The Managing Director at Forticrete, John Lambert, has given his view on the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, The Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP, Conservative Party Conference speech on housebuilding commitment. Last year’s Autumn Budget focused heavily on housebuilding, with a bold aim of building 300,000
Graven Hill is the UK’s most exciting custom build community, designed for those who want a home that is extraordinary. Self-build becomes possible through Graven Hill, who focus on the bespoke and the unique, creating communities that are suited to the needs of the individual, their lifestyle and their taste.
Official statistics have been released regarding Scotland’s home builders, showing a 3% increase in new house building for 2017-18 (17,731) compared with the previous year (17,293) but highlighted a mixed picture in the detail of the figures, with 16% fewer (532) private sector-led homes completed in Q1 2018 compared with
In the standard retail market, arguably the single, biggest difference between buying from a business and buying from an individual is that you have a much higher degree of legal protection in the former situation. Goods sold by companies have to be “fit for purpose” whereas goods sold by private
Regional cities in the UK are playing an increasingly vital role in the UK construction boom. The demand for city centre property continues to be strong and the construction industry has been responding in turn. There has been an increase in building activity in many major UK regional cities. In
Plans to give local firms a chance to secure work on a £500 million housing programme have been revealed by Liverpool City Council. Foundations, a new ethical housing company established by Mayor Joe Anderson, aims to create 10,000 new homes and refurbish dilapidated housing stock in Liverpool. “Foundations has the
A new alternative to part exchange has been launched to help housebuilders sell new-build homes more quickly. To Move Now has created a portal which connects housebuilders whose purchasers have properties to sell with a panel of corporate property buyers. Members of the panel bid to buy the secondhand properties
Good news for the construction industry of Britain, as construction output has increased by 1.5% in the last three month. This statistic is lead by a 15% growth in the North West which official data has shown is at least 10 times the national average for growth rate. New housing
MiiHome project, a pioneering home safety project that uses XBox technology to monitor the welfare of elderly people has been shortlisted for a national award. The project, which is being trialled in Salford, aims to help older people live more safely in their homes for longer by tracking their movements
Proposed new house designs can now be revealed for the aspirational collection of luxury properties that Duchy Homes intends to build in the picturesque Warwickshire village of Tanworth-in-Arden. The premium house builder has now submitted Reserved Matters to Stratford-on-Avon District Council and hopes to be granted planning permission to redevelop
The Managing Director at Forticrete, John Lambert, has given his view on the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, The Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP, Conservative Party Conference speech on housebuilding commitment. Last year’s Autumn Budget focused heavily on housebuilding, with a bold aim of building 300,000 houses on average each year. At this week’s Conservative Party Conference James Brokenshire, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, reaffirmed the Government’s commitment in this area, stating housing continued to be their biggest domestic priority. And it is no surprise, as it remains under immense pressure to build the homes needed for the growing population. It is reassuring that the Government is upbeat about reaching its ambitious targets, for both those who are looking to get on the property ladder and suppliers to this market, and how it plans to achieve them. We particularly welcome a plan led approach to development and removing barriers in order to speed up the planning process. Such reforms will ensure more there is more opportunity for development through smarter use of land and space. However, any planning reforms should also be seen as an opportunity set the benchmark on how houses are designed and the materials which are specified – a key issue as the speed of build is an important aspect in achieving the Government’s target. The pursuit of materials that blend with the local vernacular is now the ‘norm’. But all too often, planning authorities seek to use traditional building materials because it is what they are familiar with. But it is well documented that there are lengthy waits for some building materials coupled with rising prices. So planning authorities need to consider the alternatives when making their decisions. As an example, there are a variety of roof tile options, such as those made from concrete, which recreate the look of traditional materials without compromising on quality. Specification of such products will help to speed up the supply chain – and thereby make a valuable contribution to the housing target. Not only does it ensure housebuilders attempting to address the housing shortage have the products they need, but so too do the architects looking to ensure their projects enhance the visual appeal of the built environment. It is clear that the Government is taking serious steps to get Britain building. We now wait for the Autumn Budget at the end of this month to see if there are any further details on the progress being made to meet their ambitious targets.
