Comments Articles

Editor of Housebuilder & Developer, James Parker looks at whether government needs to do more to get housebuilding moving. Depending on who you listen to, the number of unbuilt housing sites with planning permission is either shamefully high or scandalously... View Article

Lewis Johnston, Parliamentary Affairs Manager, RICS : “The planning changes announced today, under consultation, effectively mark the end of the localism experiment for housebuilding. In threatening to remove planning powers from councils who fail to deliver their target of new... View Article

Mark Robinson, Scape Group Chief Executive, comments on Markit / CIPS UK Construction PMI: “Todays data continues to show the UK construction industry facing significant challenges – the increasing cost of materials and staff pressures is having an impact on... View Article

As HM Treasury’s consultation on its plans to increase tax for non-residents on property gains closed on the 16 February, Chris Denning, tax partner at MHA MacIntyre Hudson questions whether the wider economic implications have been thought through given the... View Article

“While the attempt to bring new ideas and solutions to the table should always be welcomed, there are real questions around the feasibility of the LGA proposals. Given the costs involved in securing a planning permission, it is just not... View Article

“ilke Homes welcomes the news that the government’s Housing Implementation Taskforce met at Downing Street today. Homes England’s role is reinforced and there seems to be strengthening cross-Government commitment to dealing with the issues demonstrated by the key departments of... View Article

It would have been nice to have started 2018 on a high note, however the liquidation of Carillion is a catastrophe not only for the firm but the wider industry. Beyond the mayhem for the careers of the private and... View Article

In reaction to the latest annual English Housing Survey, Charles McDowell, Aldermore’s Commercial Director, Mortgages comments: “These latest figures illustrate just how difficult the housing market is, particularly in London. As usual, it is unfortunately first time buyers who are in the... View Article

Michael Gallucci, managing director of construction consultancy MPG, advises firms affected by the collapse of Carillion how to respond. When contracting on construction projects, it’s imperative to have appropriate written agreements and programmes in place. Often, contracts give both parties... View Article

Following the collapse of Carillion this week Phil Pluck, GGF Group Chief Executive raises his concerns. “As the assessment of the true damage continues following the collapse of Carillion, it does raise some fundamental issues in terms of protecting both... View Article

Commenting on the impact of Carillion’s collapse on its 1,400 apprentices and 20,000 other staff, John Newcomb, Chief Executive of the Builders Merchants Federation said there were great opportunities available for them to move into Britain’s £55 billion Building Materials... View Article

In reaction to the latest figures from RICS, Charles McDowell, Aldermore’s Commercial Director, Mortgages comments: “December’s data shows that first time buyers have not rushed into the housing market to take advantage of the stamp duty cut which was announced in... View Article

As the UK’s population is set to exceed the 70 million mark and house prices continue to rise alongside interest rates, solicitors at JMW warn a housing crisis will result in more multi-generational households in 2018 than ever before. The... View Article

CIAT welcomes and supports the interim report of Dame Judith Hackitt’s independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety and looks forward to contributing to the next phase. In response to the interim findings, Alex Naraian PCIAT, President of CIAT, said ‘At... View Article

Polly Neate, CEO of Shelter, said: “Six months on from the horror of Grenfell and there is still much to be done to aid the survivors and to ensure that nothing like it can ever happen again. “We have seen... View Article

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

“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