Leading housebuilder reveals the most significant barriers and stresses when moving home

80% of sellers see the total time it takes to move stressful, with almost 60% considering a lack of time a barrier to moving 

Just one quarter of sellers see macroeconomic factors such as Brexit as a significant barrier to moving

Redrow’s assisted moving scheme, Help to Sell, aims to overcome the barriers and stresses of home moving

Celebrating the Simply Outstanding

Put it down to perfect timing, with the heightened interest in offsite technology, combined with the abundance of outstanding projects and it is easy to see why the 2019 Structural Timber Awards surpassed all previous events in terms of the calibre of entries and attendance.

Construction professionals gathered at this prestigious award ceremony on 09 October at the National Conference Centre, Birmingham – to celebrate the great, the good and the simply outstanding. The Awards were hosted by compere and ‘master of mimicry’ Alistair McGowan, who ensured that the celebrations were not only be inspirational but also highly entertaining.

With 16 categories, nearly 250 entrants and over 70 companies shortlisted, this year’s Structural Timber Award judges had an onerous job of selecting the winners. The big winner on the night was Blumer-Lehmann AG, Gilbert Ash and Marks Barfield Architects for Cambridge Mosque who scooped the Winner of Winners.

Millboard is set to launch a brand-new informative resource for professional landscapers, architects, interior designers and master builders. This Hub of educational materials is entirely free and provides a single source for desktop learning, covering a broad range of useful and up-do-date information related to the world of outdoor design.

Visitors can browse for inspiration, catch up on the latest regulatory news and even pick up CPD points from the comfort of their own desks! Millboard, manufacturers of design-led mineral board decking, states that after six months of intensive work, the Hub is now ‘bursting with informative and engaging materials and news’. Marketing Manager Caroline Birdsall comments ‘we’re thrilled to have created such a valuable facility for the industry – we hope that it’s of use to a wide range of people, whether they are looking for design-theme inspiration or wanting to learn about the most eco-friendly and innovative design materials available. It covers lots and we’ll continue to add content to it on a regular basis.’

The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has named Goldsmith Street as the 2019 winner of its prestigious RIBA Stirling Prize. As the official Champagne partner of RIBA, Champagne Taittinger was at this week’s awards to ensure architects Mikhail Riches and Cathy Hawley enjoyed a sparkling celebration.  The Prize was awarded in partnership with the BBC and the ceremony was hosted by presenter Naga Muchetty.

Goldsmith Street – a project of almost 100 highly energy-efficient homes built for Norwich City Council – beat five other masterpieces to pick up this award for the UK’s best new building. 

Ashford Borough Council’s reputation in the housing sector continues to earn plaudits, with the authority shortlisted in the national Inside Housing awards and also in a host of categories at the annual Kent Housing Group (KHG) awards.

Inside Housing’s panel of expert judges has shortlisted the council for its new sheltered housing scheme at Danemore in Tenterden in the best older people’s housing development (up to 50 homes) category. The winners will be announced on 27 November at The Intercontinental O2 Hotel in London.

The first tenants moved into the £7.5m Danemore scheme this spring. Located a short walk from the town centre, Danemore has 25 one bedroom and nine two-bedroom apartments, built to a high standard. Facilities include a large cosy communal lounge and kitchen, laundry room, guest suite, buggy store and cycle racks.

All jobs and trades inevitably change with the times, and in doing so, the required skills are subject to change over the years. For example, with the construction industry embracing faster and more accurate methods of planning and building through the use of structure design software, there is a clear need for engineers and contractors to stay up-to-date with programming skills. But just how far will this shift from physical labour to digital skills go?

HOMEOWNERS REMINDED TO KEEP SAFE & SECURE THIS SEASON

Anglian Home Improvements reveal top tips for securing your home this winter

October marks the start of National Home Security Month (NHSM), and homeowners are being reminded to take a few simple steps to enhance home security this season.

As the clocks go back and the cold winter nights draw in, millions of homes could be left vulnerable to opportunistic thieves. Fear not, as Anglian Home Improvements has revealed its top tips on how property owners can safeguard their home and stay protected this winter:

198 affordable homes and a new community centre to be built by 2022 at St John’s Hill, Battersea

Peabody has appointed John Sisk & Son to build Phase 2 of the St John’s Hill Estate regeneration project opposite Clapham Junction train station.

The 3-phase regeneration of the 1930s Peabody estate increases the number of homes from 353 to 599 homes in total.

Sisk also built Phase 1, delivering 153 award-winning homes (73 at social rent) for Peabody, with Phase 2 providing 198 all affordable homes and a new community centre.

There will be 109 social rented homes, 54 extra care homes, and 35 offered for shared ownership to help people on to the housing ladder.

198 affordable homes and a new community centre to be built by 2022 at St John’s Hill, Battersea

Peabody has appointed John Sisk & Son to build Phase 2 of the St John’s Hill Estate regeneration project opposite Clapham Junction train station.

The 3-phase regeneration of the 1930s Peabody estate increases the number of homes from 353 to 599 homes in total.

