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Birmingham’s New Skyscraper Set for Approval
Birmingham is set to welcome a new tower which will be the tallest in the city. Plans for the 61-storey skyscraper, designed by Glancy Nicholl’s Architects are in line to be approved on Thursday 16th January 2020. Subject to a Section 106 legal agreement that is due...
Berkeley Ramping up Delivery over the next Six years
Having bought a number of brownfield sites since the end of the financial crisis in 2011, Berkeley has recently acquired several more, bringing the total of "large and complex residential-led developments" to 25. Around 20 of these sites are already under...
January 2020 sees record spike in property asking prices
Signs that the economy is starting to gain confidence is showing in the January figures for UK house prices. The General Election seems to have had a positive impact on the UK housing market which saw asking prices hike by 2.3%. Rightmove, made a study of 65,000...
Latest English Housing Survey Report 2018-2019
The Government has recently released their latest Housing Survey Report from 2018-2019. The report is the initial release of findings and will be followed up with more detailed statistics in July 2020, but the following is a summary of the report. Number of home...
The Trespassers of Construction Sites
Stuart Wortley, a lawyer from Eversheds Sutherland has revealed how social media exposure has led to an increase of risk-taking fanatics who are trespassing on construction sites in order to create videos of their antics to upload on social media channels. Going...
Two Thirds of SME Loans Received Outside of London and the South East
Two Thirds of SME Loans Received Outside of London and the South East UK Finance’s Business Finance Review has published the latest figures on SME loan applications. Following a modest lending growth in Q3 of 2019, it is reported that SME’s outside of London received...
Taylor Wimpey Sees 5% Increase in Completions in 2019
Despite political uncertainty throughout last year, Taylor Wimpey trumped with a 5% increase in completions to 15,759 against the previous year. The private average selling price also raised by 1% to £305,000 against the 2018 financial year. The full year...
Persimmon and Vistry Group Continue to Put the Customer First
The latest updates issued by Persimmon and Vistry group (formerly Bovis) show that Persimmon´s revenues and completions have fallen as it “continues to make good progress with the implementation of its customer care improvement plan”. The company has endured a...
Help to Buy Hotspots in the UK
The Government's Help-To-Buy scheme started in April 2013 in an initiative to help first-time buyers and homeowners wanting to move on to their next property. Buyers can secure a new home for only 5 per cent deposit with the government then providing an equity...
Modern Methods of Construction to Reduce Labour Requirements
According to the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), an influx of modern methods of construction (MMC) is predicted to decrease the additional labour requirement of meeting the government’s aim of delivering 300,000 homes per year. The Ministry of Housing,...
Reusing Demolition Material in Home Building
The managing director and co-founder of GS8 Developments Limited, a residential regeneration framework which will aim to merge construction with sustainability, Benjamin Jamie Spencer is aiming to revolutionise sustainable building with his carbon positive and energy...
Brexit and the Housing Market in 2020
The general election has given the UK a deeper insight into the short-term prospects for Brexit. Experts have suggested that this could lead to a beneficial outcome for the housing market, as buyers who have been holding back on purchasers will now begin to sign for...
Is Brexit a Concern for Immigrant Construction Workers?
As the UK anticipates the post-Brexit lifestyle, the immigration regime is something that most businesses are highly concerned for. Due to EU citizens taking up around 8% of the UK workforce, there is a great demand for their skills services, although they would lose...
England’s Social Housing Association Shortage
The shortage of affordable homes throughout the rented housing market shows no sign of improvement according to recent figures. Studies have shown that only 37,825 new homes were built to accommodate for cheaper living in 2018. This brings troubling news for the...
Office to Residential Conversions
In today’s market, the demand for residential flats is growing higher by the day. The Government has laid an amendment to the Town and Country Planning Order 1995 (General Permitted Development) which states that it is now possible to convert Class B1 office buildings...
Bridging Loans Show Promising Figures
Bridging loans are becoming increasingly in demand with the applications rate seeing a record-breaking increase over the first quarter of this year. However, the completion rates have recorded the worst quarterly figures since Q3 2017. A report from The Association of...
Demand for Green Building to Show Significant Growth by 2021
With today’s continuously developing awareness for our environment, there is an increasing interest in the construction of ecologically friendly buildings. The green building strategy was initiated with the intention of changing various methods of construction and...
The Construction Tools That You Didn’t Know You Needed
When working on a construction site, it is important to be well- equipped for any task that falls in your path. To ensure great productivity at work, your tool bag should be equipped with everything that you need for a successful finish. Bolster – A chisel-like object...
