme will reduce the risk of flooding to over 2,300 homes and 169 commercial properties.
Consultation events in 2014 and 2015 provided public feedback on the designs now incorporated into the detailed designs.
The scheme boundary includes the nationally designated Adur Estuary Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a RSPB reserve. These areas have over-wintering bird populations and significant areas of saltmarsh and mudflat. Saltmarsh and mudflat are priority habitats that have been identified as requiring conservation action under the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act (2006).
The Environment Agency is aiming to minimise loss of saltmarsh habitat by moving the embankment next to the airport further back from its current position to create new saltmarsh habitat.
Link: Press release: Adur tidal walls scheme harnesses the unique power of the Giken
Source: Environment Agency
Press release: Manston Airport application accepted for examination
Today, Tuesday 14 August, The Planning Inspectorate has announced that the application for the upgrade and reopening Manston Airport has been accepted by the Secretary of State for Housing Communities and Local Government for examination.
The application for the proposed project was submitted on 17 July 2018 and the decision has been made within of the 28 day statutory deadline.
The application is for the upgrade and reopening of Manston Airport primarily as a cargo airport, with some passenger services, with a capacity of at least 12,000 air cargo movements per year.
In accordance with the Planning Act 2008 (as amended by the Localism Act 2011) , when considering whether or not to accept an application for examination, the Secretary of State has regard to the application documents submitted, any adequacy of consultation representations received from local authorities, and the extent to which the developer has had regard to any guidance issued. Other matters relating to the application will be considered by the Examining Authority during the examination and interested parties will have an opportunity take part in that process and give their views if they wish.
It is now for the applicant, RiverOak Strategic Partners Ltd, to publicise the fact that its application has been accepted for examination and invite people who are interested in the proposal to register with the Planning Inspectorate as an interested party by making a relevant representation.
Once the period for registering as an interested party has opened, people will easily be able to register online with the Planning Inspectorate by visiting the project’s page and completing the online ‘Registration and Relevant Representation form’. Alternatively, those without internet access may call the Planning Inspectorate helpline: 0303 444 5000 for a printed registration form.
Sarah Richards, Chief Executive, Planning Inspectorate said. “After careful consideration we have decided on behalf of the Secretary of State that the application submitted by RiverOak Strategic Partners Ltd met the required tests set out in the legislation to be accepted for examination”.
“The decision has been made within the statutory deadline. It demonstrates our ability to deliver a predictable, fair and efficient examination process that provides certainty for everyone involved.”
“The applicant must now decide and publicise when members of the public can play a part in the examination process by registering with the Planning Inspectorate as an interested party to give their views.”
Interested parties in an application can:
- Say what they agree or disagree with in the application and why;
- Comment on what other people have said in their representations;
- Attend a Preliminary Meeting and say how they think the application should be examined;
- Request that an open floor hearing is held; and
- Attend and request to speak at open floor or issue-specific hearings should one be held.
The Planning Inspectorate’s Advice Note 8.3, ‘How to register and become an interested party in an application’ is available on the Inspectorate’s website or a copy can be requested by calling 0303 444 5000.
Ends
Journalists wanting further information should contact the Planning Inspectorate Press Office, on: 0303 444 5004 or 0303 444 5005 or email: pressoffice@pins.gsi.gov.uk.
Notes to editors:
- The acceptance to proceed to examination decision and a copy of the application can be viewed at the Manston Airport project page on the Planning Inspectorate’s website.
- The Planning Inspectorate, National Infrastructure Programme of Projects details the proposals which are anticipated to be submitted to the Planning Inspectorate as applications in the coming months.
Copies of the application documents can be viewed online on the project page.
The process in a snapshot
There are six key stages within the process. The summary below provides examples of when and how people have an opportunity to provide evidence to the Planning Inspectorate.
Pre-application
Key activities:
- Project development / developer’s pre-application consultation and publicity.
- Environmental impact assessment preparation and scoping, where required.
Public involvement:
- Have their say on the proposal to the developer through their pre application consultation
Acceptance by the Planning Inspectorate on behalf of the Secretary of State
Key activities:
- The Secretary of State has 28 days from the day after receipt to decide whether or not an application should be accepted for examination
Public involvement:
- Details will be posted at the Planning Inspectorate’s website on how to register as an interested party – once an application has been accepted for examination and publicised by the developer.
- Opportunity to legally challenge a decision not to accept an application.
