Features

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

2008 – The year that rocked the industry

Dec. 1, 2008 Feature

Caroline Flint - taking responsibility for the UK division. Meanwhile the industry welcomes a new housing minister in Caroline Flint (above) as Yvette Cooper shuffles off to the Treasury. Wonder if Flint will see out the year…

Terms of association

Dec. 1, 2008 Feature

Housing associations came to housebuilders’ rescue in the last recession but things are a little different this time. Mark Smulian looks at what terms and conditions are attached to the help that associations can give right now

Reality bites

Dec. 1, 2008 Feature

As the downturn bites, the list of government priorities for the housebuilding sector must be redrawn in order to protect the industry’s future capacity. Allison Heller reports on the policy reality check faced by new housing minister Margaret Beckett

Taking the lead

Nov. 1, 2008 Feature

How can housebuilders maximise the chances of selling houses in this market? Housebuilder gets top tips from two of the industry’s leading marketers. First, Andrew Moffit, managing director at marketing agency Phoenix, laments the industry’s response to customers and calls for a return to basics

Bringing it home

Nov. 1, 2008 Feature

David Mote, Ferrier Pearce’s communication director and former HBF marketing director, says it’s time to dust off your databases and go digital to attract new customers

Back to the future

Nov. 1, 2008 Feature

High end new homes will have to tone down the fuel guzzling gadgetry to fit in with the code for sustainable homes. Stephen Hoare looks at the homes which tick the green boxes whilst maintaining the luxury

Product recognition

Nov. 1, 2008 Feature

Innovation in products in housebuilding is live and kicking. That was the message from the judging panel of Housebuilder’s Housebuilding Innovation Awards who were hugely impressed by the quality of product entries in the various categories. Of the many entries in the Housing Product of the Year category, the judges identified five which were outstanding. Here we focus on those products and also feature two other entries which excelled in the Sustainability and Technology categories

Small time

Nov. 1, 2008 Feature

Whilst large housebuilders become selective over where they place planning applications, smaller developers are stepping in. Steve Menary looks at what could be a turning tide

From gravel to green

Nov. 1, 2008 Feature

Colin Blatchford-Brown, NHBC’s building control manager, explains why Watermark Ltd appointed NHBC for building control services and warranty on a former gravel extraction pit for a mixed use scheme

On the cards

Nov. 1, 2008 Feature

Woodbrook outside Lisburn is a sustainable scheme being built against Northern Ireland’s backdrop of housing gloom. Steve Menary takes a look at the scheme chasing the green agenda