LEGO ‘snap-fit’ inspires scientific study

The classic sound of two LEGO bricks clicking together has inspired a Japanese physicist to launch a study into ‘snap-fits’.

Hirofumi Wada, a faculty member at Ritsumeikan University in Japan, was motivated to begin his study after hearing ‘snap-fits’ around his family home. In addition to the sound of LEGO, he cited pen caps, ziploc bags and battery covers as other everyday examples. Although it is clear that these snap mechanisms do work – 62 years of LEGO sets can attest to that – Wada believes that the science behind them still isn’t fully understood. He and a team of students have set out to research further.

The study – published in the journal Physical Review Letters – speculates that if properly understood, ‘snap-fits’ could one day replace adhesives used in the construction industry. One of the most intriguing prospects is the idea that traditional bricks and mortar could become a thing of the past. Instead, we might all find ourselves living in giant LEGO houses made of bricks that simply click together.

 

 

The research has been noted and commented on by scientists at other institutions around the world. Dominic Vella, an applied mathematician at Oxford University in the UK, remarked that ‘in any snap system, the key thing is that you want it to be easy to push on and harder to pull off’. This perfectly summarises the LEGO system, the interlocking mechanism that allows LEGO builds to come together and not fall apart.

Wada has also expressed interest in studying the inverse of snap-fits, where it is easier to pull two materials apart and more difficult to fit them together. This model would certainly make assembling LEGO sets more of a challenge.

Source: Brick Fanatics

Follow us on Twitter            Join us on Linked in  

/0 Comments/by

STOCKPILE TO AVOID ‘NO DEAL’ DELAYS

Builders urged to stockpile European supplies in event of a ‘no deal’  

UK Builders are being advised to liaise with their supply chain much earlier than normal as the end of the transition period for leaving the EU looms.

Trade body Build UK has estimated that in the case of a ‘no deal’ Brexit duty and other costs could increase from two to eight per cent.

Build UK chief executive Suzannah Nichol said: “The overriding message from all businesses is the need for much earlier engagement across the whole supply chain, along with enhanced forecasting information to anticipate and manage supply and demand issues.”

Products imported solely from Europe, such as lifts, facades, cladding and roof tiles are on the ‘watch list’ as they are usually made to order and there is little stock held in the UK.

“Projects requiring these, particularly any which are specialist or bespoke, should be talking to suppliers and manufacturers, placing orders earlier than usual, importing products ahead of time, and storing them in the UK, particularly in the first quarter of 2021 and where they are on the critical path of any programme,” said Ms Nichol.

 

 

Timber has been in short supply since March 2020 and a range of timber products continue to be on longer lead times. Build UK advises advance ordering and working closely with supply chains for the first two quarters of 2021.

 

New report keeps track of high-risk supplies

Build UK and the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply have released a report on the supply of construction materials from January 1, 2021, which they plan to update regularly.

The report reveals where goods are manufactured and how they will be affected by changes in regulations, currency fluctuations, transport and import duties.

The availability of supplies will also be influenced by ports used for imports, the length of supply chains, and the raw materials used. The level of risk will increase as the amount of control over an aspect of supply falls, warns Build UK.

Brokers Hank Zarihs Associates said that shortage of supplies was one of the main reasons why projects overran and was a risk, property development lenders were watching closely.

 

Follow us on Twitter            Join us on Linked in  

 

 

/0 Comments/by

STUDY SAYS DESIGN OF NEW UK HOMES IS INADEQUATE

A study led by the University of Glasgow says design quality of new homes across the UK remains “stubbornly low”

 

The design quality of new homes and neighbourhoods across the UK remains stubbornly low, according to an in-depth study on the issue published today by a team led by the University of Glasgow.

The report – Delivering design value: The housing design quality conundrum – which looked at all four UK nations, says new homes and neighbourhoods fail to meet the aspirations of the national planning policy statements in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The new report, which sets out 12 policy and practice recommendations, is timely coming just months after a design audit by the Place Alliance found that many new homes and neighbourhoods built in England were poorly designed with homebuyers increasingly frustrated with the quality of new builds.

