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Modular Prototype for Circular Living

Dismantlable wooden residence introduces modular prototype for circular living in germany

House anton ii is a glue-free Timber residence in Germany

Standing as a monolithic cube in a traditional orchard near Augsburg, Germany, House Anton II by Manfred Lux, in collaboration with Antxon Cánovas, redefines ecological architecture through a dismantlable, glue-free timber construction. Designed as a prototype for adaptable, resource-efficient living, the structure relies on a digitally fabricated wooden framework that forgoes metal fasteners, ensuring complete disassembly and reuse. The house is based on an 80-centimeter structural grid, allowing for variations in length and height—its serial construction principle making it scalable as a one-to-three-story dwelling.

 

Manfred lux & CÁNOVAS ARQUITECTURA install coffered ceilings

The Neusaess-based architect partners with Antxon Cánovas of Cánovas Arquitectura to reveal the construction principle of the House Anton II upon entry, where outwardly angled supports hold visible coffered ceilings. These 7-degree tilted supports extend the eaves, providing essential shading for the ground-floor windows in summer while protecting the wooden base from splash water. The steep upper-floor roof, angled at 70 degrees, creates a spatial envelope that enhances climatic performance and interior comfort. The use of untreated ash wood, sourced from the nearby Siebentisch Forest, aligns with Manfred Lux’s sustainable design—no extra trees were felled, and even wartime metal fragments found in the salvaged timber were embraced as part of the structure’s history.

 

 

Joinery-Based Design and Circular Construction

Inside, the house functions as a piece of furniture, where the load-bearing elements double as storage solutions. The 60-centimeter-deep ribs of the frame integrate wardrobes and shelves, maximizing spatial efficiency within the 80-square-meter home. The structure is entirely joinery-based, with dovetail-jointed supports and wooden dowels ensuring a precise, interlocking assembly without adhesives. The dowels also serve a secondary function, acting as conduits for indirect ceiling lighting.

The design follows principles of circular construction, with a foundation partly made from repurposed concrete blocks originally used in silo construction. Despite its unique shell, House Anton II is conceived as part of a scalable housing series, with variations in form, cladding—ranging from shingles to thatch or metal—and adaptable layouts.

 

Source: Design Boom

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Milestone to Regenerate Clipstone

The Clipstone Headstocks at sunset (Image: Stuart Mills)

Planning permission has been granted to develop a former underused site at Clipstone Holdings into high-quality space for businesses.

The project has already seen the demolition of most of the existing old industrial units at the site, which is understood to have formerly been the train yard for the Clipstone colliery, for which the old powerhouse and headstocks (Grade II listed) still stand to the east of the site.

Work will now begin towards the end of Spring to develop 30 brand new units on the site, the plans for which were last week unanimously approved by members of Newark and Sherwood District Council’s Planning Committee.

The proposals include eight blocks of development, comprising 30 units of four different sizes. The new units will create new jobs, during both the construction and when operational.

The District Council’s environmental strategy was embedded within the plans, with Solar PV panels to be installed on all units, a garden to utilise rainwater and cycle stores built to promote sustainable travel. The landscape and greenery will also be developed to increase biodiversity and bring character to the area, and permeable surfacing will be used in parking areas to reduce surface water run-off into storm drains.

Councillor Paul Peacock, Leader of Newark and Sherwood District Council, said:

“This is a big milestone in our plans to regenerate Clipstone. The new energy-efficient office and workshop spaces will bring huge economic benefits – from providing modern facilities to attract businesses, to increasing the opportunities for employment and skills for local people, while also sustaining the overall character and appearance of the area, which is the setting of landmark nearby listed buildings.

“The units have already received lots of interest and we have received several enquiries about renting these, which just goes to show how in demand modern business spaces such as these are for the community.”

Source: Business Link East Midands
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The Bridgewater Tidal Barrier

Illustration of the completed barrier

 

The £249M Bridgwater tidal barrier project has reached a milestone with the arrival of a jack up barge that will enable the construction of a cofferdam and piling.

The Bridgwater tidal barrier project in Somerset will be one of the largest flood defence schemes in the UK.

