Latest News

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

Fairview snaps up Rialto

1 Mar 2004

The latest series of industry mergers has seen Fairview New Homes buy Hertfordshire-based Rialto for £60 million, and Allison Homes - part of the Kier Group - acquire Holbeach-based Tudor Homes just a few days later.

Housing Forum set to tackle skills crisis

1 Mar 2004

The Housing Forum has taken up the challenge of the acute skills shortage in the housebuilding sector, tackling the issue in a major new report which recommends that housing construction organisations need to examine their recruitment, retention and train

Persimmon spree

1 Mar 2004

Persimmon Homes West Yorkshire has acquired a total of 31 acres across the region in a site-buying spree, which leaves them with four sites with a gross development value of £45 million.

Site visitor numbers soar

1 Mar 2004

Housebuilders will be cheered by the biggest boom in site visitors seen for some time with a balance of + 23% seeing an increase in Jan/Feb, according to the latest HBF survey.

Planning powers for regional assemblies

1 Mar 2004

Elected regional assemblies have been given a power boost - they will now have authority to direct local authorities to refuse planning applications that are “not in the region’s best interest”,

in the pipeline

1 Mar 2004

Gleeson Homes has been successful in its bid for further housing in Basingstoke. The company received detailed planning permission for a proposal of private and social housing at Binfields, Chineham.

CABE boss quits to join Housing Corp

1 Mar 2004

Jon Rouse has been appointed chief executive of the Housing Corporation and will step into the role from April, bringing to an end a high profile four-year reign at the helm of government design watchdog CABE. Rouse takes over from Norman Perry who will b

Time to redouble efforts on customer care

1 Mar 2004

The Housing Forum tried to put a positive spin on the disappointing results of its latest National Customer Satisfaction Survey (see pages 20-22). The press release that accompanied the survey details was a masterpiece in missing the point and a tribute t

in brief

1 Mar 2004

<b>Inspectorate slammed</b> The Planning Inspectorate must improve its handling of complex cases and development plan inquiries and improve customer service according to a review of the body. It should also reduce the number of unnecessary informal inquir

HBF warns of tax effect on supply

1 Mar 2004

The House Builders Federation has called on the government not to impose new taxes on housebuilders which could risk slowing-up housing supply even further.