The UK’s leading housing groups have warned that the Government is failing to tackle the country’s growing housing crisis. In a collaborative report, the National Housing Federation, Shelter and The Chartered Institute of Housing highlight five key areas in need of urgent as follows: Affordability of the private rented sector; help with housing costs; homelessness; [...]
Property Development News
Homes too small to store household basics
Some of Britain’s homes are so small and lacking in storage space that people are taking extreme measures to squeeze into their living space. New research from the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) highlights the case of a household where the vacuum cleaner has to be stored off site and reveals that in some [...]
Homes too small to store household basics
Some of Britain’s homes are so small and lacking in storage space that people are taking extreme measures to squeeze into their living space. New research from the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) highlights the case of a household where the vacuum cleaner has to be stored off site and reveals that in some [...]
New planning policy framework takes effect
The final version of the National Planning Policy Framework has been published today and takes effect immediately. In a statement to the House of Commons, Planning Minister, Greg Clarke, told MPs that the reforms make planning much simpler and more accessible, having reduced over a thousand pages of guidance to around 50 pages. In particular, [...]
New planning policy framework takes effect
The final version of the National Planning Policy Framework has been published today and takes effect immediately. In a statement to the House of Commons, Planning Minister, Greg Clarke, told MPs that the reforms make planning much simpler and more accessible, having reduced over a thousand pages of guidance to around 50 pages. In particular, [...]
Barclays launches NewBuy mortgages
Barclays has launched two first-time buyer mortgages to support the Government’s NewBuy initiative, which aims to provide mortgages of up to 95% loan-to-value for new-build properties in England. First-time buyers or home movers purchasing a new build house or flat (with participating builders up to the value of £500,000) have a choice of a Barclays [...]
Barclays launches NewBuy mortgages
Barclays has launched two first-time buyer mortgages to support the Government’s NewBuy initiative, which aims to provide mortgages of up to 95% loan-to-value for new-build properties in England. First-time buyers or home movers purchasing a new build house or flat (with participating builders up to the value of £500,000) have a choice of a Barclays [...]
New build planning permissions halve
Planning applications for new housing developments in England have halved in four years, according to the Home Builders’ Federation (HBF). New research commissioned by the HBF shows that in 2011, total permissions were at their lowest since 2006. The 115,000 granted last year represent only half the number required to keep on top of rising [...]
New build planning permissions halve
Planning applications for new housing developments in England have halved in four years, according to the Home Builders’ Federation (HBF). New research commissioned by the HBF shows that in 2011, total permissions were at their lowest since 2006. The 115,000 granted last year represent only half the number required to keep on top of rising [...]
Broadway launches property fund for homeless
Broadway has launched the first property fund to buy accommodation to support homeless people in London. Resonance, a fund management business specialising in impact investments, will manage the fund which will support the charity’s Real Lettings operation. This currently provides 220 flats in the private-rented sector for people who don’t qualify for social housing and [...]
NewBuy Guarantee scheme launches in March
Housing Minister, Grant Shapps, has unveiled a range of measures aimed at helping first-time buyers and boosting prospects for house builders. From March, the NewBuy Guarantee scheme will be on hand to help those buying newly-built properties. The scheme brings lenders, builders and Government together to offer mortgages at a fraction of the deposit currently [...]
NewBuy Guarantee scheme launches in March
Housing Minister, Grant Shapps, has unveiled a range of measures aimed at helping first-time buyers and boosting prospects for house builders. From March, the NewBuy Guarantee scheme will be on hand to help those buying newly-built properties. The scheme brings lenders, builders and Government together to offer mortgages at a fraction of the deposit currently [...]
New housing strategy full of promise
The Government has set out a new strategy to tackle England’s housing shortage by breaking the current cycle in which lenders won’t lend, builders can’t build and buyers can’t buy. At the heart of the strategy is a new-build indemnity scheme that should give a helping hand to up to 100,000 prospective buyers frozen out [...]
Urgent call for new housing development model
Government attempts to tackle the national housing shortfall are doomed to failure, according to real estate specialist, DTZ. Reforms to the planning system, the release of public land and even improvements in mortgage finance are all well and good. However, they are likely to leave England 70,000 short on the 230,000 new homes needed each [...]
Brownfield development to lose tax relief
The British Property Federation (BPF) is promoting a “brownfield first” approach to development, arguing that this not only protects the environment but comes with added social and economic benefits. Speaking yesterday to a committee of MPs charged with scrutinising the Government’s proposed planning reforms, Ian Fletcher, the BPF’s director of policy, argued the case for [...]
Self build captures the imagination
Britons are as keen as ever to build their own homes and over 20 building societies either have specific self-build mortgages or will consider self-build projects. New research from the Building Societies Association (BSA) indicates that 50% of us relish the prospect of designing our own dwelling while saving money at the same time. Enthusiasm [...]
Communities gain right to reclaim land
Rapid progress is being made in releasing public land for new homes, according to Housing Minister, Grant Shapps. The minister recently ordered an audit of government departments’ land banks with the aim of providing plots to build 50,000 new homes. Various government departments and agencies have since got to work and a new system has [...]
Construction suppliers hazy on sustainability
Leading businesses in the building products sector are calling for more support and vision from Government on sustainability. New research by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and the Construction Products Association found that while 91% of firms questioned recognise the growing importance of green credentials for their products, only 40% have not done any carbon foot printing. Furthermore, [...]
Architects attack “shoe box” new homes
Thousands of brand new homes are failing to provide the space families need, according to research from the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). The average new three-bedroom property built by one of the UK’s top housing developers is around 8% smaller than the recommended minimum size, and the RIBA claims that children are being [...]
Architects attack “shoe box” new homes
Thousands of brand new homes are failing to provide the space families need, according to research from the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). The average new three-bedroom property built by one of the UK’s top housing developers is around 8% smaller than the recommended minimum size, and the RIBA claims that children are being [...]
Fall in greener homes building costs
Building new homes to greener, low-carbon standards costs less each year, according to a new report from Communities Minister, Andrew Stunell. Research based on interviews with developers and the latest developments in environmental technologies show the additional costs associated with the Government’s Code for Sustainable Homes continuing to fall. For example, homes built to Code [...]
New home planning permissions a paltry 25,000
Figures from the Home Builders’ Federation (HBF) show the number of residential planning permissions granted in England falling to just 25,000 in the second quarter of 2011, when around 60,000 homes per quarter are needed to meet the country’s housing shortfall. Planning permission approvals for new homes have been sliding noticeably since the middle of [...]
Persimmon: housing market stable
Persimmon legally completed 4,439 house sales in the first six months of 2011, with the total down from 4,657 in the same period of 2010. However, weekly sales rates from 30th June have been running 4% ahead of the prior year, with a similar rise in site visitor numbers. The group opened 70 new sites [...]
Government publishes Planning Policy Framework
The Government has published a National Planning Policy Framework which aims to safeguard the environment, while meeting the need for sustainable growth. According to Planning Minister, Greg Clark, current national planning policy is lengthy and complex, whereas the new Framework sets out government policy in just 52 pages. Despite the brevity, it maintains the Government’s [...]
“Staycations” push demand for second homes
A shift away from holidays abroad to the “staycation” has accelerated second-home ownership in the UK, according to Knight Frank. The estate agent’s latest research reveals that second-home ownership in England was at its second-highest level on record in 2010, hitting a record high in the South West, where sales of newly-developed three-bedroom homes by [...]
