45,000 new homes

Get straight to the good stuff every day with the Multiply Minute; a lightning-quick round-up of the money news and how it affects you.

45,000 new homes

Hundreds of “shovel ready” projects across the UK are about to get the green light to build 45,000 new homes, under the government’s “New Deal” construction spending. In the next few days we’ll also find out the details of some big changes to planning laws in England. The changes could see new homes and hospitals granted automatic planning permission to speed up building.

Adviser comment: "Good news if it goes ahead. More homes are needed and although 45,000 is not enough, it will help to reduce the current gap between supply and demand."

Job losses in theatre and travel

Industries hit hard by coronavirus restrictions have been forced to cut more jobs. Hays Travel, which bought the stricken Thomas Cook last year, are letting 878 people go. Meanwhile, entertainment union Bectu has reported that 5,000 theatre workers have lost their jobs in the last month.

High street boost

Footfall on British high streets was up 30% yesterday compared to the previous Monday, according to retail expert Springboard. The “eat out to help out” scheme may have encouraged more people into restaurants. But the main reason, according to Springboard? The sunny weather.

Check the floor plan

Cheeky estate agents have been caught stretching the truth about the size of the properties they’re selling. Turns out, floorplans lie. In several cases, buyers have ended up with less space* than they expected, after measurements used nooks and crannies rather than the real room size.