It argues that the four UK governments, local authorities and the housebuilding industry have been collectively accountable, in different ways, for failing to deliver well-designed places to live and must share the blame for the poorly designed and unsustainable neighbourhoods that are approved and built in the UK.

Lead report author, Dr James White, MRTPI, Senior Lecturer in Urban Design at the University of Glasgow and a Co-Investigator at the UK Collaborative Centre for Housing Evidence (CaCHE), said: “Delivering Design Value is the first in-depth study to examine the process of planning and designing new housing in well over a decade. It uniquely features case studies from all four UK nations and is based on interviews with a wide range of people involved in the planning, design, and development process at the local level.”

“The research shows that the housebuilding industry is dominated by a small number of large and powerful developers that have little interest in creating well-designed places. On the contrary, the research reveals that small and medium sized developers are motivated by design but struggle to gain a foothold in the industry.

“We also recommend that governments should identify ways to support small and medium sized developers to enter the housebuilding marketplace through tax incentives and changes to the way land is allocated for housing development.”

 

 

While national planning polices in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland draw a direct link between well-designed places and climate change abatement, the report found design is consistently marginalised by under-resourced local authorities and development processes.

It also found that housing and neighbourhood design is undervalued across the UK with planning decisions driven by the need to achieve housing targets or to make a planning decision quickly and efficiently.

The report team – from the University of Glasgow; University of Reading and the Royal Town Planning Institute – looked at case studies in five local authority areas in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The five case studies are East Lothian (Scotland), Bridgend (Wales), Belfast (Northern Ireland), South Oxfordshire (South of England) and Rotherham (North of England).

Incoming President of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI), Dr Wei Yang FRTPI, said: “The RTPI is delighted to have co-authored this report as part of the Institute’s involvement in CaCHE.

”Future planning reforms across the UK must put place-making and design quality at their heart and more must be done to translate positive policy rhetoric on design quality into actionable, measurable and well-funded solutions.”

Dr Wei added: “Local authority planning teams across the UK have seen reductions in funding over the past decade, with design quality suffering as a result. Housing is not simply a question of numbers. A survey of RTPI members, carried out in 2019, revealed that at least half of professional planners said they had limited influence on housing design, while an overwhelming 87% said they wanted more of a say. Nearly 80% said they believed design is of equal importance to factors such as affordability and the availability of infrastructure.”

The primary recommendation of the Delivering design value report is that housing and neighbourhood design outcomes should be more directly regulated by the four UK governments.

The four governments should consider adopting minimum ‘design standards’ that establish basic urban form and site layout parameters that support the creation of sustainable and resilient places. These standards should be implemented by local authorities using local plans that are ‘design-led’ and which set out a clear design vision for the authority as a whole and incorporate design frameworks for existing neighbourhoods and masterplans for new housing development.

The research shows that local authorities are under-resourced and often make too ‘siloed’ decisions that fail to prioritise design and rarely monitor the quality of completed housing developments. The report recommends that local authorities are better resourced by government to ensure that skilled designers are involved in championing and shaping design outcomes at every stage of the planning and development process.

Dr White added: “Future planning reforms must put design at their heart and the four UK governments must do more to translate positive policy rhetoric on design into actionable, measurable and well-funded design governance solutions.”

 

Follow us on Twitter            Join us on Linked in  

/0 Comments/by

GeoCeramica paving tops off Greenford Quay development

,

Brett Landscaping has supplied its GeoCeramica porcelain paving for the roof terraces and public spaces of a major new mixed-use development in London, overlooking the Grand Union Canal.

More than 1400 m2 of GeoCeramica has been installed across the communal areas of the £151 million Greenford Quay development, with 150 m2 used to provide a highly aesthetic finish to the communal roof terrace on the tallest tower in the scheme.

Greenford Quay is one of the UK’s largest ‘Build to Rent’ schemes with 1,965 new homes being built across seven main buildings within wide public realm spaces. The aim of the development is to create a vibrant mixed-use neighbourhood at the side of the historic Grand Union canal.

