The Newcastle-based housebuilder saw rising sales and profits but says it is still facing significant challenges

Housebuilder Bellway has called for the Government to do more to boost the housing market despite seeing a rise in sales.

The Newcastle firm has issued a trading update in which it said it expects operating profit to rise to £320m after an increase in the number of housing completions from 8,749 to 9,695 in the year to the end of July. But it highlighted “ongoing headwinds” around mortgage affordability, challenges to the general economy and rising costs for builders.

Chief executive Jason Honeyman said action was needed to reinvigorate the housing market and help support potential new homeowners. He highlighted reductions to stamp duty as one way of boosting house sales.

Bellway said that it had outperformed expectations on the number of houses it sold, while its average selling price rose slightly to £324,000.

Mr Honeyman said: “Bellway has delivered a robust performance and growth in volume output, despite ongoing headwinds for our industry. Our sharp focus on operational improvement and drive for capital efficiency has provided resilience and supported a strong increase in cash generation and shareholder returns.

“The board remains confident that, with supportive market conditions, Bellway is in a strong position to capitalise on future growth opportunities. However, with the near-term outlook remaining uncertain, we call on the Government to act now to improve access to housing across all tenures, both by helping first-time buyers onto the property ladder and supporting the delivery of affordable and social housing for those who need it most.

“In order to ease affordability constraints and stimulate demand, an immediate reduction in stamp duty alongside a Government-backed deposit support scheme for first-time buyers would both drive economic growth and accelerate the delivery of much-needed new homes across the country.”

Bellway said it saw positive trading in the early part of the spring selling season, but has seen a “moderation” in customer demand since April due to the uptick in mortgage rates. It had seen a slight fall in private reservation rates, the update said.

It said it would continue to exercise tight cost controls while the housing market remained subdued, as well as “maintaining a sharp focus on the monetisation of our well-invested land bank and work-in-progress position to support improvements in asset turn and cash generation.”

Bellway – which last week celebrated its 80th anniversary, having been founded as a family firm in Newcastle – added that it expected to complete a £150m share buyback scheme this month and would then launch a scheme to buy another £50m of shares.

A social media personality who built his physique primarily through anabolic steroids and heavy alcohol consumption while avoiding weight training competed in his first bodybuilding contest this past weekend and finished last in his class.

Peter Mossfield, known online through the BoozeBagFitness account, entered the Men’s Classic Physique Open Class B division at the 2026 NPC East Coast Mecca Classic on Aug. 8 in Flushing, New York. Official results listed him in eighth place, the final position among competitors who received a ranking.

The order of finish was Gavin Connelly in first, followed by Ahmed Eid, Fedor Zhurov, Enrique Bonilla, Joshua Nabbie, Diego Da Silva, Joseph Mauceri and Mossfield.

Mossfield’s preparation stood out for its unconventional methods. He previously described taking steroids while consuming as many as 24 alcoholic drinks per day during parts of the process and largely skipping resistance training. During a cutting phase he switched from beer to vodka mixed with diet soda in an effort to lower calories. The approach drew significant online attention and criticism over potential health risks.

In a post-competition video, Mossfield expressed a more optimistic view of his stage presentation. “In my mind, it was me or one other guy had the best package out there,” he said.

After prejudging, several hours remained before the evening finals. Mossfield said he used the interval to drink. He noted that his tolerance had decreased after reducing alcohol intake in the final weeks of preparation, when he averaged fewer than 12 drinks per day. “I kinda lost track of time,” he admitted. By the time he realized the schedule, he had missed the finals and the individual posing portion of the event.

He also suggested that failing to shave may have affected his placement. “I didn’t expect to get disqualified that hard or docked that hard for it,” Mossfield said. The official results nevertheless placed him eighth.

The competition itself is a National Physique Committee national qualifier held at the Goldstein Theatre at Queens College. Prejudging typically occurs in the afternoon, with finals later in the evening, a structure that left a window of free time many competitors use for rest, meals or final preparations.