A UK Construction Update
November saw a further drop in UK construction orders due to the uproar in political uncertainty, and some civil engineering and commercial building projects have been put on hold. Activity in the UK construction industry has slowed down slightly thanks to recent...
Understanding How to Use Collateral for a Secured Loan
When applying for a loan in the bank, it is notoriously difficult to meet the extensive standards of the lending qualifications. In almost every case, the bank will insist that the lender takes out a collateral, to avoid any inconveniences. Collaterals are used...
Are Mortgages on the Rise?
Data from first-time buyers and homeowners has displayed the trends of mortgage lending in the UK, with affordability measures in the residential and buy-to-let markets. In September 2019, there were 29,100 new first-time buyer mortgages completed, which is 1.6% more...
The Renovation Advice that You Need Right Now
Renovating your home can be a costly affair if you’re eager to experiment with new ideas; it can be difficult to stay on track with your cost effective plan. The goal is to get your home magazine-cover-ready without having to invest most of your savings towards a...
Everton Football Club Hits Liverpool Council with Development Plans
The planning application for Everton’s new 52,000-seater stadium will be submitted on the 23rd of December, this month. The stadium development director, Colin Chong, has stated that the football club will be formally lodged with Liverpool City Council next week, in...
Who’s Saying What About the General Election and the UK’s Housing Market
With the recent surge in economic boosts after the General Election took place on Friday, experts in the housing market are using this time to project future prospects to the Conservative party. The Chief executive of a builder’s lobby group called FMB, Brian Berry,...
The General Election and the Housing Market
The results have been streaming in from the General Election and the results are looking promising for anyone who is hoping to buy or sell a home. The Global Head of Research at Knight Frank, Liam Bailey, said: “The Conservative Party has won a majority of just...
Are Modular Homes Taking Over?
Emerging plans for modular housing are supposedly supporting the government’s goal to shut down the housing market crisis. With recent and ongoing success, modular housing is about to reach a huge milestone in construction. With this modern approach to building,...
The Advantages of Investing in Older Homes
Investing in a property requires a lot of consideration; the affordability, the demand in the market, the style of home, and much more. There’s always speculation on whether to buy a new home or an older home, and each come with their own benefits. If you are thinking...
Vehicle Traffic in Construction
There are many dangers in the construction industry. Statistics show that around seven workers die each year due to accidents involving vehicles, and that is only on-site. There are even more accidents on public roads. For every construction site, rules must be put...
UK Cities Housing Index
The month of October 2019 has highlighted the UK’s ongoing house price inflation as higher prices are becoming increasingly prevalent in the capital and the South. This could be due to the rising of demand and attractive affordability which is supported by the lower...
The Dangers of Construction
In the working year of 2016 to 2017, the main industry that saw the most fatal injuries to workers was construction. From checking any construction site across the UK, it is evident that there are many dangerous elements that could put the workers at risk. For...
Robotic Surveyors are Taking Over Construction
The UK’s construction industry is advancing and evolving in futuristic ways that are difficult to fathom, and it’s as if there’s an ongoing race between man and robot to determine which approach to construction is the most efficient. The rapidly developing technology...
London Luxury Homes See a Hike in House Prices
London is notorious for its excessive house prices, and recently, price analyses have shown that the next five years will bring even more growth to the city. The house prices of luxury homes in the capital are set to rise by 20.5% over the next five-year period. The...
A Couple of Ambitious Home Buyers
A Zoopla analysis has taken place to determine what exactly first-time buyers are looking for at the moment. With more than 600,000 homes listed, the data was logged via email or call-back requests made by first-time home buyers. The annual English Housing Survey has...
The Zero Carbon Target Goal
Experts have recently warned that the construction industry and the government must immediately begin to improve working methods in order to meet the UK’s 2050 zero carbon target. A report has been released, titled: Transforming Construction for a Low Carbon...
Why Now is the Time to Invest in a Property
With political uncertainty causing a wave of confusion for potential property investors, experts are explaining why there is no reason to let the Brexit-induced stress discourage your efforts. Mark Lawrinson, the Regional Director of Portico Property estate...
Here’s What Millennials Are Looking For:
Here’s What Millennials Are Looking For: If you are one of the many people to take a new approach to house renovation for investment purposes, you will need to stay updated on the trends that will help to sell your home. As millennial wealth grows, the younger...
