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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

Patrick Mooney of Mooney Thompson Consulting comments With the party conference season now behind us, we are surely forgiven for wondering if the politicians will remember the promises made to us or will they hope we have an attack of... 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

Sale of site heralds start on the “UK’s largest self-build community”

Thursday, 25th September 2014

Cherwell District Council plans to build up to 1,900 homes on a former Ministry of Defence site in Bicester, Oxfordshire. The ex MoD Graven Hill site will provide a mixture of tenure opportunities, including kit homes and self-build houses. It... View Article

SIG Zinc & Copper detects metal renaissance

Tuesday, 23rd September 2014

Growing numbers of architects are choosing metal for roofs and cladding not only because of its undoubted green credentials and lustrous good looks but also because the use of the material has evolved stylistically. By Simon Walker, category manager for... View Article

Zinc – contemporary designs combine with heritage skills

Monday, 22nd September 2014

There can be no doubt that, over the past decade, zinc has captured the imagination of architects for use as a facade, rainscreen cladding and roofing material, as Jonathan Lowy from VMZINC UK explains Pre-weathered colours, which develop the same... View Article

Response to National Housing Federation YouGov Poll of Parents

Monday, 8th September 2014

Steve Hicks, Managing Director of Genie, responded to a report issued by the National Housing Federation that highlighted parents’ fears that children won’t be able to afford a home in the future. Mr Hicks said: “It is not surprising that... View Article

WSP increases its global and UK presence with the acquisition of Parsons Brinckerhoff

Thursday, 4th September 2014

On Wednesday 3rd September Balfour Beatty agreed to sell their professional services division Parsons Brinckerhoff to WSP Global for £820 million. The deal now makes WSP one of the world’s largest professional services firms, substantially increasing their presence across global... View Article

Cost-effective aluminium windows and doors are ideal for creating low energy use buildings, says Reynaers at Home

Thursday, 4th September 2014

Leading provider of aluminium architectural glazing systems Reynaers at Home says that aluminium systems not only offer top energy efficiency levels, but also can help to add value to a home too. According to 40 per cent of architects, a cost-effective solution... View Article

Andrew Martin, Interior Design Review, Volume 18

Thursday, 4th September 2014

Andrew Martin is one of the world’s best known furnishing brands with sales in over 50 countries. The Andrew Martin International Interior Designer of the Year attracts entries from all over the globe and is described by The Times as... View Article

Rejection of ‘Boris Island’ proposal – comment from GL Hearn

Wednesday, 3rd September 2014

Ben Olney, Planning Associate Director for Infrastructure at property consultancy GL Hearn, comments on the Airports Commission’s rejection of the ‘Boris Island’ proposal: “Sir Howard Davies’ decision to reject the proposals for a new airport in the Thames Estuary and... View Article

Mortgage Advice Bureau comments on the latest house price indices

Friday, 29th August 2014

Brian Murphy, Head of Lending at Mortgage Advice Bureau (MAB), comments on the Land Registry and Nationwide House Price Index: “House prices continued to edge up in July, with figures for August also showing further gains, despite the summer traditionally... View Article

Will banks put the brake on house price inflation?

Monday, 23rd June 2014

There is concern among some economic commentators, including the Bank of England governor Mark Carney, that recent house price inflation will create a property bubble that will burst and hurl the country into a new recession. However, what these experts... View Article

Paying the price of regulation

Monday, 23rd June 2014

Patrick Mooney of Mooney Thompson Consulting comments. Over the summer months, housing association chief executives and chairmen face an anxious time worrying about a lengthening list of regulatory changes being imposed on the sector. However, not one of these changes is likely... View Article