Housebuilder margins rise as firms enjoy market recovery
Steve Menary gives the lowdown on the latest financial reporting season for the plcs, finding that margins are beginning to move up, shareholders are seeing the benefit, but the government's housing strategy is yet to filter through to a big lift in starts.
A turning point in our fortunes
The chancellor's Budget could prove to be a game changer in releasing demand for new homes. But there is also work to be done on the supply side, argues HBF executive chairman Stewart Baseley.
Thatcher's housing legacy
The effects of Margaret Thatcher's policies to revive the private rented sector and withdraw the state from direct housing provision are still with us, but her desire to see a property owning democracy has been undermined, says John Stewart.
Believers and optimists in short supply
Despite all the government's efforts on the supply and demand sides of the new homes market, Ben Roskrow finds that property professionals are not predicting an output surge.
How many new housing starts in 2018?
<p>At a recent housing debate, not one member of the audience thought we would be building 150,000 homes a year by 2018. Ben Roskrow wonders whether the government is aware of such pessimism</p>
Private equity funds swoop into UK market
There is considerable activity in the UK housebuilding sector with a wave of private equity firms taking an interest in the market. Steve Menary reports.
Needed - a strategy, not new initiatives
Richard Jones, head of residential and regeneration at EC Harris, says that the government announcing a series of initiatives does not a strategy make - and a clear and coherent path ahead is needed to boost housing supply.
Budgeting for the general election
The two Help to Buy Budget housing measures must have been influenced by electoral calculation, but John Stewart does not accept the almost wholly negative reaction of the media and housing commentators.
Budget rewards confidence of newindustry investors
A new wave of US and European private equity funds are investing in UK housebuilders, anticipating good times ahead says Ben Roskrow.
New investors rewarded by Budget boost
A new wave of US and European private equity funds have entered the UK housebuilding sector, judging that the time is right to invest. Ben Roskrow says that the Budget will have helped these funds believe they have backed the right horse
