Features

Innovation 09

Entries are now invited from all parts of the industry for the prestigious Housebuilding Innovation Awards. Suzie Mayes talks to last year’s winners and tells the industry why innovation is now more important than ever

Barbican scheme

Training deals

When purse strings are tightened, one of the first casualties within business is often the training budget. Rob Lockey, NHBC’s training services manager, explains how NHBC is trying to help the industry weather the current storm by offering a package of support

Development of the month - Raising the game

Linden’s Essence scheme in Bristol has connections with Casino Royale, the first Daniel Craig Bond movie. But, as Steve Menary reports, the firm does not view this important part of the city’s regeneration as a gamble

Time to vary your section 106 agreements

Jason Towell of Cripps Harries Hall examines your options when it comes to trying to renegotiate section 106 agreements in the current market

Web development

The first port of call for customers looking for a new home is now the internet, not the local paper. So how can you make sure your homes are at the front of the queue when it comes to searching for property. Ben Wood of Google offers some advice

Falling short

All but one UK region has suffered a significant decline in planning applications over the past year. Steve Menary looks at the numbers

Big ideas

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

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

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