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The latest news, features, comment and analysis of the UK housebuilding market covering policy, regulation, planning, technology, new developments and products

Zooming in on the industry's hot topics

Nov. 1, 2012 Comment

Richard Jones, head of residential and regeneration at EC Harris, says that the government is abandoning its scattergun approach to housing delivery and focusing on the hot topics facing the sector.

Hopeful signs from the conference season

Nov. 1, 2012 Comment

HBF executive chairman Stewart Baseley reports that the attitude to housebuilding from politicians and local authorities at the recent party conferences provides encouragement for the industry.

John Stewart

Home building at centre of economic recovery strategy

Nov. 1, 2012 Comment

Before the 2010 general election, private home building looked set to be a victim of localism under a Conservative government. Today home building is centre stage in the coalition government's strategy for economic recovery. John Stewart charts the change in government attitude to the industry.

Ben Roskrow

Nobody said it was going to be easy

Nov. 1, 2012 Comment

Ben Roskrow argues that it is difficult to assess how the industry is currently doing. But challenging times could bring exciting opportunities.

Ben Roskrow

HMI charts the vagaries of the industry

Oct. 4, 2012 Comment

The Housing Market Intelligence conference on October 3 was the tenth staging of the housebuilding industry's favourite event. Ben Roskrow notes how the themes of each previous conference allow us to chart the fortunes of the industry at a glance

Steve Menary

Tough calls on dividend payments

Oct. 1, 2012 Comment

Barratt's share price fell on the day it announced profits were up 159%. Steve Menary looks at how decisions on dividends can affect housebuilders' stocks.

Lessons for all from London

Oct. 1, 2012 Comment

Richard Jones, head of residential and regeneration at EC Harris, says that the success of the London market still reminds us all that the key is to build the product in the right location.

John Stewart

Testing the deliverability of Local Plans

Oct. 1, 2012 Comment

Viability testing of Local Plans presents local authorities with major challenges. But, argues John Stewart, it is essential to preparing deliverable plans.

Ben Roskrow

Charting an industry's progress through challenging times

Oct. 1, 2012 Comment

Ben Roskrow looks back at ten years of the Housing Market Intelligence (HMI) initiative, picking up on the trends recorded over the years and what the latest HMI report reveals about the current state of the industry.

Suzie Mayes

A true Olympic legacy

Sept. 5, 2012 Comment

The new private homes at the Olympics Athletes' Village will be be available for long term rent. Could this trigger a new way of thinking about UK rental, asks Suzie Mayes