From January 1, 2020, the new septic tank regulations will be in place for England and Wales. All septic tank types that discharge to surface water will require either upgrading or replacement with a sewage treatment plant. Under the new code of practice by the Environment Agency, homeowners are responsible for the installation and required […]
Construction workers are calling upon chancellor Sajid Javid to delay VAT changes which many say will cripple firms’ cashflows this autumn. In June, the government published guidance about the so-called reverse charge on the way VAT is collected in the building and construction industry. It comes into effect on 1 October and will see the […]
It is a huge sum, but says head of Policy James Prestwich, social housing is a crucial infrastructure and investing in it will benefit the wider economy. This year, we mark the centenary of a landmark piece of legislation, which has fundamentally shaped the housing system in this country – perhaps more than any other. […]
The industry is getting on with life as its patience with Brexit related indecision wears thin according to the latest RICS Construction and Infrastructure Market Survey. Quarter two results show output growth accelerating and workload and employment expectations gathering pace for the year ahead. The quarter saw 16% more surveyors reporting an increase in construction […]
Theresa May has called for mandatory design standards for new houses, saying the number of “tiny homes” with little storage on the market is indefensible. The prime minister said the lack of universal, enforceable rules on the amount of internal space is encouraging a “race to the bottom” among builders. If all councils made those […]
The Fire Protection Association, the UK’s national fire safety organisation, is highlighting that, if we want to prevent another Grenfell Tower tragedy, it’s time for some immediate change. The organisation remains firm in its message that two years after “Grenfell”, the government’s changes to building regulations and the so-called ban on combustible cladding do not […]
Digital construction is at the forefront of the UK’s overarching Industrial Strategy. With an abundance of digital solutions available to streamline project management and workflow, which measures can be taken to assure there are sufficient skilled employees to use them and secure the construction industry’s future? Attracting younger generations At present, it is estimated that […]
The UK is to become the first G7 nation to set a legally-binding target to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050. Prime Minister Theresa May announced Government will tomorrow lay a statutory instrument before Parliament that will amend the Climate Change Act and introduce a net zero emission target. Presently the country is committed […]
With the government’s recent revisions of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), it is now easier for homeowners and developers to create homes above existing residential and commercial properties. Since these revisions, rooftop home developers have received funding to generate much-needed affordable homes across the UK. Insulation Express have uncovered the benefits of building upwards, […]
Springfield Properties has become the UK’s first house builder to use waste plastic to build a road on a housing development. Springfield has used the more environmentally friendly asphalt product containing waste plastic on a section of road at the company’s Linkwood Steadings development in Elgin. The product reduces the amount of bitumen needed in […]