The latest articles written by Neil Merrick

HOUSING

Scottish councils failing to spend house building funds

By Neil Merrick | 21 January 2026

Councils and housing associations in Scotland are failing to spend significant sums put aside for...

LGA

National conversation on neighbourhoods needed

By Neil Merrick | 20 January 2026

A senior Local Government Association (LGA) figure has called for a national conversation over th...

DISTRICT COUNCILS' NETWORK

DCN name change pressure

By Neil Merrick | 13 January 2026

The District Councils’ Network (DCN) is coming under increasing internal pressure to move quickly...

BUSINESS

Sector compensation claim after excess profits

By Neil Merrick | 12 December 2025

Local authorities stand to gain compensation from an anti-competition lawsuit being brought again...

POLICY AND POLITICS

MHCLG blow as councils' housebuilding expansion comes to a halt

By By Neil Merrick | 10 December 2025

A surge in housebuilding by councils is expected to grind to a halt – threatening the Government’...

POLICY AND POLITICS

Reed U-turn over committee system abolition

By Neil Merrick | 25 November 2025

Local authorities that already use the committee system will be allowed to retain it under strict...

ENVIRONMENT

Ministers accused of 'scapegoating' nature

By Neil Merrick | 16 November 2025

Ministers have been accused of ‘scapegoating’ nature as they attempt to build 1.5 million homes d...

REGULATION

Building Safety Regulator delays prompt rethink

By Neil Merrick | 28 October 2025

Elements of building safety could be removed from the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) and returne...

WHITEHALL

National Wealth Fund to transform sector support

By Dan Peters | 21 October 2025

A Treasury body created to boost economic growth through private investment and public funding ha...