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TWELVE MONTHS OF HOUSEBUILDING GROWTH TO CONTINUE IN 2016 properties for over a decade, with semi-detached homes also at their highest level in more than 20 years. “There is still a way to go before we are building the levels of new homes that were seen before the economic downturn, but 2015 represents consolidation on the growth seen over the last three years.
The number of new homes registered to be built in the UK has topped 156,000 in 2015 a continued increase of 7% on the previous year, new NHBC figures have revealed. In total, 156,140 new homes were registered by NHBC in 2015 - compared to 146,359 in 2014.
The figures show NHBC registered 75% more new homes in 2015 than it did at the time of the housing crash in 2009. NHBC’s latest data also revealed that the majority of UK regions experienced notable growth on 2014 levels. NHBC Chief Executive Mike Quinton, said: “Both the public
and private sectors have performed well and we have seen encouraging levels of house-building across most regions of the country. “The detached home continues its resurgence, with our figures showing that house builders are building the highest number of detached
“As always, NHBC’s mission is to ensure construction quality of the very highest standard in new homes and this emphasis on quality remains unwavering - particularly during such periods of increased activity and production that we have seen over recent years.” The news comes as the Home Builders Federation revealed over 100,000 new
jobs were created in England alone last year as a result of the big increase in house building. Analysis by the Home Builders Federation shows that the house building industry is now supporting around 667,000 jobs, and details how local economies the length and breadth of the country are benefitting from the thousands of additional homes now being built. Stewart Baseley, Executive Chairman of the HBF, said: “Delivering the high quality homes we desperately need is also providing a huge boost to economies across the country. The industry is recruiting and training tens of thousands of new people to ensure it can continue to deliver significant sustainable increases in supply and provide the high quality homes the country needs.”
DEVELOPERS SELECTED TO BUILD ON TRANSPORT SITES
HOME TRANSFORMED WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM XTRALITE
Transport for London has selected 13 property developers to build a total of 10,000 homes on more than 300 acres of TfL land. The authority aims to generate £3.4 billion in non-fares revenue in the next seven years, reinvesting the money in transport improvements. The companies will now be placed on TfL’s Property Partnership Framework and will be able to bid for work across the
A detached property situated in the sought after borough of Golders Green in North London has been transformed during a full refurbishment programme.
city. And TfL is reviewing its assets to see if more sites can be developed, especially in outer London. Three sites have been identified so far, with planning applications in Nine Elms, Northwood and Parsons Green. TfL anticipates that these three sites will deliver more than 600 new homes, a new Underground station at Northwood, and generate more than £100 million for reinvestment.
The project was an impressive, contemporary scheme which utilised a range of materials and design features one of which was the use of Xtralite rooflights to allow more natural light to penetrate a ground floor bedroom whilst also being sturdy enough to walk on from the balcony area above. Xtralite was chosen for its ability to provide high quality rooflights and robust solutions to rooflight issues. Of prime consideration during the project was the necessity for the rooflight to be ‘walk on’ and Xtralite was able to provide the perfect solution to this with its X Glaze traversable rooflight, which also delivered thermal qualities and strength. The walk on units, which are able to be fitted directly to a builder’s
IN THIS ISSUE:
NEWS Pg 3-5
THINGS TO THINK ABOUT Pg 6
PRODUCTS IN PRACTICE
In order to bring the gloomy, traditional home to life and equip it for 21st century life, products from leading roof light manufacturer Xtralite were commissioned to bring natural light into the property.
FEBRUARY/ MARCH 2016
Housin g Specification
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INNOVATIONS
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kerb comprise a 44.9mm double glazed glass system and a versatile monopitch which has a double glazing unit of 28.4mm. All units have a low E coating and are Aron filled to give a U value of 1.1W/M2Ko. In this case all frames were specially polyester powder coated to match the client’s choice of vertical glazing.
Jim Lowther, Sales Director for Xtralite, said: “Our X Glaze product provided the perfect solution offering easy installation and was aesthetically pleasing and clearly demonstrates the versatility and robustness of our products in a range of applications.”
KITCHENS, BATHROOMS & WASHROOMS
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