Second staircase; second chance

Stuart Bosley of Quantum and DeSimone Consulting Engineering looks at navigating the challenges of the new ‘second staircase’ regulations The Government’s recent ruling on second staircases has caused significant disruption for both developers and the housebuilding industry. Despite the resulting... View Article

Green solutions

The London Homebuilding & Renovating Show (being held 22 – 24 September at the ExCeL) embraces the escalating demand for eco-conscious homeowners seeking to minimise the carbon footprint of their residences. While the latest headlines report that the UK is... View Article

How to futureproof homes’ heating

Darren Trivett of OMNIE and the Ridgspear Group counters the tabloid headlines and considers the key factors developers should address when specifying underfloor heating systems for energy efficiency on their projects.  It is unlikely you will get through a news... View Article

Is housing going downhill fast?

Brian Berry, CEO of the FMB looks at the prognosis for SMEs in a sector in crisis, and how its new guide could help All the data, including our own at the FMB, seems to be suggesting the housing market... View Article

Pentre Awel project takes shape with first steel structure

Bouygues UK and Carmarthenshire County Council have revealed the first steel structure for the landmark Pentre Awel project. This is the first of five buildings and will house education and business development. Leaders from Carmarthenshire County Council joined representatives from... View Article

Green light for 40 new affordable homes in Mansfield

Urban Developments (York) Ltd, supported by local sub-contractors, is set to deliver a 40-affordable home development in the village of Church Warsop in Mansfield. The company recently secured Reserved Matters planning permission for the scheme which includes 26 semi-detached two-bed... View Article

Boost in workload for builders, says FMB

There has been a continued upward trend in the repair, maintenance, and improvement (RMI) building work in Q2 of this year, but house building lags behind, with more FMB members reporting lower workloads and enquiries than those reporting more, according... View Article

All change

Sally and Tom Marlow didn’t have to look far from their house in south London in their search for more space. The catch was that their new home needed a full renovation as well as multiple extensions TEXT ALEXANDRA PRATT... View Article

A wasted opportunity?

David Stagg, technical manager for Graf UK, says that ‘commissioning’ of domestic wastewater treatment plants is as vital as getting gas and electricity services signed off by specialists, and wonders why it’s not happening  Wastewater treatment plants became established in... View Article

Maintain your rainwater discipline

Maintaining your rainwater system is just as crucial as specifying the right system for your home. Paul Grills of Brett Martin offers insights on best practice for preserving healthy gutters and downpipes Although rainwater drainage systems are far from the... View Article

Integrated building control benefits

Self-builders are at the forefront of some of the most cutting edge building techniques. They now need to lead the way in quality building automation and control solutions, says Paul Foulkes of Theben Automation Remaining in control is important. Not... View Article

Toddler’s death prompts housing association to vow change

The death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak, due to mould exposure in his Rochdale residence, has sparked a firm commitment from the chairman of Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH), Kevin Brady. Following an inquest which uncovered the incident in December 2020, Brady... View Article

Contracts exchanged by housebuilder on former MOD site

Keepmoat has exchanged contracts to purchase a former Ministry of Defence site in Beaconside, Stafford from Homes England. The top 10 homebuilder will deliver 420 homes, with at least 30 percent of those being affordable, on the land purchased from... View Article