The project comprises a tidal surge barrier across the River Parrett between Express Park and Chilton Trinity and improved flood defences downstream of the barrier. This will involve increasing the height of the existing riverside flood banks in some areas.

The arrival of a jack up barge in Bridgewater on 13 March will enable the construction of the cofferdam, an enclosure pumped dry to allow work below the water level, and bearing piles for the barrier’s foundations.

Known as Haven Sea Seven, the 30.5m long and 18.3m wide jack up barge was delivered to the site from Liverpool where it was dispatched on 27 February. Enroute, the barge docked at Barry Port where a 300t crane was loaded, before continuing its journey to Bridgwater.

The barrier is being developed by the Environment Agency (EA) in partnership with Somerset Council and supported by the Somerset Rivers Authority (SRA) and the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).

Atkins Réalis was commissioned by the EA to undertake the detailed design for the barrier, while Kier is the contractor.

Kier has already installed pre-cast concrete piles and a load bearing working platform on the left bank at Express Park to support the large plant required to build the barrier.

On the right bank side of the river at Chilton Trinity, piling works to upgrade the outfall structure at Pims Clyce were completed in February this year. A new sheet piled retaining wall has been installed, enabling the crest level to be raised.

Kier will now carry out bulk filling and installing tie rods and capping beams to complete the upgrades require.

Enabling works started on the barrier and downstream defences in 2023.

Commenting on the delivery of the jack up barge, EA flood and coastal risk manager for Wessex, Rachel Burden, said that it was a “big step” towards delivering the project.

Kier’s natural resources, nuclear and networks, operations director for the environment agency framework, Philip Ramsay, said: “It’s brilliant to see the progress on both sides of the River Parrett including the arrival of the jack up barge.”

Set to be operational by 2027, the Bridgwater tidal barrier will better protect 11,300 homes and 1,500 businesses from tidal flooding in Bridgwater and nearby communities and provide £2bn in benefits to the local area.

The scheme comprises the tidal barrier; an operational site with a control building and store; downstream flood banks at Chilton Trinity, Pawlett and Combwich; and 12 upstream sites with improved fish and eel passage.

The barrier will feature two “vertical lift” gates to prevent water from flowing upstream during very high tides.

The full business case for the Bridgwater tidal barrier was approved last autumn.

The project has been beset by challenges and rising costs in recent years. When it was greenlit in March 2022, it was costed at around £100M. In late 2022, work was paused due to the discovery of asbestos.

By late 2023 the EA’s Wessex regional flood and coastal committee set the cost at £249M due to rises in risk allowance, inflation and design and construction costs.

Source: Ground Engineering

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CLEAN ENERGY – Scotland Considers

GB Energy’s announcement last July was generally met with enthusiasm – or at the very least, interest. The notion of having a company dedicated to making the UK a clean energy superpower (their words) brought a renewed drive from businesses to consider how they could ride this journey of change. For Scotland, it was seen as a major opportunity for the private sector to invest in wind, solar and nuclear energy projects.

Fast forward six months and the move continues to underscore the country’s reputation as a renewable energy hub and promises to significantly boost various industries, including construction and real estate.

We carried out research into the attitudes of Scottish business leaders around GB Energy. The responses revealed an overwhelming positivity, with 81% confident that the creation of GB Energy will deliver a positive economic impact. This is a clear indication of business positivity around Scotland’s potential to grow its renewable energy sector and the potential of the renewable energy sector to drive future economic prosperity.

So, what does the creation of GB Energy mean specifically for the construction and real estate sectors? Our research showed two-thirds (66%) of business leaders believe that its presence will drive investment in these industries. But what is the rationale behind such optimism?

The construction industry expects to see an increase in opportunities related to renewable energy projects. The expansion of onshore and offshore wind farms will require significant construction efforts, providing a steady stream of projects for local firms.

There will be increased demand for sustainable infrastructure, aligning well with Scotland’s goal of achieving net-zero by 2045.

GB Energy’s presence is also expected to bolster the construction and real estate workforce. It’s anticipated that this growth will be supported by relevant skills development initiatives, ensuring that the workforce is fully equipped to meet the demands of an evolving industry. This will lead to higher demand for real estate in key areas, including housing developments, industrial, and commercial properties.

