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A new dimension: Adapting design for an educational environment

Friday, 12th December 2014

Understanding the importance of individuality is paramount, whether it’s in an educational environment or a Silicon Valley boardroom. By personalising the ways in which we approach tasks, we increase the potential to be more creative, productive and inspiring to those... View Article

Housing bubble pop in 2015 would spell disaster for recovering economy, says former banker

Tuesday, 2nd December 2014

Ex Societe Generale banker Will Davies says the prospect of the housing boom coming to an end could spell disaster for the government and the British economic recovery. Davies’ comments after building society, Nationwide, suggest that the property market has... View Article

Abode – urban living in a rural setting

Tuesday, 2nd December 2014

Joint winner of the Sunday Times British Homes Awards’ Development of the Year (with more than 100 homes) Countryside’s Abode community proves that volume housing does not have to look and feel like a faceless executive estate This exemplary development,... View Article

More than just child’s play

Tuesday, 2nd December 2014

For homebuilders targeting family property purchasers with young children, the addition of a play area to a new housing development can be a contentious issue. Make the right decision and a developer can create a high quality, attractive and stimulating... View Article

Labour’s Lyons Housing Review produces 200,000 homes a year road map

Tuesday, 2nd December 2014

The Lyons Housing Review, commissioned by the Labour party, has set out a comprehensive housing plan designed to meet Labour’s commitment of building 200,000 homes a year by 2020 and set a course for doubling the number of first-time buyers... View Article

Crest do the double

Tuesday, 2nd December 2014

Crest Nicholson has been crowned as large Housebuilder of the Year at the 2014 Housebuilder Awards and scooped the Sustainable Housebuilder of the Year title and Best regeneration scheme for its Park Central community in Birmingham. This impressive award haul... View Article

Private sector leads 7-year registration high but that there are still major barriers for smaller housebuilders

Tuesday, 2nd December 2014

NHBC statistics have confirmed that UK new home registrations have hit a seven-year high with the private sector continuing to lead growth. The total number of registrations for Q3 2014 – 36,343 – was an eight per cent increase on... View Article

London set for more green roofs as ‘Green Roof Organisation’ code updated

Tuesday, 2nd December 2014

A new and updated Green Roof Organisation (GRO) code for green roofing has been launched by the National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC) – the UK’s largest roofing trade association. This includes more detailed Living Roofs and Walls technical information... View Article

Jury out on need for further housing standards

Tuesday, 2nd December 2014

It was confirmed at the recent Housing Standards Review briefing that the government would consider implementing further standards or regulations in the future if the review process identifies the need. The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) head of... View Article

Self-build property planning applications fall to six year low

Monday, 24th November 2014

Figures released by Barbour ABI today reveal that UK-wide self-build planning applications in 2014 have decreased by 28% compared to 2008. Barbour ABI, the chosen provider of the Government’s Construction and Infrastructure Pipeline, shows that 16,792 self-build planning applications were... View Article

Small builders face barriers to growth

Thursday, 23rd October 2014

Small housebuilders and developers in the UK face serious barriers to growth, with planning, access to finance and land availability highlighted as the biggest challenges for small companies. Research by the NHBC Foundation shows that there has been a significant... View Article

The Bank of England to get extra powers over housing market

Thursday, 23rd October 2014

The Bank of England has asked formally for new powers to prevent a possible future housing boom and bust. Under the powers requested, the bank would be able to limit, according to their financial circumstances, how much purchasers can borrow... View Article

Help to Buy supported sales continue to encourage housebuilding growth

Thursday, 23rd October 2014

Government figures have confirmed that the Help to Buy equity loan scheme has generated 32,268 sales since its launch in April 2013. The Department for Communities and Local Government’s latest figures cover the period from 1 April 2013 to 31... View Article

Can we trust the politicians to deliver on any housing promises?

Thursday, 23rd October 2014

With the party conference season now behind us, we are surely forgiven for wondering if the politicians will remember the housing promises made to us or will they hope we have an attack of collective amnesia ahead of next year’s... View Article

Housing priority for Labour but land banking accusation upsets homebuilders

Wednesday, 22nd October 2014

Housing was a major theme of this year’s Labour party conference, with Labour leader Ed Miliband unveiling a range of policies to tackle the housing crisis. He said that a Labour government would aim for 200,000 new homes to be... View Article

Government launches ‘Rent to Buy’ scheme

Wednesday, 22nd October 2014

The government has launched a ‘Rent to Buy’ scheme, backed by a £400 million fund, to encourage the construction of new homes that tenants can rent, then buy at a later date. Housing associations and other providers can bid for... View Article

Permissions recover to 2008 levels

Wednesday, 22nd October 2014

Planning permissions hit a six-year high in Q2 2014, according to the Home Builders Federation (HBF) Housing Pipeline report. The report, compiled by construction analyst Glenigan, showed that permissions for 56,647 homes were granted in England in the second quarter,... View Article

Eight steps to the perfect roof

Monday, 20th October 2014

SIG Design & Technology’s Sales Director Ross Finnie outlines how the perfect roof can be built using a structured approach to roof design and specification. He offers useful guidance which you can apply time and time again to ensure maximum... View Article