Builders calls for LAs to speed up signing-off of planning conditions

Bridging Loan News:- Builders about to go on-site or finish up projects are facing delays as many councils are failing to sign-off planning conditions within the statutory period. The National Federation of Builders, NFB, head of housing and planning policy Rico Wojtulewicz said: “This is causing industry real problems as it means current projects are unable to start, or complete. “We are raising this with the government, who need to work with the industry and local planning authorities to solve [...]

By |2021-11-13T09:17:05+00:00June 24, 2020|Blog, Finance News, Planning News, Projects|0 Comments

New £125m scheme to build 300 homes in East London takes shape

Bridging Loans News:- Regenerating three parcels of land around Lea Bridge station in East London to build 300 new homes, community facilities and working space for businesses have moved a step closer. The London Borough of Waltham Forest has chosen developers London Square Partners and One Housing to deliver the project where half the homes will be affordable. Cabinet member for economic growth and housing development, Cllr Simon Miller, said: “This proposed development will bring much needed jobs and housing for [...]

By |2021-11-13T09:17:48+00:00June 15, 2020|Blog, Finance News, Planning News, Projects|1 Comment

New flats opposite Bakerloo line tube extension get the green light

One hectare of disused land next to the planned new Bakerloo tube station off the Old Kent Road has gained approval for 565 new flats in a 38-storey tower block. Southwark council has granted a resolution for the mixed-use Devonshire Square development subject to referral to the Mayor of London´s office and a three-year time-limit to start work. The hybrid plans include 200 homes for social rent as well as 43,000 sq ft of commercial space for local businesses including [...]

By |2021-11-13T09:19:09+00:00June 8, 2020|Blog, Finance News, Planning News, Projects|0 Comments

Suppliers step up manufacture to plug gaps

Development Finance News:- Plaster and plasterboard manufacture are increased to address current shortfalls experienced during the Covid-19 pandemic, suppliers have promised. The Builders Merchants Federation and Construction Products Association said they are working together to meet the needs of housebuilders, contractors and SME builders. BMF chief executive John Newcomb said his members were seeing no major supply issues except for plaster and plasterboard. “Manufacturing is now scheduled to increase to address this problem. We want to deal with potential issues [...]

By |2021-11-13T09:21:28+00:00May 1, 2020|Blog, Finance News, Planning News, Projects|0 Comments

Building workers’ safety boosted with test access

Development Finance News:- Construction workers are relieved the government has said they are eligible for Covid-19 testing as the sector continues to re-open more building sites. Health secretary Matt Hancock said at yesterday’s press briefing that anyone who needed to leave home to work and had symptoms should be tested. “This means construction workers to emergency plumbers, research scientists to those in manufacturing – can now be tested.” Unite assistant general secretary Gail Cartmail added: “This will significantly help prevent the [...]

By |2021-11-13T09:21:41+00:00April 29, 2020|Blog, Finance News, Planning News, Projects|0 Comments

Building sites need to be open longer, claims the industry

Bridging Finance News:- Trade body Build UK is negotiating with councils for building sites to be open for longer to recover time lost due to social distancing rules as a result of the Covid-19 crisis. Local planning authorities usually restrict site opening hours to reduce noise and disturbance in residential areas. However, the building industry argues longer hours would enable it to organise shifts with a lower concentration of workers on the site at any one time. They maintain this [...]

By |2021-11-13T09:22:06+00:00April 22, 2020|Blog, Finance News, Planning News, Projects|0 Comments

Virtual planning appeals could become a reality

Commercial Finance News:-Virtual site visits are being explored by the government as a way of enabling planning appeals to continue despite the lockdown. The planning inspectorate said if a case was regarded as possible to assess this way it would be contacting relevant parties to take part in forthcoming trials. “If this confirms that the proposed written representations appeal can be properly decided on the basis of digital images, a physical visit will not take place and the case will be [...]

By |2021-11-13T09:22:22+00:00April 16, 2020|Blog, Finance News, Planning News, Projects|0 Comments

Surveyors call for stamp duty waiver to boost house sales

Bridge Finance News:- A stamp duty holiday post lockdown would help get the housing market back on its feet, according to the professional body for surveyors. The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, RICS, residential market survey for March shows a sharp fall in buyer demand with a net balance of minus 74 per cent. Newly agreed sales dropped across the UK with over two-thirds of respondents reporting a fall compared with 19 per cent recording a rise in February. RICS [...]

By |2021-11-13T09:24:27+00:00April 9, 2020|Blog, Finance News, Planning News, Projects|0 Comments

Scottish government orders building site closures

Commercial Finance News:- Construction firms north of the border have been told to shut up shop unless their work is for essential projects due to the coronavirus pandemic. Work related to supporting crucial work to deal with Covid-19 such as repurposing buildings to offer clinical care will be allowed. Economy secretary Fiona Hyslop said she recognised this was difficult for all kinds of businesses, but the government’s priority was to save lives. “To this end, all construction sites should close [...]

By |2021-11-13T09:24:39+00:00April 7, 2020|Blog, Finance News, Planning News, Projects|0 Comments

Housebuilders call on the government to extend planning permissions

Bridging Loans News:- Extend planning approvals by a year to avoid current permissions lapsing during the pandemic crisis, urges the construction industry. The National Federation of Builders, NFB, has put six proposals forward to the government to help the housebuilding sector survive the coronavirus pandemic. These include exemption from business rates, suspending planning contribution payments and council tax on new build unoccupied or incomplete homes. NFB chief executive, Richard Beresford, said it was in constant contact with its members so [...]

By |2021-11-13T09:24:48+00:00April 6, 2020|Blog, Finance News, Planning News, Projects|0 Comments

Government-backed loan scheme extended to all SMEs

Bridging Finance News:- All viable SME businesses will now be eligible for the coronavirus business interruption loan scheme, the chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced. The government is also going to stop banks from asking for personal guarantees from directors for loans under £250,000. Loans over this sum will need personal guarantees of 20 per cent of the amount after recovery of other business assets. Mr Sunak said: “We are making great progress on getting much-needed support out to businesses to [...]

By |2021-11-13T09:24:56+00:00April 3, 2020|Blog, Finance News, Planning News, Projects|0 Comments

Construction industry wins business secretary praise

Development Funding News:- Business secretary, Alok Sharma, has thanked the construction industry for rising to the challenge of ensuring people have safe and healthy homes and helping the NHS. Mr Sharma wrote an open letter yesterday, March 31, praising the sector for supporting the country and the economy in its time of need. “The construction industry has answered the call to action. Whether by building temporary hospital wards, installing complex and life-saving oxygen systems, constructing the infrastructure that society needs [...]

By |2021-11-13T09:25:04+00:00April 1, 2020|Blog, Finance News, Planning News, Projects|0 Comments