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Selection process for the next chair of CITB

Monday, 11th December 2017

In response to 11th December’s media coverage around the selection process for the next chair of the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), Mark Noonan, Industry Relations Director at CITB, said: “While choosing the panel to decide upon the next CITB chairman... View Article

London Assembly Housing Committee responds to the Mayor’s draft Housing Strategy

Monday, 11th December 2017

“The London Assembly Housing Committee welcomes a number of proposals in the draft Housing Strategy which take on board our recommendations for engaging small builders, supporting offsite manufactured housing, investing in housing for older and disabled Londoners and more.” “Unfortunately, we have doubts... View Article

What does today’s Brexit Breakthrough mean to the property market?

Monday, 11th December 2017

Penny Mosgrove, CEO of Quintessentially Estates comments, “We at Quintessentially Estates have seen the biggest reading in the last few weeks for 2017 showing that people are feeling positive about the outcome of Brexit. In the last 12 months we... View Article

Proactive property companies embrace rewilding for happier, healthier homes

Wednesday, 25th October 2017

Newly released figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) have highlighted the role that nature plays not just in promoting people’s mental health, but also in boosting their physical health. Undertaken on behalf of the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology,... View Article

Are homeowners getting the performance they should expect?

Friday, 6th October 2017

With large tracts of UK land being held for future development, there is a concern that when the properties are eventually built they will only comply with building regulations that were the standard 10 years ago. It begs the question:... View Article

RICS responds to the council house building announcement

Thursday, 5th October 2017

Lewis Johnston, RICS Parliamentary Affairs Manager: “It is over 65 years since a Conservative Conference committed the party to delivering 300,000 homes a year. With today’s housing challenge no less urgent, the Prime Minister’s plan to unleash the first major... View Article

More than 259 high-rise buildings have failed fire safety tests

Monday, 18th September 2017

Scrutiny of cladding has become a highly significant issue since the Grenfell Tower tragedy with more than 259 high-rise buildings now having failed fire safety tests according to TowerEight. Plans for tests on another 600 buildings have already been announced... View Article

Shelter comment on Grenfell council gaining £50m from affordable housing deals

Thursday, 20th July 2017

Anne Baxendale, director of policy and campaigns at Shelter, said: “The continuing struggle to rehouse people in Kensington & Chelsea following the dreadful Grenfell tragedy has exposed the dire shortage of social homes. But in spite of the desperate need,... View Article

Mark Farmer responds to Communities and Local Government Select Committee report on the capacity of the housebuilding industry in the UK

Tuesday, 2nd May 2017

Mark Farmer, CEO of Cast and the author of a government-commissioned review into the construction industry, said: “This report from the Communities and Local Government Select Committee on the capacity of the homebuilding industry has clearly ratified the fact that... View Article

Construction skills shortage gets worse, warns FMB

Tuesday, 31st January 2017

The skills shortage in the construction industry has got worse and has now spread beyond bricklayers and carpenters to other key trades, according to the latest research by the Federation of Master Builders (FMB). The FMB’s State of Trade Survey... View Article

Elmhurst Energy welcomes publication of the Bonfield Report

Tuesday, 20th December 2016

Energy performance measurement specialists Elmhurst Energy has welcomed the publication of the long-awaited “Each Home Matters” report by Peter Bonfield, but has expressed disappointment at some omissions. Despite having the scope of reviewing ‘Consumer Advice, Protection, Standards and Enforcement for... View Article

Rob Weaver from Property Partner comments on November Nationwide House Price Index

Thursday, 1st December 2016

Rob Weaver, Director of Investments at property crowdfunding platform Property Partner, comments: “Onwards and slowly but surely upwards seems to be the trend with a mildly stronger performance in November.” “The housing market is showing remarkable resilience in spite of... View Article

Autumn Statement comment: Policy must drive change

Friday, 25th November 2016

Statements from the Chancellor of the Exchequer aren’t always cause for celebration, but this one has left us feeling cautiously optimistic. Chris Coxon, Head of Marketing at Eurocell, takes a view. Wrapped up as the National Productivity Investment Fund –... View Article

Masthaven comments on the expected Government Housing White Paper

Thursday, 3rd November 2016

Commenting on the expected Government Housing White Paper James Bloom, Head of Development Finance at Masthaven, said: “We need to find a way to increase and speed up new house building in the UK and one of the ways to... View Article

Planning lawyer on mayors to be granted power to build on green belt

Thursday, 3rd November 2016

According to a report by IPPR North, mayors should be granted the power to decide if homes can be built on the green belt, Paul Grant, associate solicitor at law firm Coffin Mew comments. “The housing industry has struggled with undersupply... View Article

Are we putting buildings before people? A comment on sustainability

Monday, 22nd August 2016

EXCLUSIVE BLOG: Sustainability has long been top priority, but emphasis has been placed on the environmental and economic aspects rather than the human well-being. Darren Evans of Darren Evans Assessments asks: Is it now time to place greater importance on people? When... View Article

Insurance Act 2015 – David Savage of Charles Russell Speechlys comments

Monday, 15th August 2016

Following media reporting of the 2015 Insurance Act coming into force – David Savage, Head of the Construction and Infrastructure Sector at international law firm Charles Russell Speechlys comments on the possible implications for the construction industry. “The Insurance Act 2015... View Article

CITB Statement: Apprenticeship Levy Update

Monday, 15th August 2016

In spring 2017 the way the government funds apprenticeships in England is changing. Some employers will be required to contribute to a new apprenticeship levy, and there will be changes to the funding for apprenticeship training for all employers. Steve... View Article

Comment: The property market will not suffer a crisis like the one in 2009

Wednesday, 20th July 2016

Philip Gadsden, Orchard Street Investment Management and manager of the St. James’s Place Property Fund, believes that the property market is far from experiencing a crisis like the one it went through in 2009: “For some investors, current volatility and... View Article

Leading north-west engineering consultants comments on new construction figures published

Friday, 15th July 2016

Commenting on the monthly construction figures published by the ONS today which show a significant decrease in output, Rob Domeney, head of the Manchester office of RSK Group, the leading environmental and engineering consultants, said: “This is not surprising, as although the construction industry overall in the North West has seen... View Article