New home completion rates stagnate - NHBC
Latest figures from the NHBC show that new home completions stagnated during 2007, rising by just 1% on the previous year to 186,505 new homes. This is far short of the government\'s hoped for 240,000 per annum new homes target.
Persimmon results strike note of cautious optimism
Persimmon’s low exposure to the city centre flats market, which accounted for just 2.5% of its output in 2007, has assisted in its facing the market downturn, as the group reported a healthy set of the results for the year to March 31.
Housebuilders\' share prices rally following Barratt statement
City rumours that Barratt would need to turn to an emergency rights issue to plug a debt hole to the tune of £2 billion have been slammed by the Barratt board, leaving housebuilders\' share prices rallying in the wake of the statement.
Starts down 6% in 2007 but completions rising – CLG
Latest statistics from Communities and Local Government (CLG) reveal that new housebuilding starts in England fell to a total of 37,900 during the last quarter of 2007, down 10% on the equivalent quarter in 2006. The estimate of starts for 2007 stood at 166,900, a decline of 6% in comparison with 2006.
Rising inflation makes sharp rate cuts unlikely - Mervyn King
Bank of England governor Mervyn King has issued his quarterly report with hints that interest rates will not be cut as sharply as some have hoped, due to inflationary pressures.
Lib Dems speak out against floodplain housebuilding
Liberal Democrat shadow housing minister Lembit Opik has spoken out against the government\'s plans for millions of new homes to be built on floodplains in areas such as the Thames Gateway.
Goldman Sachs downgrades UK market forecast
Goldman Sachs has downgraded its housing market forecast for 2008 and 2009, predicting that prices will fall by around 5% this year, and a further 2% the following year. The bank had originally predicted a 3% fall in 2008.
Housing Design Awards: March 14 deadline for entries
The 2008 Housing Design Awards are celebrating their diamond jubilee year and developers are encouraged to submit their entries by March 14.
Landlords’ Federation welcomes private rented sector review
The National Federation of Residential Landlords (NFRL) has welcomed the government’s plans to undertake a review of the private rented sector, the terms of which were announced by new housing minister Caroline Flint last week.
RICS reports pessimistic outlook among agents
The latest survey from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) reveals that the outlook for the market among agents is the most pessimistic it has been since the question was first introduced into its monthly survey in 1998. A balance of 56% of respondents to the January survey reported house price falls in their areas, with just 2% reporting a rise.
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