building
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Latest property news
Building the Build-to-rent sector
The United Kingdom Apartment Association (UKAA) has appointed a Chief Executive.
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Latest property news
New partnership to support housebuilding sector
With a backlog of almost half a million homes across England still waiting to be built despite receiving planning consent partly because of a construction skills shortage in the housebuilding industry, the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) and Home Builders Federation (HBF) have teamed up to form a major new partnership to help tackle the housing skill needs. More than 45,000 new homebuilding workers will be trained by 2019 to help tackle the nation’s housing shortage through the Home Building Skills Partnership – a £2.7 million training initiative designed to help boost the supply of new build homes. The shortage of skilled labour in the housebuilding sector is pushing up the price of hiring tradesmen. The financial crash of 2007-08 bears some of the blame as it led to thousands of people leaving the construction industry. Now that demand has returned, there is a skills shortage, with bricklayers, carpenters and joiners in short supply. Brian Berry, Chief Executive, FMB, said, “We’re already seeing housing developments starting to stall because the cost of hiring skilled tradespeople is threatening to make some sites simply unviable. Unless we see a massive uplift in apprenticeship training in our industry, there won’t be enough pairs…
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Latest property news
New housing consents highest since 2008
There was a noteworthy increase in the number of planning permissions granted in the third quarter of last year, up from 53,409 consents in the corresponding quarter in 2014, according to data released in the Home Builder’s Federation (HBF) and Glenigan’s latest Housing Pipeline report. The statement suggests that 242,819 permissions were granted in the 12 months to October, the highest ‘moving annual’ total since early 2008. According to the data, 181,000 new homes were constructed in 2014/15, which broadly equates to the number of planning permissions recorded some two to three years ago. However, the industry remains concerned that the ‘lag’ of turning permissions into homes is becoming lengthier. “Whilst the overall increase in outline permissions is welcome, most of these still have to navigate the complexities of the planning system before they can be built,” said Stewart Baseley (left), Executive Chairman of the HBF. “It is imperative we speed up the time it takes for applications to be processed to the point that builders can actually build if we are to deliver further increases in housing supply.” The Government is holding a consultation on proposals to fast-track planning applications and introduce competition into the planning process, with a…
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Housing Market
Building relationships
Housebuilding activity is rising, but how do you persuade developers to sell through you? Marc Da Silva reports.
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Housing Market
Britain is building again
The volume of new homes in England increased by 25 per cent in 2014-15, the biggest rise in 28 years, according to latest Government figures. Alterations to planning laws helped boost the number of residential properties developed through a change of use, but the main factor was a hike in the number of new-build homes completed during the year. Data from the Department for Communities and Local Government shows that a total of 170,690 homes were added to the country’s housing stock, which Communities Secretary Greg Clark said was further proof of the Government’s commitment to get more homes developed. More than 700,000 additional homes have now been delivered since 2010, supported in part by a rise in the number of commercial buildings converted into residential properties. Clark (left) said, “As a one nation government we’re determined to make sure everyone has the opportunity and security of owning a home of their own. “Today’s figures show a 25 per cent increase in the number of new homes over the past year – showing our reforms are building new homes across Britain. “We are going further and will do everything we can to help families buy a place of their own.…
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Guest Blogs
Let’s get Britain building!
Housing is currently at the very top of the political agenda. All the main parties now acknowledge that we face an acute housing crisis and need to increase supply. Over the past two years things have improved. All indicators are that there has been a steep increase in the number of homes being built. Output has risen from 110,000 homes a year to 130,000-140,000, the steepest increase for 40 years. But we are still a long way from delivering the 230,000 homes a year the country needs. Issues and solutions The short-term problem has been mortgage availability. Following the economic crash of 2007/08 people simply couldn’t afford the deposits required to secure a mortgage and if people can’t buy, builders can’t build. The longer-term constraint has been the planning system. It has not delivered enough land for the number of homes the country has needed for decades. We now have a Government clearly committed to increasing the number of homes built. We have pro-development policies introduced by the Coalition and new Conservative administrations – and indeed the Labour one before them. The improving economy has seen mortgage availability increase; whilst the Help to Buy scheme that allows buyers to buy…
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Housing Market
Lib Dems vow to build 20,000 affordable homes
The Liberal Democrats has announced plans to develop 20,000 affordable homes in Wales by 2021 if the party is in Government after the 2016 assembly election. Lib Dem AM Peter Black (left) said his party would tackle the “crippling undersupply of housing” in Wales by using new borrowing powers and by abolishing plans for an M4 relief road. The target to build 20,000 affordable homes over the five-year period is double that set by the existing Labour Government in Wales. After launching a housing supply pact with the with Community Housing Cymru last year promising to build 10,000 new affordable homes during the terms of the Government, Housing and Regeneration Minister, Carl Sargeant, said, “Increasing the supply of homes in Wales is my top priority and I am committed to working with developers, housing associations, local authorities and financiers to bring forward innovative schemes that will increase the supply of good quality affordable homes.” Over half of the Welsh Government’s affordable housing target – set at 7,500 homes – was met within the first two years in power, with most properties delivered by housing associations. Meanwhile, Adam Hesse, Director at Home Counties land broker Aston Mead, has expressed his concern…
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Housing Market
Property industry welcomes new Tory Government
The Conservative victory in the General Election has been welcomed by the housing industry. It should provide welcome stability to the residential property market. Glynis Frew (left), Managing Director of Hunters Property Group, said, “We welcome a Conservative victory as this will bring some much needed stability to the property market, and from stability comes growth. We look forward to seeing the extension of Right to Buy to 1.3 million housing association homes in England, and more importantly, the introduction of 200,000 starter homes by 2020. We anticipate this will have a massive impact on the market. What’s more, the Government’s Stamp Duty reforms announced in December last year have already had a positive effect on the housing market, so we are pleased this will stay in place.” Lucy Morton, Director and Head of agency at Prime Central London estate agency, W.A.Ellis, said that her firm noticed an immediate change in sentiment from both vendors and purchasers after the election result, following months of uncertainty and the threat of Labour housing policies, including the planned introduction of a mansion tax. “A Conservative victory is a good result for the housing market, particularly in London,” she said. “As we opened for…
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Features
Manifestos, markets and mansions
Election fever is here. The countdown has begun. Jeremy Leaf reviews pre-manifesto statements to see what could happen on 7th May.
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