Residential planning and approvals provided little hope for a short-term recovery of the market in Barbour ABI’s latest market figures, whilst contract award values continue to highlight market volatility. Planning applications and approvals across the construction industry remained subdued in May after a turn for the worst in April which
Installation of retrofit measures – including low energy heating systems, solar and insulation – is key in reducing emissions from Surrey’s buildings, which currently make up around half of all Surrey’s carbon emissions. Over £32m of funding has already been secured to scale-up retrofit across the county. In its Climate
Poole based Wyatt Homes has appointed Shaun Pettitt as its first ever external Managing Director, whilst founder, David Wyatt, transitions to Chief Executive. Shaun, 40, from Purbeck, Dorset joined the regional housebuilder last month (May) as it enters into a new phase of growth, marked also by the construction of
Housebuilder Crest Nicholson is launching a number of biodiversity initiatives, such as hedgehog highways and bird boxes, across a number of its developments in Milton Keynes, including Whitehouse Park and Manor View. To celebrate, Crest Nicholson recently welcomed the Shadow Climate Change Minister Kerry McCarthy to visit Manor View for
Construction is underway on the first of over 2,000 new, sustainable homes as part of the major regeneration of Cambridge Road Estate in Norbiton. The landmark scheme, voted for overwhelmingly by residents in a ballot in 2020, will deliver more than 2,100 homes — a mix of flats, maisonettes and
Keepmoat and His Majesty’s Prison Service are tackling reoffending crime rates across Yorkshire with a new bricklaying academy, designed to enable prisoners to unlock employment opportunities on their release. One of the first of its kind in Britain, the academy at HMP Moorland near Doncaster will train, re-equip and provide
Quintain and FORE Partnership among the first to trial new Healthy Homes tool in residential development Ekkist, specialist wellbeing consultancy for the built environment, has today launched the Healthy Homes Checklist, a comprehensive tool which supports developers and designers in examining every aspect of home design. The Checklist compiles science-backed
Leeds City Council, Lloyds Banking Group and Arup have been successful in their Green Homes Finance Accelerator Bid, to test and develop financial products for homeowners which enables building retrofit, and improve energy efficiency and comfort for residents. The new funding awarded through the Net Zero Innovation Portfolio (NZIP) by
Homes for Scotland (HFS), the leading representative body for the Scottish home building sector, is calling for a rethink across government and wider society on how to address the spiralling housing crisis. Launching its new five-year strategy ‘Home building as a force for good’ today (Friday) and in the context
Independent housebuilder Dandara has had a record five developments shortlisted for the highly esteemed Excellence Awards 2023 by Premier Guarantee, one of the UK’s most prestigious building warranty providers, which recognises the highest quality developments across the country. Dandara has received more nominations than any other housebuilder for its developments
Residential planning and approvals provided little hope for a short-term recovery of the market in Barbour ABI’s latest market figures, whilst contract award values continue to highlight market volatility. Planning applications and approvals across the construction industry remained subdued in May after a turn for the worst in April which saw contract awards fall by a third and planning approvals at their lowest since June 2022. Approvals are at just £6.1bn, and applications have fallen to £7.4bn, with similar trends across both, according to the latest figures from Barbour ABI. The residential sector looks weak, with a 30% bump in April applications falling back to just £3.2bn in May and with limited recovery in approvals. This suggests there is little hope for those looking for a rally in tumbling house-building numbers in the short term. Infrastructure also appears to have fallen over the last few months, with overall planning activity decreasing by 15-25% compared to last year. Infrastructure applications fell by 50% in May to £1.3bn compared to April, the weakest monthly value since Sept 2021. Contract Awards Meanwhile, contract awards provide a more complex picture, recovering by 20% compared to April with £5.6bn, in line with the long-run average – but well down from the £6.6bn per month seen over Q1 and 2022. Surprisingly Residential contract awards saw a sharp increase after a 30% fall in April. Barbour ABI Chief Economist Tom Hall explained, “Across construction sectors, May was a strange month for contract awards as some sectors bucked recent negative trends. Residential and commercial sectors saw a welcome bounce while others suffered, highlighting the continuing see-sawing and uncertainty we have seen in recent months. Meanwhile, the industrial sector suffered a disappointing 37% fall. May’s £500m was the lowest level since last June. The infrastructure sector also seems to be on a new lower path, with the second month in a row below £1bn: the last time this happened was in 2021.” Find out more at Barbour-abi.com.
