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Eight existing councils in Northamptonshire are to be abolished and replaced by 2 new councils of North Northamptonshire and West Northamptonshire to improve the delivery of public services across the county.

Law firm Shakespeare Martineau has been appointed to the panel of legal advisors at Orbit Group, a leading group of national housing associations.

One of ten firms appointed to the panel, Shakespeare Martineau will be working with Orbit Group for the next three years, providing full legal advice services including, development, sales, commercial, and governance. 

Founded in 1967, Orbit is one of the leading providers of affordable housing to buy and rent, managing a portfolio of 42,000 properties and serving over 100,000 people across the Midlands, the East and South East. 

Japan’s biggest housebuilder will move into the UK housing market with immediate effect after striking a multi-million pound deal that will see it work with Homes England and Urban Splash to deliver thousands of new homes across England.

Wates Residential has extended its partnership with the housing association Orbit after being appointed to help deliver a £9.4 million project for new homes in the London Borough of Bexley. The national developer is working with Orbit to build the West Street redevelopment in Erith, south east London. 

The proposed scheme will see vacant buildings including a former car parts warehouse replaced with a contemporary low-rise design including seven homes for London Affordable Rent, 14 homes for London Living Rent and 21 homes for Shared Ownership sale. The plans also include a car park with electric charging points and large community garden. 

Former Housing Minister Dominic Raab has called for “radical” housing reforms in an attempt to help renters get on the housing ladder and increase the rate of home building.
 
Attacking the Conservative failure to stand up to developers and ensure the construction of enough homes to tackle the housing shortage, Raab advocated a new Help to Buy scheme that would exempt landlords from capital gains tax when they sell their property to existing tenants.