Latest News

The latest news, features, comment and analysis of the UK housebuilding market covering policy, regulation, planning, technology, new developments and products

Gladedale to acquire Ben Bailey for £83.7 million

July 16, 2007

Gladedale has agreed a £83.7 million acquisition deal with Ben Bailey, giving the former a more comprehensive coverage across its existing central UK division.

Times reports PM pushing for abolition of regional assemblies

July 12, 2007

Gordon Brown may seek to abolish regional assemblies in order to remove opposition to housebuilding programmes in south east England, The Times has reported.

Private sector starts fall in last quarter, according to NHBC

July 12, 2007

NHBC\'s housebuilding statistics for the last quarter - March to May 2007 - show the level of private sector starts fell by 1% on the same period last year.

House price rise rate halved in June – RICS

July 12, 2007

Latest figures from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) shows the rate of house price growth halved in June, as interest rates started to bite. But real prices continued to rise for the 20th consecutive month, with 10.6% more surveyors reporting a rise than a fall in house prices, down from 22.5% in May.

Gordon Brown raises housing targets and puts PGS on hold

July 11, 2007

Gordon Brown has raised the nation’s housebuilding target to 240,000 homes a year – or three million homes by 2020 – in his legislative agenda, which was revealed today ahead of the Queen’s Speech on November 6.

Barratt looks to drive through efficiencies as market tightens

July 11, 2007

Barratt’s forward sales are up by 15% on this time last year, despite warnings of a tightening market.

Low cost market housing key to affordability – HBF

July 10, 2007

On the eve of the prime minister’s expected package of announcements on improving affordable housing supply, the Home Builders Federation has published a report highlighting ways in which the private sector could tackle the crisis.

Hazel Blears calls for land release to improve affordability

July 10, 2007

New communities secretary Hazel Blears has revealed that affordable housing along with devolution and community cohesion will be the primary foci for her department for Communities and Local Government (GLG) under Gordon Brown.

EP to prioritise new projects that \"fit\" with Communities England

July 10, 2007

English Partnerships (EP) will prioritise developments that \"fit\" with Communities England when it comes to choosing new projects.

New chancellor to challenge mortgage industry

July 10, 2007

Alistair Darling, the new chancellor, has said he will increase the amount of long term fixed rate mortgages to \"reduce volatility\" in the market.