Graven Hill is the UK’s most exciting custom build community, designed for those who want a home that is extraordinary. Self-build becomes possible through Graven Hill, who focus on the bespoke and the unique, creating communities that are suited to the needs of the individual, their lifestyle and their taste. The minister of housing, Kit Malthouse MP, paid Graven Hill at visit on the 18th of September to get a first hand look at how the largest self-build community in the country is progressing. “It has been marvellous to be here and wonderful to see the energy at Graven Hill. This is an infectious, ambitious project providing the housing needed for growth and success of the town.” “We are extremely proud of this development; we’re creating a place to live, delivering the homes that people need and helping them to see their grand designs become a reality,” commented Cllr Barry Wood from Cherwell District Council, which hosted the visit, showcasing the exciting and innovative Garden Town project. Standing proudly as pioneers of self and custom build, Graven Hill enable individuals to design inspiring homes on pre-prepared plots that offer the chance for the house of dreams to be created across a range of budgets. Each house can be as imaginative as the buyer chooses and fit their requirements perfectly. Up to 1,900 unique homes will be build over a ten year period, surrounded by open, green spaces inclusive of woodland, allotments and a network of footpaths and cycleways. Alongside planning consent for the new builds, a new primary school will be created, a new pre-school nursery and a new community centre. The Garden Town project will also feature cafes, shops and a local pub. “The development could revolutionize the future of home building,” concluded Managing Director of the Graven Hill, Karen Curtin.
Official statistics have been released regarding Scotland’s home builders, showing a 3% increase in new house building for 2017-18 (17,731) compared with the previous year (17,293) but highlighted a mixed picture in the detail of the figures, with 16% fewer (532) private sector-led homes completed in Q1 2018 compared with the same quarter in 2017. With the private sector playing a key role in assisting the Scottish Government to meet its ambitious affordable housing targets, Chief Executive at representative body Homes for Scotland (HFS) Nicola Barclay commented: “We are encouraged to note these latest statistics indicate a positive overall picture for affordable housing approvals as well as the wider sector. Whilst the extreme weather conditions earlier in the year made delivery challenging, it is essential that we are not complacent when it comes to our efforts to increase supply across all tenures. “As well as enabling increased activity from smaller builders, sustained confidence from investors is essential to support growth from medium to larger builders within a competitive UK environment. It is also crucial that the labour market is geared up across the sector, with skills shortages already creating challenges on sites across Scotland. “In addition to the above, the Planning (Scotland) Bill represents a key opportunity to recalibrate our planning system so it can deliver what the people of Scotland need: enough high-quality homes in the right places to meet need and demand. HFS is working hard to persuade politicians and communities that a good system is one in which we collaborate effectively in order that precious time, resource and funds can be channeled into the development of vibrant places and the delivery of more homes.”
