Features

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

Big ideas

March 1, 2009 Feature

There are too many one and two bedroom homes on the market, and it is time to switch to larger units. But how do we square this with the density challenges in the UK? Robert Coles, director of PRP Architects, argues that the market conditions now offer an opportunity for new home types to come to the fore

Feeling proud – this year’s Pride in the Job winners

Feb. 1, 2009 Feature

NHBC’s annual Pride in the Job Awards held in January honoured site managers who have demonstrated high levels of professionalism in every aspect of their work on site. Melissa Blamey looks at the winners and runners up

Taking stock – the Good Homes Alliance questions whether we are on the right path to sustainability

Feb. 1, 2009 Feature

Neil May, chairman of the Good Homes Alliance, argues that government and industry are set on the wrong course to tackle sustainable housebuilding, a course that will lead to compromised building performance while removing the industry’s motivation to innovate and learn

Accolades in Arsenal

Feb. 1, 2009 Feature

The Armouries is the second phase of Berkeley Homes’ Royal Arsenal, a mixed-use regeneration scheme to revive a disused military site in Woolwich, London. Suzie Mayes takes a look at the historical buildings that make up the latest homes

Mixed messages

Feb. 1, 2009 Feature

Nick Lomax, md of LCE Architects, talks to Allison Heller about the challenges of designing mixed-use schemes, developing a carbon neutral home and LCE’s design philosophy

Hank Dittmar interview

Feb. 1, 2009 Feature

Hank Dittmar, chief executive of the Prince’s Foundation, has throughout his working life been a big supporter of timeless but ecological ways of planning and building. He talks to Suzie Mayesabout the role which suits his vision perfectly

Off plan

Feb. 1, 2009 Feature

Planning applications in the UK fell by more than a quarter last year and larger housebuilders are reining in their planning programmes for 2009. Steve Menary analyses the results of Housebuilder’s exclusive annual house types survey

Carbon Crunch

Feb. 1, 2009 Feature

Whether you build one home a year or 10,000, the new proposed definition of zero carbon homes is going to directly affect you. And, as Ben Roskrow reports, you only have a month to make your views on this important issue heard

Hopes for a quick and strong recovery

Feb. 1, 2009 Feature

There are reasons to be cheerful if you look for them hard enough argues Richard Jones, head of residential and regeneration at EC Harris

Checking the change

Dec. 1, 2008 Feature

Suzie Mayes delves into the troubled world of development finance to find out what hope there is for cash for residential schemes next year, bearing in mind the government’s bank rescue package