Funding has been provided to speed up the delivery of a “skills passport” to support oil and gas workers transitioning to the offshore wind sector. The pilot for this digital tool for offshore energy workers was launched last month as part of the effort to ensure Scotland remains at the cutting edge of technologies.

A contract to develop partnerships with Scottish public bodies in the clean energy sector, including Crown Estate Scotland, the Enterprise Agencies, and the Scottish National Investment Bank has been signed by both the Scottish and UK Governments. These collaborations aim to deliver projects quickly and effectively, avoid duplication and maximise the impact and value for money from Scottish projects.

There’s no denying that the clean energy transition presents a huge opportunity for Scotland, and with the existing framework in GB Energy, should be well-positioned to help accelerate the development of key supply chains and infrastructure. The beneficial ripple effects should be felt across the country.

The construction and real estate sectors stand to gain immensely, with increased opportunities, workforce growth, and enhanced property values. As Scotland continues to position itself as a leader in renewable energy, the future looks bright indeed.

 

Source: The Herald

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Affordable Homes for Rotherham

Work starts on more new affordable homes in Rotherham

Work has started on the development of 14 new affordable, energy saving homes in the north of the borough, as part of Rotherham Council’s ambitious housing delivery programme.

The Leader of Rotherham Council, Cllr Chris Read was joined by Kilnhurst and Swinton East Ward Councillors, Cllr Victoria Cusworth and Cllr Nigel Harper and Cabinet Member for Housing Cllr Sarah Allen to officially break ground on site in Swinton last week.

When complete, the development which, was once the home of the former Ship Inn public house, will boast four, one-bedroom, semi-detached bungalows.

In neighbouring West Melton, building work is taking place at pace on two separate developments which will see the area benefit from six, two-bedroom, semi-detached houses and four, one-bedroom apartments.

Partners RH Fullwood & Co Ltd, are using modern methods of construction to enhance the speed of the builds, meaning that the new homes will be ready for occupation sooner, helping to mitigate against the impact on the local community during construction.

In addition to being energy efficient, the homes will also be future proofed through the inclusion of air-source heat pumps for the supply of heating and hot water to help reduce energy bills for tenants.

Cllr Read said:

“These developments are another step forward in our commitment to support local people with their housing needs by providing more affordable and high-quality council homes for local people to rent.

“We’re working hard to ensure that we continually adapt to the boroughs changing housing needs to offer a range of properties to residents including apartments, bungalows, and family homes, all with energy efficiency measures as standard.

The partnership with R H Fullwoods will build on the Council’s award-winning work on social value to promote local employment through council spending. Throughout the works, the Yorkshire based builders have committed to employing 3 FTE local people on the project and spending over £180,000 locally.

Director, Guy Fullwood added:

“We are delighted to collaborate once again with Rotherham Council in delivering a diverse range of properties. This partnership allows us to create local employment opportunities, including the recruitment of a new apprentice, directly resulting from these initiatives. In line with our commitment to supporting the Rotherham area, we prioritise sourcing from local suppliers and subcontractors whenever possible”.

In addition to Council investment, the project was awarded grant funding from the Government’s Affordable Homes Programme (AHP), managed by Homes England.

Matthew Wright, Affordable Housing Delivery Manager at Homes England said:

“As the Government’s housing and regeneration agency, increasing the supply of quality affordable homes remains one of our key objectives and we are committed to supporting ambitious housebuilders of all sizes to build those homes and communities.

This investment through the Affordable Homes Programme does just that, enabling the Council to build 14 much needed new homes the people of Swinton and West Melton can be proud of.”

Since the programme began in 2018, the Council has delivered 669 new homes for Council rent or shared ownership. Further sites and projects have been identified to deliver hundreds more properties to meet the Council’s commitment to deliver 1,000 new Council homes across the borough by summer 2027.

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Canada Supports New Wood Construction Technologies

Canada Supports New Wood Construction Technologies in British Columbia

 

The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, has announced over $1.5 million in federal support for three projects focusing on the advancement of prefabricated wood construction in the province of British Columbia. These investments are aimed at promoting construction using Canadian wood and driving sustainable innovation in the forestry and construction sectors.

