Politics

New building safety law could make flats unsellable, lenders warn

Published

4 months ago

October 1, 2025

PROPOSED building safety laws risk “suppressing the appetite” of mortgage lenders to offer loans on flats, making properties effectively unsellable to most buyers, a committee has heard.

John Marr, from UK Finance – which represents the banking industry – expressed concerns about unintended consequences of the Welsh Government’s building safety bill.

The bill, which aims to create clear lines of legal responsibility for managing safety risks, would create three categories of building with different restrictions for each:

category one: highest risk, at least 18 metres or seven storeys
category two: medium risk, 11m to 18m or five or six storeys
category three: lower risk, less than 11m and fewer than five storeys

Warning the bill could curb the appetite of mortgage lenders, Mr Marr said: “This could be so, particularly if the proposed obligations/duties in relation to category three buildings mean no flat owner is willing to take on these responsibilities.

“This could result in a lack of management/maintenance for such buildings.”

Mr Marr added that additional legal and cost burdens could “accelerate further flight” from the private-rented sector in Wales, limiting the available supply of homes.

Under the bill – which was brought forward to ensure the 2017 Grenfell Tower tragedy, in which 72 people died, can never happen again – flat owners could become the legally responsible “accountable person” for a building’s safety.

UK Finance warned owners may lack the “skills, resources or willingness” to take on such a role, resulting in critical safety works being delayed or neglected.

In written evidence to the Senedd’s housing committee, which is scrutinising the bill, Mr Marr wrote: “If a repossession takes place, lenders would not expect then to be responsible for funding outstanding repairs potentially, to the further financial detriment of the former owner.

“Lenders would also need to understand the affordability consequences of obligations on borrowers… some of which might fall to individuals rather than collectively.

“The overall effect of the proposals particularly for category three buildings could impact lender appetite to lend on such properties.”

Mr Marr said the broad definition of “accountable person” raises concerns about exposing lenders to duties and liabilities despite their limited operational control over the property.

Concerns about the bill’s real-world impact were echoed by councils and fire services, which warned of demands on an “already overstretched” workforce.

The Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA), the national voice of Wales’ 22 councils, described plans to designate councils as building safety authorities as unrealistic.

While supportive of the bill’s overarching aims, the WLGA pointed to funding pressures, workforce capacity challenges and limited technical expertise.

The umbrella organisation told Senedd Members: “Local authorities will struggle to fulfil these new responsibilities effectively, potentially undermining the bill’s objectives.”

Warning of implementation failure, the WLGA said financial estimates that accompanied the bill significantly underestimate the costs and demands on councils.

Fire services similarly warned of the financial impact – cautioning that without funding, the new legal duties will force them to divert resources away from existing safety work.

In its written evidence, the WLGA said: “Introducing new responsibilities without adequate funding is short-sighted, especially given the financial pressures facing local authorities.

“With England pursuing full cost recovery, it is questionable why Wales would opt for a less robust or cheaper model – particularly given the high stakes involved in building safety.”

In its evidence, an all-Wales housing expert panel depicted plans for 22 building safety authorities as unworkable – particularly in light of a “massive skills gap” – advocating a regional model based on the three fire service areas.

The Senedd’s housing committee will take oral evidence on the bill from representatives of councils, fire and rescue services, and UK Finance during its meeting on October 1.

Business

Bid to convert office space into chocolate factory, salon and laundrette

Published

4 hours ago

February 4, 2026

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

A CALL for the retrospective conversion of office space previously connected to a Pembrokeshire car hire business to a chocolate factory, a beauty salon and a laundrette has been submitted to county planners

In an application to Pembrokeshire County Council, Mr M Williams, through agent Preseli Planning Ltd, sought retrospective permission for the subdivision of an office on land off Scotchwell Cottage, Cartlett, Haverfordwest into three units forming a chocolate manufacturing, a beauty salon, and a launderette, along with associated works.

A supporting statement said planning history at the site saw a 2018 application for the refurbishment of an existing office building and a change of use from oil depot offices to a hire car office and car/van storage yard, approved back in 2019.

For the chocolate manufacturing by ‘Pembrokeshire Chocolate company,’ as part of the latest scheme it said: “The operation comprises of manufacturing of handmade bespoke flavoured chocolate bars. Historically there was an element of counter sales but this has now ceased. The business sales comprise of online orders and the delivery of produce to local stockist. There are no counter sales from the premises.”

It said the beauty salon “offers treatments, nail services and hairdressing,” operating “on an appointment only basis, with the hairdresser element also offering a mobile service”. It said the third unit of the building functions as a commercial laundrette and ironing services known as ‘West Coast Laundry,’ which “predominantly provides services to holiday cottages, hotels and care homes”.

The statement added: “Beyond the unchanged access the site has parking provision for at least 12 vehicles and a turning area. The building now forms three units which employ two persons per unit. The 12 parking spaces, therefore, provide sufficient provision for staff.