Sisk also built Phase 1, delivering 153 award-winning homes (73 at social rent) for Peabody, with Phase 2 providing 198 all affordable homes and a new community centre.

There will be 109 social rented homes, 54 extra care homes, and 35 offered for shared ownership to help people on to the housing ladder.

The Xella Silka Element Challenge

A one-bedroom apartment block was built in just under six hours (5 hours, 55 minutes and 7 seconds) in a world first construction demonstration, the Xella Silka Element Challenge, today [September 26] at the South East Construction Expo held in Ardingly, West Sussex.

Over 2,500 delegates attended the second year of the Expo, where 120 companies in the construction industry exhibited the latest technology, ideas and expertise and dozens of workshops and presentations were held on key topics for the industry.

Masonry Frame Systems (MFS), specialist masonry frame practitioners, worked against the clock, constructing all the structural walls of the apartment, showing just how impressive the latest technology in Xella Silka large-format masonry blocks is, using Lissmac mini-cranes to lay each block in about six minutes.

Grand Designs Live to Play Host to Eco-Innovations

Kevin McCloud’s ‘Green Heroes’ will return to Grand Designs Live at The NEC, proudly sponsored by Anglian Home Improvements from 9 – 13 October 2019. These ground-breaking products have been hand-picked by design guru Kevin McCloud, to showcase the very latest, and finest eco-innovations for home builders, owners and design enthusiasts. The Green Heroes will be on show at the very heart of the exhibition, providing a platform for eco-conscious creators to present their latest innovations to the public, sometimes for the very first time.

As both a design enthusiast and eco-warrior, Kevin McCloud, the face of the Grand Designs brand has prodigious insight into the latest technologies, materials and ground-breaking sustainable practices at work across the construction, lifestyle and interiors markets. Kevin McCloud’s Green Heroes came about as a result of his passion for state-of-the-art eco-friendly products, green building products, and beautiful design.

As we say goodbye to summer and start to spend more time at home, it’s only a matter of time before we need to deck the halls and make a mountain of food, so what better time to improve cleanliness in the kitchen?

Award-winning British furniture designer and maker, Daval, can help you reach good hygiene in your kitchen with its award-winning Finsbury Collection and range of Langham kitchen furniture. Available in two contemporary UV lacquer finishes, Silver and Steel, Finsbury by Daval features highly scratch resistant properties and an antibacterial coating for the height of sustainability: a must for the modern home and lifestyle!

Making full use of its distinct metal décor, Finsbury Steel [as pictured] provides a raw edge when combined with Daval’s Dove Grey Mayfair furniture with Aluminium handleless profile. The award-winning and sustainable Finsbury décors offer a grade 5 scratch resistance, which means the colour will remain stable for much longer when compared to standard finishes, as well as protect against the use of harsh effects of chemicals.

Hoppy  partners with Rated People to offer customers vetted and skilled tradespeople

Hoppy the UK’s leading home management website, has today announced that it has partnered with Rated People to connect its customers with quality local tradespeople.

As the UK’s leading online marketplace for connecting homeowners with tradespeople, Rated People has an established bank of over 50,000 tradespeople specialising in over 30 trades and skillsets across the UK.

Customers will be able to complete a small job request free of charge through the Hoppy website, before being matched with up to three tradespeople through the Rated People platform who will provide a quote for their work. Homeowners can check out profiles for all suggested tradespeople, including photos of previously completed work and written reviews submitted by Rated People customers, ensuring they have peace of mind before hiring.

BoKlok UK Ltd, the sustainable, quality and low-cost home provider jointly owned by Skanska and IKEA, has announced plans to develop 200 homes in south Bristol with Bristol City Council. Subject to planning permission, construction is expected to start in autumn 2020.

Bristol City Council, who owns the Airport Road site, has committed to pursuing the development of this partnership with BoKlok as part of the five-year Bristol Housing Festival which is trialling innovative offsite housing solutions across the city.

Substantial Investment and Vertical Integration

Since the last Modular Matters conference and exhibition in 2018, the sector has seen exponential investment and growth, with global brands such has Sekisui House and Goldman Sachs entering the offsite arena.

Modular construction is not a new concept, but technological improvements, economic demands, and changing mindsets mean it is attracting unprecedented attention. Today, the sector is experiencing a new wave of interest and Modular Matters, taking place at the National Conference Centre (NCC), Birmingham on 22 October 2019 – will focus on the latest developments, innovations and investments in the volumetric modular sector.

Housing developer Story Homes is delighted to announce that it has been recognised by the prestigious UK Property Awards, winning three accolades for ‘Best Residential Development’.

Aspen Grange in Carlisle, Chancel Place in Longhoughton and Willows Edge in Wrea Green have all beaten strong competition to win an award for the Best Residential Development in the Cumbria, Northumberland and Lancashire categories, respectively.

Now in its 26^th year, the UK Property Awards are the most demanding and rigorous in the property sector. The awards are judged by an independent panel of over 80 industry experts, focussing on design, quality, service, innovation, originality and commitment to sustainability.