Features

The latest news, features, comment and analysis of the UK housebuilding market covering policy, regulation, planning, technology, new developments and products

Cross purposes

July 1, 2007 Feature

Cross subsidy deals done to fund on-site affordable housing and estate regeneration are eroding traditional boundaries between housebuilders, housing associations and ALMOs, reports Mark Smulian

Urban renewal focus: salford

July 1, 2007 Feature

In 2011 the BBC will move to Salford. Chris Windle finds out how it is kick-starting regeneration in a city where the housing market had collapsed, in the first of our three, monthly urban renewal special features focused on Salford, Newcastle and London

High hopes

July 1, 2007 Feature

A daunting task awaits the newly created National Housing and Planning Advice Unit. It must arrest and reverse an apparently inexorable rise in the number of people economically excluded from the housing market, reports Chris Webb

Unlock The Land

July 1, 2007 Feature

There are only two routes to higher housing numbers: higher densities and more land with planning permission. The recovery in housebuilding since it reached a post-war low of 130,000 homes per annum in 2001 has been driven entirely by higher densities. Land supply has been on a downward trend since 1994. Now government must deliver the land so housebuilders can deliver the homes. HBF economic affairs director John Stewart Housebuilder, July 2007

HBF mini-manifesto

July 1, 2007 Feature

The HBF has drawn up a “mini-manifesto” for housing, which, if adopted by prime minister Gordon Brown, will help to address the country’s housing shortage, it claims.

CLG disputes packs loophole claim

July 1, 2007 Feature

Sellers may be able to get away without paying for a home information pack (HIP) because of a loophole in the regulations, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyor (RICS) has claimed.

Technically speaking

June 1, 2007 Feature

Andrew Leech discovers how home technology, or “infotainment,” can put the wow factor into your schemes

Feet first

June 1, 2007 Feature

Energy efficient and sound resistant flooring systems are the order of the day. Tim Palmer discovers how suppliers are meeting the needs of the modern housebuilder

Health check

June 1, 2007 Feature

The corporate agenda must fully embrace health and safety recommends Simon Mancle, who oversees NHBC’s audit and accreditation scheme aimed at reducing on-site accidents

Development of the Month

June 1, 2007 Feature

The London Olympics almost scuppered Telford’s colourful Icona scheme as the site in Stratford narrowly escaped a compulsory purchase order. It took some creative thinking to resolve the issue, Steve Menary discovers