Regulator of Social Housing · Original source
The Regulator of Social Housing has downgraded for-profit landlord Heylo Housing Registered Provider Limited to G4* and V4*, the lowest possible governance and viability grades. RSH said Heylo RP owns none of its shared ownership homes, which are controlled by unregistered ‘investment pods’, and has failed to protect them despite previous commitments. Two of the pods have entered financial administration, leaving decisions about nearly 3,500 of its social homes with administrators.
Regulator of Social Housing · Original source
The Regulator of Social Housing has downgraded GreenSquareAccord Limited, which manages around 25,500 social homes across the West Midlands, Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire, to G3 for governance and V3 for viability. RSH found serious weaknesses in financial governance, risk management, quality of information and internal controls, and insufficient evidence of sustainable improvement. It said GSA’s continued viability depends on significant disposals, cost reductions and transformation programmes.
Environment Agency · Original source
The Environment Agency will test its £7m Northwich Flood Risk Management Scheme, which protects around 400 homes and businesses, in a large-scale exercise from 5pm on Sunday 11 October to 5am on Monday 12 October. Teams will erect 69 metres of temporary defences and close 12 floodgates, with Dane Bridge on London Road closed to traffic. Cheshire West and Chester Council and United Utilities will rehearse joint over-pumping arrangements during the exercise.
Environment Agency · Original source
The Environment Agency has completed a two-year project to improve flood defences at Toll Road in Lymington ahead of winter, replacing corroded steel tidal outfall flaps installed about 18 years ago with high-density polyethylene and marine-grade stainless steel versions. The flood gate was also refurbished with new seals, and a quieter road surface was laid. A regulating valve in the marshes is temporarily closed until replacement floats are fitted, so residents may notice lower water levels.
Sellafield Ltd · Original source
Sellafield Ltd Chief Operating Officer Roddy Miller shared the company’s approach to continuous improvement with more than 400 nuclear leaders from 38 countries at the World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO) General Meeting in Tokyo in September. The meeting also launched WANO’s new Culture of Continuous Improvement Framework. Sellafield said it has worked with WANO for more than 25 years to learn from organisations around the world and share its own experience.
Attorney General's Office · Original source
Attorney General Ellie Reeves KC MP has opened applications for a new Director of the Serious Fraud Office, which investigates and prosecutes the most serious and complex fraud, bribery and corruption in England and Wales and Northern Ireland. The post is a five-year fixed-term appointment that may be extended by up to two years. Applications close at 23:55 on Friday 30 October, with the Attorney General’s Office overseeing the recruitment.
Trade Remedies Authority · Original source
The Trade Remedies Authority has found that rutile titanium dioxide from China is being dumped in the UK and poses an imminent threat of injury to UK industry, and intends to recommend a mixed anti-dumping duty for five years. Proposed rates range from 48.29% to 63.66% ad valorem, with minimums of £0.665 to £0.876 per kg. Imports in May 2026 were over 299% of May 2025 volumes, and interested parties can comment until 26 October.
Ministry of Defence · Original source
A World War 2 soldier buried as unknown at Jonkerbos War Cemetery in the Netherlands has been identified as Sheffield-born Lance Corporal Ronald Smirthwaite, and a rededication service was held 81 years after his death. Previously commemorated on the Groesbeek Memorial, he was reported missing after fighting on 22 February 1945 and was later found to have been captured wounded and lost while trying to escape. The Ministry of Defence’s ‘War Detectives’ organised the service.
Ministry of Defence · Original source
The previously unnamed grave of Private Sidney Allen, a Hampshire Regiment soldier from Saltash, Cornwall, has been identified and rededicated at CWGC Reichswald Forest War Cemetery in Germany, 81 years after his death. Pte Allen, of the 7th Battalion, was killed aged 19 on 15 February 1945 during heavy fighting near Cleve and the Reichswald and recorded as missing. The service was organised by the Ministry of Defence’s ‘War Detectives’ after research submitted by a member of the public.
Defence Infrastructure Organisation · Original source
The Defence Infrastructure Organisation has completed a £3.5 million resurfacing project at RAF Marham, covering 28,000 square metres of the runway intersection, last resurfaced in 2018, plus repairs to just over 4,000 square metres of underlying pavement and 675 square metres of Runway 05. Lightning Force operations continued from a taxiway during the work by VIVO and sub-contractor Allied. The project finished in five weeks, three weeks ahead of schedule, and saved £3.8 million by avoiding an on-site concrete batching plant.
Civil Nuclear Constabulary · Original source
The Civil Nuclear Constabulary is supporting the UK’s first National Cadets Week, sponsored by the Ministry of Defence and uniting five Cadet Forces that support 137,000 cadets and 28,000 adult volunteers. Employers are being encouraged to pledge five days of paid volunteering leave for Cadet Force Adult Volunteers, which the CNC already provides through Special Paid Leave. The force highlighted firearms officer PC Mel Bishop, who has supported the Army Cadets for almost 25 years.
Northern Ireland Office · Original source
Minister for Northern Ireland Sarah Owen welcomed the official opening of Queen’s University Belfast’s Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre (AMIC) during a visit focused on economic growth, innovation and exports, the Northern Ireland Office said. She also attended the UK Export Finance Northern Ireland Business Forum and visited Belfast clean technology company Catagen. The Minister said Northern Ireland offers world-leading innovation in advanced manufacturing and clean technology, with strong export potential.
Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency · Original source
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has approved catumaxomab (Korjuny) to treat malignant ascites, a build-up of fluid containing cancer cells in the abdomen, in adults when standard cancer treatment is no longer feasible. In a main study of 258 patients, those given catumaxomab after drainage went around 46 days before needing further drainage, compared with 11 days with drainage alone. The marketing authorisations were granted to Atnahs Pharma UK Limited on 2 October.
Ministry of Defence · Original source
Four airmen killed when Lancaster PD374 of No. 218 Squadron RAF crashed in Germany on 8 December 1944 have been honoured by name at the CWGC’s Venray War Cemetery in the Netherlands, the Ministry of Defence said. Flying Officer Leslie Markland Hough RAAF, Pilot Officer John Henry Tales, Sergeant Henry Charles Burnside and Sergeant John Lawson had lain in graves marked ‘unknown’ after post-war administrative errors. Three other crew members escaped by parachute and became prisoners of war.
Natural England · Original source
A camera trap at Benacre National Nature Reserve near Lowestoft has recorded what is thought to be a live pine marten on a beach in Suffolk, which Natural England described as a first for the county. The camera was installed to monitor predators and disturbance affecting birds at the reserve. Pine martens are now rare in England, and the previous nearest recorded sighting was at Heacham in Norfolk in 2024; Natural England noted the animal could alternatively be a near-identical beech marten.
British Embassy Beirut · Original source
Exercise PEGASUS CEDAR 2026 has begun in Lebanon, with soldiers from the Support Company of the 4th Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland, based at Dhekelia Garrison in Cyprus, training alongside the Lebanese Air Assault Regiment, the British Embassy Beirut said. The three-week October exercise covers mortar systems, small unit tactics, reconnaissance and helicopter drills. Troops from the United States and Italy are taking part, with France, Cyprus, Qatar and Jordan observing.
Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street · Original source
Prime Minister Andy Burnham marked three years since the October 7 attacks on Israel, remembering those killed by Hamas and pointing to a disturbing rise in antisemitism in the UK, including the attack on the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation in Manchester a year ago. He said the government is funding protection for synagogues, schools and community buildings and will come down hard on antisemitism. He also restated UK support for a two-state solution.
