Right to regenerate proposals could favour custom builders

Empty garages, council houses and land could be a thing of the past under new proposals launched by the government this week. The proposals would allow individuals or communities to challenge councils to release land and empty buildings for development.... View Article

Layer cake

The Hammills caused quite a stir when they remodelled a tired old Thirties house in York into a very modern home that became the talk of the town TEXT & IMAGES HEATHER DIXON Passers-by thought Erica and Michael Hammill’s house... View Article

Setting the bar high

After a couple of frustrating years spent hunting for a new home, Paul and Sarka embarked on a self-build journey with Huf Haus to realise a property that met their high expectations TEXT EMMA HEDGES IMAGES LOTHAR REHERMANN Making the... View Article

A chalet for all seasons

Christa and Del Dobson had been planning their alpine-style project for nearly 20 years, and it has finally come to fruition in a luxurious off-grid chalet TEXT NICHOLA HUNTER IMAGES DOUGLAS GIBB Although Christa grew up in England, her mother’s... View Article

A luxurious blend

Broadoaks Park is a new high-end development that includes a restored mansion in Surrey, offering a taste of rural living within commuting distance of London and a mix of styles. Tim Banks of developer Octagon explains more to Jack Wooler... View Article

Put fabric first

Ben Cheetham of Keystone Lintels considers how housebuilders can, by pursuing a fabric-first approach to energy efficiency and careful specification, avoid the problems of thermal bridging Preventing heat loss by addressing thermal bridging is growing in importance – particularly with... View Article

Bubble bathrooms

Ash Chilver of HiB looks at how the need to maximise safety in the pandemic, coupled with the growth in multigenerational living, are driving bathroom design choices which will attract homebuyers of all ages. Home life is changing across the... View Article

Beyond energy efficiency

Paul Barrett of Rockwool explains why housebuilders need to consider insulation that delivers safety and acoustic performance alongside maximising onsite benefits for installers, not just thermal factors Primarily driven by Approved Document L (ADL) of the Building Regulations, making homes... View Article

How to secure your funding in 2021

Simon Chapman of Pluto Finance gives expert insights on the key steps developers need to take when attempting to secure finance for their residential schemes, and what challenges might be in store currently In this extraordinary year, with many challenges... View Article

Shout about acoustics when aspiring to WELL certification

By Ben Hancock Managing Director, Oscar Acoustics ‘I can’t think in this place!’ We’ve all been there. It’s a fact, poor acoustic conditions in the workspace can negatively impact individuals, sapping productivity and testing patience. Ground-breaking 2008 research by the... View Article

Seven interior designs trends to watch in 2021

Homeowners looking to spruce up their abodes this year can look to the latest and emerging trends from interior design experts to add style and value to properties. From cleverly mixing modern with vintage, to maximising natural light and getting... View Article

NHBC training surpasses 5,000 NVQs in landmark year

NHBC, the leading warranty and insurance provider for new homes in the UK, has this month passed a major milestone, having welcomed more than 5,000 candidates through its NVQ training programmes, 20 years since they were first introduced. Over recent years... View Article

Mayor visits affordable housing site

A leading housing providers affordable homes development on the site of a former Coventry school has been given a mayoral seal of approval. Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands, paid a visit to the site of the former Dartmouth... View Article

2020 ended with fragile growth in confidence

In the latest set of results (December 2020), the RIBA Future Workload Index returned the highest balance score (+10) since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. Whilst 20% of practices expected a decreasing workload in the coming three months, 29% expected... View Article