Friday, 26th March 2010 Top stories this week Budget 2010: Securing the Recovery.....read more Government consults on replacement Circular 5/05: planning obligations.....read more New Home Buyer Code demonstrates industry commitment to its customers.....read more Hometrack: Accelerating supply of homes for sale marks move back to normal market conditions.....read more Housing Market Intelligence conference date announced .....read more Quick Links Economic news - Budget 2010 Government and political news Industry news Housing market news HBF news Events Economic news - Budget 2010 Budget 2010: Securing the Recovery The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Alistair Darling, delivered his last Budget before the general election on Wednesday. He said the Government’s economic objective was to build a strong economy and fair society, where there is opportunity and security for all. Budget 2010, “Securing the recovery”, presents updated assessments and forecasts of the economy and public finances. Budget 2010 is fiscally neutral and confirms the Government’s plans to more than halve the current deficit over four years, maintaining a path of fiscal consolidation. On public spending, Budget 2010 identifies the £11bn of cross-cutting savings announced under Smarter Government department-by-department and provides further details on how the Government will deliver £5bn of savings from targeting and prioritising spending. On tax, the Government intends to make further progress in the Finance Bill 2010 passing into legislation its tax consolidation plans, and Budget 2010 announces the continuation of above inflation increases in fuel, alcohol and tobacco duties to 2014-15. One of the main headlines from the Budget was the Chancellor’s announcement of a two year exemption for first-time buyers from Stamp Duty on home purchases up to £250,000. Download all of the Budget 2010 documents to top HBF: Stamp duty announcement welcome HBF said Alistair Darling’s scrapping of Stamp Duty up to £250K for first-time buyers (FTBs) was a huge boost to the housing market. In a press release HBF said raising the threshold to £250K was something HBF had been demanding for over two years andwould help beleaguered FTBs struggling to save the large deposits currently being demanded by lenders. Stewart Baseley, Executive Chairman of the HBF, commented: “This Budget is a huge boost to both home buyers and the house building industry. I am pleased the Government has recognised the importance of ensuring that people are able to buy homes.” The Stamp Duty announcement formed part of a package of measures welcomed by the house building industry. The package also reported progress on placing requirements for Local Authorities to identify an adequate supply of developable land and proposals to reduce the regulatory costs placed on housing development. HBF said these were vital if the country is to build its way out of the housing crisis identified by HBF in its election manifesto. Stewart Baseley continued; ”The steps taken today can only help reduce the social and economic impacts of the housing crisis we have in this country and will also sustain many thousands of jobs in the industry and wider economy http://www.hbf.co.uk/Stamp-duty-announcement-34-huge-boost-148-Positive-package-will-help-industry-deliver-much-needed-homes-d8c69a5" target="_blank">Read more HBF also produced a briefing note for members on the main Budget announcements relating to housing. http://www.hbf.co.uk/uploads/media/Budget_2010_Key_Housing_Measures.pdf" target="_blank">Please click here to download a copy of the HBF Briefing to top Other industry responses to the Budget Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) The Council of Mortgage Lenders cautiously welcomed the Stamp Duty concession for first-time buyers, but warned that there would be genuine practical barriers to effective implementation. CML pointed out that first-time buyers (at least as they record them) typically include a high proportion of "returners", who have previously owned property but no longer do so. Yet the HMRC guidance note says that to qualify, the purchaser "must not...have previously acquired a major interest in ...residential property....anywhere in the world". It is not clear how this will be verified. The CML provisionally estimates - given the problems noted above - that over the coming 12 months there are likely to be some 136,000 newly exempt first-time buyers under the new concession, resulting in foregone revenue of £224m. This may be largely offset by the increase in Stamp Duty to 5% (up from 4%) on around 10,000 property transactions over £1m, which the CML estimates could equate to around £250m of additional revenue. The CML also welcomed the retention of the existing higher rate of Support for Mortgage Interest until the end of the year. The CML welcomed confirmation that the government plans to transfer the regulation of second charge lending - including existing second charge mortgages - from the OFT to the FSA. The CML's long-held view is that a single regulator for all secured lending is the most appropriate approach. http://www.cml.org.uk/cml/media/press/2590" target="_blank">Read more to top Building Societies Association (BSA) Adrian Coles, Director-General of the BSA, said: “The announcement that first-time buyers will not have to pay stamp duty on house purchases up to £250,000 is welcome and will provide assistance to those struggling to get on the housing ladder. However, this