 

 

Project architect HTA Design required a high-quality paving system that would complement the curated gardens across the podium courtyards and upper terraces of the development, and a system that could meet the strict specification requirements for use on tall buildings.

The architect worked with the technical team at Brett Landscaping and chose to use the GeoCeramica range of porcelain paving. The range provides the look and finish of natural stone, while containing modern paving technology suited to the demands of the project.

Brett Landscaping were able to demonstrate that not only would the Fiordi GeoCeramica system provide a finish that met the aesthetic requirements of the upper terraces of the project, but that it could meet the loading requirements and ensure its suitability for the building’s design.

GeoCeramica is a hybrid porcelain and concrete paving flag tile with a pre-bonded cementitious water permeable drainage layer.

For the roof-top areas GeoCeramica has been installed on a pedestal system. This is made possible due to the inherent dead weight of each hybrid flag tile and its individual strength characteristics. The product could meet the technical brief without compromising on the aesthetics offered.

The specification of GeoCeramica provided HTA Design with assurance that the paving would prove durable in all weathers and conditions, at the top of the 14 storey Tillerman’s Court (Block 5) on the scheme.

A further 1200m2 of the GeoCeramica Impasto and Fiordi paving was supplied to provide footpaths and private terraces on the podium landscapes. These provide a high-end finish to the communal amenity gardens at first floor level.

Ajay Vohra, Specification Sales Manager – London and South East, Brett Landscaping said:

“The Greenford Quay project allowed the opportunity for Brett’s GeoCeramica to meet the needs of HTA’s brief and vision for the development for its roof and podium terraces. The elegant range of aesthetics available of this high-quality product, is the future choice and the latest progression in paving and roofing materials.

“At Brett Landscaping we offer high specification paving systems that add value to large public spaces and boost those complex intricate detailed areas. The Brett team provides the expertise, and offer the complete service from conceptual or technical design, right through to sale, supply and installation.”

Ian Hainsworth Senior Landscape Architect at HTA Design:

“Working with Brett allowed us to choose a paving system that met the high aesthetic requirements of this landmark luxury development, without compromising on the structural durability, reliability and quality of the installed system.”

“As former industrial estates are reclaimed and converted to modern living developments, there is a need for architects to design public realms that can offer residents a real sense of wide-open space. Greenford Quay is a landmark example of how new community neighbourhoods can be created through careful use of design and high-quality building materials.”

www.brettpaving.co.uk

/0 Comments/by

Orders Boom as Construction Sector Growth Rises

Summary of HIS Markit/CPS latest construction report

 

 

House building remains the best-performing category

New order growth highest for just over six years

Stretched supply chains lead to rising costs in November

 

CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL REPORT

 

COMMENTS:

 

Tim Moore, Economics Director at IHS Markit, which compiles the survey:

“UK construction output stayed on a recovery path in November and there were signs that the main growth driver has transitioned from catch-up work to new projects. The latest increase in new orders was the strongest since late-2014, with construction firms reporting a boost from rising client confidence and the release of budgets that had been held back earlier in the pandemic.

 

Kate Kirby, partner in the Construction & Infrastructure practice at global legal business, DWF

 “November’s figures show a continued trend of growth in the construction sector, despite the most recent lockdown conditions taking hold in their various forms across the UK during the month. While growth has slowed down in the later part of the year, there is still demand to get new projects off the ground. Similarly, the upturn in the housing market, spurred on in part by the stamp duty holiday, is also adding to a positive outlook.

“Coronavirus has hit all parts of the economy hard and unfortunately, employee numbers have dropped once again despite construction continuing during the latest lockdown measures. However, with the news that a vaccine is to be rolled out imminently, coupled with more testing facilities around the country and in airports, it is hoped 2021 will provide greater job security for those working in the construction sector and beyond.”

 

 

Fraser Johns, Finance Director at Beard

“New orders at the highest level since 2014 really demonstrates that confidence is returning, new projects are back on plan and rather than just catching up on ourselves, the construction sector is continuing its recovery.