Pre-examination
Key activities:
- Single Inspector or a Panel of three or more Inspectors appointed.
- Preliminary Meeting called and held.
- Procedure and timetable set for examination.
Public involvement:
- Register to say what you agree or disagree with in the application
- Submit your representation
- View application documents submitted by the developer on the Planning Inspectorate website
- Attend the Preliminary Meeting
- Say how the examination should be conducted.
Examination
Key activities:
- A maximum of six months to carry out the examination
Public involvement:
- Submit more detailed comments in writing
- Comment on what other people have said
- Request and attend an open-floor hearing
- If being held, request to speak at open-floor and / or issue specific hearing(s)
- Comment on the local authority’s Local Impact Report – detailing the impact of the scheme on the local area.
Decision
Key activities:
- A maximum of three months for Planning Inspectorate to issue a recommendation to the relevant Secretary of State, with a statement of reasons.
- The relevant Secretary of State then has a further three months from receiving the recommendation in which to issue the decision.
Post decision
Key activities:
- Six weeks for any legal challenge.
Public involvement:
Opportunity to challenge.
Link: Press release: Manston Airport application accepted for examination
Source: Gov Press Releases
Press release: James Brokenshire plans increase in garden towns
Communities Secretary Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP calls for an increase in garden towns in England, as he announces the new garden communities programme.
The programme will see more high quality homes built and green spaces created, expanding on government’s plans for more locally-led developments.
The garden towns push in England is part of government’s clear ambition to build 300,000 homes a year by the mid-2020s.
Councils across England and private developers who have secured support from local authorities will be able to apply for a place on the programme.
The winning bidders will receive tailored advice and potential grant funding for help with staffing or environmental assessments; part of the planning process for new garden towns.
Communities Secretary Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP said:
This plan is about the government working with councils and developers to get great homes in keeping with beautiful areas in England.
We want to help local authorities build strong and vibrant communities where people want to live, work, and raise families.
Our garden communities programme already has the potential to provide over 200,000 new homes by 2050, and we want to go further.
Strong community involvement and engagement will be at the heart of judging garden community proposals; ensuring developments reflect local character while also designing beautiful green spaces near homes.
Garden communities can take the form of new villages, towns or cities and have the potential to deliver well designed homes at an increased scale, with projects ranging in size from 10,000 to 40,000 homes.
This prospectus is the latest step by government to get Britain building, with 23 locally-led garden communities already receiving funding support, with the potential to deliver over 200,000 homes by 2050.
The launch today signals the start of a 3 month application process, with successful garden community proposals being announced later in the New Year.
Last year 217,000 homes were built, marking the biggest increase in housing supply in England for almost a decade.
Futher information
A garden town is a development of more than 10,000 homes. Garden villages are smaller settlements of between 1,500 and 10,000 homes.
Office address and general enquiries
2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF
Contact form
http://forms.communiti…
General enquiries: please use this number if you are a member of the public
030 3444 0000
Media enquiries
Email
newsdesk@communities.gsi.gov.uk
Please use this number if you are a journalist wishing to speak to Press Office
0303 444 1209
Social media – MHCLG
Twitter – https://twitter.com/mhclg
Flickr – http://www.flickr.com/photos/mhclg
LinkedIn – http://www.linkedin.com/company/mhclg
Link: Press release: James Brokenshire plans increase in garden towns
Source: Gov Press Releases
Press release: UK House Price Index for June 2018
The June data shows:
- on average, house prices have risen by 0.4% since May 2018
- an annual price rise of 3%, which makes the average property in the UK valued at £228,384
England
In England, the June data shows on average, house prices have risen by 0.3% since May 201. The annual price rise of 2.7% takes the average property value to £245,076.
The regional data for England indicates that:
- West Midlands experienced the greatest monthly price rise, up by 1.9%
- the North East saw the most significant monthly price fall, down by 1.9%
- London saw the lowest annual price increase, down by 0.7%
Price change by region for England
| Region | Average price June 2018 | Monthly change % since May 2018 |
|---|---|---|
| East Midlands | £187,553 | -0.5 |
| East of England | £292,632 | 1.0 |
| London | £476,752 | -0.6 |
| North East | £127,271 | -1.9 |
| North West | £159,801 | 0.5 |
| South East | £325,107 | 0.6 |
| South West | £252,558 | -0.5 |
| West Midlands | £196,015 | 1.9 |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | £160,727 | 0.9 |
Repossession sales by volume for England
The lowest number of repossession sales in April 2018 was in the East of England.
