Features

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

On Track

Oct. 1, 2007 Feature

Inspirational development plans held back by a lack of transport infrastructure? Mark Smulian discovers Kilbride Community Rail’s solution to this all too typical scenario: it plans to bring disused railway lines back into use and option the surrounding land for housing

Development with attitude

Oct. 1, 2007 Feature

As the planning process becomes increasingly politicised, the key to consent often lies with a developer’s attitude to partnering and consultation. Andrew Howard of HardHat Communications offers an insight into Barratt’s approach in the Thames Gateway, where a dizzying array of authorities operate

Local authority

Oct. 1, 2007 Feature

The Tories are up for increasing housing supply but want to do away with the government’s topdown approach, says shadow housing minister Grant Shapps, who finds time for a word with Chris Windle on the eve of the Conservative party conference

Share dealing

Oct. 1, 2007 Feature

Increasing affordable housing supply without dipping into the public purse is a government priority. Colin Blakey tells Allison Heller how Bellway Housing Trust is helping first time buyers onto the property ladder through its own shared equity funding model

Mixed tenure agenda

Oct. 1, 2007 Feature

In a post-green paper world, mixed tenure communities are considered the only way forward and private investment is desperately needed to shore up social housing funds. Mark Smulian reports

The £8 billion man

Oct. 1, 2007 Feature

The Housing Corporation’s acting chief executive Steve Douglas hit the ground running just as the government announced an ambitious new housing delivery programme. In the first of our three affordable housing special features on pages 24 to 34, he tells Allison Heller why the private sector has a greater role than ever to play in meeting the challenge

Newhall’s new approach

Sept. 1, 2007 Feature

This month’s Development of the Month takes Steve Menary to Newhall in Harlow, Essex, where the Moen brothers have decided to take a greater stake in the land they have been selling off to developers, bringing in architects to design their own scheme

Policy washout

Sept. 1, 2007 Feature

The government faced a public backlash when forced to announce new housebuilding targets in the midst of summer deluges, which offered a portent of how flood-prone growth areas might end up looking. Chris Webb discovers the latest plans to protect new developments

Housebuilding 2007 show preview

Sept. 1, 2007 Feature

The industry is set to gather for an all-star conference line-up and product showcase at the annual Housebuilding exhibition. Chris Windle previews the highlights of the show, which takes place at London’s Business Design Centre on October 9 and 10

A tale of Taylor Wimpey

Sept. 1, 2007 Feature

The latest league tables of planning applications across the UK shows the impact of the Taywood Wimpey merger. The new mega builder now dominates many, but not all, regions, reports Steve Menary.