Installation of retrofit measures – including low energy heating systems, solar and insulation – is key in reducing emissions from Surrey’s buildings, which currently make up around half of all Surrey’s carbon emissions. Over £32m of funding has already been secured to scale-up retrofit across the county. In its Climate Change Strategy published in 2020, Surrey County Council (Surrey CC) recognised the importance of retrofit to “meet more demanding energy efficiency standards…whilst delivering significant savings to residents” (Strategic Priority 1). At the heart of the Council’s retrofit plans is a focus on building the supply chain, without which its ambitious target of 66% emissions reduction in the domestic housing sector by 2035 cannot be met. Spending on retrofit has the potential to make a significant contribution to Surrey’s economy, providing significant new business opportunities for Surrey enterprises. With this in mind the Council has partnered with The Retrofit Academy and Low Carbon Homes to produce the first Surrey Retrofit Summit over the mornings of Tuesday 13, Wednesday 14 and Thursday 15 June 2023 for daily online sessions from 9am-12pm. Attendees will learn more from Surrey CC’s team about the plans to meet the skills, supply chain and financial opportunities, and the innovative solutions being developed in the market to meet future retrofit demand – and how local businesses and residents can navigate the complex topic and benefit from the County’s focus on the low carbon transition of homes. Cllr Marisa Heath, Cabinet Member for Environment who’ll be opening the event on Tuesday 13th June states: “Retrofitting our homes and buildings will help all Surrey residents to reduce emissions and, at the same time, save money on energy bills, something which is key to the Council’s Climate Change Delivery Plan. We know we need to significantly scale the retrofit supply chain to meet the growing demand for energy efficiency and low carbon heating measures. The Surrey Retrofit Summit will bring together professionals from across the retrofit sector to understand the opportunities provided by retrofit, share best practice and hear what else is needed to meet the scale of retrofit required.” With updates from Surrey CC’s energy team, and expert advice from The Retrofit Academy and other market experts the event will show supply chain businesses how to scale up their operations, and improve processes to win more business. Three mornings of online presentations and in-event meetings provide a flexible means of participation and learning for those working in the housing and construction sectors who want to be part of this exciting opportunity. The Summit schedule will include – on morning one – an update on Surrey’s decarbonisation plans and retrofit one-stop-shop ambitions, supply chain opportunities and a showcase of recent retrofit success stories. On morning two speakers will focus on the skills, support and finance available to businesses to help them scale to install high volumes of housing fabric energy efficiency measures. On the final morning, attention will be on heating and energy businesses looking to pivot towards low carbon heat and storage, the scale of the retrofit market opportunity and how to access it. We’ll hear from those who are building successful retrofit businesses each day, with plenty of insights and lessons shared to inspire those looking to grow their business or to enter the fast-emerging retrofit market. The Surrey Retrofit Summit is free to attend online using the dynamic REMO event platform across three mornings from 0900-1130 from Tuesday 13 June to Thursday 15 June, enabling housing professionals, installers, contractors, consultants, architects, and surveyors to drop in from any location to suit their schedules. Q&A sessions with a panel of the morning’s speakers and mingling with peers, speakers and sponsors at the virtual conference tables provide high quality networking without the travel time. To sign up to attend this free online event, go to https://lowcarbonhomes.uk/events. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Poole based Wyatt Homes has appointed Shaun Pettitt as its first ever external Managing Director, whilst founder, David Wyatt, transitions to Chief Executive. Shaun, 40, from Purbeck, Dorset joined the regional housebuilder last month (May) as it enters into a new phase of growth, marked also by the construction of its own, purpose built office at its prestigious Rivers Edge development in nearby Wimborne Minster. With a background in town planning, immediate and strategic land acquisition, and more latterly as Managing Director for a national developer, Shaun is ideally placed to see operations through to the next chapter. He said, “I see it as a huge privilege to have been appointed as Wyatt’s first external Managing Director. “This is a key moment for the business as we look to further invest in scaling up our output over the next few years, whilst still maintaining the quality and high standards that the Wyatt brand is known for and that David has worked so hard to cultivate over the years. “With a shared ambition to build high quality new homes, I’m