In brief
<b>Falling costs</b> The cost of innovative housing projects is falling, eliminating the price difference between these schemes and standard new build homes according to new DTI figures.
[MMC-IMG=112-A=Left] Reshuffle keeps housing feet on the ground
It’s been rather good fun watching housebuilding being elevated to the position of the key industry in Britain’s economic evolution. Chancellor Gordon Brown’s “let’s wait and see” euro speech clearly laid the blame for his hesitation at the feet of the ho
Persimmon bags Merewood
Persimmon has bought Merewood for £22.6 million. The firm operates as Merewood Homes and Crowther Homes in Cumbria and Lancashire, but all branches will now be rebranded as Persimmon.
Hill climbs aboard to steer housing
[MMC-IMG=86-A=Right] Streatham MP Keith Hill has taken over as minister for planning and housing succeeding Jeff Rooker who has been moved on, to the disappointment of much of the industry.
Govt Part L review gets underway
The government has already begun its new review of Part L of the Building Regulations covering thermal insulation. Despite the rules being upgraded just three years ago, the new Energy Performance Directive and the recent Energy White Paper have prompted
Cherry picked for honours
Alan Cherry, chairman of Countryside Properties, has been awarded the CBE for services to urban regeneration and the housebuilding industry in the Queen’s birthday honours list.
Prices rising but visitors stay away
Visitors and reservations stubbornly refuse to pick up this year according to latest figures in the HBF survey. But still most builders expect higher sales and see higher prices each month.
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[MMC-IMG=85-A=Right] Taylor Woodrow is developing what may be the most environmentally friendly residential building in Britain at Macintosh village in Manchester.
Draft of sound RSDs submitted
The House Builders Federation has sent the government the first draft of proposed robust standard details for new sound insulation regulations.
Brown pins euro delay on housing
Chancellor Gordon Brown has confirmed that the volatility of the UK housing market is a principal factor in his decision to delay joining the euro. He has also delivered the clearest indication yet that he believes long-term housing undersupply is causing
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