Why Apartments are on the Rise
While many aspiring homeowners in the UK aim to jump straight on the property ladder with a five-bedroom family home, there are many reasons why people choose a sky-high apartment lifestyle. As it’s unlikely that you will gain a garden with the purchase of your new...
Step Up Construction Worker Health
Statistics from Construction News Mental Health Survey show that 55% of workers in the construction industry have suffered from mental health and 42% of whom had been in the work place at the time. The Office of National Statistics found that low-skilled male...
Why People are Searching for This Right Now
There is an increasing demand for new, modern homes for a niche market across the UK. With Pinterest and hipsters having a growing influence on both interior and exterior home design, there has been a new wave of luxury, developments created specifically for this new...
Eliminating Risks and Hazards on Construction Sites
A construction site holds more hazards than most other working places within the UK. With heavy machinery and dangerous tools, it is important for workers to understand the potential risks on site. To avoid any work-related incidents, there should be safety rules set...
5 Places You Should Live in Right Now
With this on-going political debacle, there is a nation-wide confusion as to where the housing market is currently in its prime. This can depend on house prices, popularity within the area, year-on-year comparisons and much more. This blog has identified the potential...
Breaking News for Bovis and Galliford Try
Galliford Try’s Linden Homes and Partnerships and Regeneration businesses will be bought by Bovis Homes for £1.075 billion. Bovis has explained that the deal will create a top-five rated national housebuilder, which is capable of delivering over 12,000 new homes each...
Pregnancy in Construction
Building company, Tarmac has launched a range of maternity personal protective equipment (PPE), to keep pregnant women safer on site. This innovative idea sprouts from a report by the Trades Union Congress, (TUC) which surveyed women within the industry, finding that...
The 5 Construction Hacks You Didn’t Know You Needed
If you work on a construction site or you have decided to take up a new hobby as a handyman (or woman), these five hacks will make your life that little bit easier. Knowing these simple tricks will enhance your knowledge and you can create a more efficient, practical...
Will Transparent Wood be Part of Your Next Build?
Researchers have taken timber and crafted a new, sturdy material that is transparent and capable of storing and releasing heat. The material could be used for the construction of energy efficient homes. So far, the product is classed as environmentally friendly...
The 5 Construction Podcasts You Need:
When you’re constantly on-the-go, it can be hard to keep up to date with recent industry news. Podcasts are taking over as the new way for industry experts to stay updated with the latest stories and these chatty voice-overs can include interviews, conversations and...
Plastic Roads Might be the Future
Global warming is becoming increasingly prevalent and the collateral damage caused by pollution is showing adverse effects on global temperature, our environment and the surrounding wildlife. Recent studies by National Geographic state that around 18 billion pounds of...
The Secret Behind 3D Printing
3D printing has made a promising breakthrough for the construction industry, with an increasing number of technologically manufactured homes being built across the globe. The use of three-dimensional printing in construction began with the introduction of printed...
A Superstitious House Price Study:
A new study has recently discovered that homeowners residing in number 13 are finding that their properties are getting hit by a decrease of around £22,000. Out of the 1.2 million homes sold across the UK each year, it is the notorious number...
BREXIT STRESS – Should I Really Buy a New Home?
With recent Brexit affairs causing further suspicion within the housing market, aspiring home owners are still left speculating the risk surrounding home-buying in the UK. The question still stands – is now a good time to buy a home in the UK? ...
People Who Live Alone Are Probably Renting
The latest figures shown by the Office of National Statistics (ONS) indicates that the cost of living alone has hit 92% of income, making it close to impossible for single people to join the housing ladder. The study shows that the number of one-person households is...
A New Guide to Impact-Based Approach in Property Finance
A collaboration of real estate investors and organisations have produced and published a guide designed especially for property investors. Produced by the property working group of the UN Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) with the Royal Institution of...
7 Construction Materials for 2020
Construction methodology is improving year after year and with builders constantly looking for new and innovative ways to develop materials, the industry is being introduced to smart, effective solutions which will prove beneficial to the cost and time frames of...
The Science Behind Self-Healing Concrete
With the industry constantly working towards improvement, new machines and techniques are being introduced by the day and this advanced development has led to a material that is proving as extremely useful for workers. Self-healing cement is one of the most advanced...
Build Up, Not Out
Prospects from the conservative party state that we abandon the requirements for planning permission for homeowners allowing them to build two storeys on top of their homes without the need to seek neighbourly approval. This would mean that homeowners can add two...
A Brexit Deal Has Been Agreed
There is nation-wide confusion regarding the new revised Brexit deal which has been agreed by the UK and EU. A collective wish has been acknowledged across all sides as to avoid the return of a “hard border” between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland after...
