Category: Comment | netMAGmedia Ltd

86 per cent of UK residents think energy companies must do more to tackle meter cheating

Thursday, 17th January 2019

Almost nine in 10 (86 per cent) bill payers think that energy companies should be working harder to tackle energy theft, according to a research report. The study was commissioned by outsourced utility customer engagement specialists Echo Managed Services and Grosvenor Services Group and endorsed by Crimestoppers... View Article

The fight to combat homelessness

Thursday, 17th January 2019

Patrick Mooney, housing consultant and news editor of Housing, Management & Maintenance, explains why he believes Whitehall politicians need to up their game in the fight to combat homelessness and cut unnecessary deaths. It was a sad indictment of the... View Article

Inner city sites could be oases of peace and tranquility

Thursday, 17th January 2019

Building sites can be noisy, dirty and very disruptive to their neighbours, so are rarely welcomed – even when new housing is desperately needed. According to Brian Maunder, sales manager at Totally Modular, however, it does not have to be... View Article

From the Editor

Thursday, 17th January 2019

TV architect George Clarke spoke at a recent event on the urgent need to innovate in housebuilding to deliver good quality at the same time as the numbers. At the Mitsubishi Electric-staged event Clarke provocatively said “there’s no point building... View Article

Bidwells: Regardless of Brexit and affordability, we are not building enough homes

Thursday, 17th January 2019

Commenting on the statistical release from the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government showing the number of completed homes in England rising above 160,000 for the first time since 2007, Paul Willmott, Managing Partner, Planning, at Bidwells said: “Despite the still positive... View Article

Unlocking the drive to quality

Tuesday, 15th January 2019

James Parker reports on a call from TV architect George Clarke for a change in the way we build homes. TV architect George Clarke spoke at a recent event staged by Mitsubishi Electric looking at the urgent need to innovate... View Article

Designing a home with a year-round garden

Tuesday, 15th January 2019

Gardens have to feel good as well as look good. When designing a garden, it is important to take this into account and consider all the ways to make it perfect throughout the seasons. There are a few things you... View Article

The construction industry: 2018 in review & what’s next for 2019?

Tuesday, 15th January 2019

The construction industry faced its fair share of challenges last year – from the collapse of Carillion to the uncertainty that came along with Brexit. However, Duncan Green, managing partner at property, construction and infrastructure consultancy Pick Everard, has high hopes... View Article

Construction output rises despite Brexit uncertainty, says FMB

Friday, 11th January 2019

The Government must not be complacent about the damage a ‘no deal’ Brexit would cause amid positive signs of growth in the UK construction industry, says the Federation of Master Builders (FMB). Commenting on the construction output figures for November 2018,... View Article

The desperate need for student accommodation in the UK

Friday, 11th January 2019

The Purpose-Built Student Accommodation sector is experiencing incredibly high growth, with more and more developers getting involved in this lucrative investment. However, demand is continuing to be far higher than the provisions available. There is a genuine need for PBSA... View Article

A skilled workforce needs employers

Wednesday, 9th January 2019

Judith Cummins, MP for Bradford South, has highlighted the need for a radical overhaul of our skills policy to help places like Bradford, one of the top 40 constituencies to be affected by automation in the coming years. Cummins identified that 15% of... View Article

Construction site safety

Tuesday, 8th January 2019

Construction site workers are exposed to a wide variety of hazards, and without correct safety measures in place accidents and even fatalities can occur. It is of great importance that health and safety measures are clearly outlined and adhered to,... View Article

Mayor of London comments on the Sutton Estate appeal

Thursday, 20th December 2018

Commenting on the Sutton Estate appeal, which was determined on 17 December, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: “I am very pleased the Secretary of State has listened to what I and many local campaigners have been calling for, and has blocked... View Article

NFB: No deal and Immigration White Paper are damaging to construction

Wednesday, 19th December 2018

The National Federation of Builders (NFB) believes that leaving the EU without a deal would be more catastrophic for the construction industry than the financial crisis of 2008, when it lost more than 250,000 skilled workers On 18 December, the... View Article

Construction SMEs are being left behind by off-site solutions

Thursday, 13th December 2018

The House of Lords will debate the Science and Technology Committee’s report ”Off-site Manufacture in Construction: Building for Change” which, among other concerns, cites a need to improve the productivity of the industry. Lord Mair has said that the principal barrier to off-site... View Article

Apprenticeships are plummeting because of Apprenticeship Levy, says FMB

Thursday, 6th December 2018

Apprenticeship starts are falling because of the Apprenticeship Levy which needs to be made more flexible, according to the Federation of Master Builders (FMB). The FMB’s reaction is in response to statistics published today by the Department for Education, which show that... View Article

MHCLG Grenfell update – LABC responds

Tuesday, 4th December 2018

Last week, in a written statement, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, James Brokenshire, updated the government’s response to the Grenfell tragedy. Among the announcements were amendments to the approved documents confirming what materials can be... View Article

The shape of our future high street

Tuesday, 27th November 2018

Are our town centres destined to become predominantly residential zones? James Parker investigates this growing trend. Last week we experienced, depending on your point of view, what was either an exciting Christmas present-buying opportunity, or the blatant retailer-driven frenzy that... View Article

Brexit unknowns and unfavourable tax system top property industry concerns

Thursday, 8th November 2018

Crowe’s survey, which asks property developers and investors across the country for their views on the state of the market in 2018 and outlook for the future, reveals UK businesses are increasingly concerned about the impact the current political and... View Article

Time to deliver on the PM’s fresh commitment to social housing

Wednesday, 7th November 2018

The Government’s surprise decision to lift the borrowing cap on local authorities so they can expand the building of new council homes was one of the most welcome pieces of news of recent times. As ever the devil will be... View Article