South Yorkshire Housing Association (SYHA) is discussing becoming a subsidiary of Places for People (PfP), one of the UK’s largest housing providers. The potential merger follows SYHA’s non-compliance with the Regulator of Social Housing’s (RSH) governance and financial viability standards.

In June 2023, RSH downgraded SYHA to ‘G3’ for governance and ‘V3’ for viability after identifying financial governance weaknesses, including miscalculations of loan covenant compliance. The regulator noted that SYHA has “limited financial capacity” in the short to medium term and is working with external advisors to secure its long-term stability.

Under the proposed deal, PfP, which manages 245,000 homes and generates £830 million in annual turnover, would integrate SYHA’s 5,000-home portfolio. If completed, the merger would provide financial stability for SYHA while expanding PfP’s presence in South Yorkshire.

SYHA CEO Larry Gold said the partnership would help sustain the organisation’s 50-year legacy and benefit customers, employees, and the wider Sheffield City Region. PfP Group CEO Greg Reed highlighted the strategic alignment, stating that combining resources would strengthen their ability to support communities in the region.

Wakefield-based housebuilder Avant Homes West Yorkshire has submitted plans and exchanged contracts on a 5.63-acre site in Lofthouse Gate, Wakefield to deliver a £19.9m, 80-home development.

Called Lingwell Gate and located on Lingwell Gate Lane in Lofthouse Gate, the site will consist of one-, two-, three-, and four-bedroom homes.

The proposed development will feature 15 of Avant Homes’ practically designed, energy efficient house type.

If given the go ahead by Wakefield Council, work at the development is set to commence in August, with the first residents expected to move into their new homes in spring 2025.

Avant Homes West Yorkshire managing director, Richard Hosie, said: “As a local business, we know first-hand what a great place Wakefield is to live, with its many amenities and excellent access to transport links.

“Our objective as a housebuilder is to provide quality new homes for everyone whilst developing the communities where we build, and our plans for Lingwell Gate meet those criteria.

“Our proposed development features a mix of practically designed, energy efficient house types that will appeal to a range of buyers, including first time buyers, second steppers, families and downsizers. We now look forward to Wakefield Council considering our plans.”

Lloyds Banking Group has launched its first affordable housing redevelopment project in Pudsey, inviting developers to build 100 new homes. The fully affordable scheme, which has backing from Leeds City Council, includes a mix of one- —to four-bedroom homes, apartments, and green spaces.

The site, a former commercial property, is part of Lloyds’ broader strategy to repurpose decommissioned assets for social housing. Developers will need to finalise designs and secure planning approval from the council.

This initiative is the first of its kind by a UK bank, marking Lloyds’ direct entry into the social housing sector. The Group, which has provided £20 billion in social housing funding since 2018, is reviewing additional sites for redevelopment. If approved, construction could begin by late 2026.

Morrisons is set to close 52 cafés, 18 market kitchens, 17 convenience stores, 13 florists, 35 meat counters, 35 fish counters, and four pharmacies due to rising operational costs. The supermarket chain stated that the affected services were no longer financially viable.

While most impacted employees will be offered redeployment within the company, 365 jobs remain at risk of redundancy. CEO Rami Baitieh described the closures as necessary to refocus investment on areas that customers prioritise.

Avant Homes has received planning approval for a £45 million residential development in Yaddlethorpe, North Lincolnshire. The 20.1-acre site, named Moorwell Meadows, will feature 200 energy-efficient homes with two to five bedrooms.

Construction is set to begin in May, and the first homes will be available for sale in October. A show home is expected to open in November, and initial residents are scheduled to move in by December. The project includes a £170,000 community contribution towards improvements to Riddings Community Centre.

Delivered by Avant Homes North Yorkshire, the development aligns with the company’s expansion strategy in Lincolnshire. Avant Homes operates across the Midlands, northern England, and Scotland, focusing on multi-tenure housing for private, rental, and affordable sectors.