looking forward to being part of the next exciting chapter in our journey.” David Wyatt added, “This change in management reflects our plans to significantly grow the business and raise our profile. I’m confident that Shaun will be integral to helping us deliver our goals with the support of our exceptional team here at Wyatt Homes.” Wyatt Homes currently has new homes developments in Wimborne, Puddletown and Charminster in Dorset, Yeovil in Somerset and North Baddesley in Hampshire. The company has three new schemes to bring to market this year and is looking to expand its operational area further across the south coast. Its new head office will be ready by the summer of 2024 when the business will move from its current head office in Poole town centre to Wimborne. Shaun is married with four children and enjoys making the most of the Dorset coastline with his family whilst also coaching two junior football teams. For more information visit www.wyatthomes.co.uk.
Housebuilder Crest Nicholson is launching a number of biodiversity initiatives, such as hedgehog highways and bird boxes, across a number of its developments in Milton Keynes, including Whitehouse Park and Manor View. To celebrate, Crest Nicholson recently welcomed the Shadow Climate Change Minister Kerry McCarthy to visit Manor View for a tour of the planned initiatives. The tour included showcasing the installation of ecological enhancements on the site, along with eco-friendly timber frames currently being used in construction, and the kitchen units made from recycled materials. The planned initiatives at Whitehouse Park and Manor View include specially designed hedgehog highways, which enable wildlife to roam freely and safely away from traffic, and bird boxes located in the bricks of the homes to provide a haven for house sparrows, blue tits, great tits, and other birds to nest, and bat boxes. Sparrow terraces, wide boxes split into a few chambers, provide nesting space for multiple pairs, enabling them to socialise within a colony. These features are supported by a number of other initiatives at the developments to increase biodiversity, including hedgerow and tree planting and the provision of wildlife loving plants such as lavender. The initiatives are some of many being rolled out across Crest Nicholson developments as part of the housebuilder’s sustainability strategy and commitment to protect the environment, delivering biodiversity net gains and transitioning towards net zero by 2045. Kerry McCarthy, MP and Shadow Minister for Climate Change, comments: “With the swift population having declined by over 50% over the past 20 years, it is essential to protect sites for the migratory birds who return to UK skies annually from Africa every May to nest. We are delighted that Crest Nicholson are committed to including bird boxes, swift bricks, and other biodiversity enhancements, in their development plans for the Milton Keynes and greater Chiltern region. As the RSPB’s Parliamentary Species Champion for the Swift, I was particularly pleased to see what they’re doing to provide habitats for this iconic bird. Little steps like this can make a huge difference in our battle to reverse biodiversity loss.” Charlie Joseph, Sales and Marketing Director at Crest Nicholson Chiltern, adds: “At Crest Nicholson, we strive to look after the wildlife in and around our developments and the biodiversity initiatives, such as bird boxes and hedgehog highways, will help us to make a positive impact on the Milton Keynes environment. “We were pleased to welcome Kerry McCarthy, MP and Shadow Minister for Climate Change to our Manor View development in Wavendon for a tour of the site and to discuss the biodiversity enhancements we have planned. For anyone interested in learning more about these initiatives, we’d recommend coming along to our newly launched Marlborough show home at Whitehouse Park where you’ll be able to see them up close.” Having a balance between town and countryside living has become an increasingly important priority for homebuyers in the past few years. Whitehouse Park is set to be a semi-rural haven with plenty of greenspace, enabling residents to enjoy the best of country living without having to compromise on amenities or travel connections. Comprising three to five bedroom homes, Manor View is ideally suited to a range of buyers, including first time buyers, growing families looking to upsize and downsizers. Prices for three bedroom homes start from £430,000, whilst prices for four and five bedroom homes start from £515,000 and £645,000 respectively. SmoothMove and Part Exchange are available on select properties to help take the hassle out of the home moving process. At Whitehouse Park, prices for three, four and five bedroom homes start from £415,000, £440,000 and £645,000 respectively, with Part Exchange, Deposit Unlock and SmoothMove available on selected plots. For more information on either development, visit their sales suites which are open 10am until 5pm, Friday to Wednesday. Alternatively, call 01908 036 035 or visit www.crestnicholson.com/manor-view for Manor View, or call 01908 891 720 or visit www.crestnicholson.com/whitehouse-park for Whitehouse Park.