The following projects are receiving support through Natural Resources Canada’s (NRCan) Green Construction through Wood (GCWood) program:

  • $995,000 to the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) to build the two-storey Robert Bosa Carpentry Pavillion, a “wood first” mass timber building featuring glulam columns and beams and cross-laminated timber floor, roof and wall panels. This zero-carbon, passive house, LEED Gold and Rick Hansen– certified building will serve as an educational hub at BCIT, offering specialized programs in mass timber and hybrid construction, and will contribute to British Columbia’s climate plan.
  • $300,000 to Prefab Buildings Initiative to create energy-efficient mass timber designs for various types of buildings to help address Canada’s housing shortage and make construction faster and more affordable. This project aims to conduct a design workshop to finalize each building prototype, enabling rapid development of prefabricated buildings across Canada. It will stimulate collaboration between manufacturers on the mass production of multi-unit housing models (hotels, apartment retrofits, seniors’ residences, etc.), which will help address a broad range of housing needs.
  • $219,870 to Scius Advisory to create an online directory of companies across Canada that specialize in building prefabricated parts, which can be assembled off-site and transported to construction sites. This project will develop an interactive map to help builders and policymakers better understand the availability of green construction materials and technologies across the country.

These investments will help drive down construction costs, speed up building timelines and increase the availability of affordable and sustainable housing. By advancing the use of state-of-the-art Canadian wood products, the federal government is helping to build a better future, creating jobs and supporting the construction industry’s transition toward the innovative green building practices that drive the demand for Canadian forestry products and forestry expertise.

Quotes

“Developing new markets for Canadian timber not only supports forestry workers and creates jobs but also helps us achieve other goals, including more housing and lower emissions. By promoting the use of low-carbon Canadian wood in construction, the Government of Canada is strengthening communities and local economies in British Columbia — without cutting corners on the environment.”

The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson
Minister of Energy and Natural Resources 

“As the largest trades training provider in Western Canada, BCIT is at the forefront of partnering with industry and government to deliver sustainable solutions that build a greener future. The investment from Natural Resources Canada toward the development of the BCIT Robert Bosa Carpentry Pavilion exemplifies Canada’s leadership in sustainable construction practices while providing a living lab that enhances training and research opportunities for the next generation of skilled tradespeople.”

Dr. Jeff Zabudsky
President, British Columbia Institute of Technology

“The success of the Prefab Buildings Initiative is a testament to Canadian innovation and collaboration, made possible through the support of NRCan’s GCWood program and the dedication of our nation’s suppliers and manufacturers. Together, we are building a made-in-Canada solution that accelerates housing delivery, enhances sustainability and strengthens our domestic construction industry.”

Andrew Bowerbank
Executive Director, Prefab Buildings Initiative

“The launch of our interactive dashboard marks a significant step in understanding and advancing Canada’s construction prefabrication sector. With comprehensive data on over 800 companies, our Prefab Construction Navigator provides industry leaders and policymakers with the insights needed to accelerate adoption, improve productivity and drive innovation. Prefabrication is key to meeting Canada’s urgent housing and infrastructure demands, and this research offers a roadmap for scaling its impact.”

Mark Devereux
Managing Director, Scius

Quick facts

  • Since 2017, GCWood has invested $14.7M in 9 building projects in the province of British Columbia. The program also has supported 35 initiatives across Canada that stimulate the development of wood construction across the country.
  • The Green Construction through Wood (GCWood) program encourages the use of innovative wood-based building technologies in construction projects. It supports Canada’s commitment to reach 2030 and 2050 emissions reduction targets under the Paris Agreement and advance long-term priorities regarding greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction.
  • GCWood invests in wood construction projects that generate many benefits, including:

    o    reduced GHG emissions from renewable and sustainable resources that help decarbonize the built environment

    o    accelerated adoption of innovative building technologies and systems

    o    updated building codes that allow for taller and larger wood buildings

    o    affordable housing and community infrastructure

Source: Government of Canada

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House MOT’s to break the House Sale Contract Jam

With the average time it takes to complete a home purchase typically taking more than five months, an estate agent in London is calling for the industry to establish an ‘MOT’ system for new property listings, to help speed up the residential property sales process.

