The Adoption Gap

Why 90% of New Developments Remain Unadopted, and How JLES is Changing That…

New research from the Home Builders Federation (HBF) has revealed the scale of the “adoption gap” across the UK housing industry, with just 10% of new development roads, 3% of new sewers, and 2% of Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) adopted by public authorities over the past three years.

The findings, released alongside recommendations from the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), underline what JLES believes is a systemic issue in the handover of public amenities on new housing estates - leaving developers, residents, and local authorities with long-term uncertainty and liability.

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The scale of the adoption challenge

According to the HBF report:

Only 1 in 10 new roads have been adopted by councils.

Just 3% of new sewers and 2% of SuDS have been adopted by the relevant water companies.

A third of local authorities haven't adopted a single new road in three years.

These figures highlight major delays and inconsistencies in the adoption process across the country. The CMA has now called for the UK, Scottish, and Welsh governments to introduce common adoptable standards and mandatory adoption for all public amenities on new housing estates.

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JLES: leading a results-based approach to adoption

As the UK’s leading adoption management specialists, JLES has long championed a faster and more transparent adoption process.

Operating nationwide, JLES works directly with developers, local authorities, and water companies to manage and complete adoptions for roads, sewers, and SuDS. The company’s fixed-fee, results-based model guarantees adoption and ensures clients only pay when results are delivered.

“The HBF’s research confirms what developers have experienced for years, an inconsistent adoption system that slows progress and ties up valuable capital,” said Jamie Foster, Managing Director, JLES Group. “At JLES, we remove that uncertainty. Our process guarantees adoption at a fixed cost, with no extras and on a payment-on-performance basis. That’s the accountability this industry needs."

JLES supports the CMA’s call for common standards and mandatory adoption, viewing it as an essential step toward improving delivery and resident experience across new housing developments.

Jamie added “The CMA’s recommendations mirror what we’ve built our business on - consistency, transparency, and guaranteed delivery. Developers deserve a clear pathway to adoption, and homeowners deserve the confidence that their roads and sewers are properly maintained.”

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 About JLES

JLES Group is a UK-based specialist in adoption management for roads, sewers, and public open spaces. For over 20 years, we have partnered with national housebuilders, local authorities, and water companies to unlock stalled adoptions and deliver fully compliant, adopted infrastructure.

We operate on a fixed-fee, results-based model, with no extras and no invoices until results, providing clients with total certainty and guaranteed outcomes.

If you’d like to learn more about how JLES can help your developments achieve adoption, get in touch with our team today.