The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is extending its ongoing investigation into suspected breaches of competition law by seven major housebuilders.
The CMA launched a probe last February following concerns that the companies may have exchanged competitively sensitive information with other housebuilders, which could be influencing the build-out of sites and the prices of new homes.
The housebuilders whose activities are being investigated are:
- Barratt Redrow plc and its group companies
- Bellway plc and its group companies
- The Berkeley Group plc and its group companies
- Bloor Homes Ltd and its group companies
- Persimmon plc and its group companies
- Taylor Wimpey plc and its group companies
- Vistry Group plc and its group companies
Barratt and Redrow were subject to the investigation individually when the probe began, but the companies merged in August 2024 to form Barratt Redrow.
The initial investigation, which included information gathering and its review, finished in December. However, the CMA has extended this until May 2025 for “further investigation”.
The investigation was launched following a report by the CMA which found that speculative private development – by which around 60% of houses built from 2021 to 2022 were delivered – in addition to complex and unpredictable planning rules, were responsible for the persistent underdelivery of homes.
The CMA has not concluded yet whether there is sufficient evidence that any of the companies being investigated have breached competition law. The watchdog added that not all of its probes result in a statement of objection being issued.
