Local sensitivity

LISTEN HERE Roseanne Field reports on a high-end nine house development in a small village in Kent, built by an SME developer that prides itself on its local knowledge and respectful approach to schemes. Situated just outside Maidstone in Kent,... View Article

Clearing the path to timber

LISTEN HERE The Government’s roadmap for increasing timber use in construction is here, but how is the industry tackling the obstacles? James Parker spoke to Andrew Carpenter, chief executive of the Structural Timber Association. How can structural timber, the ultimate... View Article

Setting up base

LISTEN HERE An ambitious project in Gosport demonstrates how utilising modern methods of construction is possible for all kinds of developments, as VerdeGO Living’s David Craddock explains to Roseanne Field Portsmouth is a city known for its naval history. Since... View Article

Part S: Charged with the responsibility

LISTEN HERE Part S provides clear challenges as well as opportunities for the car charging industry, however while the solutions are available, the requirements for major housing developments remain somewhat mysterious. James Parker spoke to specialist charging firm Fortis EV... View Article

A busy start to 2024 & concerns for what’s ahead

LISTEN HERE Brian Berry, CEO of the Federation of Master Builders (FMB), summarises the last few months for SMEs and looks towards future challenges lying before firms this year A tepid Spring Budget, a bold, if not detailed direction for housing... View Article

Building a later lifestyle

LISTEN HERE With increasing awareness of the need for good quality retirement developments, as our population ages, a new scheme in Buckinghamshire built by GRAHAM shows how to create communities which go way beyond simple places to live. Roseanne Field... View Article

Are we ready for the future homes standard?

LISTEN HERE The task of decarbonising our new building stock cannot be underestimated. REHAU UK’s Martin Hitchin says a new industry survey and white paper shows that construction needs to step up to achieve compliance with the Future Homes Standard... View Article

The Industry Advocate: Looking into 2024

LISTEN HERE Brian Berry, CEO of the Federation of Master Builders (FMB), looks at some of the major issues the industry is already confronting and tackling in 2024. As we start to move through 2024, we can already start to... View Article

The whole package

LISTEN HERE As sustainability becomes a key priority in anticipation of 2025’s Future Homes Standard, product specification becomes more challenging, not least for roofs. Stuart Nicholson of Marley explains how providing a single point of contact can help housebuilders produce... View Article

To the new Part L – and beyond!

LISTEN HERE New updates to the Building Regulations go some way to cutting emissions – but construction firms have the chance to go further, argues Nicola Harrison of Bereco July 2023 was recently confirmed as the hottest month on record... View Article

Comment – Housing benefits politicians

LISTEN HERE Brian Berry of FMB looks at the political manoeuvrings on housing as we approach the General Election buildup Looking back at my article from this time last year, it’s astonishing how far we’ve come, and what has changed.... View Article

How to futureproof homes’ heating

LISTEN HERE Darren Trivett of OMNIE and the Ridgspear Group counters the tabloid headlines and considers the key factors developers should address when specifying underfloor heating systems for energy efficiency on their projects.  It is unlikely you will get through... View Article

Is housing going downhill fast?

LISTEN HERE Brian Berry, CEO of the FMB looks at the prognosis for SMEs in a sector in crisis, and how its new guide could help All the data, including our own at the FMB, seems to be suggesting the... View Article