2010s to record poorest figures on housebuilding

The 2010s will see the lowest housebuilding rate in England since the Second World War, according to analysis from think tank CPS. This is reportedly part of a 50-year pattern, in which each decade has seen fewer new homes built... View Article
James Parker, Housebuilder & Developer

From the Editor

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

From the Editor

By James Parker, editor of Housebuilder & Developer. You have to admire ‘Dancing Queen’ Theresa May’s strength. While navigating a seemingly impossible course between shark-infested waters of extreme Brexiteers and the EU, she also managed to announce something universally welcomed... View Article

Everything including the kitchen sink for social housing

Social housing is experiencing a revolution, with local councils and housing associations looking for kitchen suppliers that will offer up-to-date, long-lasting solutions without comprimising on quality. Neil Mcdonald of Moores offers his advice. As the need to be able to... View Article

Medal to the Metal

The Metal Gutter Manufacturers association puts the case for why metal rainwater systems should be the first choice. Although metal rainwater drainage systems may often cost more initially, they offer excellent ‘lifetime’ value. With homeowners and specifiers increasingly looking at... View Article

First things first

Duncan Andrews of Sureset explains the impact a driveway surface can have on kerb appeal, exploring the pros and cons of different surfacing materials. In what is a highly competitive market, it is vitally important to make a good first... View Article

On-trend solutions

Decorative vinyls and LVTs are pushing new technical and aesthetic boundaries so that both customers and contractors benefit, according to Nav Dhillon of Gerflor. Decorative vinyl and luxury vinyl tiles and planks (LVTs) are practical, durable and straightforward to maintain... View Article

BIM for offsite: what’s stopping you?

While the housebuilding industry is educating itself on the practicalities and application of offsite methods of construction, the real opportunity for housebuilders is in how offsite is utilising the latest software platforms. Robert Clark of Fusion Building Systems explains the... View Article
Home Security: Safe as houses – netMAGmedia Ltd 

Safe as houses

With the number of thefts and burglaries rising, prioritising home security has arguably never been more important. Dr Steffan George of the Master Locksmiths association offers advice on securing homes during construction and over the long term. While cases of... View Article

Treating water pollution on construction sites

Dr Richard Coulton of Siltbuster outlines the main types of on-site water pollution, and how to treat them. Under the Environment Agency’s Regulatory Policy Statement (RPS), construction companies likely to discharge anything off site other than clean water need a... View Article

Transforming the industry for the better

Sarah McMonagle of the Federation of Master Builders (FMB), explains the organisation’s three point plan to reform the construction sector’s approach to quality, in the wake of Grenfell. Let’s be honest, the construction industry does not have the greatest image... View Article

Underlying benefits

Shane Oxberry of YPS Plumbing supplies recaps the many compelling benefits of underfloor heating. Neat, economical to run, reliable and green, it’s tempting to recommend underfloor heating (UFH) for every new build, renovation or extension. Unless you demand period cast... View Article

Don’t forget your thermals

Karen Everitt of Ravatherm UK explains the importance of correct insulation specification in achieving high thermal performance. Housebuilding is on the rise. Research suggests that by 2050 there could be a 23 per cent increase in UK households, and the... View Article
Homes

Better ventilated homes for a brighter future

Paul Croughan, Head of Sales – New build at EnviroVent, looks at how the new build sector is meeting ventilation requirements and improving the air quality in new homes. The Government’s plan to build at least 200,000 new homes per... View Article

A sense of place

Andy Speake of Aico advises on the importance of getting placement right when it comes to alarms. In the domestic smoke alarm sector there has traditionally been three alarm types: optical, heat and ionisation. These different sensor types react best... View Article
Off-grid

Going off-grid

Ian Digby of Calor discusses looks at how alterations to standard housing designs resulting from fuel choice can be reduced for off-grid properties, and the part played by Part L1A of the Building regulations. Complying with Part L1A of the... View Article
Aluminium

Getting a handle on aluminium doors

Will Jones of Senior Architectural Systems looks at how aluminium doors can open up new opportunities to create homes that offer the highest standards of style, security and sustainability. The term ‘patio door’ is often used to refer to a... View Article
Gutter

Gutter bliss

Paul Jackson of Polypipe explains why developers need to ensure they are selecting the right guttering and downpipe system on each project, which might mean that plastic turns out to be the best option. When the Government announced that 217,350... View Article