Construction is underway on the first of over 2,000 new, sustainable homes as part of the major regeneration of Cambridge Road Estate in Norbiton. The landmark scheme, voted for overwhelmingly by residents in a ballot in 2020, will deliver more than 2,100 homes — a mix of flats, maisonettes and houses. A total of 767 will be council homes — 114 more than currently on the estate. The new development, a joint venture between Kingston Council and development partner Countryside, will provide vital new local homes and will enhance the design of the estate so it is a greener, more pleasant place to live and visit. It is the first large-scale project of its kind in Kingston since the estate was first built and forms an essential part of the council’s plan to create more homes of different types, particularly council homes. At the groundbreaking ceremony to mark the official start of construction (23 May), the Leader of Kingston Council, Andreas Kirsch, described the significance of the scheme for the borough. “Plans for the redevelopment of Cambridge Road Estate were drawn up in partnership with residents, and the community is at the heart of this scheme. This is a hugely significant moment for everyone involved as we all see the plans starting to become a reality. I can not tell you how important this is to me and the borough, as we deliver on the promise for residents – to deliver safer, warmer, greener homes for people. It is a significant step in our commitment to increase the amount of affordable housing in the borough and tackle climate change.” The new, high-quality homes will have strong sustainability credentials. The council is continuing its work with Thames Water to create England’s first district heat network to use heat from sewage treatment. Still in the early stages, the plan is for the heat network to connect to the new homes on the estate, supplying them with energy-efficient, affordable heating. The regeneration will also have wider benefits bringing new play areas and community facilities, as well as new jobs and local training opportunities. Poorvi Mehta lives on Cambridge Road Estate and is a member of the Community Board. She explained what the regeneration means to her and other residents:“The whole regeneration project is so important to all of us on the estate. A lot of the residents got involved. We helped to shape the project. Both the council and Countryside listened to the views of residents. I think we can honestly say we played a big part in shaping how the estate will look. “I’m most looking forward to having a new home, of course, but also to the community centre. It will be a great place for the community to get together, somewhere we can socialise – that’s my dream.”The council is also building 101 new low-cost and sustainable council homes on four under-utilised sites in the borough. The first of these is due to be completed imminently with residents moving in this summer, and our new Local Plan for the borough contains strong policies to ensure more affordable homes are built as part of new development projects in the future. The groundbreaking ceremony took place on 23 May at the phase 1 site at Cambridge Road Estate. Council Leader Andreas Kirsch and Portfolio Holder for Housing, Councillor Emily Davey, were joined by representatives from the Community Board, Countryside Partnerships, and the council’s regeneration team. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Keepmoat and His Majesty’s Prison Service are tackling reoffending crime rates across Yorkshire with a new bricklaying academy, designed to enable prisoners to unlock employment opportunities on their release. One of the first of its kind in Britain, the academy at HMP Moorland near Doncaster will train, re-equip and provide skills to prisoners due to be released within the next six to 12 months. The two organisations have worked in partnership with the National House Building Council, (NHBC), to deliver bespoke training that enables those preparing to integrate back into society with up-to-date skills and experience in bricklaying. According to a recent analysis from the Ministry of Justice, those leaving prison were significantly less likely to reoffend when engaging with a full time job, compared to those who did not. More than 300 prisoners are due to be released in Yorkshire over the next six months. The bricklaying academy will not only develop their skills in construction; teaching them how to use tools and equipment, mix cement and build various types of walls, but also give prisoners the confidence and belief that they can secure a job once released. The academy will also help to address the construction skills shortage. The industry needs almost 30,000 extra construction workers by 2026 to meet growing demand in the industry – a daunting challenge after the construction workforce dropped by five per cent in 2021. Tim Beale, Chief Executive at Keepmoat, said: “Of the hundreds of