May pledges £2bn for social housing

Theresa May has revealed to the National Housing Federation conference that housing associations will receive £2bn of long-term funding from the Government to build better quality affordable homes. The PM told the audience that the “most ambitious” providers will be... View Article

Number 41 in full swing

Selfbuilder + Homemaker is following Andy and Sarah Ball as they build their modern, eco-friendly home in a popular Derby suburb. Sarah brings us up to date with its swift recent progress, including how they helped educate local children on... View Article

Britain must retain and build a skilled workforce

The NFB warns that shortage occupation lists must be responsive and visas for self-employed workers need to be clear and comprehensible. The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) has released its Government-commissioned study, “EEA migration in the UK: Final Report”. The report... View Article

MAC recommendations would cripple construction, says FMB

The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) report, which sets out a series of recommendations for the new immigration policy post-Brexit, would cripple the construction industry, according to the Federation of Master Builders (FMB). Commenting on the MAC report, published this morning, Brian Berry,... View Article

RIBA launches consultation on new fire safety guidance

The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has today (18 September 2018) launched a consultation on a new RIBA Plan of Work for Fire Safety.  Following the devastating fire at Grenfell Tower in June 2017, the RIBA has consistently called for... View Article

Safe and Sound with Part Q

Kevin Bonnar of Velfac explains why housebuilders should make a virtue of Part Q of the Building regulations, to underline the security benefits of their developments. Safety and security are a top priority for most homeowners, especially when it comes... View Article

When to knock down and start again

Mark Stevenson, managing director of Potton and Kingspan Timber Solutions and self-build and renovation expert for The London Homebuilding & Renovating Show, on why self-builders should demolish rather than wait for empty land. Over 53 per cent of UK adults... View Article

Johanna Konta has self-build application refused

British number one tennis star Johanna Konta has had a self-build planning application refused under conditions set out in the new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). Konta put in an application for a four-bedroom timber-framed house to replace an existing... View Article

Devon council shares self-build knowledge

Teignbridge District Council, hailed a “trailblazer” in self- and custom-build homes, is to share its experience with Mid Devon District Council in order to help more people build their own homes. Charles Acland, self build officer at Teignbridge will offer... View Article

The future of AI in construction

Over the last few years, artificial intelligence has gradually been working its way into the construction sector and onto the building site, as it has been doing with seemingly every other sector too. It’s becoming more and more prominent and,... View Article

Local authority planning: unravelling the ties that bind

DPA Planning’s director Sam Dewar says the private sector needs to better appreciate the current parlous state of local authority planning. The housing shortage continues to place an increasing strain on the whole planning process. However, it’s simply facile to... View Article

AT Awards: 2018 Winners

The Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists (CIAT) is pleased to announce the winners for its annual Architectural Technology Awards. Presented by CIAT President Alex Naraian on 14 September 2018, the Awards celebrate the latest achievements and highest quality in Architectural... View Article

Get smart on connected homes

We are now fully immersed in a world with a growing interest in all sorts of connected technologies. In terms of domestic heating, many prospective house buyers want to control a heating system from their smartphone or set it up... View Article

The high performance alternative

Paddy Leighton of Icynene takes a look at heat loss in buildings, and how new, high performance insulation systems can improve comfort levels in both retrofit and new-build applications. When Britain began its post war building boom, coal was king... View Article