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Hot stuff

The involvement of home heating systems with homes' overall energy ratings under Part L of the Building Regulations is leading to major innovations in the sector. Tim Palmer reports

Water power

Andrew Leech reports on how quick fit shower “pods” and bathroom components are gaining popularity. While David Osborne of Roman offers some tips on installing a wetroom

Good taste

<MMC-CAPTION 100 align=left> [MMC-IMG=1266-A=Left] Caple’s Monarch Walnut kitchen from Maurice Lay features a solid wood frame and veneered centre panels<br> </MMC-CAPTION>Kitchen trends are moving up a gear. Manufacturers and suppliers give Andrew Leech

Trust development

[MMC-IMG=1262-A=Left] Elsea Park in Bourne, by Allison Homes, is a comprehensively masterplanned scheme developed in a village style. Community facilities and transport links have been provided as well as an ecological buffer zone to an adjoining wood, wh

The Walrus

[MMC-IMG=1261-A=Left] Walrus had a hairy moment comparable to Jean-Claude Killy’s when facing a steep run at Val D’Isere. But it was at his local convenience store, rather than the ski slopes, that he confronted the challenge

The direct approach

Non-executive directors. What do they do? Would your firm benefit from having one? Or perhaps you fancy being one yourself? Ben Roskrow talks to two senior housebuilders about their roles as non-execs

MOVES && APPOINTMENTS

Tim Hough - Miller Homes

[MMC-IMG=1253-A=Left] Miller Homes chief exec Tim Hough used to think kitchens were one of the most important elements of a house to get right. Though it’s hard to imagine someone who has trouble narrowing his favourite restaurant down to four spending m

Mix-n-match

From this month, social housing grant will be available to private sector housebuilders through a new government pilot scheme. Mark Smulian considers the issues, and whether this change could potentially transform the social housing sector

Counting our chickens

[MMC-IMG=1252-A=Left] The housebuilding industry suffers from a surplus of Chicken Little types, convinced, as in the Disney tale, that the sky is falling in. This year is one to be wary of such pessimists, who are often proven wrong in retrospect