In the standard retail market, arguably the single, biggest difference between buying from a business and buying from an individual is that you have a much higher degree of legal protection in the former situation. Goods sold by companies have to be “fit for purpose” whereas goods sold by private sellers only have to be “as described”. The residential property market, however, is a bit of an exception to his rule of thumb. Even private sellers are legally obligated to disclose any facts about their property which might negatively impact the sale and buyers can take legal action against them if the seller misrepresents the property. The same holds true of the new-build property market, in theory, in practice the situation can be a little more complicated. New-build and the dangers of having to use your imagination When you buy an existing house, it is standard practice to visit the property yourself in order to assess it firsthand. Astute sellers will, of course, do everything they can to make their home look as attractive as possible, but they can only work within the constraints of what the building actually allows, which provides a built-in safeguard against active misrepresentation. When you buy a new-build property investment in the UK, however, the situation can be rather different, especially if you buy it before it is even completed, in which case you have to rely on visual and textual descriptions of very fundamental characteristics such as dimensions and the nature of fixtures and fittings. Even if you buy a new-build after completion, you may not be in a great position to appreciate its real-world characteristics. If it has been staged as a show-home then there is a distinct possibility the furniture may have been scaled-down in size to make rooms seem bigger than they are and if it’s an empty shell then, again, the openness of the space may trick your mind into thinking that it is bigger than the written dimensions suggest. You may also be under pressure to use companies recommended by the developer for financing and/or conveyancing. For the sake of clarity, there are many good reasons why developers may wish you to do this and most revolve around the fact that, while you are only buying one property, they may well be selling many properties and it is therefore easier and more efficient for them to deal with one company so that, for example, they only have to answer any given question once. At the same time, however, it has to be said that this situation can lead to buyers not fully understanding the terms of the legally-binding agreement they are signing and then later discovering nasty surprises in the terms of their leasehold. Resolving complaints about new-build property can be a complex process Generally speaking, any complaints about a new-build property should be addressed to the developer in first instance, but if the developer fails to offer an acceptable resolution, buyers may be left struggling to decide how to proceed or, indeed, if it is emotionally and financially worthwhile for them to proceed. Although the UK has two property-related redress services (the Property Ombudsman and the Property Redress Scheme) neither of these has the authority to address complaints against the developers of new-build properties. This means that buyers of new-build homes have no recourse to an independent, free-to-use ombudsman services, even though such services have proved very successful in other areas (such as finance and energy). The Property Ombudsman has therefore called for the government to address this situation and to bring new-build homes under the remit of a competent ombudsman service.
Regional cities in the UK are playing an increasingly vital role in the UK construction boom. The demand for city centre property continues to be strong and the construction industry has been responding in turn. There has been an increase in building activity in many major UK regional cities. In Belfast, Birmingham, Leeds and Manchester there were almost 17,000 homes being constructed. Residential property demand has been one of the driving forces in this construction boom. There was a 60% year on year increase in residential units in Manchester last year, which is the third year of growth in construction levels. The UK has been experiencing an overwhelming housing crisis, with an ever-increasing need for residential rental property. The UK has been falling behind targets for new home construction and it seems that figures are finally on the rise. Government measures and investment schemes have been attempting to address this by making it easier for buy to let landlords to purchase property. They have also experienced a growing demand for residential property has seen an upswing in construction across the UK. The UK has experienced a significant shift towards city centre living in the past few decades. Many of these UK regional cities have grown in prominence due to their universities. The increasing number of students, from both home and abroad who are studying and staying in UK regional cities has been transformative. Cardiff is a key example of the effect new students can bring to a city, with its students now making up 20% of the population. Young people are flocking to UK regional cities more than ever before for a world class education, the cost of living in many of these cities is also a key draw, as is the quality of rental accommodation they can afford. Manchester is one of the best examples of this recent construction boom. Manchester’s skyline has dramatically changed over the past decade. A high demand for city centre rental property has been compelling developers to build up rather than out. The amount of land available for developers is diminishing and increasing in price, so renovations and skyscrapers are becoming ever more common. As of January 2018, there were six towers above 25 storeys currently under construction in Manchester. Manchester property developers are seeing worldwide demand for their regional city centre apartments. Ensured rental rates of up to 9%, huge tenant demand and affordable investment costs mean that properties like those by RW Invest are flying out. Young professional tenants are looking for increasingly high-end properties with great design and modern amenities. Investment in Manchester has been hitting record highs and now other UK regional cities are following suit. Property investors are growing in confidence in these northern cities that are on the rise. Levels of investment from both private and public sectors are continuing to restore and regenerate these cities. UK cities are no longer competing with each other as much as they are competing with the world. Manchester was recently found to be the 35th most liveable city in the world, ahead of the capital and other huge cities. For wise property developers, these city centre apartments are becoming an ever more valuable asset. Now is the perfect time to purchase buy to let property in a regional city as an investment, with increasing prices and rental rates looking set to continue across the board.
