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Seven housebuilders have agreed to pay for affordable housing programmes in the UK, following a probe into price collusion, the Competition & Markets Authority said on Wednesday. London listings Barratt Redrow PLC, Berkeley Group Holdings PLC, Persimmon PLC, Taylor Wimpey PLC, Vistry Group PLC and Bellway PLC are among the seven, as well as Bloor Homes Ltd. The competition watchdog last year launched an investigation into accusations that the housebuilders had ‘exchanged details about sales including pricing, number of property viewings and incentives offered to buyers such as upgraded kitchens or stamp duty contributions’. The CMA said the total sum of £100 million is the largest payment it has secured as part of a commitments package. It could fund hundreds of new homes, it noted. Barratt Redrow will pay £29 million of the total £100 million. Taylor Wimpey will pay £15.8 million, Persimmon £15.2 million, Bellway £13.5 million, and Vistry £12.8 million. ‘The housebuilders have also agreed to legally binding commitments which will prevent anticompetitive behaviour and promote industry-wide compliance,’ the CMA said. It added: ‘The housebuilders have offered a package of commitments to address the CMA’s concerns which it will now consult on until 24 July 2025.’ The CMA noted that if it accepts the commitments made by the housebuilders, it will not be necessary for it to decide whether they ‘broke competition law’. This would allow for the ‘investigation to conclude swiftly’. In separate comments, Barratt Redrow, Persimmon, Vistry and Bellway said the commitment did not constitute admissions of wrongdoing. The listed housebuilders traded mostly lower on Wednesday morning, though off opening lows. Bellway was down 1.4% at 2,608.00p, Taylor Wimpey down 0.4% at 112.14p, and Barratt Redrow down 0.1% at 417.80p. However, Vistry was up 0.2% at 617.00p, Persimmon up 0.2% at 1,208.50p, and Berkeley up 0.4% at 3,638.00p. Copyright 2025 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
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