move alone will not lead to anything like a housing market recovery and it also fails to address the fundamental flaws with stamp duty. “The current ‘slab’ system results in the bunching of transactions at prices just below the thresholds. Stamp Duty needs serious reform and we urge the Government to research how the system could be reformed to reduce the price distortions. “The six month extension to the standard interest rate at which SMI is payable is a sensible one. SMI provides an effective alternative to other Government support for struggling homeowners. However, we believe that a detailed review of all Government schemes to avoid repossession should be undertaken to ensure that appropriate safety nets are available to homeowners in the future.” http://www.bsa.org.uk/mediacentre/press/budget_2010.htm" target="_blank">Read more to top Halifax Commenting Martin Ellis, Housing Economist, said: "Approximately 96% of first-time buyers would have been exempt from paying stamp duty in 2009 if the starting threshold had been £250,000. "This compares with the 56% that would have been exempt if the lowest threshold had been at £125,000. (It was actually £175,000 due to the temporary increase that existed between September 2008 and December 2009). "Therefore, an additional 40% of first-time buyers will benefit from the lowest threshold being £250,000 rather than £125,000. "The southern regions of England – Greater London, the South East and South West – will benefit most. The average price paid by a first-time buyer is highest in these parts of the country; above the current £125,000 threshold. Around three-quarters of first-time buyers in Greater London and the South East would be removed from the stamp duty tax net as a result of increasing the threshold from £125,000 to £250,000. "The average price paid by a first-time buyer is below £250,000 in all regions. The average price is above the current threshold of £125,000 in Greater London, South East and South West." http://www.lloydsbankinggroup.com/" target="_blank">Read more to top Confederation of British Industry (CBI) Richard Lambert, CBI Director-General, said: "With the election just weeks away, this was a clever, political budget. However, anxiety remains on how the deficit is going to be paid down, and the growth forecasts for 2011 and beyond are still on the optimistic side. "There was more support for business than might have been expected, with a series of modest but helpful changes. The doubling of entrepreneurs' CGT relief will help investment in small businesses and the extra money for science places at university will be welcomed by industry. "However, it is the big fiscal decisions over the next 12 months that will really determine the UK's economic future." http://www.cbi.org.uk/ndbs/press.nsf/0363c1f07c6ca12a8025671c00381cc7/195c7df50fc9f450802576f0004134d6?OpenDocument" target="_blank">Read more to top Construction Products Association (CPA) Commenting Michael Ankers, Chief Executive of the Construction Products Association, said: “Over the last couple of years the housing market has been severely hit and although recovery has begun we are pleased that the stamp duty rate holiday for first time buyers has been doubled to properties up to £250,000 in value, as this should boost the housing market further. However, it is also important that support continues for existing schemes, such as Home Buy Direct and Kickstart as these are also important in supporting and encouraging the fragile housing market recovery.” The CPA state that prospects for the construction industry over the next few years will be determined far more by measures taken by the new government after the election including the next Comprehensive Spending Review, than anything that has been announced in the Budget. http://www.politics.co.uk/opinion-formers/press-releases/budget-pre-budget/construction-products-association-no-surprises-for-construction-in-overtly-political-budget-$1367285$364675.htm" target="_blank">Read more to top ConstructionSkills ConstructionSkills welcomed the announcement to extend a guaranteed place in training for all 19-24 year olds who have been without a job for 6 months for an additional year (until March 2012). However, ConstructionSkills is calling on Government to go even further in its support for this age group, and all adult learners, if the Construction Industry is to meet the challenge of the demographic time bomb of skills shortages the sector now faces. In its manifesto, ‘Shaping Tomorrow’, ConstructionSkills is calling on Government to address this by: Supporting funding for all trainees over 19 years: removing barriers to older recruits in accessing training; Adequately funding adult skills: investment must be made in the future skills of the workforce if the changing needs of society are to be met – particularly as the economy aims to reduce its carbon output; Championing apprenticeships as the best vocational route available: keeping the entry route front of mind for employers, local authorities and students. http://www.cskills.org/newsandevents/news/commitment-to-train.aspx" target="_blank">Read more to top National House Building Council (NHBC) Imtiaz Farookhi, NHBC Chief Executive commented: "We cautiously welcome the measures announced in the budget. However, nobody should underestimate the challenge in providing the UK with the number of new homes it requires. Even at its peak the UK was not producing enough homes, and despite a recent upturn, our figures show that we