The highest number of repossession sales in April 2018 was in the North West.
| Repossession sales | April 2018 |
|---|---|
| East Midlands | 45 |
| East of England | 9 |
| London | 37 |
| North East | 64 |
| North West | 120 |
| South East | 45 |
| South West | 42 |
| West Midlands | 40 |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | 68 |
| England | 470 |
Average price by property type for England
| Property type | June 2018 | June 2017 | Difference % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detached | £367,947 | £357,220 | 3.0 |
| Semi-detached | £229,360 | £220,112 | 4.2 |
| Terraced | £198,836 | £192,410 | 3.3 |
| Flat/maisonette | £226,638 | £227,646 | -0.4 |
| All | £245,076 | £238,595 | 2.7 |
Funding and buyer status for England
| Transaction type | Average price June 2018 | Annual price change % since June 2017 | Monthly price change % since May 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cash | £230,065 | 2.4 | 0.0 |
| Mortgage | £252,647 | 2.9 | 0.4 |
| First-time buyer | £206,005 | 2.5 | 0.5 |
| Former owner occupier | £277,690 | 2.9 | 0.1 |
Building status for England
| Building status* | Average price April 2018 | Annual price change % since April 2017 | Monthly price change % since March 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|
| New build | £310,029 | 7.8 | 3.9 |
| Existing resold property | £238,785 | 3.2 | 0.9 |
*Figures for the two most recent months are not being published because there are not enough new build transactions to give a meaningful result.
Sales volumes for England
The most up-to-date HM Land Registry sales figures available for England show:
- the number of completed house sales in England fell by 19.3 per cent to 50,308 compared with 62,318 in April 2017
| Month | Sales 2018 | Sales 2017 | Difference % |
|---|---|---|---|
| March | 62,237 | 74,386 | -16.3 |
| April | 50,308 | 62,318 | -19.3 |
London
London shows, on average, house prices have fallen by 0.6% since May 2018. An annual price fall of 0.7% takes the average property value to £476,752.
Average price by property type for London
| Property type | June 2018 | June 2017 | Difference % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detached | £909,473 | £890,539 | 2.1 |
| Semi-detached | £588,852 | £569,116 | 3.5 |
| Terraced | £496,983 | £490,877 | 1.2 |
| Flat/maisonette | £416,101 | £428,001 | -2.8 |
| All | £476,752 | £480,152 | -0.7 |
Funding and buyer status for London
| Transaction type | Average price June 2018 | Annual price change % since June 2017 | Monthly price change % since May 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cash | £495,907 | -1.7 | -1.2 |
| Mortgage | £470,879 | -0.4 | -0.4 |
| First-time buyer | £417,193 | -1.1 | -0.6 |
| Former owner occupier | £537,783 | -0.2 | -0.7 |
Building status for London
| Building status* | Average price April 2018 | Annual price change % since April 2017 | Monthly price change % since March 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|
| New build | £512,049 | 3.9 | 4.3 |
| Existing resold property | £477,123 | -0.3 | 1.3 |
*Figures for the two most recent months are not being published because there are not enough new build transactions to give a meaningful result.
Sales volumes for London
The most up-to-date HM Land Registry sales figures available for London show;
- the number of completed house sales in April 2018 fell by 26% to 5,272 compared with 7,120 in April 2017
| Month | Sales 2018 | Sales 2017 | Difference % |
|---|---|---|---|
| March | 6,685 | 8,659 | -22.8 |
| April | 5,272 | 7,120 | -26.0 |
Wales
Wales shows, on average, house prices have risen by 1.7% since May 2018. An annual price rise of 4.3% takes the average property value to £156,886.
Average price by property type for Wales
| Property type | June 2018 | June 2017 | Difference % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detached | £234,339 | £225,439 | 3.9 |
| Semi-detached | £151,991 | £143,947 | 5.6 |
| Terraced | £121,586 | £116,907 | 4.0 |
| Flat/maisonette | £114,043 | £110,994 | 2.7 |
| All | £156,886 | £150,394 | 4.3 |
Funding and buyer status for Wales
| Transaction type | Average price June 2018 | Annual price change % since June 2017 | Monthly price change % since May 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cash | £152,601 | 4.0 | 1.8 |
| Mortgage | £159,428 | 4.5 | 1.6 |
| First-time buyer | £135,691 | 4.2 | 1.9 |
| Former owner occupier | £181,538 | 4.4 | 1.4 |
Building status for Wales
| Building status* | Average price April 2018 | Annual price change % since April 2017 | Monthly price change % since March 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|
| New build | £210,429 | 7.9 | 2.1 |
| Existing resold property | £150,819 | 2.5 | -0.3 |
*Figures for the two most recent months are not being published because there are not enough new build transactions to give a meaningful result.
