Evolving fire risks

Helen Hewitt of the British Woodworking Federation (BWF) discusses the need for developers to increase focus on fire door safety, against new risks like e-bikes. The fire risks facing our homes and public buildings have evolved considerably over the last... View Article

Building a safer future

As the industry enters a new era of rigour in building safety, Ben Towe at the Light Steel Frame Association (LSFA) explores how light steel frame construction can help meet the UK’s housing challenges. Following the reset of national housebuilding... View Article

Connecting ambition and action

03-05 March  Excel, London As the global conversation around climate change intensifies, Futurebuild 2026 is turning shared ambition into tangible action. Returning to London’s ExCel from 3–5 March 2026, it remains the UK’s only built environment event wholly dedicated to... View Article

Tackling transfers of roads & sewers

Alex Cocklin at RS Bonds Surety looks at the complex contractual issues around transferring responsibility for roads and sewers, explaining why securing the required ‘Bonds’ can be challenging in today’s market.  Road and Sewer Bonds are a contractual requirement when... View Article

Why render is the right choice now

Jason Nicholson of K Rend explores the way that modern render systems are helping developers reduce build times and project costs whilst ensuring consistently high standards. With more land released through planning reforms, particularly on brownfield and lower quality green... View Article

A smart revolution

Neil Budd from IMI Heatmiser explains how smart technology is now an integral component of achieving comfort at home for occupants. The UK housebuilding market is embroiled in arguably its largest period of upheaval since the post-war building boom. Alongside... View Article
Planning permission shortages stifle housing growth

Social housing needs a new approach

Our regular social housing correspondent Patrick Mooney argues that, with homelessness at record levels and councils pushed to the brink, only a bold new approach can deliver the affordable homes Britain urgently needs. With record levels of homelessness being experienced,... View Article

A flexible future for BNG compliance

Katy Davis at Carter Jonas (London) argues that, a year after biodiversity net gain became mandatory, flexibility is essential to ensure onsite ambition aligns with offsite realities and genuine ecological outcomes. A year after the introduction of mandatory biodiversity net gain... View Article

Building ‘beyond zero’

Rob East of Newland Homes, explains how the Gloucestershire housebuilder took a “conviction-based” decision to redefine its design approach beyond the norm to provide climate-resilient, and even carbon-negative homes. It was our development director, Jeremy Drew, who first raised the... View Article

Suffragette City

A development onsite in London’s Tower Hamlets creates a new neighbourhood on where Suffragette Sylvia Pankhurst first proposed improvements to conditions in the East End, over a century ago. Roseanne Field reports. In Bromley-By-Bow in the London Borough of Tower... View Article

Structural timber: a smart choice

Andrew Orriss of the Structural Timber Association (STA) looks at timber as a sustainable, low-carbon building choice, increasingly popular among UK self-builders for its environmental and practical benefits. In recent years, structural timber has emerged as the material of choice... View Article

Beyond the looking glass

Al and Lily Chen’s renovated and extended Edwardian home is a masterclass in space and light. TEXT ALEXANDRA PRATT IMAGES WILLIAM TOZER ASSOCIATES “We were looking for a family home with potential for expansion,” explains Lily Chen, who has two... View Article

Smarter by design

Theben Automation’s Paul Foulkes explores how smart homes are moving beyond timers and schedules, embracing real-time, sensor-based automation for greater comfort, efficiency and intuitive living. For decades, home automation has promised ease and efficiency. But early systems, reliant on fixed... View Article

The best laid plans

Lettie and Tom Fardon fell in love with a timber-framed 1950s bungalow ripe for renovation and bought it at auction, but didn’t realise just how much work would be involved in bringing it up to modern standards. TEXT JAYNE DOWLE... View Article

Building your dream outdoors

To help self-builders transform muddy plots into luscious garden havens, Anita Magee of Tobermore looks at the top trends inspiring garden design. Current garden trends are seeing a strong focus on blending luxury with sustainability, creating outdoor areas that are... View Article

Designing with doors in mind

Deuren’s Ian Chubb shares how specifying doors early unlocks better design choices, avoids compromise and keeps your self-build ambitions on track. From structural planning and detailed budgeting to sourcing materials and managing timelines, building or renovating your dream home is... View Article

A house of two halves

A chance to design their own home from scratch in their favourite part of London was far too good an opportunity to pass up for Lily Wood and her family TEXT CAROL BURNS IMAGES PHIL COFFEY When Lily and Rob... View Article

Interior Inspiration: Living Rooms

Whether you need to find the perfect sofa for relaxing in the evenings or some handy storage to keep things tidy, we’ve curated a selection of products from the comfortable to the practical to help you create your ideal living... View Article

Flexible elegance

Adam Brown of The Painted Furniture Company discusses how customisable freestanding furniture offers flexible, high-quality pieces that adapt over time and combine personal style, durability and design continuity. For anyone embarking on the rewarding journey of building their own home,... View Article