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
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

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
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

A long and winding road

Brian Berry of the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) looks back over what has been a pivotal year for housing, and highlights the challenges and opportunities presented to builders by the new Government’s policies. Well, what a bumpy and eventful... View Article

Concrete’s route to net zero

As demand for eco-friendly homes and stricter regulations grow, Andy Campling of Tarmac explores how manufacturers are tackling the challege of developing low-carbon concrete solutions that could transform UK housebuilding. While the construction industry’s path to net zero is becoming... View Article
Planning permission shortages stifle housing growth

Imagination & effort needed

Patrick Mooney, housing consultant and news editor of Housing Management & Maintenance magazine, looks at the crisis around temporary accommodation costs, and how addressing this requires investment in affordable housing, reforms, and collaboration across government, councils, and housing associations. The... View Article

Building a solid reputation

BRiCS is a new housebuilder on the block which is attempting to raise the bar on quality and sustainability. James Parker speaks to co-founder Hugo Reeve. BRiCS is a new SME housebuilder targeted at building high-quality homes in the south... View Article

The Social Network – Reality check

Patrick Mooney, housing consultant and news editor of Housing Management & Maintenance magazine, interrogates Labour’s plan for growing the supply of new housing, and asks ‘how realistic is it?’ Since winning the general election Labour has embarked on an ambitious... View Article

The Climate Challenge – Building a Greener Future

Cassandre Le Galliard of Aggregate Industries discusses the driving factors housebuilders are facing concerning embodied carbon in cement Housebuilders are at the forefront of the move towards creating an eco-friendlier environment, incorporating high-quality materials, low carbon technologies and green energy... View Article

The Industry Advocate – A new era

Labour’s election victory has ended 14 years of Conservative dominance. Brian Berry, CEO of the Federation of Master Builders (FMB), discusses the potential impact on the housing industry and whether Labour can deliver on their promises. Labour’s general election win... View Article
Planning permission shortages stifle housing growth

Social strength

Patrick Mooney, housing consultant and news editor of Housing, Management & Maintenance magazine asks ‘has the case for an expanded social housebuilding programme ever been stronger’? During the height of council house building in the 1950s, councils built on average... View Article

Clearing the path to timber

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 sustainable material... View Article
Paddy Mooney

Economic benefit

Patrick Mooney, housing consultant and news editor of Housing, Management & Maintenance magazine says the social housing market is in the doldrums, after a Budget which missed the opportunity for wider economic stimulus. The domestic housing market is a notoriously... View Article

The importance of backing apprenticeships

As the sector battles an unprecedented shortfall in skilled workers, Tom Dwyer, group production director at Keepmoat discusses how apprenticeships are being embraced to fill the current gap, which amounts to an 30,000 extra construction professionals needed by 2026. I began... View Article

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

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 from Labour,... View Article

The rental remedy

The surge in the Buy to Rent (BTR) sector, in the context of rising numbers of unsold housing stock, offers new opportunities to not only investors, but the supply chain too. Louise Walters, commercial director at flooring contractor Designer Contracts, explains... View Article

The Industry Advocate: Looking into 2024

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 see some... View Article