Amy Reynolds, head of sales at Antony Roberts estate agency in Richmond, wants to see the MOT be a form with a standardised checklist of questions agreed on by the industry. It would be given to the vendor by their solicitor before the property goes on the market, so all the information is ready if they receive an offer.

Reynolds commented:

“The current system is fraught with unnecessary delays. For example – we get a buyer, and the seller’s solicitor sends whatever they’ve got and waits for the buyer’s side to ask questions. The buyer’s solicitor comes back and says ‘we’re missing a Fensa certificate for two windows from 2023. Do you have one?’ And then it goes back and forth on every point. Gas safety certificate, roof, buildings insurance. If the seller’s solicitor found the gaps at the beginning, before they got a buyer, sales would be significantly sped up. Where possible, we encourage sellers to get ‘sale ‘ready and those that do have a much better experience.”

Reynolds, who is putting her own house on the market this spring, added:

“In preparation for my own sale, I got my house files out over Christmas. I realised I was missing a building certificate for my extension, so emailed the council straight away. I’ve had my fireplace serviced – I know that’s going to get asked. I’ve got my Fensa certificates, copied my building insurance, my council tax, I’m getting my gas service done, getting the chimney swept. I know I have an indemnity policy from when I bought it. I’ve got all of this together, so that when I find a buyer, I can exchange quickly.”

Whilst historically, Home Information Packs (Hips) were seen as a solution to this problem, they were criticised for adding red tape and costs to sellers, and were scrapped.

Reynolds added:

“The problem with Hips is that they deterred casual sellers from speculatively putting their house on the market to see if it got any interest; the packs took a long time to assemble and cost up to £400. My suggested ‘MOT’ system would not be mandatory; sellers could download the form online for free if they wanted to plan ahead. Speculators could still test their house on the market without an MOT, and just wait a little longer if they got a buyer. If even half the market used an MOT and got their documents together up front, it would break the present logjam.”

Source: Property Industry Eye

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UK HVAC & HEAT PUMP SKILLS SHORTAGE – WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?

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Rinnai’s Tony Gittings analyses the advent of a shortage of skilled labour in the HVAC industry and specifically in heat pump installation, as well as the wider energy industry. The effect of a rising skills shortage on large infrastructure projects and national NetZero objectives may take a heavy toll.

 

A national skills shortage in the HVAC, heat pump installation and wider UK energy industry is a growing issue that needs close attention as it could have a very serious impact on NetZero objectives. Internal and external issues impacting the drive to carbon neutrality are usually given media and government attention in priority to the more mundane topic of training the next generation of skilled installers and contractors. One area directly related is the shortage of training and experienced heat pump installers and engineers.

The skills shortage affects two key areas that are vital components of the drive towards UK carbon neutrality. Progress in domestic and commercial heat pump installations as well as large infrastructure projects is being negatively influenced by a lack of trained professionals.

However, the number of qualified heat pump engineers has increased from just 3,000 in 2022 to 7,800 in 2023. In the first 9 months of 2024 a further 7,000 had completed a recognised qualification. For the UK to realise NetZero objectives it is estimated by the UK Heat Pump Association that a total of 33,700 fully approved heat pump engineers is required – with at least 27,000 needed for 2028.

Despite the rise in UK heat pump installers further problems relating to skills being unused due to a lack of domestic demand is apparent. In a recent article, Charlotte Lee, chief executive of the Heat Pump Association, said

“more people are training to become heat pump installers’ but warned that increased consumer demand is needed “to encourage trained individuals to become active in the workforce”.

“Interest in the training is growing. However, there is a gap between the number of trained individuals and active heat pump installers working in the market with around 39 per cent of those who complete a training course currently not going on to install heat pumps.”

 

Additional factors that have influenced heat pump workforce size projections include poor government support, retirement and senior heating engineers being reluctant to retrain. There are many obstacles in attracting qualified UK heat pump engineers and in the heat pump market that makes for installations being problematic.

