Latest News

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

First time buyer figures plummet

Sept. 1, 2003

The number of first time buyers has fallen to an all time low due to demographics, social change and affordability according to FPD Savills. The “worrying trend” could lead to a slowdown in house price growth in the medium term.

Cars fall foul of Londoners’ green living

Sept. 1, 2003

Londoners are increasingly likely to live without a car according to a survey into the transport habits of the city’s apartment-dwellers.

Sound RSDs out for consultation

Sept. 1, 2003

The government has published for consultation the industry’s robust standard detail proposals, devised by the industry to satisfy new sound insulation rules. The RSDs have been drawn up over the past year in a major HBF-backed project in which 58 housebui

Boost for training funds

Sept. 1, 2003

The Construction Industry Training Board’s (CITB) grant funding pot has been topped up to £86.5 million for 2003/04 - a 15% increase on last year. Construction firms will also benefit from an overhaul of the grants system designed to make it easier and fa

Diary Dates

Sept. 1, 2003

<h2>September</h2>

The Walrus

Sept. 1, 2003

Our hot and bothered Walrus admires the Comic Timing Division at the ODPM but accepts that it is overshadowed by the department’s Short-Lived Building Legislation Group. What planet are they on?

Sept. 1, 2003

<h2>Kitchens</h2>

Crucial components

Sept. 1, 2003

Cavity trays, lintels and damp proofing - not the sexiest areas of housebuilding but Tim Palmer finds intensive product development mainly driven by PPG3 and Part L revisions.

Margin marvels

Sept. 1, 2003

Every home buyer wants the kitchen of their dreams. Andrew Leech finds that developers should have no trouble catering for a range of tastes: quality and style are affordable.

Culinary kudos

Sept. 1, 2003

Andrew Leech gets to grips with some of the latest kitchen technology.