Barratt announces final results for the year ended 30 June 2019

Highlights Strong operational and financial performance with continued good progress against medium term targets Operating margin of 18.9% (2018: 17.7%), with a trading improvement of 80 bps, driven mainly by continued strong progress from our margin initiatives Profit before tax... View Article

How many complaints are there really in the construction sector?

The National Federation of Builders (NFB), which represents the broadest range of building and contracting businesses across England and Wales, is questioning the newly proposed licensing scheme targeted at tackling shoddy building work or poor business practice. The construction sector... View Article

Designer Contracts celebrates long serving employees

Designer Contracts, the UK’s largest flooring contractor, has acknowledged 70 long-serving members of staff with special recognition awards. Three of the longest-serving – those celebrating 20 years with the business, joined members of management at the company’s AGM for a... View Article

Outdoor spaces: concrete by design

The garden industry is expected to rise by 22 per cent to reach £7bn by 2021, partly due to the growing trend to use the garden for leisure and outdoor living (Mintel, 2018). Therefore, it seems that now, more than... View Article

Council chooses winning community housing bid

A community group from Crystal Palace has been chosen to develop its own affordable homes after winning a council-run competition. Crystal Palace Community Land Trust (CLT) has been selected for its commitment to turn a piece of council land at... View Article

Forget help to buy, the UK needs help to retire

The key to alleviating the pressure on the housing market is better development of later living accommodation, a new survey has shown, but this will not be achieved without bold action being taken.    Research undertaken by law firm Shakespeare Martineau and the Housing Learning and Improvement Network (Housing LIN), revealed that a re-think of... View Article

It’s time to shake up branding in the BTR sector

By Mark Davis, Creative Director, me&dave The build-to-rent (BTR) sector is hotting up. With more than 140,000 BTR units either completed or planned across the UK, and a Savills’ Sky’s The Limit report stating that the sector looks set to... View Article

Innovative housing scheme gets green light from Planning

An innovative pilot scheme which will see the first modular homes built as part of Cardiff Council’s flagship housebuilding programme has been given the go-ahead by Planning Committee. The 100 per cent affordable housing project on Crofts Street in Plasnewydd... View Article

A hidden gem

An elegant new development for retirees has become a discreet addition to a Surrey town, offering elderly buyers both tailor-made housing and a sense of community. Jack Wooler spoke to Martin Brown from developer McCarthy & Stone on their approach... View Article

The value and opportunities within modular construction

Having gained considerable momentum over the past few years, modular construction makes up 60-70% of the offsite manufacturing sector and reduces build times by an impressive 50-60%. At the forefront of offsite approaches, volumetric modular methods have a remarkable impact... View Article

Putting roof tile sustainability first

Mark Parsons of Russell Roof Tiles explores why housebuilders and developers need to be working closely with roofing manufacturers to incorporate sustainable solutions on new-builds, in order to ensure they are attracting the current generation of homeowners. The housebuilding industry... View Article

Natural stone, ethically sourced

Matt Rob of the Stone Federation discusses the rising trend of buyers searching for ethically sourced natural stone, and the systems that are in place to prove the authenticity of such products. In 2015, The Modern Slavery Act was created... View Article

Kitchens that make sales

Andrew Story of Moores says tapping into kitchen trends can influence buyers’ decisions, and explores current trends from scandi retro to ‘slow living.’ When potential buyers step into a show home, they want to see their dream kitchen. Kitchen trends... View Article

The future is modular

It’s no secret that the UK is suffering from a housing crisis. Modular homes are seen as the answer. Modular homes are designed to be incredibly energy efficient – some costing just £1 per day to run – and efficient... View Article