Comment Articles

The European architects rather keep their position in the decision making process. Their role is still important when the type of products to be used in a project needs to be selected. However some other parties gain influence as well... View Article

Living Streets comment on Amendment Clause 87A of the Deregulation Bill, which will ban the use of CCTV in Civil Parking Enforcement with no exemption for areas outside schools. Living Streets’ Policy and Public Affairs Manager, Dr Kevin Golding-Williams, commented:... View Article

Andy Frankish, New Homes Director at Mortgage Advice Bureau (MAB), comments: “Overseeing a portfolio of loans may be new territory for government, but the status quo was getting us nowhere fast in terms of improving the production rate of new... View Article

Government policy designed to reduce carbon emissions from commercial buildings need to be better understood, more efficiently monitored and easier to enforce, reveals a new report launched today by the Green Construction Board and the Property Industry Alliance, representing the... View Article

The British Property Federation (BPF) has praised the pro-growth principles of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and its progress thus far, but cautioned that regular assessment of its operation is necessary, and warned that further changes made to the... View Article

Shortages of skilled staff and materials are likely to have contributed to an unexpected drop in construction activity in May, according to construction and property consultancy, Tuffin Ferraby Taylor (TFT). The UK’s commercial construction activity growth unexpectedly slowed to a... View Article

Brian Murphy, Head of Lending at Mortgage Advice Bureau (MAB), comments: “Strong house price growth is no longer a trend restricted to the South, with average prices across the country up by almost 10% since April 2013. In comparison to... View Article

The chosen finalists for the Wolfson Prize for Economics, which called for innovative proposals for the creation of Garden Cities, have been announced – with finalists now expected to work up detailed submissions before the winner is announced in September.... View Article

Over £25million of damage has been caused to new homes by trees over the last six years, according to figures released by NHBC. The UK’s leading warranty provider and standard setting body for new build homes is so concerned by... View Article

The new sentencing guideline published today has been welcomed by TrustMark, the Government-endorsed quality mark for reputable tradesmen, as it could mean tougher sentencing for rogue traders who defraud and rip off the public. TrustMark contributed to the Sentencing Council’s... View Article

The British Property Federation (BPF) has welcomed the new Green Deal Home Improvement Fund. It has praised the Government for launching sensible changes that will make the application process easier, but would like to see further details on what will... View Article

Increasing the threshold for putting local authorities into special measures could produce perverse incentives and lead to adverse consequences for the planning system, warns the British Property Federation (BPF). Proposals from DCLG in its ‘Planning Performance and Planning Contributions’ consultation... View Article

Households carrying out energy efficiency improvements on their home can now get more money back to offset the cost of having the work done. From June, people in England and Wales will be able to get up to £7600 back... View Article

A new report published today “Promoting highly efficient electrical appliances” calls on the Government to help the public replace their old appliances and cut their energy bills by up to £75 a year. The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR)... View Article

The economic recovery in the SME construction sector is under threat from rising building costs and material shortages warns the Federation of Master Builders (FMB). Commenting on the results of the FMB’s State of Trade Survey for the first three... View Article