“In terms of visiting members of the public the beauty salon operates on an appointment only basis and based on its small scale can only accommodate two customers at any one time. Therefore, ample parking provision exists to visitors.

“With regard to the chocolate manufacturing and commercial laundrette service these enterprises do not attract visitors but do attract the dropping off laundry and delivery of associated inputs. Drop off and collections associated with the laundry services tend to fall in line with holiday accommodation changeover days, for example Tuesday drop off and collections on the Thursday.

“With regard to the chocolate manufacturing ingredients are delivered by couriers and movements associated with this is also estimated at 10 vehicular movements per week.”

The application will be considered by county planners at a later date.

Politics

Ceredigion council tax expected to rise by 4.7 per cent

Published

11 hours ago

February 3, 2026

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

A BETTER financial settlement for Ceredigion from the Welsh Government along with a fresh grant is expected to see council tax bills in the county rising by less than five per cent this year, far below previous fears of a rise as high as nearly nine.

Last year, for the 2025-’26 budget, Ceredigion saw a council tax rise of 9.3 per cent.

While council tax makes up a proportion of the council’s annual revenue, a crucial area of funding is the Aggregate External Finance (AEF) rate from Welsh Government.

Ceredigion was to receive a 2.3 per cent increase on its settlement, some £3,388,000 for a total of £150,670,000, placing it at joint 13th of the 22 local authorities in Wales.

Following a later Welsh Government and Plaid Cymru agreement additional funding for local government was secured, giving Ceredigion additional funding.

Back in November, before the increased settlement was announced, Ceredigion Leader Cllr Bryan Davies said that early estimates indicated that an 8.9 per cent increase in council tax would be necessary, but an improved position of 6.9 per cent had been indicated as a result of a further modelling of service cost pressures and operational savings.

Following the improved settlement, members at the January meeting of Cabinet heard from Cabinet Member for Finance and Procurement Services Cllr Gareth Davies a recommendation for a 4.75 per cent council tax increase as part of a draft budget requirement of £221.493m was being mooted.

That position has improved again, following financial support towards the Mid and West Wales Fire Service Levy, members of the February 3 meeting of the council’s corporate resources overview and scrutiny committee heard, the funding now dropping the expected council tax increase to 4.7 per cent, equivalent to an extra £7.39 per month for the average Band D property for the next financial year.

Members of the committee agreed to note the 4.7 per cent figure, with the final council tax recommendation being considered by Cabinet on February 10; the final decision on the budget being made by full council on March 2.

international news

Mandelson quits Lords amid police probe over Epstein links

Published

19 hours ago

February 3, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Peter Mandelson has announced he will retire from the House of Lords with immediate effect, as mounting political and legal pressure grows over claims he shared sensitive government information with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Parliamentary officials confirmed that Peter Mandelson formally notified the Clerk of the Parliaments of his decision, ending his membership of the upper chamber from Tuesday (Feb 4).

The move follows reports that the Metropolitan Police Service is reviewing allegations of possible misconduct in public office connected to emails said to have been forwarded to Epstein while Mandelson was business secretary during the 2008–09 financial crisis.

Downing Street has confirmed that material has been passed to police after an initial Cabinet Office review.

Government fury

LONDON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 19: Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer delivers a statement in the media briefing room of 9 Downing Street in central London, after US president Donald Trump’s threats to ramp up tariffs until a deal is reached for the US to buy Greenland, at Downing Street on January 19, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Jordan Pettitt – WPA Pool/Getty Images)

Prime Minister Keir Starmer told cabinet colleagues Mandelson had “let his country down”, according to No 10, and officials are now drafting legislation that could strip him of his peerage entirely.

Removing a life peer is rare and would require an Act of Parliament.

If passed, Mandelson would lose the title “Lord” altogether — an extraordinary step that has only been considered in the most serious cases.

Senior ministers have described the alleged passing-on of market-sensitive government discussions as “disgraceful” and a “betrayal of trust”.

What police are examining

Misconduct in public office is a centuries-old common law offence that applies where someone in a position of public trust wilfully abuses that role. It carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

Investigators will assess whether confidential information — particularly relating to government financial policy during the crash — was shared without justification and whether safeguards were breached.

At this stage, no charges have been brought.

Mandelson has previously apologised for maintaining contact with Epstein after the financier’s conviction, saying he regrets “ever having known him”, but he has disputed some of the latest claims and has not commented directly on the police review.

Political shockwaves

Opposition parties are pushing for further disclosure of documents relating to Mandelson’s vetting and his past roles.

Conservatives are expected to force a Commons vote demanding more information, while Liberal Democrats have called for a public inquiry.

Several MPs have also suggested Mandelson should be removed from the Privy Council.

The developments mark a dramatic fall for one of Labour’s most influential political figures of the past three decades, who only months ago was serving as the UK’s ambassador to Washington.

Now, with police examining evidence and legislation being prepared to remove his title, his public career appears effectively over.

More updates are expected as the investigation continues.