prisoners due to be released in the coming six months, a good number of them have previous experience working in trades. This presented an opportunity to help develop a programme to support those who wish to create a future career for themselves and ultimately, have a second chance at life. “This academy also forms part of our ongoing commitment to providing opportunities to people across the country, including in traditionally ‘left-behind’ communities. At Keepmoat, we are passionate about equipping the future workforce with the skills, knowledge and experience they need to build high-quality, affordable homes, as well as to help boost Britain’s regional and national productivity.” Paul Cole, Head of Reducing Reoffending at His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service, added: “At HMP Moorland we prioritise the development of prisoners to enable them to gain meaningful employment opportunities upon their release. We’re proud to provide them with relevant skills and training, with an aim to help them find work and live law-abiding lives.” Geoff Mann, Qualifications Manager at NHBC, also commented: “The training will provide an achievable and realistic pathway into a rewarding and well-paid career in the house building industry and we’re delighted to see these prisoners and others from diverse backgrounds taking up this opportunity. “It’s vital we attract more people into house building to help address skills shortages and the challenge of an ageing workforce. It’s hoped the academy will help to support the next generation of house builders, equipping them with the skills to build high quality new homes for the future.” To find out more about Keepmoat and its work in local communities across the UK, please visit www.keepmoat.com. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Quintain and FORE Partnership among the first to trial new Healthy Homes tool in residential development Ekkist, specialist wellbeing consultancy for the built environment, has today launched the Healthy Homes Checklist, a comprehensive tool which supports developers and designers in examining every aspect of home design. The Checklist compiles science-backed best practice to measure the health credentials of new homes and identify areas for improvement in design and construction. Leading developers Quintain and FORE Partnership are among the industry’s first to commit to using the newly launched tool, which will be adopted with Ekkist’s guidance to measure and improve the health and well-being potential of their new residential projects. The Healthy Homes Checklist comprises more than 130 practical steps across 12 categories that architects, developers and housebuilders can integrate from design stage to construction and through to post-occupancy, to ensure that homes genuinely support the physical and mental health of those living in them. Improving the quality of homes in the UK has never been more important. Latest figures show that 6.5 million people are living in damp, draughty and cramped homes that are harming their physical and mental health. Studies have also shown that indoor air quality is often a great deal poorer than outdoor air quality, which poses a particular risk to those with respiratory conditions (5.4 million people in the UK live with asthma, one in five will have a lung condition in their lifetime) but is a driver of health issues in all individuals. Air quality is just one of many indoor environmental factors that are contributing to chronic health conditions. Tackling the quality of our homes is a crucial aspect of a preventative approach to health that will reduce the burden on the National Health Service in the years to come. The comprehensive category list ranges from external and internal layouts, to design details (architecture and landscaping), through to toxicity of materials, furnishings and air quality; and feelings of community, comfort and happiness. In creating the checklist, the Ekkist team reviewed major health-focussed building standards, frameworks, guidance documents and scientific research papers relating to health and housing design. After pooling this research, it was reviewed with key industry experts and stakeholders, including Michael Chang from the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, Spire Building Services, Chapman BDSP, GIA and Sandy Brown. This is believed to be the first time such a breadth of categorisation has been brought together in a readily applicable format, that enables developers to assess the cumulative impact that housing design will have on long-term physical and mental health. Current British minimum standards fall far short of ensuring optimal healthy homes, while most voluntary commercial accreditations have broader remits. The Healthy Homes Checklist may be used as a precursor to building certifications such as WELL or the HQM, or to form the basis of design briefs and ESG strategies, or to identify health-focused