Construction Tech Trends for 2020
The construction industry is advancing more and more by the day, with new technology trends and innovative designs enhancing the production time, cost and efficiency in sites across the UK. These 5 modern tools are going to support construction workers through 2020,...
How a Department Store Became a Home
SKA Developments property developer based in Kirklees, West Yorkshire, owned by Khalid Pervais has organised a finance and permission solution to convert a derelict department store into modern student accommodation. 103 New Street is where the old building is located...
Waterproofing Car Parks
Concrete car parks face a myriad of problems throughout the annual weather cycles. Not only this, but they are constantly exposed to oil spills, carbon dioxide gasses, de-icing salts and excessive amounts of water. Waterproofing membrane is used to protect the...
Build-To-Rent is Problematic and Pricey for Generation Rent
Over the past decade, the number of UK residents in the private renting sector has doubled, with reports showing that 20% of households (30% in the capital) are now in private accommodation. This continuously increasing divide between social housing and home ownership...
The Best Places to Live in the UK
The UK is renowned for its beautiful villages, countryside and bustling town centres. In a recent study, the Office of National Statistics ranked cities from 1 to 10, according to their levels of domestic bliss, so if you’re looking to move to a happier town, have a...
What You Should Know About HTB Schemes
The Help to Buy (HTB) scheme ran by the government is available for first-time buyers and existing homeowners to provide loans for newly-built homes. To apply for an HTB loan, the purchasing price must meet at least £600,000 in order to borrow 20% of the purchase...
Fire Safety in Construction
When analysing the cause of construction fires, the majority of cases are led back to on-site hot work. Hot working consists of cutting, soldering, brazing and welding operations actions and can also produce fumes, gases, flames, and heat. The top four practices which...
Tips for Self-Build Mortgages
Whether you’re an industry expert or an aspiring home builder, these helpful tips can walk you through the key factors of self-build mortgages and how you can obtain yours the easy way. Self-build mortgages act as financial support for people who wish to build their...
What You Didn’t Know About Self-Healing Concrete
The construction industry is always working towards improvement, with new machines and techniques being introduced almost every day. These advances have driven the development of a material which is proving to be extraordinarily convenient. Self-healing concrete is...
All About Insurance Backed Guarantees
Insurance Backed Guarantee (IBG) is primarily for customer confidence. IBG’s hold a strong position in the construction and development sectors, frequently implemented within both standard and modern production processes. With this type of insurance policy , the...
8 Ways to Cut Through the Red Tape
Stick to your schedule. While some tasks rely on external sources, it’s still possible to stay on track with your time management. To make your life easier, you can set aside time or specific days in the month to focus on the bigger, more daunting tasks that you find...
You Need These Essentials More Than You Think
If you’re tired of searching the market without finding what you’re looking for, don’t worry. Everything you need is right here. Whether you’re a Developer or another type of professional who is working within the construction industry, we have access to a broad range...
Have you heard of the Umbrella Effect?
At Compariqo, we are time efficient, and our first-class customer service to cater for all of your construction insurance and finance needs. When we say that we research the market, so you don’t have to – that’s exactly what we mean. Not only does this save you...
Bovis Plots Galliford Try Takeover
UK firm Bovis Homes has reinitiated the discussion of purchasing Galliford Try housing business after raising the potential bid to around £1 billion. There has been an agreement between the companies for a basic transaction which would relatively double the numbers of...
Building a Successful Limited Company Portfolio
Building your company portfolio can provide you with a greater access to equity, brand familiarisation and can offer you multiple streams of income. There are various aspects to consider while creating the perfect portfolio as a limited company. Paying Corporation...
Brexit’s Effect on UK Housing Market
The impending repercussions of the Brexit debate are unavoidable and fast-approaching, causing concern amongst the property market specialists. With political uncertainty undoubtably holding a strong grip on the housing market, the issue is bound to have a substantial...
Is Modular Housing the Solution?
New studies published by the Children’s Commissioner has recently brought to light the drastic amount of homeless youths in the UK. Due to the lack of social housing being built and the current ongoing political uncertainty taking its toll on the market, there is...
Finding Cheap Loans via Re-Mortgaging
There has been a growing number of homeowners who are choosing to take out loans in order to remortgage and improve their current home as opposed to moving-house. Analysing the data shown by UK finance, the current total of borrowers in the UK re-mortgaging market is...
