Covering the whole UK housing sector
www.housingspecification.co.uk
MAY/JUNE 2015
Housin g Specification
IN THIS ISSUE:
CAUTIOUS WELCOME FOR GOVERNMENT’S NEW HOUSING BILL Both are commitments which were included in the Conservatives' general election manifesto. The government says the bill will increase the housing supply and ensure local people have more control over planning.
The National Housing Federation has welcomed news that a Housing Bill was front and centre of the Queen’s Speech and to see the Government committed to getting more homes built. But the federation has once again voiced concern at the on-going
housing crisis in the UK and whether the Government has a long-term strategy to tackle the problems. The Queen's Speech includes plans to support home ownership and extend the right-to-buy scheme to 1.3 million social
WIENERBERGER ANNOUNCES OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE E4 BRICK HOUSE Wienerberger, the leading provider of wall, roof and landscaping innovations, has announced that the first e4 brick house will be officially opened on June 16 by Lord John Prescott at BRE’s prestigious Innovation Park, as part of the park’s 10th anniversary celebrations. The home will be the first to be assessed to BRE’s new Home Quality Mark, which was launched earlier this year at Ecobuild, and the official opening will offer guests the opportunity to visit the house, which is the
first e4 brick house to be built in the UK. The house utilises a fabric first approach using a clay building envelope and the concept can be used for a wide range of sizes and typologies. The e4 brick house is a fully costed design concept that intends to revolutionise the UK housing market. Working alongside global engineering and design consultancy ARUP, the e4 brick house was created according to four founding principles: Economy, Energy, Environment and Emotion.
housing tenants in England feature in a new Housing Bill. Under the plans, housing association tenants will be able to buy the homes they rent at a discount. There will also be help for first-time buyers, with 200,000 starter homes made available to under-40s at a 20% discount.
Henry Gregg, Assistant Director of Campaigns & Communications at the National Housing Federation: “Plans to identify and free up brownfield land, the Right to Build and Starter Homes are all moves in the right direction and will contribute to resolving the huge housing shortage we have. But we need to ensure these new homes are built where people need them and available at a price people can afford. However, the proposed Right to Buy extension and welfare reforms put these plans at risk. “The cities devolution bill has the potential to bring an end to the housing crisis in all its different forms, grow local economies and regenerate communities. Housing associations stand ready
to engage with local leaders to help create communities where people want to live and work. “Housing associations are ambitious about building the homes this country needs, particularly affordable housing. We look forward to working with Government to ensure housing associations are given the tools to deliver on their ambition and build the homes this country desperately needs.” The Cities and Local Government Devolution Bill paves the way for powers over housing, transport, planning and policing to be devolved to England's cities as part of government plans for "a balanced economic recovery". Cities that want them will be able to have elected mayors. Chancellor George Osborne has said previously that Greater Manchester - which will take on the powers when electing a mayor in two years - should become a blueprint for other large cities.
NEWS Pg 3-5
IDEAS & DEVELOPMENTS Pg 6-7
BRICK MANUFACTURING RISES TO MEET HOUSEBUILDING CHALLENGE Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reveal that the number of bricks produced in the UK during the first quarter of 2015 is 464 million bricks (provisional) a rise of 22 million bricks or 5% from the same period in 2014.
Stock levels are stable and comparable with increasing production and there are now 415 (provisional) million bricks in stock up 5% from a low point in 2014 – suggesting that manufacturing is now keeping pace with demand.
This comes on top of a rise of 17% during 2014 (to 1.8 billion bricks) compared to 2013 and demonstrates how the brick industry has reacted strongly to meet increased demand from housebuilders.
Simon Hay CEO of the BDA commented: “After a difficult few years for brick manufacturers in the UK it is heartening to see how quickly and how dramatically they have increased production to meet demand.
“It is also fantastic to see this vibrant and forward-thinking industry prepared to invest in reopening mothballed plants and the recent news of an entirely new plant further demonstrates the brick manufacturers’ readiness to respond to the increase in housebuilding volume. “When the volume of new housebuilding starts to grow closer to the 200,000 a year target the brick industry will satisfy demand.”
LOW DENSITY Pg 9-10
CIH 2015
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Pg 12