Features

Town and country

The ecotowns initiative began with promise but has become associated with high profile banner-waving protestors and threatened legal challenges. Suzie Mayes questions the outcry and how the government is trying to keep the vision alive

Policy paralysis

Stewart Baseley, executive chairman of the Home Builders Federation, tells Allison Heller why the government must act now to restore confidence in the housing market. If it fails to, its policies may fail too

Development of the Month

Sherfield Park near Basingstoke is a 1,000-home scheme, architecturally inspired by classic Georgian design. Steve Menary takes a look around Kent-based Croudace’s stylish development

Online assessment

NHBC has introduced an easy-to-use online home information pack service, to help developers comply with new legislative requirements. Christine Smith reports

Homes of the brave

The US housing market has been in freefall since last year’s subprime market collapse and is hard hit by an oversupply of new homes. Steve Menary assesses the situation

Social housing sales

Regional snapshot – North

In the first quarter of the year new home starts slumped by 19%, the biggest fall of any UK region. Steve Menary considers the impact on local builders

Face to face – Lee Allcock, RPA Architecture

RPA Architecture director LEE ALLCOCK has been appointed to lead on negotiating clients’planning consents as the firm enters a new phase of growth

Development of the Month – Oakdene

When Oakdene acquired Honeygrove in 2004, it snapped up its main asset – Swaylands House in Penshurst, Kent. Steve Menary takes a look at the £50 million high-end redevelopment scheme that is now underway

Desperately seeking finance

Housebuilders are also experiencing a shrinking of available development finance, but Andrew Leech discovers that funds are still available for those with a sturdy track record