Bridging Loans– What You Need to Know
A bridging loan is used to provide the financial support that is needed when buying a property, indicating that the loan “bridges the gap” between selling one property and purchasing another. When you use a bridging loan, you avoid missing any investment opportunities...
New Home Registration Statistics
NHBC’s latest registration figures July saw a 9% drop in the number of new homes registered in the UK, compared to the same period of 2018. Studies show that a total of 14,262 new homes were registered in July 2019, in comparison to 2018’s figure of 15,719....
UK Property Finance Pipeline
June 2019 showed a 0.7% increase in house prices all across the UK in comparison to the month before, research from the Office for National Statistics shows. In June, the average property price in the UK came to a total of £230,292, supporting the 0.9% annual growth...
Building Conservatories and Patios
A popular external addition to homes across the UK is the conservatory; a room with glass walls which is built on to the back of the house to be used as a lounge space or a greenhouse. When building conservatories and patios, certain guidelines need to be met. There...
A Guide for First Time Buyers
As a first-time buyer, it’s important to understand the details of purchasing your first home. This guide will take you through the entire process, covering it all from saving your deposit to applying for a mortgage. A lot of research is needed when planning to get...
Morris Property Starts £4.5m Office Park
The UK firm Morris Property has recently started working on a £4.5m office and industrial park in Telford, Shropshire, in aims to attract more jobs and investment to the area. This new working space will include 63,000 sq ft of light industrial space with 26 units to...
Multifamily Housing Increases in the UK
The total figure of institutional investments into the UK’s multifamily housing market throughout the first half of 2019 has grown by 20% in comparison to the same period of 2018. UK company CBRE submitted a Residential Investment Market View for the second quarter of...
Top 5 Apps for Property Investors
By using technology in the workplace, we are able to increase our productivity, efficiency and communication, with our mobile phones providing us with an infinite source of information at the click of a button. There are millions of apps which are used today in order...
Developers Have Been Warned to Protect Wildlife During Projects
Expectations have now been set by the government for developers and construction workers to show more awareness towards the wildlife surrounding construction sites and residential areas in the UK. One solution that has been suggested is the creation of a “hedgehog...
Another Deal for UK Affordable Housing
The Equity Housing Group has recently formed a refinancing agreement worth £55 million, with plans to develop over 800 homes throughout the upcoming five years. Owning 4,800 homes across the North West, South Yorkshire and Staffordshire, this Stockport-based...
Shipping Container Homes in the UK
As the UK housing market strives for more affordable homes, architects are coming up with innovative ways to provide a social rent plan in the U.K. A wave of microhomes is set to hit construction sites as Fraser Brown MacKenna Architects has obtained approval to...
House Prices Bump 0.3% Month on Month
Throughout the past year, the UK housing market has seen potential buyers holding off on their final purchases, leaving house prices edging up by 0.3%. July saw the eighth consecutive month during the annual growth rate has been below 1% with the cost of a home in the...
How Builders are Handling the Heat
Working through summer can be a challenge for everyone, especially those who work on construction sites. With the heat having a heavy impact on workers, it’s important that you know how to maintain a cool body temperature while working on the job. Long hours of manual...
Architects Show Concern for London Pipeline
As political uncertainty across the UK grows increasingly stronger, architects are becoming overwhelmed with the future progress in place for London. RIBA Future Trends survey has claimed that activity in London has slowed down and is creeping into negative territory...
UK Price Index for March 2019
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has released the reports of UK housing prices from March 2019. The data shows that England saw the average price fall by 0.5% since February 2019 and the annual price rise of 1.1% puts the average property value at £243,128....
NHBC Foundation Introduces New Commissioning Guide for House Building
At your services – What to expect during commissioning is a new guide launched by the NHBC Foundation to aid site managers to understand the increasing number of commissioning activities which are set in place to ensure a smooth build programme and the delivery...
New Garden Communities Set for UK Regions
As part of a deal set for the South-West, the Minister of State for Housing stated that up to 20,000 new homes will be built across Exeter and the surrounding area and a new garden community is planned to be integrated into the scheme. The homes should be built by...
Build-To-Rent is Proving Problematic and Pricey for Generation Rent
Over the past decade, the number of UK residents in the private renting sector has doubled, with reports showing that 20% of households (30% in the capital) are now in private accommodation. This continuously increasing divide between social housing and home ownership...
New Japanese Homebuilders to Join UK
Sekisui House, a leading Japanese house builder is joining the UK residential housing market as part of an agreement to invest £22 million of new equity. Sekisui will be working alongside Homes England, with a 35% equity stake in the developer’s modular house...
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