USPs for new developments. Ekkist co-founder Olga Turner Baker believes that the Checklist will be popular among developers looking to add value: “Not only do healthier homes have the potential to improve the lives of the public and reduce burdens on the NHS, but we are also seeing them be more popular with buyers. We see healthy homes as a ‘triple win’ – a win for consumers, a win for housing providers, and ultimately a win for society as a whole.” Ekkist Director Ben Channon – an experienced architect of residential buildings and specialist in healthy design – co-created the Checklist, and believes that it could have a huge impact on the quality of both existing and future British housing stock: “The sad truth is that lots of homes across the UK still negatively affect the physical and mental health of the people who live in them. This Checklist will make it easier to design new healthy homes and retrofit existing houses to improve health outcomes for all – so that we can provide new homes in both the quantity and quality at which they are required.” Aurélien Collignon of B-Corp FORE Partnership, who will be adopting the Healthy Homes Checklist, feels that there is a strong alignment with their company ethos and business aims. “A number of intersecting societal shifts are dramatically transforming what the buildings of tomorrow will look like: an increasing focus on well-being, the blurring of personal and professional lives, an aging population and an epidemic of loneliness – all combined with the urgency to move to a low carbon economy. We are committed to creating places that produce positive outcomes for residents in terms of health, well-being, and quality of life, while also being good for their local community and the planet. We share Ekkist’s passion for health in the built environment, and we firmly believe that buildings that prioritise the well-being of people and the environment will also be assets that generate healthy returns too.” Clare Masters, Head of Sustainability at Quintain, who will be trialling the checklist across more than 1,000 homes at Wembley Park, adds: “It’s really important to us to ensure we continue building positive, healthy homes for our residents. We believe that the Healthy Homes Checklist will be a useful tool in helping us achieve this, which is why we’re trialling it across more than 1,000 apartments for rent at Wembley Park, using it to assess the health and well-being credentials of the newly launched Repton Gardens building as well as two further plots that are currently under construction. We believe that building healthy homes is vital to creating places to live that are fit for the future and we are pleased to be partnering with Ekkist to do so.” If you are interested in applying the Ekkist Healthy Homes Checklist in your development, or simply finding out more, get it touch at ask@ekkist.co. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Leeds City Council, Lloyds Banking Group and Arup have been successful in their Green Homes Finance Accelerator Bid, to test and develop financial products for homeowners which enables building retrofit, and improve energy efficiency and comfort for residents. The new funding awarded through the Net Zero Innovation Portfolio (NZIP) by The Department for Energy Security & Net Zero, will support the delivery of the council’s commitments in the Net Zero Homes Plan, which includes establishing a simple one-stop-shop with trusted advice and available finance as a key commitment. Retrofitting homes, the process of making changes to existing buildings so that energy consumption and emissions are reduced, is a key solution in simultaneously tackling climate change and the cost-of-living crisis. Devising a solution that makes the process more straightforward and cost-effective will help homeowners and tenants reap the financial and environmental benefits of a more energy efficient home. Leeds City Council, Lloyds Bank Group and Arup, along with a number of local West Yorkshire organisations, are collaborating to lead the way in how building and energy efficiency improvements and retrofit can be delivered to homes across Leeds. With their Green Home Finance Accelerator (GHFA) grant, the consortium is actively exploring how to make retrofit more straightforward and financially attractive to homeowners. The project is initially looking to support around 1,000 households become more energy efficient and help residents save money through innovative, scalable and replicable energy efficiency, retrofit and finance products. The purpose of this scheme is to create a prototype One-Stop Shop (OSS) solution that can be replicated and scaled to allow rapid adoption across the UK. The OSS aims to provide a seamless journey for customers to find the best solutions for their home, options for installation and provide finance. Current challenges for homeowners include high cost, complexity and difficulty finding suppliers. To