are still today producing 40% fewer homes than we were three years ago. "In this context, the budget measures announced on Stamp Duty and local Authority planning are welcome boosts to house building in the UK." http://www.nhbc.co.uk/NewsandComment/Name,40373,en.html" target="_blank">Read more to top Federation of Master Builders (FMB) Richard Diment, Director General of the FMB said: “Helping first time buyers get on the property ladder is an important step but most people will still struggle to get the funding they need to secure a mortgage despite the Chancellor’s promise of further lending from state owned banks. The Chancellor could also have taken the opportunity to reform the stamp duty to abolish the slab structure and replace it with a fairer marginal system similar to income tax… “It is disappointing that there wasn’t more emphasis on apprenticeships as these hold the key to prevent a future skills crisis in the building industry. In fact, there is no mention of apprenticeships in the entire Financial Statement and Budget Report, but rather vague commitments to support youth employment. Any investment in key skills must include creating more apprenticeships as they are the key to securing the UK’s competitive future.” http://www.fmb.org.uk/news/press-releases/2010/march/stamp-duty-reform-will-help-building-industry-says-fmb240310/" target="_blank">Read more to top Government and political news Government consults on replacement Circular 5/05: planning obligations On 25th March CLG published a consultation on a new policy document on the use of planning obligations. A new policy document is required in light of the introduction of the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) and reforms to planning obligations brought about by the Final CIL Regulations 2010 which will come into force on 6 April 2010. In its final form, the policy document is intended to replace the Government's current policy contained in “Circular 5/05: Planning Obligations”. In the meantime, the policy in “Circular 5/05” continues to apply. The document stresses that, in the light of CIL, future S106 requirements must be scaled back from the level to which they have crept up to over time and that “double dipping” – being asked to contribute towards a single piece of infrastructure through both planning obligations and CIL – will not be acceptable. The consultation period runs until 17th June 2010. http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/planningobligationsconsultation" target="_blank">Download the document in full to top Community Infrastructure Levy guidance published On 25th March Housing Minister John Healey also announced a package of guidance encouraging local authorities to move towards Community Infrastructure Levy coming into force on 6th April. http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/communityinfrastructurelevy" target="_blank">Please click here to download the two documents providing an overview of CIL and http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/cilguidance" target="_blank">please click here for advice on charge setting and charging schedule procedures (alongside a consultation on a replacement for Circular 5/05 – see separate report). to top Healey: New deal for house builders Speaking at a joint New Homes Marketing Board (NHMB) / Smith Institute event this week, Housing Minister John Healey talked about a new deal for the future - recognising that things would not readily return to what they were pre-crunch. House builders needed a new deal with a more robust five year land supply, a plan to release public sector land, collaboration on innovation and looking at regulation, he said at the event that was also addressed by the NHMB’s David Pretty CBE. For councils he said that the new deal should include ending the current housing revenue account system and allowing them more scope to borrow against income streams or assets. For RSLs, the new deal should look at giving them more freedom, potentially to make better use of their assets and recycle savings or income. to top John Healey offers councils new housing deal Housing Minister John Healey has announced a new finance deal for councils giving them the freedom to fund and run their council homes, without central Government subsidy. In announcing the deal, Mr Healey set out plans to dismantle the current (HRA subsidy) system of funding council housing in 177 local authority areas. The deal will release at least ten per cent more money in every council for maintaining and managing their homes. And it will create the funding capacity to build over 10,000 new council homes a year. John Healey said: "This is a once and for all settlement between central and local government. It will bring council house funding up to date - replacing a system which was introduced before the Second World War. Councils will get the freedom to fund and run their council homes, without central Government subsidy. Not a single penny from rents or sales will go to Whitehall and not a single penny will subsidise other councils as the current system dictates.” http://www.communities.gov.uk/news/corporate/1519143" target="_blank">Read more to top Industry news New Home Buyer Code demonstrates industry commitment to its customers The new Consumer Code for homebuyers was officially launched at the House of Lords on Wednesday 24th March. HBF welcomed the new Code that will come into force on 1st April. The Code, developed by a consortium comprising representatives of house