Mossfield’s experiment had begun months earlier as a high-stakes personal challenge, at times tied to substantial bets. He had previously completed a wager involving developing and then quitting an alcohol addiction. The bodybuilding version evolved after he decided against consistent gym work and turned to performance-enhancing drugs as the primary means of building muscle.

Despite the unusual methods and public backlash, he followed through on competing. The result provided a clear ranking against athletes who had trained conventionally.

Following the show, Mossfield announced a shift in approach. He said he stopped taking steroids after the competition and planned to begin lifting weights without them. “I’m a born again natural,” he joked. “I’m excited to start lifting as a natty.”

His stated goal is to determine whether the muscle developed during the steroid phase can be maintained or improved through resistance training alone. He indicated he wants to allow his body time to reset, specifically monitoring sleep patterns and sexual function, before considering any future use of performance-enhancing substances.

Additional unconventional challenges remain under consideration. Mossfield has expressed interest in MMA training focused on securing a first-round knockout rather than building endurance for longer fights. He also plans to rehabilitate a previously injured shoulder and attempt to throw a 90-mph fastball, with the aim of trying out for a professional baseball team outside Major League Baseball in the spring of 2027. Other ideas include a “cigarette marathon” and a progressive push-up challenge that would involve adding weight daily until performing the movement with roughly 365 pounds on his back.

Whether those projects materialize is uncertain. What is established is that Mossfield completed the bodybuilding preparation and competition he had publicly documented. He consumed large quantities of alcohol, used steroids, largely avoided traditional training, stepped on stage and received an eighth-place finish.

The episode has fueled discussion within fitness communities about the relative contributions of pharmacology, training stimulus, nutrition and recovery. Conventional bodybuilding emphasizes progressive resistance training as a foundational driver of muscle growth, with diet and recovery as supporting elements. Mossfield’s approach inverted that hierarchy for the duration of his experiment.

Health professionals generally caution against unsupervised steroid use and heavy alcohol consumption, citing risks to cardiovascular, hormonal and liver function among other systems. Mossfield has acknowledged experiencing various side effects during the process yet continued to the contest.

His decision to step away from steroids and introduce weight training marks a reversal of the methods that generated his online following. The next phase will test whether the visible changes achieved under the previous protocol can be sustained or improved through more standard practices.

The NPC East Coast Mecca Classic attracts regional competitors seeking national qualification opportunities. Placing last in a class does not preclude future entries, and many athletes use early contests as learning experiences regarding presentation, conditioning and stage protocol.

Mossfield’s post-show comments focused on both the immediate result and longer-term plans. He maintained that his physique compared favorably in his own assessment while accepting the official ranking. The missed finals portion removed any opportunity for additional scoring or audience presentation that evening.

As of the days following the event, Mossfield has framed the competition as the conclusion of one experiment and the beginning of another centered on natural training. The public documentation of both phases continues through his social media channels, where earlier posts detailed daily alcohol intake, steroid protocols and visual progress without corresponding training footage.

The story illustrates the extremes some individuals pursue for online visibility and personal wagers. It also underscores the structured nature of sanctioned bodybuilding events, where competitors are judged on specific criteria of muscularity, conditioning, symmetry and presentation within defined classes. Mossfield met the entry requirements, appeared on stage for prejudging and received a placing, even if the overall process departed sharply from traditional preparation methods.

His next stated steps involve establishing a consistent lifting routine while monitoring physiological recovery from the prior cycle. Future challenges, if pursued, would again test unconventional limits. For now, the record shows an eighth-place finish in a debut Classic Physique class after a preparation defined by steroids, alcohol and the near absence of weight training.

The women are among 100 around the country to be include in the latest Women in Innovation programme

Three female business leaders from the North East have won support to develop their firms from a Government-backed programme.

