Latest News

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

Lacuna wins special Housebuilder award

July 1, 2003

[MMC-IMG=88-A=Right] Sunley and Environ Country Homes’ Lacuna development in West Malling, Kent has won the Housebuilder special award at this year’s Housing Design Awards. The Clague-designed project, which topped the 30 to 70 dwellings per hectare categ

Manchester to get 13,000 pathfinder homes boost

July 1, 2003

Plans are afoot for a massive housebuilding programme in east Manchester that will see the construction of 13,000 new homes and the refurbishment of up to 7,000 more. The Manchester Salford Housing Market Renewal Partnership wants to build the homes in an

Brownfield targets exceeded

July 1, 2003

The number of homes built on brownfield land has beaten the government’s target for the sixth year in a row according to ODPM figures.

Sunley teams up with Mowlem

July 1, 2003

Sunley Homes has struck a partnership with Mowlem to share experience, skills and resources with the contractor. Sunley staff will work directly for Mowlem to create a new construction team building a variety of bespoke housing schemes.

Fast-tracked bill hits Royal buffer

July 1, 2003

Government plans to fast-track the Planning Bill are in tatters following the announcement that fundamental changes to the Bill will see the legislation pushed into the next session of parliament. This could hold up progress by six months.

In brief

July 1, 2003

<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

July 1, 2003

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

July 1, 2003

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

July 1, 2003

[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

July 1, 2003

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