Sales volumes for Wales
The most up-to-date HM Land Registry sales figures available for Wales show:
- the number of completed house sales in April 2018 fell by 13.9% to 3,005 compared with 3,490 in April 2017
- there were 54 repossession sales in April 2018
| Month | Sales 2018 | Sales 2017 | Difference % |
|---|---|---|---|
| March | 3,547 | 3,909 | -9.3 |
| April | 3,005 | 3,490 | -13.9 |
UK house prices rose by 3.0% in the year to June 2018, down from 3.5% in the year to May 2018. This is the lowest UK annual rate since August 2013 when it was also 3.0%.
The UK Property Transaction Statistics for June 2018 showed that on a seasonally adjusted basis, the number of transactions on residential properties with a value of £40,000 or greater was 96,340. This is 5.7% lower compared to a year ago. Between May and June 2018, transactions decreased by 3.0%.
West Midlands was the fastest growing region with an annual growth rate of 5.8%, up from 5.0% in the previous month. London was the slowest growing region, falling by 0.7% in the year to June 2018, down from negative 0.2% in the previous month.
See the economic statement.
Notes to editors
- The UK House Price Index (HPI) is published on the second or third Wednesday of each month with Northern Ireland figures updated quarterly. The July 2018 UK HPI will be published at 9.30am on Wednesday 19 September 2018. See calendar of release dates.
- We have made some changes to improve the accuracy of the UK HPI. We are not publishing average price and percentage change for new builds and existing resold property as done previously because there are not currently enough new build transactions to provide a reliable result. This means that in this month’s UK HPI reports, new builds and existing resold property are reported in line with the sales volumes currently available.
- The UK HPI revision period has been extended to 13 months, following a review of the revision policy (see calculating the UK HPI section 4.4). This ensures the data used is more comprehensive.
- Sales volume data is also available by property status (new build and existing property) and funding status (cash and mortgage) in our downloadable data tables. Transactions involving the creation of a new register, such as new builds, are more complex and require more time to process. Read revisions to the UK HPI data.
- Revision tables have been introduced for England and Wales within the downloadable data. Tables will be available in CSV format. See about the UK HPI for more information.
- Data for the UK HPI is provided by HM Land Registry, Registers of Scotland, Land & Property Services/Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency and the Valuation Office Agency.
- The UK HPI is calculated by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) andLand & Property Services/Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency. It applies a hedonic regression model that uses the various sources of data on property price, in particular, HM Land Registry’s Price Paid Dataset, and attributes to produce estimates of the change in house prices each month. Find out more about the methodology used from the ONS and Northern Ireland Statistics & Research Agency.
- The UK Property Transaction statisticsare taken from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) monthly estimates of the number of residential and non-residential property transactions in the UK and its constituent countries. The number of property transactions in the UK is highly seasonal, with more activity in the summer months and less in the winter. This regular annual pattern can sometimes mask the underlying movements and trends in the data series so HMRC also presents the UK aggregate transaction figures on a seasonally adjusted basis. Adjustments are made for both the time of year and the construction of the calendar, including corrections for the position of Easter and the number of trading days in a particular month.
- UK HPI seasonally adjusted series are calculated at regional and national levels only. See data tables.
- The first estimate for new build average price (April 2016 report) was based on a small sample which can cause volatility. A three-month moving average has been applied to the latest estimate to remove some of this volatility.
- Work has been taking place since 2014 to develop a single, official HPI that reflects the final transaction price for sales of residential property in the UK. Using the geometric mean, it covers purchases at market value for owner-occupation and buy-to-let, excluding those purchases not at market value (such as re-mortgages), where the ‘price’ represents a valuation.
- Information on residential property transactions for England and Wales, collected as part of the official registration process, is provided by HM Land Registry for properties that are sold for full market value.