Innovate UK has announced 100 women to be included in its new Women in Innovation cohort, with those on the scheme getting a grant of £75,000 plus a 12-month package of business support.

Nationally, the programme has backed business leaders operating in a range of sectors, including manufacturing, digital tech and life sciences. Innovate UK said businesses around the UK were being backed.

In the North East, there is backing for Kate Murray, from County Durham firm Ubrix; Lou Willis-Keeler, from Souuthe; and Suzanne Vernazza, who has developed technology to help women manage pelvic floor issues.

Ubrix aims to tackle fragmentation in the construction sector, where sales, build and aftercare typically run on disconnected systems. The company’s software platform gives housebuilders, principal contractors, housing associations and local authorities one platform for the full lifecycle of each building plot.

Founder and CEO Kate Murray said: “This recognition is big news for Ubrix, but it is bigger news for housing. A national panel of innovation experts looked at how this industry delivers homes, saw the cost of fragmented systems, and backed our answer to it.

“Our development pipeline is shaped by the builders, contractors and aftercare teams who live this problem every day. This award tells them the way housing is delivered is changing, and it tells the industry where that change is coming from.”

Newcastle physio Suzanne Vernazza, who has built a sizeable social media following, has been backed to further develop an app to support pelvic health. She launched the Know Your Floors not-for-profit organisation in 2021 and has posted hundreds of “squeeze along” videos on platforms like TikTok designed to encourage people to do regular pelvic health exercises.

She said: “This funding is transformational for the project. It allows us to move from an idea with strong clinical foundations and community support to a properly tested, launch-ready product.

“We’ll be able to work alongside beta testers, refine the experience, and carefully validate the AI-supported information feature so we’re building something that is not only innovative, but clinically robust and worthy of people’s trust.”

Saltburn-based Souuthe has developed a device that calms the body’s stress response for people in palliative, dementia and child care. Lou Willis-Keeler founded the company after more than 25 years working in safeguarding and seeing a lack of tools to help people regulate their emotions.

Koh Tao in Surat Thani exemplifies the balance between tourism and marine conservation by using retired naval ships as artificial reefs. This initiative enhances underwater ecosystems and supports sustainable tourism practices, showcasing how environmental preservation can coincide with economic growth in the tourism sector.

Koh Tao, a renowned Thai island paradise, has recently enhanced its allure for diving enthusiasts by transforming sunken warships into captivating dive sites. These underwater attractions not only boost the island’s tourism but also contribute to marine conservation efforts. By repurposing decommissioned naval vessels, Koh Tao creates new habitats for marine life, allowing coral and other organisms to flourish.

This innovative project offers divers a unique opportunity to explore well-preserved pieces of history while experiencing vibrant underwater ecosystems. The sunken warships, strategically placed, serve as artificial reefs teeming with diverse marine species, providing both novice and experienced divers with unforgettable adventures. These sites are meticulously mapped, ensuring safe and enjoyable exploration for all visitors.

The initiative is also a testament to Koh Tao’s commitment to sustainable tourism and ecological restoration. Local authorities, in collaboration with diving centers, ensure that these sites are maintained responsibly, minimizing impact on existing marine habitats. As a result, Koh Tao continues to stand out as a premier diving destination, blending historical intrigue with natural beauty, and fostering a deeper appreciation for marine conservation.

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An expansion proposal by the airport’s owners would enable it to accommodate 150m passengers per year. Heathrow said “the case for expansion has never been clearer”.

In a statement, it added: “Our plans will ensure the country gets the infrastructure it needs to stay competitive and will deliver all-important economic growth.”

The airport recorded 84.46 million passengers in 2025 and said 19 July was its busiest day of the year so far as many schools broke up for summer, with 267,000 passengers passing through.

It added that several new airlines began serving the airport last month, which demonstrates “clear demand for access to Heathrow”.

Last month, it was revealed Heathrow will be allowed to charge airlines more for its services to recover money spent on the early stages of its third runway project.

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