Planning permission shortages stifle housing growth

Unprecedented challenges ahead

The social sector faces unprecedented level of challenges to deliver the Government’s tough housing agenda Record levels of homelessness are pushing many councils’ revenue budgets to breaking point as the housing system buckles under the strain of unprecedented demand for... View Article

The role of roofscapes

Nick Boulton at the Trussed Rafter Association says that with calls for faster and better housing delivery continuing to shape the sector, making practical progress relies on involving specialists. The demand to build more housing has been a long standing... View Article

Modern methods of community-building

Untold Living’s new MMC-built private retirement community in Shropshire aims to reshape what retirement living developments look like, away from a solely ‘care led’ model to promoting independence. Roseanne Field reports. Providing a good range of retirement living options is... View Article

Sustainability through placemaking

John Bowden at Keepmoat discusses how housebuilders must approach sustainability in 2026 – advocating a strategy that puts placemaking at the centre of developments. Sustainability in housebuilding can too often be approached as just energy efficiency alone. Whilst essential, it... View Article

Ask the Manufacturer: IDSystems

Housebuilder & Developer’s James Parker speaks to IDSystems’ David Clarke, to discover how the 2021 changes to Building Regulations have driven the specification of better glazing systems for new build and retrofit domestic projects. How have the changes to Part... View Article

Why is commercial roof maintenance so important?

The roof of a commercial building plays a critical role in protecting a building’s structure and its contents, as well as safeguarding the wellbeing of occupants. Commercial roof maintenance helps to ensure the long-term integrity and functionality of the roof,... View Article

How Unresolved Snags Can Lead To Warranty Claims

Introduction If you are thinking, could unresolved snags lead to warranty claims, you are not overreacting. A snag that looks “small” on your move-in date can quietly snowball into something that becomes quite significant. Here’s the thesis: unresolved snags are... View Article

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