Medal to the Metal

The Metal Gutter Manufacturers association puts the case for why metal rainwater systems should be the first choice. Although metal rainwater drainage systems may often cost more initially, they offer excellent ‘lifetime’ value. With homeowners and specifiers increasingly looking at... View Article

CTBUH presents Five Minutes with William Pedersen

William Pedersen is the founding design partner of Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates, which he started with A. Eugene Kohn and Sheldon Fox in 1974. Pedersen sat down with CTBUH to discuss his vision for the iconic Shanghai World Financial Center,... View Article

Costain launches England’s first SHE apprenticeship

Costain has announced the launch of England’s first Safety, Health and Environment (SHE) apprenticeship. The new scheme has been developed to address the impact that changes in technology and innovation are having on business working practices and to offer an... View Article

First things first

Duncan Andrews of Sureset explains the impact a driveway surface can have on kerb appeal, exploring the pros and cons of different surfacing materials. In what is a highly competitive market, it is vitally important to make a good first... View Article

3D printing presents multi industry opportunities

The recent broadening in knowledge and understanding about 3D printing and additive manufacture have generated new business ideas and opportunities ranging from home hobby machines to printing buildings on other planets. Andrew Watts, CEO of international Building Engineers Newtecnic, reveals... View Article

On-trend solutions

Decorative vinyls and LVTs are pushing new technical and aesthetic boundaries so that both customers and contractors benefit, according to Nav Dhillon of Gerflor. Decorative vinyl and luxury vinyl tiles and planks (LVTs) are practical, durable and straightforward to maintain... View Article

Planners respond to Government’s garden towns announcement

In response to the Government announcement today of a new garden communities programme to increase the number of in garden towns in England, Victoria Hills MRTPI, Chief Executive of the Royal Town Planning Institute, says: “The Government’s garden towns programme is... View Article

Blog: insulate the installation for energy efficiency

As house builders are told by the UK government’s climate change adviser to be ‘ashamed’ of their efforts to tackle global warming, Andy Swift, national sales manager at ISO-CHEMIE, says that new foam sealant technology can improve the energy efficiency... View Article

Court case highlights spec change dangers

A recent Northern Ireland High Court case has highlighted challenges that can be faced when a specification is changed. The court heard how new-build apartments in Newtonards, Northern Ireland, had been specified with a BBA-approved full tanking solution with an... View Article

NFB: Social housing green paper does not go far enough

The National Federation of Builders (NFB) welcomes the papers approach to solving existing social housing problems but warns that proposed changes do not go far enough. The Government has published its social housing green paper, A new deal for social... View Article

BIM for offsite: what’s stopping you?

While the housebuilding industry is educating itself on the practicalities and application of offsite methods of construction, the real opportunity for housebuilders is in how offsite is utilising the latest software platforms. Robert Clark of fusion Building systems explains the... View Article

RIBA responds to the Government’s Social Housing Green Paper

The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has tresponded to the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government Social Housing Green Paper. RIBA President Ben Derbyshire says, “Whilst there are some welcome proposals in the Government’s Social Housing Green Paper, I’m... View Article

Johanna Konta has self-build application refused

British number one tennis star Johanna Konta has had a self-build planning application refused under conditions set out in the new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). Konta put in an application for a four-bedroom timber-framed house, designed by Scandia-Hus, to... View Article