Dutch Government Allocates EUR 355 Million for Housing Infrastructure Netherlands: The Dutch government has allocated EUR 355 million (USD 412 million) for infrastructure supporting the development of nearly 30,000 homes. The funding forms part of a broader investment exceeding EUR 16 billion in the maintenance and renewal of roads, bridges, railways and waterways. Municipalities including Alkmaar, Apeldoorn, Hengelo, Enschede and Helmond have welcomed the allocation, which w

Canada-US Tariff Dispute Raises Residential Construction Costs Canada: Counter-tariffs introduced on 8 September 2026 are increasing residential construction costs in Ontario, according to a report by the Residential Construction Council of Ontario (RESCON). The measures are estimated to add CAD 9,000 to CAD 14,000 (approximately USD 6,500 to USD 10,100) to the cost of a typical single-detached home and CAD 18,000 to CAD 28,000 (approximately USD 13,000 to USD 20,200) to a mi

Bahrain Begins First Phase of Muharraq Urban Regeneration Project Bahrain: The first phase of the Muharraq City Development Project has commenced, covering the construction and restoration of 300 housing units across six neighbourhoods, alongside upgrades to roads, building façades, car parks and public spaces. The phase also includes the restoration of 16 heritage buildings along the UNESCO-listed Pearling Path for future tourism and cultural uses. Completion is scheduled fo

Global Home Improvement Market GLOBAL: The global home improvement market contracted by 2.1% to US$ 721.9 billion (€645.5 billion) in 2025, marking its third consecutive annual decline, according to Dähne Verlag’s Home Improvement Report Retail Worldwide 2026. The downturn was largely driven by continued weakness in China. By region, Latin America recorded the strongest growth at 1.8%, followed by Europe at 1.5%. In contrast, North America declined by 1.5%, Africa and the Mid

NBCC Floats USD 1.13 Billion in Tenders to Complete 16 Stalled Supertech Housing Projects India: NBCC (India) Limited has floated 25 tenders worth USD1.13 billion (INR 96,203.3 million) to complete 16 stalled Supertech housing projects across Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Uttarakhand and Karnataka, covering 50,962 homes, of which 39,870 were sold, 24,871 handed over and 14,999 remain undelivered. Appointed project management consultant by NCLAT in December 2024, NBCC’s mandate was

UK Future Homes Standard Drives Stricter Energy Efficiency and Ventilation Requirements UK: The UK’s Future Homes Standard (FHS), planned for implementation in 2025, aims to reduce carbon emissions in new homes through low-carbon heating, including heat pumps, improved insulation and energy-efficient technologies such as Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR). Updates to Building Regulations Parts F and L focus on indoor air quality, ventilation and energy performan

Abu Dhabi Branded Residences Market Enters Major Growth Phase UAE: Abu Dhabi is entering a major growth phase in branded residences, with 31 projects, including 5 completed and 26 in the pipeline, making it the sixth-largest city market globally and its pipeline joint third with Cairo. According to Global Branded Residences’ The Brand Standard, 92% of Abu Dhabi’s pipeline and 83% of its total market are standalone developments, compared with 37% globally, while branded reside

Oman’s Construction Sector Targets Growth with US$120 Billion Project Pipeline Through 2030 OMAN: Oman’s construction sector is expected to benefit from a US$120 billion project pipeline through 2030, driven by investments in infrastructure, tourism, logistics and industrial development. Project Oman 2026, scheduled for November 2–4 at the Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre in Muscat, will connect international suppliers with local industry stakeholders. Organised by IFP Gro

Bank of Spain Warns Housing Shortfall Could Reach One Million Homes Spain: The Bank of Spain has warned that Spain’s housing deficit could exceed one million homes by 2028 if current supply and demand trends continue. Deputy Governor Soledad Núñez said the deficit could increase by around 300,000 homes between 2026 and 2028, on top of the approximately 750,000-home shortfall previously estimated by the institution. The shortage has been linked to continued household formation

San Diego Foundation Launches $100M Affordable Housing Partnership USA: San Diego Foundation has announced a USD 100 million financing partnership with Bear Creek Fund Advisors to provide construction financing for affordable housing projects in San Diego. The announcement coincided with the groundbreaking of Louisiana Street, a 38-home development in North Park. The project is the first of four developments expected to deliver a combined 257 affordable homes across North Par

