Achieving effective fire suppression in residential buildings

Paul Berry, director, Johnson Controls. In the year since the devastating Grenfell Tower fire, there has been a renewed focus on sprinklers and their role in fire safety and suppression. Following the tragedy, senior figures from the London Fire Brigade openly... View Article

Managing & maintaining water safety: seven top tips for landlords

Dealing with plumbing problems can be time-consuming and costly. However, many call-outs can be prevented if landlords are familiar with the key regulations regarding water safety management and follow best practice, explains Julie Spinks, director of WaterSafe, the national accreditation... View Article

Are longer tenancies the answer to our housing problems?

The majority of private sector tenants are happy with their accommodation it seems, but a group of experts are warning that the sector’s continuing growth is harming family life and the welfare of children in particular. These contradictory statements pose... View Article

Planners respond to Government’s garden towns announcement

In response to the Government announcement today of a new garden communities programme to increase the number of in garden towns in England, Victoria Hills MRTPI, Chief Executive of the Royal Town Planning Institute, says: “The Government’s garden towns programme is... View Article

NFB: Social housing green paper does not go far enough

The National Federation of Builders (NFB) welcomes the papers approach to solving existing social housing problems but warns that proposed changes do not go far enough. The Government has published its social housing green paper, A new deal for social... View Article

Why timber is the answer

ADF caught up with Jeremy English of Sӧdra to discuss why he feels timber is the solution to the UK’s housing crisis, and how the material can help architects adopt less labour-intensive, offsite building techniques What do you see as... View Article

Engineering services trade bodies respond to Government Sector Deal

The Government’s newly announced Construction Sector Deal has been broadly backed by ECA, the electrotechnical and engineering services trade body, and the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA). Both bodies support the focus on more highly skilled apprenticeships, digital processes, and... View Article

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

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

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