Housing Focus – Page 11
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FeaturesPete Redfern: How the recession made me stronger
In 2008 Taylor Wimpey’s chief executive was battling to rescue the firm from the brink of collapse, just months after the merged company became the UK’s biggest housebuilder. Today it’s back in growth and a far stronger business. Building talked to him about surviving tough times
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FeaturesTop 150 Contractors and Housebuilders 2011
Looking at recent trading updates you’d be forgiven for thinking that the industry was on the road to recovery. But there’s a few big hurdles to jump over yet, and this will take some time. Martin Hewes’ annual league tables of the UK’s top contractors and housebuilders show exactly how ...
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FeaturesCase studies: houses built to 2016 zero-carbon standards
The government’s recent announcement that ’zero-carbon homes’ need not include appliances will allow future green housing to ditch peculiar solar panel-toting designs to resemble, well, normal houses. Building tours some schemes that fit the bill
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FeaturesThe construction strategy: Together at last?
The government and the construction industry. It’s been a long, love-hate affair but the new construction strategy is an offer to try to work things out
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FeaturesAffordable rent: a numbers crisis
The government hopes that allowing housing associations to charge higher rents will lead to more new homes built with less subsidy. But many in the sector think it will have exactly the opposite effect.
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FeaturesWhich domestic renewables incentive is best?
Adam Mactavish of Cyril Sweett provides a brief review of the incentive schemes for domestic renewables
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FeaturesThe Budget: Can George win the day?
How do you fight off the threat of a double-dip recession with no weapons in your armoury? For George Osborne putting together next week’s Budget, the most obvious solution is likely to be deregulation. Here’s a look at what changes to expect
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FeaturesWho wants to be in social housing?
Six months on from the collapse of Rok and Connaught, their competitors are scrambling to take their places against a backdrop of cuts and jittery clients. And now the big players are looking to muscle in on the social housing market
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FeaturesHome truths: Localism and development
The government maintains that localism will boost development, but the latest planning figures show the exact opposite. Just how scared should developers be by this new political reality?
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FeaturesGreg Clark: Local hero
Greg Clark pretty much invented localism as a political idea, and now he’s the minister implementing it as a policy. But he’s adamant that he is genuinely pro-development and not the nimby champion we all fear
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FeaturesA VAT gift to cowboys?
The government’s VAT hike to 20% this month has been met with dismay throughout construction. But while some sectors will be exempt, small builders are bound to be hit as cash-strapped homeowners turn to the black market
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FeaturesPollard Thomas Edwards' Islington square: Shaping up nicely
Pollard Thomas Edwards has made a north London square whole by filling in its missing fourth side with a residential scheme that sensitively reinterprets its traditional context
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FeaturesYour easy guide to the Code for Sustainable Homes
The new Code for Sustainable Homes has finally arrived. Here’s a 10-point summary of the changes and the suggestions that didn’t make it into the final document
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Features
Housing stats: Residential, projects and approvals
Wales limps on while Taylor Wimpey pips ING Real Estate to the top spot
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FeaturesHousing stats: New build sales and completions in October
This month’s data reveals that the South-east has the highest number of completions
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Features
Will raising social housing rent work?
Every extra pound housing associations are allowed to charge in weekly rent generates up to £4.4bn for their development budget, and the chancellor is counting on that money to fund social housing in the future. The question is: will it?
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FeaturesEco co-housing schemes: Give it a spin
The UK has begun experimenting with co-housing schemes that aim to slash emissions while encouraging a more sustainable lifestyle - as you can imagine, communal washing machines that run on harvested rainwater are de rigueur
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FeaturesThe future looks rosy: Sheffield's Park Hill estate
Urban Splash’s refurb of a listed sixties council estate is turning one of the republic of South Yorkshire’s biggest problems into an aspirational address
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FeaturesHousing targets: Who’s afraid of the locals?
Most housebuilders are running like hell from the government’s plan to make them build local homes for local people. But others believe the upcoming reforms will be to their - and the locals’ - advantage
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FeaturesHousing Design Awards: Living proof
It takes more than a numbing recession, constrained sites and nimbyism to stifle creativity in housing design. Martin Spring reviews the winners of this year’s Housing Design Awards