Construction industry weighed down by cost pressures

Construction output fell 1.8% in volume terms in October 2021, this is the largest monthly decline since April 2020 when output fell by 41.7%. Andy Sommerville, Director at Search Acumen, says: “In Q3 2021 the construction industry saw signs of... View Article

LGA responds to DCN survey of landlords selling properties

Responding to a warning by the District Councils’ Network of a rise in housing waiting lists as landlords sell up, Cllr David Renard, Local Government Association housing spokesperson, said: “These findings are concerning and highlight the need to tackle our... View Article

Stoves and chimneys working as one

Dennis Milligan of The British Flue & Chimney Manufacturers Association (BFCMA) explores the upcoming requirements for stoves, and the best design, installation and maintenance techniques to ensure their best performance. Next year will see Defra introduce the requirement for Ecodesign... View Article

NFTism’ at Art Basel Miami Beach

Opening this week and presented at Art Basel Miami Beach, ‘NFTism’ is a virtual gallery exploring architecture and social interaction in the metaverse. Cyberspaces are virtual environments that enable human-to-human communication via computer networks. Current photo-real, 3D and massively multiplayer... View Article

Leicestershire’s finest homes all sold

An exclusive, luxury development of homes, voted the best in Leicestershire, has sold out five months ahead of completion. All 19 plots on Springbourne Homes’ Hornsey Rise development, near Market Bosworth, are now either occupied or sold subject to contract.... View Article

The road to ‘levelling up’

Patrick Mooney says that the number of new homes needed across the North and Midlands to deliver the Government’s ‘levelling up’ agenda runs to hundreds of thousands, every year. The Government’s housebuilding policies have been ‘on hold’ ever since the... View Article

A heated debate

The department for business, energy and Industrial Strategy has released a paper outlining how Britain can cost-effectively electrify its heating system. Nick Gander and Rod Davies of Energy Carbon argue that Ministers are missing a trick. At the time of... View Article

Construction 2021: a year in review

Simon Rowland, Partner and Head of Construction and Engineering and Michelle Essen, Managing Associate, at law firm Womble Bond Dickinson, take a look at the events of 2021 and the potential challenges and opportunities that the sector could be presented with... View Article

The case for SIPs

Jim Nolan at hemsec Manufacturing discusses the case for adopting structural insulated panels (SIPs) to create more thermally-efficient superstructures in the housebuilding sector. The superstructure of a building – the frame, or its load-bearing framework including walls, main floor and... View Article

A tough year for SME builders

Brian Berry of the Federation of Master Builders (FMB), takes a look at the barriers SME housebuilders have overcome in 2021, and the challenges that face them moving forwards. The industry closes out another year with enquiries still high and... View Article

Cornish past and future

Intended to perfectly synthesise the historical and contemporary, The Nest is a boutique development that has just been launched in a picturesque Cornish village. Jack Wooler spoke to Paul Stephens of Stephens + Stephens on the design and restoration processes... View Article