Comment

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

Going for gold on Olympic rented model

May 1, 2012 Comment

Richard Jones, head of regeneration and growth at EC Harris, argues that the private rented model is set to have a major impact on housebuilding and sees a significant flaw in the NPPF

NPPF's brevity is its strength

May 1, 2012 Comment

HBF executive chairman Stewart Baseley reviews the NPPF and two other key documents published recently as the housebuilding industry continues to be the focus of interest for government, academics and the media

John Stewart

New homes pick up in early 2012

May 1, 2012 Comment

Recent positive trends in new home sales and private housebuilding activity should be supported by FirstBuy and NewBuy, says John Stewart. While several economic indicators provide tentative evidence of a wider improvement in consumer demand.

Ben Roskrow

Design critics need to see bigger picture

May 1, 2012 Comment

Ben Roskrow says that the design intelligentsia needs to see the bigger picture before criticising new homes design.

Ben Roskrow

Designer snobbery

April 27, 2012 Comment

Ben Roskrow argues that views about new home design are fuelled by a design snobbery that not only manifests itself in architects’ surveys but also in popular culture – even in the Harry Potter films

Steve Menary

Satisfying the shareholders

April 1, 2012 Comment

Steve Menary looks at the implications of Persimmon's announcement to pay out £1.9 billion of dividends to shareholders

From Cannes to Brighton

April 1, 2012 Comment

Richard Jones, head of regeneration and growth at EC Harris, reports back from property events in the south of France and the south of England and finds renewed optimism in the residential sector

John Stewart

“Different ways of building for different customers"

April 1, 2012 Comment

In the second of two articles on the mediumterm outlook for home builders, John Stewart argues that the much more diversified nature of supply and demand to emerge over the past decade will continue to define the industry's future

Ben Roskrow

Damned if you do…

April 1, 2012 Comment

Ben Roskrow addresses the negativity levelled at NewBuy and explains why the scheme is not a "love-in" between industry and government

Ben Roskrow

The right to open our windows

March 7, 2012 Comment

New research shows that people like the cost savings in their energy efficient new homes but that they are not fully embracing the sustainability adventure. Ben Roskrow says the industry should not be forced to build homes that folk won't buy