“Certainly, this reflects our own experience at Beard as we look towards 2021 with a head of work which is very healthy, not only for this year but at any time.

“While this is all cause for optimism, we also need to recognise that there is continued pressure on supply chains currently. That is going to be brought into sharp focus come 1st January if the Brexit talks currently ongoing are not resolved with an agreement of some sort. No industry sector as important to the economy as construction can afford to suffer due to delays at the border while we wait for materials to reach our sites.”

 

Duncan Brock, Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply Group Director

“The sector is moving back to strength with another solid rise in output and gaining more momentum as new orders rose last month at the highest rate since October 2014.

“The energy behind this success was primarily the housing sector as sales remained buoyed by consumers rushing to meet the stamp duty relief deadline less than four months away and a rise in home improvement projects for locked down citizens.”

“In a bid to dampen down the effects of the sharpest rise in input costs since April 2019, builders were reducing headcounts to keep their own heads above water leading to another fall in job numbers,”

“As more work fills the sector’s pipelines, the necessity to recruit is likely to become more urgent, and the shortfall could be reversed barring further disruption.”

 

Howard Archer, EY ITEM Club chief economic advisor

“Positively, the index observed there were signs the main growth driver has transitioned from catch-up work to new projects.”

 

Follow us on Twitter            Join us on Linked in  

/0 Comments/by

GETTING READY FOR JANUARY 1ST – THE BDA

The BDA (Brick Development Association) has now prepared its statement and guidelines for manufacturers and others to use CE Marking post, Brexit.  This notice will also help end users to recognise clay brick products that meet standards following Brexit.

Clay bricks manufactured in the UK are covered by a harmonised European product standard, which is enforced through the CPR (Construction Products Regulations) by the Assessment and Verification of Consistency of Performance (AVCP) systems. From the 1st Jan 2021 the CPR and harmonised standards will be copied across into UK law, so UK bricks will continue to be manufactured to the same standards and test methods.

From the 1st Jan 2021 it will be possible to certify products using the new UK Conformity Assessment Mark (UKCA Mark).

For the period of 2021 there will be equal recognition of the UKCA mark and the CE mark, then from 2022 only the UKCA mark will be recognised in UK law.

For the start of 2021 it is the intention of UK brick manufacturers to continue to use the CE mark for bricks placed on the UK market, before switching to the UKCA mark, ready for the 1st Jan 2022.

 

Please click here for the full statement and guidance.

 

Follow us on Twitter            Join us on Linked in  

/0 Comments/by

Thorn luminaires help revolutionise facilities at a Samuel Ward Academy in Suffolk

,

Working on a brief to deliver a first-class facility for the pupils and teachers, Thorn Lighting has supplied both internal and external illumination for the £10 million education block that has revolutionised facilities at a Samuel Ward Academy in Suffolk. The luminaires were chosen to enhance the overall appearance of the state-of-the-art facility and create flexible and adaptable 21st Century learning environment for pupils, whilst providing a low maintenance, energy efficient solution.

The three-storey building replaced the school’s single-storey blocks A and B, which sat at the front of the building and, in addition to classrooms, the block houses the library, the SEN (special educational needs) resource base, specialist music and art rooms and media suites. Funding for the work came from the Government’s Priority School Build Programme with the building providing high standards in terms of natural daylighting, acoustic performance and the internal environment.

 

Thorn’s Arena LED luminaires illuminate the classrooms throughout the building. Their excellent light quality and sound absorbing features minimise the sound reverberation in the classrooms. Modern concrete walls, hard flooring and large amounts of glass all reflect (rather than absorb) sound. The echo effect created in this way can make it difficult to hear the teacher speak, causing students to raise the noise level even further by chatting amongst themselves. The innovative Arena LED minimises this.

Arena is a direct/indirect luminaire that gives the Academy a modern visual appearance. The fitting is available with a wide range of control options and has been designed for flexibility, offering a choice of infills to adapt the length of the system to match all classroom layouts, Arena is fully compliant with BB93 for optimum classroom performance, utilising high-efficiency LEDs to slash energy consumption.