New Zealand Reviews Building Rules for Overheating Homes New Zealand: New Zealand authorities are facing calls to introduce changes to building regulations addressing overheating in newly constructed homes. Organisations including the Building Research Association of New Zealand and the Green Building Council have raised concerns about homes reaching high indoor temperatures during summer, citing factors such as large windows, limited ventilation, lack of external shading and

Romania Residential Building Permits Decline in First Eight Months Romania: Romania issued 21,791 residential building permits during the first eight months of 2026, representing a 12.2% decline compared with the same period of 2025, according to the National Institute of Statistics. In August alone, 2,943 residential building permits were issued, with 72.5% relating to projects in rural areas. August permits declined by 16.1% year on year but increased by 1.2% compared with

real estate Saudi Arabia-based Abdullah Al Othaim Investment Company has launched a dedicated real estate development arm, Al Othaim Developments, with plans to invest more than SAR 16 billion (US$4.27 billion) in around 10 projects over the next two years. According to the company, the planned developments will include approximately 8,000 residential units across several cities in Saudi Arabia. Al Othaim Developments will focus on creating integrated destinations that combin

3D Printed Housing Project INDIA: India’s Centre has sanctioned 3 lakh houses worth USD373.82 million (₹3,600 million) for Andhra Pradesh under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Gramin 2.0. Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan also launched the foundation of the country’s first pilot rural housing project using 3D concrete printing technology. The US$ 1.45 million (₹14 crore) project will construct 177 houses in Guntur district, with completion expected within six months. The te

France’s Heat Pump Market Recovers Despite Weak Construction FRANCE: France’s HVAC market remains under pressure, although heat pumps are showing signs of recovery. According to Uniclima, air-to-water heat pump sales rose 14.7% in the first half of 2026, while small-capacity air-to-air units increased 36.2%, supported by energy-saving demand, electrification policies and hot weather. In contrast, gas and oil boiler sales fell 23.4%, reflecting the shift away from combustion h

United States Construction Labor Market Shows Mixed Signals UNITED STATES: United States construction labour market showed mixed trends in August 2026, with job openings falling by 48,000 to 251,000, although remaining 38,000 above the level recorded a year earlier, according to BLS JOLTS data. Construction layoffs also declined to 99,000, the lowest since the series began in 2000. The contrasting trends reflect weakness in residential construction alongside strong demand fro

Housing USA: Mortgage rates surpassed the 7% mark this week for the first time since January 2025, reaching their highest level during either of Donald Trump’s presidential terms. According to Freddie Mac, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate increased to 7.03%, up from 6.95% the previous week. This marked the fifth consecutive week of rising mortgage rates, further increasing pressure on housing affordability. Higher borrowing costs translate into larger monthly mortgage

Slovenia Allocates EUR 300 Million for Affordable Housing Slovenia: Slovenia has introduced a EUR 300 million (USD 351 million) financing programme through SID Banka to support the construction and renovation of social and affordable rental housing. The programme comprises EUR 150 million (USD 175.5 million) each from the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB), alongside an interest-rate subsidy from the Slovenian government. Municipal

Zhejiang Construction Investment Wins US$191 Million Hong Kong Public Housing Contract HONG KONG: A subsidiary of Zhejiang Construction Investment Group, Huaying Construction Co. Ltd., has secured a public housing contract at Wang Cheong Factory Estate in Cheung Sha Wan, Kowloon, Hong Kong. The contract is valued at HKD 1.5 billion (~US$191.2 million) and has a planned construction period of 1,096 days. The award aligns with Hong Kong’s push to expand public housing supply, w

Airbnb commits US$250 million to unlock stalled US housing projects UNITED STATES: Airbnb has launched a “Housing Accelerator” combining US$250 million in below-market, last-dollar financing for stalled rental projects with policy advocacy, a global housing-policy data index and a US$5 million innovation prize focused on construction and development technology. The company expects the initiative to unlock more than US$5 billion in housing investment over the next decade, star