Suspending or even cancelling large infrastructural projects due to a lack of recognised skilled labour is arguably a bigger challenge than attracting heat pump engineers.  Huge electrical grid upgrade projects face being postponed due to a gap in skilled workers able to carry out required tasks. There are numerous projects across the UK that centre on upgrading the electrical transmission grid.

To satisfy future electrical supply and demand the UK National Grid has announced plans for the “Great Grid Upgrade.” The national grid requires adapting due to a transition away from fossil fuels through electrification. The current UK grid was designed to transport coal fired energy generated from geographically positioned power stations.

The total cost of the upgrade is thought to be around £16 Billion (Fund Calibre, Yardley, 2024) and will include grid connections to offshore wind and rural solar installations that allows for the easy transfer of renewable power to all corners of Britain.

Further electrical grid connections and upgrade projects are being pursued that will also aid in the access of renewable energy to the UK electrical grid resulting in lower customer costs. The UK and Denmark have collaborated in constructing a link – the Viking Line’ – that stretches for 475 miles joining Lincolnshire and southern Jutland.

The Viking Link required £1.7 billion of investment and is capable of powering 2.5 million UK households. National Grid estimate that the new connection will result in £500 millions of savings for UK customers in its first 10 years by enabling a clear path of trade that compliments seasonal demand and price between the two countries. (all info available at National Grid website).

The UK and Netherlands governments have also announced plans to construct a submarine interconnection that will allow both countries to transfer and trade clean offshore wind generated electricity. The Lion Link will produce 1.8GW of energy – enough to power 2.5 million homes and is due to be operational around 2030. (Info available at National grid website)

Scottish Power will also upgrade their transmission network over the next 10 years costing £5.4 billion. These upgrades will contribute 80-85GW of clean renewable electricity to the British grid.

The UK Government is committed to decarbonising the UK electrical grid by 2030, hence the huge levels of labour and financial investment. For all this work to be completed a well-motivated and professional workforce is essential.

An article in green energy and environment reveals the gaps in skills and low morale inside the UK electrical sector. A workforce survey carried out by the public and private sector trade union Prospect demonstrates the impression held by industry professionals.

According to feedback from recipients 82% of workers inside the electrical sector believe staffing levels are too low, whilst 69% believe there is a tangible skills shortage. Ecological website Environmental Journal included the following quote from their 2024 article on the same topic.

 

‘Upgrading the UK’s electricity networks must be a national priority. However, the much-needed infrastructure rollout described in this report will not happen without a skilled workforce to plan, build, operate and maintain it,’ said Sue Ferns, Senior Deputy General Secretary of Prospect.

 

For the UK to encourage domestic and commercial heat pump installation as well as complete large and meaningful infrastructure jobs, a well-motivated and professional workforce must be in place. Without a skilled selection of workers, the UK will find progress in achieving NetZero targets substantially harder and the switch away from fossil fuels much more difficult. Training a new generation of electrical and heating engineers is integral to creating growth in a carbon reduced society.

Rinnai will continue to observe UK and international energy news movement and report any information that could impact energy options or appliances.  Rinnai is keen on providing all customers with a wealth of knowledge that encourages better, more informed, decision making.

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UK construction output plummets to five-year low

The UK’s construction output hit a five-year low in February as its fastest downturn since May 2020 continued.

S&P Global’s UK Construction Purchasing Managers Index dropped to 44.6 in February, down from 48.1 in January.

The latest figure indicated a steep decline in overall construction activity was propelled by a sluggish performance in residential buildings, the sector’s weakest performing area.

According to S&P, residential building decreased for the fifth month in a row, sinking to 39.3—the fastest decline since early 2009.

Respondents to the survey said weak demand, inflated borrowing costs and a lack of new work to replace completed projects drove the conditions.

S&P’s economics director, Tim Moore, said:

“Sharply declining order books rippled through the UK construction sector in February, which led to accelerated reductions in output volumes, employment and input buying.

“Weak demand conditions were attributed to entrenched caution among clients, against a backdrop of subdued consumer confidence and lackluster economic performance.”

The index’s drop in January ended the industry’s 10-month expansion streak.

