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[MMC-IMG=307-A=Left] Housebuilding 2004 - the industry event

Keith Hill’s speech to our Housing Market Intelligence conference last month was, frankly, rather more interesting than I expected. He pulled no punches. It was apparent that he was going to have a dig at the industry when he opened up by “recognising and

Prescott urges industry to plug quality gap

The industry must narrow the wide gap between the best houses and the rest to improve Britain’s housing stock according to the deputy prime minister John Prescott. Speaking at the Better Buildings Summit he said: “More innovation, better design, better pl

Hill calls for deal to boost housing

Planning authorities that fail to deliver on applications will have their powers taken away from them by the government in a similar way to that successfully employed in the education sector. But planning reform must be linked to housebuilders improving t

Plan for safety

Accident prevention experts have called on housebuilders to design homes in such a way that “accident blackspots” are eradicated from the home.

Cushen to retire

Keith Cushen, the chief executive of George Wimpey UK, is to retire at the end of the year. The 56-year-old has been head of the UK division, which generates 80% of group profits, for three years. He has transformed the business with the acquisitions of M

Survey hits positive market note

The latest HBF survey for September shows positive signs across the market. Net reservations are well above a year ago (+21%) - a continuation of positive trends since August.

Boomerang kids

Land Reg act 2002 kicks in

The Land Registration Act 2002 came into force last month, overhauling land registration laws and squatters rights. The Act makes registration compulsory for owned land or land leased for seven or more years - a reduction from the previous 21 or more year

Critical stage for planning reform

The government’s planning reform agenda has reached a critical stage with the launch of a series of draft policies following the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Bill’s return to Parliament on October 14.

Living on an island