Plans to give local firms a chance to secure work on a £500 million housing programme have been revealed by Liverpool City Council. Foundations, a new ethical housing company established by Mayor Joe Anderson, aims to create 10,000 new homes and refurbish dilapidated housing stock in Liverpool. “Foundations has the potential to be absolutely transformational in so many ways, such as by creating the right housing mix that the city needs and generating new council tax income which we can reinvest in services,” said Mayor Joe Anderson. “But crucially it is also vital that as part of the construction programme that we give as many local businesses as possible the chance to bid for work from Foundations. We’ve already got a good track record of doing that with our schools investment programme, with 74% of the spending going to Merseyside firms helping create 2,000 jobs and 200 apprenticeships – and we want to replicate that with Foundations,” he continued. The project aims to rebalance the city’s social housing stock, revolutionise the rent to buy sector and drive up council tax receipts for the council. Designed specifically for Liverpool- and Merseyside-based businesses, the framework will enable businesses to pitch for work as part of the derelict refurbishment and new build programmes. “The sheer scale of the work that Foundations will be doing over the next few years offers a tremendous opportunity to local firms, ranging from the supply of materials or fitting out properties,” commented Chair of Foundations, Frank Hont. “The procurement framework aims to recycle as much of the spending as possible locally through the city region economy, into the coffers of local businesses and ultimately the pockets of local workers, benefiting households across the city region. It is an example of how the work that Foundations will be doing will have far reaching benefits that stretches far beyond just building new homes,” Frank Hont added.
A new alternative to part exchange has been launched to help housebuilders sell new-build homes more quickly. To Move Now has created a portal which connects housebuilders whose purchasers have properties to sell with a panel of corporate property buyers. Members of the panel bid to buy the secondhand properties directly, so the developer can sell its new homes without being exposed to chains or taking on part exchange stock. To Move Now Director Chris Taylor, who has more than 30 years’ experience across a range of property disciplines, co-founded the business in July. He explained: “Part exchange is a tried and trusted system, but it does not fit every scenario. “To Move Now provides a cash buyer and a fast sale where part exchange isn’t appropriate. For example, Help to Buy can be used in conjunction with our service, whereas Government rules prevent the scheme from being used with part exchange. “Our service works for people moving up, down or sideways and operates throughout mainland UK, so is not restricted by geography. “We work with new homes developers of all sizes, retirement living providers and estate agents. “The whole process is transparent, with no charge to the developer or its purchaser, and aims to deliver the best result for all parties.” To Move Now works with the housebuilder and its purchaser to prepare details of the property to list on the portal. The panel then has 48 hours to bid, during which time only the highest offer is visible to them. Then To Move Now presents the highest offer to the housebuilder for discussion with the purchaser. If a sale is agreed, exchange can usually take place within 28 days subject to a RICS report. To Move Now is the sister company to Developer Solutions Ltd, one of the country’s leading providers of land appraisals, viability assessments and market analysis. Its chief executive and founder, Chris Gregory, said: “Developer Solutions provides data, analysis and insight to solve developers’ problems in areas ranging from land valuations and local area appraisals to finance and mortgage availability. “To Move Now is an extension of the Developer Solutions ethos. Through our discussions with developers across the country we identified a need for a service which could accelerate sales. “Our own recent analysis identified a blockage where downsizers are struggling to sell their homes, particularly over £500k. The average sale time of homes over £500k has more than doubled from 67 days in 2016/17 to 151 days in the same period of 2017/18. “Vulnerable chains and the slow secondhand market are restricting sales rates. We believe To Move Now addresses this and the feedback we have received so far has been very positive.” For more information see tomovenow.co.uk or email Chris Taylor at ctaylor@tomovenow.co.uk
Good news for the construction industry of Britain, as construction output has increased by 1.5% in the last three month. This statistic is lead by a 15% growth in the North West which official data has shown is at least 10 times the national average for growth rate. New housing in the North West has been of incredible value to the construction industry as a whole over the country, with the value increasing by £368 million in this quarter compared the the same quarter last year (2017). According to the Office of National Statistics (ONS), the output of new infrastructure has also seen significant growth, which puts Britain’s construction industry in a steady position before the new year and before Brexit become reality. The North West has become a hustle and bustle of new housing developments being undertaken but even though this comes as welcomed news, it is believed there is still more to be done. Although encouraging, a wider range of residential property needs to be explored, as the vast majority of North West builds are being marketed to suit the first time buyer. Regardless this is still very positive with huge benefits being spread across the North West and beyond, the fact new buyers are being targeted more than any other buyer is due to the Help To Buy scheme taking place. The government run scheme was launched five years ago and is available until 2020, although aimed at any home buyer, not just first time buyers, the Help To Buy scheme is only accessible on purchasing a new build property. A buyer is required to raise 5% of the properties value as deposit, which is much less than the previous 10%+ which first time buyers often struggled to provide. Since the launch of the Help To Buy scheme, first time buyers have gone from accounting for 37% of mortgages to 51%. Given there is less than two years left of the scheme definitively being in motion, the British government are eager to get things moving in terms of new construction developments in the residential sector. This is not just for the first time buyer, more bungalows have been proposed to help the elderly move from larger housing and family homes are being thought out for those who need to up-size their property. It is widely thought that fewer homes than are needed are being constructed as more and more people are wanting to get their foot on the property ladder.
