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Value for money is at the heart of everything we do. Wandsworth is investing in new homes and estate improvements that create lifelong assets for the borough. These homes not only pay for themselves through rental income but also reduce reliance on costly temporary accommodation. Thanks to strengthened prevention work, Wandsworth is now avoiding an additional £3.7 million in temporary accommodation costs every year.

Wandsworth’s Housing Revenue Account, a ringfenced fund dedicated to council housing, is in a significantly stronger position than that of many other stock holding authorities. This strong financial position enables the council to continue ambitious regeneration and development plans while maintaining essential investment in existing homes.

A key milestone was recently reached as the Homes for Wandsworth programme celebrated the completion of its 500th new council home, marking the halfway point toward the borough’s pledge to deliver 1,000 new homes for local residents.

Building on this momentum, the council has announced a landmark partnership with Battersea Power Station to deliver 200 new high quality council homes within the development’s 42 acre masterplan, further expanding opportunities for families in need of secure, affordable housing.

Aydin Dikerdem, Cabinet Member for Housing, said: “Investing in new council homes is one of the most powerful tools we have to tackle the housing crisis and strengthen our communities. Every new home means a family moved off a waiting list and into a secure, comfortable home. And it also saves us money in the long-term, delivering a public asset and reducing expensive temporary accommodation costs. It’s an investment not just in buildings, but in the future of Wandsworth.”

Together, these initiatives reflect Wandsworth’s strategic, long term commitment to ensuring that every resident has access to a safe, secure, and high quality place to call home. 

This article first appeared on GuruFocus.

The dollar moved to a one-month high as rising US Treasury yields and looming risk events kept investors cautious ahead of Friday’s payrolls report and a possible Supreme Court ruling on President Donald Trump’s tariffs. A four-day advance put the greenback on track for its strongest week since November, while the yen lagged most major peers. Treasuries extended Thursday’s slide, with the 10-year yield rising two basis points to 4.19%, and S&P 500 futures hovered near flat as markets weighed whether upcoming data could challenge expectations for US interest-rate cuts later in 2026.

Equities faced mixed signals as policy headlines and corporate developments pulled sentiment in different directions. Trump’s proposed $200 billion mortgage-bond purchase plan lifted mortgage-linked stocks, with LoanDepot (NYSE:LDI) and Rocket Companies (NYSE:RKT) jumping in premarket trading. In Europe, Glencore (GLNCY) rose more than 8% in London after resuming talks with Rio Tinto (NYSE:RIO) on a potential combination that could create the world’s largest miner, though broader risk appetite remained restrained ahead of two closely timed macro catalysts.

Attention is now centered on December payrolls, where economists surveyed by Bloomberg expect 70,000 new jobs and an unemployment rate easing to 4.5%, data that could shape expectations for Federal Reserve policy. Markets are fully pricing at least two quarter-point rate cuts in 2026, with odds favoring an initial move in April, although traders warned that outcomes at either extreme could unsettle markets. In parallel, investors are monitoring the Supreme Court’s pending decision on Trump’s tariffs, which could allow companies to seek refunds on billions of dollars in duties, while oil, gold, and silver traded cautiously amid developments involving Venezuela and Iran.

Impersonation scams are rising, with fraudsters posing as trusted organisations or individuals. Residents are urged to verify all contact and report suspicious activity.

Date published: 9th January 2026

At a Cabinet meeting on January 19, councillors will discuss and decide whether to accept a further grant from the Government’s Local Authority Housing Fund (LAHF) to increase the availability of temporary accommodation in the district – vital for supporting families in need.

So far, NNDC has used grants totalling £1.633m from the LAHF to help acquire 14 homes.

Grants from the LAHF include a requirement to make some of the accommodation available for families under the national Afghan Resettlement programme, although so far, no Afghan families have taken up homes in North Norfolk.

Cllr Jill Boyle, portfolio holder for Housing, said:

“Funding from the LAHF has allowed the council to provide vital accommodation for North Norfolk families. The increased availability of suitable family homes is key to addressing housing need and homelessness in our area – a really important issue for this council.

“So far, none of the properties have been assigned to Afghan families, but the UK Government has made clear we all have a responsibility to these people who provided vital assistance to the UK Military during the Afghan conflicts, and some whose safety was put at risk by a data incident.

“Our success in providing temporary accommodation has also been boosted by the second homes council tax premium. Money from the premium has been ringfenced to support housing need in our area. Both approaches have made a real difference for North Norfolk families.”