Thorn’s Piazza robust IP65, wall mounted luminaires have been used for the illumination of the exterior of the building. Piazza has unique photometrics with 3 metre forward light throw and 12 metre spacing that also provides a very low upward light throw with less than 2.5% ULOR. Piazza delivers excellent 116 lm/W efficiency with simple installation.

For more information on Thorn and its products, see the website www.thornlighting.co.uk

Follow us on Twitter            Join us on Linked in  

/0 Comments/by

INSTANT HOT WATER WITH ARISTON’s AURES SLIM MULTI

,

ARISTON’S AURES SLIM MULTI PROVIDES ELECTRIC HOT WATER IN AN INSTANT

The Aures Slim Multi instantaneous electric water heater from Ariston is the ideal alternative to electric storage water heaters, as it requires no time at all to heat up. Water does not need to be stored – instead, it is warmed up immediately when it comes into contact with a powerful heating element as it flows through the unit, resulting in unlimited availability on demand. As a result, the Aures Slim Multi can be installed throughout a home or property close to point of use.

 Capable of producing hot water to serve multiple taps and showers (one outlet at a time – not simultaneously), the Aures Slim Multi is a wall-mounted unit perfectly suited to applications such as kitchens and bathrooms. It also has an ‘A’ class ErP energy rating, making it the most efficient method of providing water at the point of use. There is no energy loss as a result of water being heated instantaneously, while there is no need to maintain a pre-set temperature when not in use. Units are also easy to install and maintain, requiring only a connection to the water supply and a fused spur.

A front facing 4-step dial and LED indication ensures ease of operation, while allowing the power to be set to the desired level for optimal comfort. The LED indicators highlight the selected power level: ‘low’ (4.5kW), ‘medium’ (5kW) or ‘high’ (9.5kW). The Aures Slim Multi is also equipped with a flow sensor system, which initiates instantaneous water heating when an outlet is opened.

 

 

Other advantages include the plentiful, continuous delivery of hot water not being limited by the capacity of a tank, while small dimensions save valuable wall space – as well as eliminate the need for a storage cylinder. This makes the Aures Slim Multi the perfect water heating option for installation in small, narrow spaces, such as under a kitchen sink. As a result, the unit is suitable for applications including utility rooms, garages and conservatories.

Commenting on the instantaneous electric water heater, Victoria Gutierrez, Marketing Manager at Ariston, said: “Our Aures Slim Multi is proving extremely popular in projects where there is no mains gas supply or hot water storage facility present. Their high-quality construction, aesthetic appeal and level of performance, coupled with their space and energy saving credentials, ensure they are a fantastic means of supplying outlets with instant hot water.”

All internal components can be accessed from the front of the unit for easy maintenance, while a double thermal cut-out ensures safety and added peace of mind. Every Aures Slim Multi electric instantaneous water heater is also supplied with a two-year warranty as standard.

 

Further information about Aures Slim Multi can be viewed here.

 

For more details about Ariston and its range of electric water heaters, visit: www.ariston.com/uk.

 

Follow us on Twitter    Join us on Linked in  

/0 Comments/by

What does the Fourth Industrial Revolution mean for construction?

,

Joe Bradbury discusses the fourth industrial revolution which is currently underway and what digitisation and technological advancement might spell for our industry:

We find ourselves on the brink of a fourth industrial revolution. Industrial Revolution, in modern history, can be defined as the process of change from an agrarian and handicraft economy to one dominated by industry and machine manufacturing. This process began in Britain in the 18th century and from there spread to other parts of the world.

What has come to be known by modern historians as the first Industrial Revolution lasted from the mid-18th century to around 1830 and was mostly confined to Britain. The second Industrial Revolution lasted from the mid-19th century until the early 20th century and took place in Britain, continental Europe, North America, and Japan.

The third revolution spread even further still, bringing about the rise of electronics, telecommunications and computers. These new technologies changed our world drastically, opening the doors to space expeditions, digital research, and biotechnology.

In 2017 data finally surpassed oil in value. Welcome to a new age.

