Europe’s largest 3D modular homes facility to be built in the UK

TopHat announces new Northamptonshire site capable of producing “one-house-an-hour” State-of-the-art facility will use precision-engineering techniques to create c.4,000 energy-efficient homes a year Factory will be operational from 2023, creating 1,000 highly skilled jobs locally TopHat, the leading 3D modular house... View Article

Super solar

In a world that is steadily warming, and with energy bills also on the rise, solar control products are playing a vital role in maintaining the comfort for homeowners, says Paul Higgins of TuffX. The average British person spends approximately... View Article

Masonry’s role on the road to net zero

Miles Hogg of Lignacite explores how concrete masonry has evolved to meet the demands of the 2050 net zero deadline. Over the years, concrete masonry has evolved to meet many challenges, including carbon reduction targets for buildings and increasingly demanding... View Article

Showcase of RCI innovations

Registrations for the Roofing Cladding and Insulation (RCI) Show, which is being held at Stadium MK, Milton Keynes 18-19 October, are now open. The RCI Show will be celebrating its sixth year as the UK’s dedicated roofing, cladding and insulation... View Article

The big one is back

The Birmingham edition of UK Construction Week – claimed to be the UK’s “largest event for the built environment” – returns to Birmingham’s NEC from 4-6 October 2022. UKCW Birmingham will “celebrate culture change in construction” with three days of... View Article

Steps towards safety

Kevin Underwood of the British Woodworking Federation (BWF) discusses the key components for construction of safe staircases,, and the regulatory background. For many homes, a staircase not only provides a functional role, it’s also a central feature of a property. ... View Article

Major new Colindale regeneration scheme gets the green light

Planning permission has been granted for the ambitious regeneration of the Douglas Bader Park estate in Colindale. Award-winning housebuilder The Hill Group together with leading housing provider Home Group, will deliver the transformation of this 1970’s estate to provide over... View Article

The race for space

Kevin Gamble of Saint-Gobain Weber explains how steel frame construction with external wall insulation (EWI) can help to increase not only thermal efficiency but internal area when building new homes and extensions. The shortage of skilled tradespeople to build homes... View Article

Local solutions for low-carbon heating

Steve Richmond from Rehau Building Solutions looks at the key considerations when commissioning a district heating network – an key option to consider in the race to reduce carbon in residential developments. Though the UK’s green transition will likely be... View Article

Shoring up Folkestone

As part of the wider regeneration of Folkestone, over 80 homes are being constructed on the site of a former car park on the town’s historic beachfront. Ella Brocklebank and Chris Page of contractor Jenner explain to Jack Wooler how... View Article

The new housing secretary’s Catch 22

Patrick Mooney, housing consultant and news editor of Housing, Management & Maintenance magazine, discusses the Government’s ‘transitioning’ housing policies. The Government has sensibly accepted that its long-standing commitment to build 300,000 new homes each year by the mid 2020s is... View Article

Change to the decentralised line

With design and installation of ventilation systems increasingly essential for both new builds and renovations, Richard Poole of Siegenia looks at how decentralised systems can offer an important way around trickle vents. As we produce more tightly insulated buildings, window... View Article

Political aims hit turbulence

Brian Berry, chief executive of the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) wonders whether the UK’s current political turmoil will halt the ‘levelling up’ ambitions. The constant political turbulence over the last few years continues in earnest with a government on... View Article

Rising to the challenge of future floods

As building on flood plains continues to be an uncomfortable necessity, James Parker reports on a project to develop a house prototype that rises and falls as and when a flood occurs, thereby unlocking previously unviable sites across the UK.... View Article