MiiHome project, a pioneering home safety project that uses XBox technology to monitor the welfare of elderly people has been shortlisted for a national award. The project, which is being trialled in Salford, aims to help older people live more safely in their homes for longer by tracking their movements using artificial intelligence. A collaboration between housing association Salix Homes, working alongside Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, The University of Manchester, and The University of Salford, MiiHome project has been shortlisted in the Innovation of the Year category in the prestigious 24 Housing Awards, which recognises excellence in the housing sector. As part of the trial, X-Box Kinect sensors, which detect movement, were fitted into a number of properties at Salix Homes’ sheltered living schemes, which provide accommodation for older people. “The idea of MiiHome is that it acts as a sort of ‘digital guardian angel’ which is able to detect changes in behaviour that could mean something is wrong, for example someone’s gait may have slowed down, or they may be getting up more than usual in the night,” said Jonathan Drake, service director at Salix Homes. “Its aim is to provide an early warning system to enable a health professional to step in and provide the right sort of care before the situation escalates, and hopefully reduce hospital admissions and pressure on our already overstretched NHS,” he continued. The nomination for the prestigious award represents a double reason for celebration for Salix Homes, as its new affordable housing development – Alexander Gardens in Broughton – has also been shortlisted in the Affordable Housing Scheme of the Year Category. “It’s a real honour for Salix Homes to have two of our projects named as finalists in the 24 Housing Awards, and it’s testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone involved,” said Lee Sugden, chief executive at Salix Homes. The winners of the 24 Housing Awards will be announced at an awards ceremony in October.
Proposed new house designs can now be revealed for the aspirational collection of luxury properties that Duchy Homes intends to build in the picturesque Warwickshire village of Tanworth-in-Arden. The premium house builder has now submitted Reserved Matters to Stratford-on-Avon District Council and hopes to be granted planning permission to redevelop Cank Farm’s four-acre site with a prestigious housing scheme. Situated on Well Lane, Duchy Homes’ vision is to deliver 18 new homes with a perfect blend of period charm and manor house opulence. Inspired by a farm and village theme, the award-winning developer has incorporated delightful architectural features such as traditional timber boarding, front gables and glass atriums set amongst impressive Georgian symmetry and the stately grandeur of columned entrances and deep statement windows. Buyers would be able to choose from seven unique house designs ranging from distinctive 4-bed and 5-bed traditional style detached homes to a stately 6-bedroom house design with a games room, triple garage and the option to include a private paddock. Focused on combining the idealism of country living with modern luxuries, each house would boast a high-quality specification for which Duchy Homes is renowned, including stylish open-plan living spaces, designer kitchens, indulgent bathrooms and luxury bedrooms with walk-in wardrobes. Its beautiful village location surrounded by picturesque Warwickshire countryside will make it ideal for home buyers to enjoy a relaxed lifestyle whilst also being easily-accessible from Birmingham and Stratford-upon-Avon via the M42. If planning permission is granted, demolition of the existing commercial buildings is anticipated for September with construction work expected to begin early next year.