respond to these challenges, the consortium has identified a set of priorities which underpin the concept. These include improving the customer process; offering a targeted range of retrofit options; and financial options to pay for retrofit solutions. GHFA funding will be used to design and test a potential Property Linked Finance offer and a smart tariff technology package as part of the wider OSS retrofit project. The OSS concept aims to support customers on a whole house retrofit journey, tailored to the requirements of the property and the customer’s timescale and budget. This can be individual upgrades or whole packages. Councillor Helen Hayden, Executive Member for Infrastructure and Climate, said: “Helping homeowners to access and afford energy-saving green upgrades for their own properties is a big piece of the puzzle when it comes to ending Leeds’ contribution to climate change. “That’s why developing innovative solutions which make that possible was a key commitment of the Net Zero Homes Plan that we announced earlier this year. “I am therefore delighted that the council, in collaboration with our private sector partners, has now been awarded additional funding to turn even more of our ambitious plans into reality”. Stephen Cook, Urban Energy Leader and Director from Arup, said: “We have worked closely with our partners to conduct in-depth user research which identifies what the priorities are for a project of this type. Retrofitting homes is critical at the moment as we tackle both climate change and the cost of living. “By devising a solution that makes the process more straightforward, adaptable and cost-effective, it will help encourage more homeowners and tenants reap the multiple benefits of a more efficient home”. About Department for Energy Security and Net Zero The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero provides dedicated leadership focused on delivering security of energy supply, ensuring properly functioning markets, greater energy efficiency and seizing the opportunities of net zero to lead the world in new green industries. The funding from the Green Home Finance Accelerator comes from the department’s £1billion Net Zero Innovation Portfolio which provides funding for low-carbon technologies and systems and aims to decrease the costs of decarbonisation helping enable the UK to end its contribution to climate change. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Homes for Scotland (HFS), the leading representative body for the Scottish home building sector, is calling for a rethink across government and wider society on how to address the spiralling housing crisis. Launching its new five-year strategy ‘Home building as a force for good’ today (Friday) and in the context of a 110,000 homes shortfall with a worrying downward trend in the number of new homes being started, theorganisation wants better local and national government collaboration and the voices of the silent majority heard in order to tackle Scotland’s chronic undersupply of housing across all tenures. In addition to the 110,000 homes shortfall which has accumulated since 2008, latest Scottish Government figures show a decline of 12% in home building starts overall and a 27% reduction in social housing approvals. Chief Executive Jane Wood said: “Having accumulated a shortfall of 110,000 homes since 2008, Scotland’s housing crisis is well recognised. Just as this affects us all, so it is up to each and every one of us to take responsibility for ensuring that we have enough homes for those who need them now and for future generations. “From health and education to jobs and investment, housing impacts every area of our lives and is key to advancing social justice and tackling inequality, but we simply don’t have enough homes. “Unfortunately, home building is a hugely politicised and contentious issue and I’m calling on those of us who already have homes to be more supportive of those who don’t. “Delivery challenges across the sector have never been greater, from rising costs and skills shortages to planning delays and changes to building standards as part of the transition to net zero. These barriers are now making it harder than ever to build new homes in Scotland. Our sector is not able to compete on a level playing field compared to elsewhere in the UK. “SME builders, in particular, are bearing the brunt with their numbers having already declined significantly and with the viability of many projects in doubt, some smaller home builders have abandoned home building plans altogether. “The housing crisis has already had a drastic and far-reaching impact on Scotland’s economic and social development. If we don’t get this sorted, the consequences on the life chances of future generations will be even worse.” On average, major housing applications are taking 39 weeks to reach a decision from the time of registration. The national target for determining major housing applications is 16 weeks. As