 

The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR)

The Fourth Industrial Revolution is now well underway, and can be described as the coming together of multiple advances within the fields of artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, the Internet of Things (IoT), 3D printing, quantum computing, etc.

The term itself describes perfectly the ever-dissolving boundaries between the physical, digital, and biological. As technology and digitalisation gains pace, so too does our newfound dependency upon it; as such many products and services of modern life are quickly becoming indispensable. Where would we be now without GPS, virtual reality, BIM, robotics and social media? Are we hooked on innovation? Will it be the making of us or our undoing? …Only time will tell!

The Fourth Industrial Revolution is definitely paving the way for hugely transformative changes in not only our perception, but also the way we live and work on a day-to-day basis. Change is underway, radically disrupting almost every business sector. The construction industry is of no exception to this, rippling to the shockwaves. How will 4IR affect us?

What 4IR means for construction

Even a quick scan of trade media outlets will show you that the future of the construction industry is a highly debated topic. Will it be offsite? Will it be smart homes? Will it be social housing? Will it be modular? Will it be sustainable? We ask many questions and posit many well-informed answers, but when doing so we are essentially gazing into a crystal ball.

One thing we can agree on is that you simply cannot stay the same in a world that is changing. This is a recipe for disaster. It is widely accepted that the construction sector has been slow to adapt to change in recent history. Indeed, this unwillingness to break from the norm is the very reason why offsite has not been adopted to anywhere near the levels it should be in order to meet modern demand and make a meaningful dent in the current housing crisis, in spite of its huge potential.

Regardless of the latest advancements in technology, cost and schedule over-runs are still considered normal and labour productivity has not kept pace with economic productivity. Of course, there are always many unforeseen challenges that arise when rolling out new technology at scale across a complex supply chain such as the construction industry, but simply soldiering on as we always have done is not the answer. These are challenges that must be overcome.

How to change along with the world

There are numerous technologies around that can greatly assist companies in digitally transforming, with new ones continually coming to the fold. The first stage in making sure we keep up with the rate of change being brought about by the fourth industrial revolution begins in our mind. We must embrace technology, with a positive mindset towards change, and make it work for us. This change of mindset is fundamental to the success of our industry in a modern age.

The push for sustainability

The UK construction industry is currently responsible for 45% of total UK carbon emissions, 32% of all landfill waste and is responsible for more water pollution incidents than any other industry. We are the largest consumer of natural resources in the UK today; a stark point that highlights just how high up on the agenda reconsideration of our building practices should be. The impact of our materials usage on the environment in of itself is staggering; a recent report by Willmott Dixon Group suggested that the construction industry alone is accountable for around 45-50% of global energy usage, nearly 50% of worldwide water usage, and around 60% of the total usage of raw materials.

The good news is that 4IR is bringing about the knowledge, skills and technology to facilitate real change in the world.

Growing demand for environmental solutions is driving innovation within the areas of building operations, site design, maintenance, repair and demolition and recycling. This is a positive thing, leading us to strive for zero energy buildings and sustainable indoor environments through the development of technologies such as renewable heating and smart devices.

Efficiency is becoming a much larger focus, and as such materials need to be cost-effective, durable and low impact on the environment. A challenge, no doubt; but one that we will benefit from greatly in overcoming it.

The need for safety post-Covid

The Covid pandemic will also play a huge role in shaping the world of tomorrow. Empowering the workforce to work remotely, flexibly and more adeptly will be ever more important over the coming years. We cannot afford all of this lockdown nonsense again. Will increased uptake of cloud services drive efficiency and increase productivity? Only if we embrace this change with an open mind!

This area of change will take some getting used to. However, the need for businesses to continue operating throughout this pandemic they have had to adapt quick to their workforce working from home, and out of necessity great innovations have taken place in order to facilitate this. Perhaps in the future AI, bots, and chat options will enable businesses to digitalise and automate the front office… but it cannot replace the need for customer interaction entirely.

We have all felt the frustrations of speaking to a bot on a phone!

