Elmhurst Energy welcomes Government call for evidence on EPCs

Elmhurst Energy, the energy performance assessment specialist has welcomed the Government’s latest call for evidence on better uses of Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) and is encouraging its members to respond. As requested in Elmhurst Energy’s 2018 Manifesto for Change the call for... View Article

Fastest rise in construction output since May 2017

UK construction companies achieved a stronger expansion of business activity levels during July, underpinned by the fastest increase in residential work for just over two-and-a-half years. The latest survey also indicated that new business growth gained momentum, which contributed to... View Article

Rates rise will have knock-on effect for renters

Nick Marr, Co-founder of rental marketplace TheHouseShop.com, comments on the impact of the interest rates rise for tenants and landlords: “We were all expecting the announcement of the interest rates rise today, but that won’t make it any easier for mortgage... View Article

Open to ideas

A project in south west London saw a firm of architects tackle a difficult commission to extend a listed former coach house, resulting in a dramatically open new addition. The owners of a terraced house in leafy Barnes, in the... View Article

Making stairs grand again

Jarrod Matthews of Jarrods Staircases is passionate about the potential to elevate staircases to an art form. He explains why creating the perfect staircase should be a priority, not an afterthought. Ioften refer to the space where the staircase sits... View Article

Practice Profile: Weston Williamson + Partners

Now big players in the transport and master planning sectors, Weston Williamson + Partners have helped shape infrastructure across London and the wider UK, with major clients including Crossrail and HS2. Sébastien Reed speaks to partners Chris Williamson and Philip... View Article

View Point – Nigel Ostime from Hawkins\Brown

Nigel Ostime of Hawkins\Brown Architects and chair of the RIBA Client Liaison Group, says that without measuring feedback, architects can’t improve Manufacturers ask for feedback as a matter of routine and use it to improve their products in the next... View Article

Comment on Lidl push into mixed-use development

Russell Pedley, director and co-founder at Assael Architecture, said: “Blending retail use classes with residential is going to become increasingly vital in urban locations throughout the UK. Lidl’s plan to deliver 3,000 homes is testimony to the shifting approach to... View Article

High end, high tech

Ion Smith of Cyberhomes discusses how smart home tech can be seamlessly incorporated into luxury home designs. It’s not that many years ago that smart home technology was available only to high-end luxury homes; but walk into any high street... View Article

Keep it natural

Lee Dunderdale of Bradstone delves into the plethora of hard landscaping materials for delivering a dream garden, and explains why natural stone is the perfect choice. When it comes to building your own house, garden landscaping often becomes one of... View Article

Whistleblowers

The BBA is a well-known and respected certification body which, through its testing, inspection and approval activity, has been supporting innovation in the construction products industry for more than 50 years. Where anyone has concern about a BBA-certificated product or... View Article

Local housing need remains ‘uncertain’ under revised NPPF

Uncertainty surrounds a major plank of the Government’s reform of planning policy and guidance following the publication yesterday of the revised NPPF, says the MD of a leading development consultancy. Tony Bateman, Managing Director of Pegasus Group, said: “The assessment... View Article

Womble Bond Dickinson comments on the revised NPPF

The new revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPFF) was delivered and came into force on 24 July 2018. The Government’s response to the consultation on the revised framework notes that it has made a number of important changes in response... View Article

MPA welcomes revised NPPF

The Mineral Products Association (MPA) has welcomed the publication of the revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) on the 24th July, which recognises that a sufficient supply of minerals is essential to provide the infrastructure, buildings, energy and goods that society... View Article

RICS makes an initial response to revised NPPF

Tony Mulhall, RICS Associate Director: The revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and Planning Practice Guidance (PPG) attempts to give greater clarity to the planning process, and aims to clarify planning burdens earlier in the process rather than during applications... View Article

RIBA responds to revised National Planning Policy Framework

The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) makes an initial response to the publication of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) by the Government yesterday, 24 July 2018. RIBA President Ben Derbyshire says: “The RIBA’s welcomes the publication of the revised National... View Article

Reaction to revised NPPF from law firm TLT

Katherine Evans, Partner and Head of Planning at TLT, commented: “There are a lot of changes to the revised NPPF in the government’s responses. “Looking at paragraph 67, it appears that “small sites” have changed to “small and medium sized... View Article