Planning permission shortages stifle housing growth

The cost of ending homelessness

Preventing further increases in homelessness will only be possible with billions being invested in new housing, says Patrick Mooney, with record-high rough sleeping and temporary accommodation figures exposing the urgent need for action. The overwhelming case in favour of building... View Article

A new era of safety

The residential sector has a variety of new safety and certification requirements  to navigate, especially under the Building Safety Act. Mike Vaczi of SOPREMA UK highlights why housebuilders and developers need to familiarise themselves with their evolving obligations. The Building... View Article

Open to alternatives

Kevan Woolf of Velfac questions whether the introduction of Part O to mitigate overheating means inward opening windows are the only solution. The recent introduction of Part O of the Building Regulations has prompted designers to seek effective solutions to... View Article

Ambitious plans

Lawrence Turner of planning consultants Boyer discusses how the revised NPPF aims to meet Labour’s ambitious housing targets, from brownfield passports to grey belts. Following Angela Rayner’s promise in July 2024 to spearhead a ‘decade of renewal’ with an ambitious... View Article
How to build greener homes

How to build greener homes

The climate crisis demands urgent action, explains Philippa Hoy of sustainability consultant Bioregional. She gives the case for the One Planet Living concept, and looks at how embracing sustainable design and low-carbon solutions can meet developers’ imperatives as well as... View Article

Tide is high once again in Croydon

Europe’s tallest modular building yet, the 50-storey College Road residential scheme in Croydon, is Tide Construction’s second tower in the fast-growing borough, with over 1,700 units on a narrow, densely urban site. Stephen Cousins finds out how they did it.... View Article

Design for the future

Complying with legislation to create future-proof, carbon-neutral buildings is key. Andrew Watkins of wedi Systems explores sustainable, long-lasting solutions for bathroom and wet room design amid evolving regulations. Andrew Watkins, Technical Manager at wedi Systems (UK) Ltd, discusses how to... View Article
Fans of efficiency

Fans of efficiency

Mechanical extract fans are essential for home ventilation, yet often overlooked. Paul Williams of Domus Ventilation explores how choosing the right fan for a property – and ensuring proper installation – will aid efficiency, performance, and regulatory compliance. The humble... View Article
Beyond boilers

Beyond boilers

As energy efficiency standards tighten, Barry Fentem of Altecnic explores the alternatives to gas boilers which are available to help housing upgrades meet regulations while futureproofing homes with sustainable heating solutions. As energy efficiency standards become more stringent, the housing... View Article

Daylight: The overlooked role

As sustainable construction advances, home design must go beyond energy efficiency, considering daylight, ventilation, comfort, and embodied carbon. Neil Freshwater of VELUX explores how daylight and Indoor Environment Quality can contribute. In the pursuit of more sustainable and energy-efficient homes,... View Article
The routes to a greener world

The routes to a greener world

Over the last few decades, housebuilding design has drastically changed from every possible angle; from energy, technology and construction to industry standards and regulations. At the same time, the push towards carbon reduction and net zero, energy efficiency and biodiversity... View Article
From cowshed to retirement community

From cowshed to retirement community

A project in the affluent Surrey town of Godalming has transformed a listed cow shed as part of a group of vibrant apartments. Mark Smulian explores how Birchgrove is redefining retirement living with a strong sense of community in a... View Article
Planning permission shortages stifle housing growth

Planning permission shortages stifle housing growth

As the Government and construction sector struggle to meet ambitious housing targets, record low planning approvals and economic uncertainty underscore the challenges. Patrick Mooney highlights the urgent need for reforms to address the crisis. The New Year brought with it... View Article

The offsite keys to the Future Homes Standard

Will Frost from Saint-Gobain Off-Site Solutions asserts that the Future Homes Standard offers developers a chance to prioritise long-term benefits over short-term cost savings, while reducing carbon emissions. One of the best ways to achieve the ambitious aims of the... View Article

Futureproofing homes means heat pumps

Neil Thompson of Ideal Heating explores why heat pumps are critical for future-proofing new homes on the journey to net zero, bearing in mind some of the key design challenges the industry needs to consider. Sustainable housebuilding has shifted from... View Article

Powering up homes’ water pressure

With growing challenges in the UK water industry, Mark Ayckbourn of Stuart Turner highlights key considerations around low water pressure for new builds, and explores effective methods and technology to improve performance. Under UK regulation, households should be supplied with... View Article

Navigating the new Planning Reforms

Alec Cropper of Walton & Co gives the prognosis for meeting Labour’s 1.5 million new homes goal, and the key changes needed in the housebuilding sector. Following its victory in the 2024 General Election, the Labour Government has put housebuilding and... View Article

Building in Confidence

Peter Richardson of Build-Zone provides insight into structural defects insurance policies – including what they cover, and which features developers should focus on when choosing warranties for new housing developments. Even with the best care and due diligence, building houses... View Article
Patrick Mooney warns the Government’s 1.5 million homes target requires urgent funding and policy reforms if it is to be achieved.

Testing times

Patrick Mooney warns the Government’s 1.5 million homes target requires urgent funding and policy reforms if it is to be achieved. Has the Government already signalled that it is unlikely to meet its ambitious target of building 1.5 million new... View Article