Job cuts for the second consecutive month

As activity slowed, construction companies cut stuff for a second consecutive month, with the pace of job cuts at the highest levels since November 2020.

S&P suggest the lower employment figures were linked to employers not replacing leavers in a bid to patch up costs and fewer new projects.

Amidst this, sub-contractor usage also had its sharpest fall since May 2020.

Commercial construction managed to show some resilience, with only marginal declines and its index at 49.0.

Business sentiment maintained degrees of optimism with 39 per cent of survey respondents anticipating an upturn in the year ahead.

Lowering borrowing costs helped boost confidence, however subdued consumer spending and risk aversion among clients were cited as factors scaling back respondents’ optimism.

Moore added: “Construction companies remain optimistic overall about their growth prospects for the next 12 months, albeit less so than on average in 2024 amid increasing concerns about the broader UK economic outlook.

“There were also signs that rising payroll costs and purchasing prices have become a source of anxiety, with the latest increase in overall business expenses the steepest since March 2023.”

By Samuel Norman

Source: City AM

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CLARIFYING THE STATUS OF PLANNING PRACTICE GUIDANCE

On 30 January 2025, the Court of Appeal handed down its decision in Mead Realisations Ltd v Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government [2025] EWCA Civ 32. The case related to the sequential test for flood risk in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and Planning Practice Guidance (PPG), but the Court’s decision is relevant to all types of development. In the leading judgment, Sir Keith Lindblom, Senior President of Tribunals, helpfully confirmed the relationship between national planning policy in the NPPF and PPG respectively, confirming that they have equal status. As a matter of law, both are statements of national policy issued by the minister with overall responsibility for the operation of the planning system, and both are capable of being material considerations in the determination of planning applications. Whilst this decision doesn’t change the status quo as such, it is a welcome clarification of how the Secretary of State can exercise her “wide” and “flexible” discretion to formulate planning policy.

NPPF and PPG have equal status

PPG has perhaps been regarded historically as subservient to the NPPF, but this ruling confirms that equal status should be afforded to the PPG. The Court held that the PPG “complements” national planning policy in the NPPF and explains, clarifies or elucidates the policies in the NPPF to which it relates. Ideally, national planning policy and guidance should not be inconsistent, but this judgment confirms that there is no legal reason why the PPG has to be consistent with the NPPF – and therefore in theory at least, PPG could actually be used to amend the NPPF.

What does this mean for developers?

Specifically in relation to flood risk, the Court of Appeal confirmed that the PPG did not amend paragraph 162 of the NPPF in relation to “reasonably available sites” and the sequential test, but instead provides “practical guidance on the application of the policy”. Applicants and local planning authorities must therefore have careful regard to both sources of policy when considering flood risk. This places greater importance on the updated PPG on flood risk and the sequential test, which we expect to be published by the government soon.

However, this ruling is relevant to all types of development since it relates to the whole canon of national planning policy and guidance.

The Court held that the NPPF and PPG can “be used as an aid to the interpretation of each other,” so it is important that decision-makers and developers pay careful attention to both sources of policy when considering development proposals. Developers will be able to use the PPG to support their development proposals to a greater extent than they have in the past. Officers’ reports and planning committee decisions will need to take care to give equal status to the NPPF and PPG, although the weight to be afforded to individual policies will continue to be a matter of discretion for decision-makers.

However, a note of caution – PPG is updated by publication online, and generally without prior consultation, enabling the government to refine or even fundamentally alter national planning policy quickly and easily. Going forward, it will be even more important to pay close attention to updates to the PPG, given the potentially profound implications if they change the established policies or policy direction set out in the NPPF.

Although the NPPF is intended to be a “comprehensive framework” of national planning policy, the reality in light of this case is that the PPG must always be considered alongside and in addition to the NPPF. The original purpose of the NPPF in 2012 was to consolidate all policy statements, circulars and guidance documents into a single, simple document. Since then, we have seen a gradual expansion and disaggregation of policy beyond the NPPF and this decision by the Court of Appeal is perhaps an inevitable consequence of that trend. A physicist would observe that this increasing entropy means that even the planning system is subject to the second law of thermodynamics!

By Matthew White

Source: Herbert Smth Freehills

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