well as the barriers relating to planning and regulation, negative perceptions of home building also have far-reaching consequences, impacting the sector’s ability to get on with delivering more homes. Misinformation and opposition to new developments continues to have an effect but, in reality, only 2.1% of land in Scotland is built upon, the lowest level in the UK. “I am asking us all to pause and reflect before condemning the building of new homes, recognising the urgent and critical need that exists right across the spectrum. It’s time to embrace the benefits new homes bring and for the voices of the silent majority to be heard by those who influence and direct local and national policy. “We need urgent action with better collaborative working between key players to solve what is a chronic issue and help stimulate growth.” New complex regulations like the National Planning Framework 4 as well as costly, time-consuming and difficult consent processes are all making it more difficult for developers to build new homes. HFS wants to facilitate joined-up and partnership approaches with the Scottish Government, local authorities and stakeholders to facilitate housing delivery and ensure policies and regulation are implemented appropriately, fairly and in support of much needed homes. Speaking ahead of the organisation’s strategy launch at the annual HFS awards today Jane Wood continued: “We must have a policy environment that supports development rather than frustrating it and one which attracts investment otherwise we will stymie our ambitions and damage the potential of our towns, cities and rural communities. “Above all else, policy-making must be informed by contextual data and market insight to avoid unintended consequences across other National Outcomes.” Accurate and current data from government and local authorities is crucial to creating a more authentic picture of the actual need for new homes in Scotland. However, this is very much a missing piece of the housing jigsaw, with its absence obscuring the true picture of housing need. HFS plans to work with the Scottish Government, local authorities and its members to create relevant data sets to ensure the homes that are needed are delivered on the ground, not just on paper. The new HFS strategy highlights the organisation’s aim to lead the conversation on the move to net zero carbon housing through the development of a clear road map to support the transition, working with members to achieve targets on timescales that are commercially realistic through the creation of a Scottish Future Homes Hub. Today’s Homes for Scotland’s awards support this with a focus on ‘People, Place, Planet’, highlighting the sector’s social, sustainable and environmental goals. Jane Wood concludes: “Building the homes our country requires is undoubtedly a difficult and complex job, but the undisputed fact is that home builders of all tenures are committed to playing a critical part in what is the most basic of humanitarian activities. “That is why I am making it my mission to ensure this is an issue that we all own. How each of us reacts to the building of much-needed new homes is vital to not only end our housing crisis but also to help eradicate homelessness and child poverty, tackle climate change and promote inclusive growth. Only once everyone has a place to call home will these goals be achieved. Faisal Choudhry, Head of Savills Scotland Residential Research, said: “Homes for Scotland’s latest five-year strategy covers a wide range of issues facing the supply of new homes. Its launch comes amid an array of supply and production constraints facing the
Independent housebuilder Dandara has had a record five developments shortlisted for the highly esteemed Excellence Awards 2023 by Premier Guarantee, one of the UK’s most prestigious building warranty providers, which recognises the highest quality developments across the country. Dandara has received more nominations than any other housebuilder for its developments across the UK, including: The Excellence Awards recognise developers that consistently deliver high-quality workmanship and excellent site management. It is only given to developments that consistently achieve a high score during independent visits by Premier Guarantee inspectors. A number of criteria are assessed during the inspection, including: Trevor Dempsey, CEO of Dandara, commented: “We are incredibly excited to have had almost twice as many sites shortlisted in these highly esteemed awards than any other housebuilder; it indicates the outstanding quality of site management and the standard of workmanship that my brilliant colleagues consistently deliver. This recognition is a true testament to the excellence of our site teams and the quality of the homes we build.” The Premier Guarantee Annual Excellence Awards will be held on 23rd October 2023. For more information about Dandara, please visit www.dandara.com/ or call 01903 337 439.