- The HM Land Registry dataset contains the sale price of the property, the date when the sale was completed, full address details, the type of property (detached, semi-detached, terraced or flat), if it is a newly built property or an established residential building and a variable to indicate if the property has been purchased as a financed transaction (using a mortgage) or as a non-financed transaction (cash purchase).
- Repossession sales data is based on the number of transactions lodged with HM Land Registry by lenders exercising their power of sale.
- For England, this is shown as volumes of repossession sales recorded by Government Office Region. For Wales, there is a headline figure for the number of repossession sales recorded in Wales.
- The data can be downloaded as a .csv file. Repossession sales data prior to April 2016 is not available. Find out more information about repossession sales.
- Background tables of the raw and cleansed aggregated data, in Excel and CSV formats, are also published monthly although Northern Ireland is on a quarterly basis. They are available for free use and re-use under the Open Government Licence.
- HM Land Registry’s mission is to guarantee and protect property rights in England and Wales.
- HM Land Registry is a government department created in 1862. It operates as an executive agency and a trading fund and its running costs are covered by the fees paid by the users of its services. Its ambition is to become the world’s leading land registry for speed, simplicity and an open approach to data.
- HM Land Registry safeguards land and property ownership worth in excess of £4 trillion, including around £1 trillion of mortgages. The Land Register contains more than 25 million titles showing evidence of ownership for some 85% of the land mass of England and Wales.
- For further information about HM Land Registry visit www.gov.uk/land-registry
- Follow us on Twitter @HMLandRegistry, our blog, LinkedIn and Facebook
Contact
Press Office
Trafalgar House
1 Bedford Park
Croydon
CR0 2AQ
Email
HMLRPressOffice@landregistry.gov.uk
Phone (Monday to Friday 8.30am to 6pm)
0300 006 3349 or 0300 006 7543
Mobile (6pm to 8.30am, all weekend and public holidays)
07864 689 344
Link: Press release: UK House Price Index for June 2018
Source: Gov Press Releases
Press release: Government launch call for evidence to be geospatial world leader
- Geospatial call for evidence launched today, focussing on innovation, enhancing geospatial assets and driving investment.
- Geospatial Commission established to help unlock value of the sector, valued up to £11 billion per year.
- This call for evidence is a pivotal moment to help set UK’s future geospatial vision. Government urges private and public sector to respond.
The government is urging the UK’s geospatial sector and beyond to take part and share views on their future vision, as part of its call for evidence launched today.
The creation of the Geospatial Commission was announced in November 2017, to maximise the value of data linked to location, which could generate £11 billion a year.
By using location data, geospatial technology is transforming services across the private and public sectors to contribute to the #SmarterGov Government campaign, which helps deliver wider economic growth and productivity. From emergency services, transport planning, and 5G networks, to housing, smarter cities and drones – the UK’s geospatial infrastructure has the potential to revolutionise the UK’s economy.
The Minister for the Cabinet Office and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, David Lidington, said,
The data revolution is changing the way we see the world and the way we live our lives – and this government is determined to make the most of the opportunities it presents.
The launch of today’s call for evidence is another key milestone in the Geospatial Commission’s exciting journey. We want to hear how the use of geospatial data can support economic growth and productivity across the United Kingdom, while transforming how public services are delivered.
This is crucial in helping to inform the UK’s first ever Geospatial Strategy, which the Government will launch next year.
Call for evidence document
The call for evidence document is linked to below:
Call for evidence questionnaire
The call for evidence questionnaire is linked to below in various formats:
Initial analysis
This document sets out the initial high-level analysis which contributed to the Government’s announcement of the creation of a Geospatial Commission in the 2017 Autumn Budget:
Notes to editors
Geospatial Commission
The Geospatial Commission is an impartial expert committee within the Cabinet Office, supported by £40 million of new funding in each of the next two years, and will drive the move to use public and private sector geospatial data more productively. Research estimates that this could contribute up to £11 billion of extra value for the economy every year. The Geospatial Commission is due to publish its first annual plan next Spring.
Further details on the Geospatial Commission can be found in this press release: Chancellor to unlock hidden value of government data
Partner bodies
The Geospatial Commission has 6 partner bodies. These are:
- British Geological Survey
- Coal Authority
- HM Land Registry
- Ordnance Survey
- UK Hydrographic Office
- Valuation Office Agency
Link: Press release: Government launch call for evidence to be geospatial world leader
Source: Gov Press Releases