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UK Watchdog Ends Antitrust Probe After Major Builders Pledge £100 Million and Reforms

By  |  October 30, 2025

Britain’s competition regulator has concluded its inquiry into alleged anticompetitive conduct among several leading housebuilders, following binding commitments designed to prevent future breaches.

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    According to Reuters, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said on Thursday it had accepted legally binding promises from seven major construction firms — including Barratt, Redrow, Persimmon, and Taylor Wimpey — to settle concerns about potential collusion in the housing market. The agreement also involved Bellway, Berkeley Group, Bloor Homes, and Vistry.

    Per Reuters, the companies will contribute a combined £100 million (approximately $134 million) toward affordable housing initiatives. This payment was initially announced in July as part of a broader effort to address regulatory concerns about pricing practices and market coordination.

    As part of the settlement, the builders have pledged to stop exchanging commercially sensitive pricing information with rivals. They will also work alongside industry organizations to establish clearer guidelines for data sharing and implement stricter internal compliance systems aimed at ensuring fair competition.

    According to Reuters, the CMA emphasized that while it accepted these commitments, it did not make a formal finding on whether competition law had been breached. By agreeing to the measures, the watchdog stated, the firms had effectively resolved the probe without the need for a formal ruling.

    Source: Reuters