High streets to suffer under new planning rules, claims study

Allowing cafes, restaurants, day centres and gyms to be turned into housing could mean four out of five high street shops could be replaced by housing according to a new study out this week. University College London researchers looked at how extended permitted development rights, PDR, which came into force on the 1st of August, would affect Barnet, Crawley, Huntingdonshire, and Leicester. “We recognise the need for more homes and the desire to regenerate high streets. But we need new [...]

Commercial property shows signs of recovery this year

More than half of respondents agree conditions are consistent with an upturn, according to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, RICS’ latest commercial property market survey. In the second quarter, 56 per cent of survey participants predicted a recovery compared with 38 per cent of respondents from January to March. Chief economist Simon Rubinsohn said: “Demand trends appear much more stable in the office sector relative to recent quarters, while the industrial sector continues to see sharp growth in interest [...]

Double-digit growth forecast for construction for 2021

Construction output is forecast to rise by 14 per cent in 2021 and 6.3 per cent next year, according to the Construction Products Association, CPA, summer forecast published this week. Private housebuilding and infrastructure are expected to be key drivers of construction growth in this year and next, although the outlook for the commercial sector remains subdued. CPA economics director Noble Francis said: “The key constraint to our forecasts remains the cost and availability of imported products and skilled labour. [...]

New AI system predicts building energy rates in less than a second

Computer scientists have created an artificial intelligence system that can forecast building emission rates of non-domestic buildings. Loughborough University’s Dr Georgina Cosma and postgraduate student Kareem Ahmed have designed and trained an AI model to predict emission rate values with 27 inputs. Dr Cosma said: “It’s an important first step towards the use of machine learning tools for energy prediction in the UK and it shows how data can ‘improve current processes’ in the construction industry.” Current methods can take hours to [...]

Builders come together to create a future homes delivery hub

High-quality zero carbon ready homes using sustainable building methods are among the goals of an industry-wide delivery plan for the next 30 years. Housebuilders, suppliers, regulators, environmental groups and planners as part of the Future Homes task force have produced a roadmap for being net-zero by 2050. Home Builders Federation, HBF, executive chairman Stewart Baseley said: “Today’s major environmental challenges will be with us for the future and cannot be ignored. It’s imperative we show leadership and commitment to play [...]

Proposed high-rise tax to hit new builds

Up to 14,000 new homes a year could be affected by a building safety levy for blocks of flats seven storeys or higher, the government has admitted. However, it said in its consultation document published yesterday this would probably only affect 200 developments which it claims is a small fraction of the annual housing supply. Affordable housing, refurbishments and hospitals have been excluded from the new proposed tax. The government admits if developers factor in the increased costs into what [...]

By |2021-11-15T17:25:32+00:00July 22, 2021|News|0 Comments

Cutting tax on home improvements key to UK hitting net-zero goal

Cutting tax on home improvements key to UK hitting net-zero goal Climate change targets will be missed without a major overhaul of the home improvements market claims the Federation of Master Builders, FMB. The trade body and the Centre for Research into Energy Demand Solutions, CREDS, have jointly published a report Building on our Strengths outlining what needs to happen. FMB chief executive Brian Berry said: “It is not possible to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 without greening our [...]

By |2021-11-15T17:25:36+00:00July 21, 2021|News|0 Comments

New home registrations hit a 14-year high

House registrations up while flat registrations fall New home registrations for the second quarter this year peaked at 46,452 – the highest figure since 2005 according to data released by the National House Building Council, NHBC. The home warranty and insurance provider said this showed housebuilders and developers were responding to strong demand for homes. NHBC chief executive Steve Wood said: “Our latest statistics show the remarkable recovery the housebuilding industry has made since activity ground to a halt on [...]

By |2021-11-15T17:25:41+00:00July 21, 2021|News|0 Comments

£690m brownfield development in Northwest London to deliver 1,500 homes

£690m brownfield development in Northwest London to deliver 1,500 homes Harrow council’s ambitious plans for over 1,500 homes to be built on three underused sites moved a step closer with the news of a joint development venture with Wates Residential. At least 40 per cent of the new homes are to be shared ownership or affordable housing and will be built on council-owned land in Wealdstone. Harrow council leader Cllr Graham Henson said: “Our work with Wates will benefit countless [...]

Keep masks on while working on site, urges industry body

Building firms are being urged to carry on asking their workforce to wear masks while working in enclosed spaces or on busy sites by the Construction Leadership Council, CLC. The CLC is calling for a consistent approach in line with government guidance as rules on social distancing and face masks relax from the 19th of July. “It is recommended the good practices the industry had adopted over the last 18 months are retained,” said the CLC in their public statement [...]

Birmingham maximises 2022 Commonwealth Games with major regen plans

Birmingham is to make the most of the £700m investment in Perry Barry for the 2022 games, which includes a revamp of Alexander stadium, with ambitious plans to regenerate the district. The masterplan covers the next two decades and includes building 5,000 new homes, enhancing the suburb’s parks and improving transport connections. City council leader Cllr Ian Ward said: “For many years there has been a clear need and ambition to unlock the obvious untapped potential of Perry Barr, but [...]

London transport’s new property company could deliver 2,000 homes a year

Up to 46,000 new homes in the capital could be delivered by Transport for London’s new property development company over the next 25 years. The proposals for Transport Trading Limited Properties, TTLP, were outlined at TfL’s finance committee meeting last month and form part of its bailout settlement with the government. TfL director of commercial property Graeme Craig said: “As part of our long-term strategy, and building on the successful work that has already taken place in recent years, we [...]