In summary

The world seems to be changing so quickly now that the debate on whether or not it is a good thing is becoming irrelevant. In order for industries to survive and thrive, they must be open to change. Our role in this must not be that of a luddite. We must dive into it and ensure we take every step in our power to get it right. If we do this, the rewards and benefits that new technologies can bring to our industry will be huge, justifying the time we must now devote to its adoption.

Follow us on Twitter        Join us on Linked in 

 

/0 Comments/by

860,000 NEW HOMES, THE BIGGEST INVESTMENT IN THE HISTORY OF ENGLAND

Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced £7.1bn of funding for the National Home Building Fund in the government’s Spending Review. Here’s how it could impact the UK housing market.

In the Spending Review, the government introduced a raft of funding that will impact the UK housing stock. Through the National Home Building Fund, the Chancellor has pledged £7.1bn over the next four years. This large sum of funding will help unlock up to 860,000 homes.

Overall, the Spending Review announced nearly £20bn of investment in housing. This is the single biggest investment in new homes in England’s history. In addition to the housing fund, the government also confirmed £12.2bn for the Affordable Homes Programme across the next six years. Providing up to 180,000 new homes, this is also the largest investment in affordable housing in a decade.

The housing market’s role in the economy

The UK housing market is playing a significant role in the country’s economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. Since the end of the first lockdown, the sector has spurred economic activity. The National Home Building Fund will help the country sustain this recovery and deliver additional housing.

Many professionals in the UK property industry are glad to see substantial funding going towards additional housing delivery. This will help meet the strong demand for more housing across the country and to help rectify the housing shortage.

The housebuilding sector will receive significant support

Within the National Home Building Fund, £2.2bn of new loan finance will go towards supporting housebuilding. This includes funding for SME housebuilders, modern methods of construction (MMC) and a new Help to Build scheme for custom and self-builders. Additionally, an extra 100m will fund authorities in 2021/22 to support housebuilding and regeneration. This will include unlocking brownfield sites and serviced plots for self and custom builders.

Building homes using MMC is a key way to boost the UK’s housing stock. Self-builders can also help bolster the UK’s housing supply and bring forward a greater variety of homes. Andrew Baddeley-Chappell, CEO of National Custom & Self Build Association, feels the announcements show the government is committed to increasing the diversity of choice in new homes being brought to the market.

He states: “Greater choice will lead to great innovation and competition that will lead to more and better homes. We hope to see the new Help to Build scheme up and running as soon as possible together with the additional wonderful, affordable, sustainable, uplifting new homes that it will help deliver.”

 

Planning system reform will be key

This year, change of use and permitted development rights have been updated. And more planning changes will likely come forward soon. Some property professionals have stressed the importance of speeding up the planning process. And many feel there is a need to bring forward significant planning reform.

Brian Berry, the chief executive of the Federation of Master Builders, says the government must be bolder to build, build, build our way to recovery with better and greener homes. He welcomes the extra support and funding, “but without urgent investment in our local authority planning departments to speed up decisions, projects are struggling to get off the ground.”

In a recent blog post, Savills states the planning system will be key in the UK’s post-pandemic recovery. The Spending Review included an additional £12m of resource funding to take forward the government’s changes to the planning system.

The Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) has cautiously welcomed some of the government’s announcements to invest in homebuilding and level up the country. However, the institute says the £12m allocated for planning is only 10% of what is required.

Victoria Hills, chief executive of the RTPI, comments: “While we understand the impact the pandemic has had on the country’s public finances, the government will not be able to achieve its ambitions to radically overhaul the planning system without adequate investment in local authorities.”

Housing market changes still to come

Many professionals in the UK property industry have been calling for an extension to the stamp duty holiday and were disappointed there were no announcements on this in the Spending Review. The tax holiday has led to a mini-boom in the property market and is currently set to end on the same day the furlough programme will end.

We are expecting to see changes to stamp duty and capital gains tax next year. Additional planning policy changes are also to come. Many UK landlords, property investors and developers will be eagerly awaiting announcements in these areas to see how it will affect them.

 

Source: BuyAssociation

Follow us on TwitterJoin us on Linked in

/0 Comments/by