builders, warranty providers and lenders, will give consumers further confidence in newly built homes. Stewart Baseley, HBF Executive Chairmansaid: “The new Code demonstrates the industry’s commitment to providing a high quality of product and service to its customers throughout the new home buying process.” For more information, visit: http://www.consumercodeforhomebuilders.com" target="_blank">www.consumercodeforhomebuilders.com to top HCA launches standards consultation The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) has launched a consultation on future core housing design and sustainability standards. The consultation aims to stimulate a debate on how the quality of new housing should be prioritised in a challenging financial climate. The proposed core standards are aimed at setting testing but clear goals through a new and transparent process that aims to reduce bureaucracy. As well as quality, the viability of schemes, delivery of housing and impact on the house building industry will be key considerations. The consultation seeks views on a series of options for how the national housing and regeneration agency might design and phase in new standards and apply them to its programme. Sir Bob Kerslake, chief executive of the Homes and Communities Agency said: “We must ensure that every investment we make is lasting, which means creating quality homes and places that will stand the test of time. “We are looking to the sector to give us feedback on our proposals through this consultation, to help us continue to deliver homes and communities that are great places where people enjoy living, working and socialising.” http://www.homesandcommunities.co.uk/design-sustainability-standards" target="_blank">Read more to top HBF: Standards consultation raises concerns In a press release commenting on the consultation, HBF said the HCA’s Sustainability Standards Consultation raised a number of concerns for successful housing delivery by both the home building industry and other housing providers. Citing the HCA’s recognition that increasing standards will inevitably have an additional cost implication, HBF said any such demands must be viewed in the context of overall housing delivery and the existing significant policy burdens on residential development. The release concludes that it would not be possible to meet all of these demands and deliver the required numbers of new homes. There are real trade-offs between whatever standards are set and cost, affordability and the viability of future housing land supply. There are also clear implications for the outcomes that can be achieved from public investment in housing and for the private sector’s ability to meet its customers’ aspirations. http://www.hbf.co.uk/index.php?id=2355&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=13490&tx_ttnews[backPid]=2188&cHash=957b99800d" target="_blank">Read more to top Five-year housing land supply coverage in England Alongside the Budget on 24th March CLG published the findings of the Planning Inspectorate's (PINS) checks of local planning authorities (LPAs) five year housing land supply assessments of deliverable sites. Of the 132 Authorities (out of 337) on which information was available via recent appeal decisions or DPD Inspectors’ Reports, 81 Authorities were found to have a five year housing land supply. While this is, as the study states, 61.4% of the sample, it is only 24% of all 377 Authorities. http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/fiveyearhousing" target="_blank">Click here to download full report to top HCA: Previously-developed land report New figures from the National Land Use Database of Previously Developed Land (NLUD-PDL) show that local authorities identified an estimated 63,759 ha of PDL in England. Some 51% of this total is vacant or derelict, which is down by 20% compared with 2002. The figures are from the report “Previously Developed Land that may be available for redevelopment” that presents a statistical summary of survey results of both the supply of vacant and derelict sites and in use sites that may be available for redevelopment from 2008. The report also looks at a range of measurements concerning the potential reuse of PDL, including housing, across England as identified by local authorities. http://www.homesandcommunities.co.uk/public/documents/NLUD_%20FINAL%20accessible.pdf" target="_blank">Read more to top Federation of Master Builders launches its General Election Manifesto The FMB’s manifesto, ‘Building for Success’ which was launched this week, calls on all politicians to support the building industry by adopting the FMB’s twenty detailed policy recommendations. Speaking at the launch Richard Diment, Director General of the FMB said: “The FMB is committed to helping the next Government create the conditions for a sustained economic recovery. The building industry which employs nearly three million people and contributes eight per cent of the UK’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is an important driver to help the UK get back on its feet. Measures to help support skills and training must be at the forefront of the next Government’s agenda. This should include reform of the public procurement to ensure that only those contractors who employ apprentices are on approved procurement lists for public sector work. In addition targeted incentives need to be provided to encourage more employers to retrain apprentices.” http://www.fmb.org.uk/news/press-releases/2010/march/fmb-launches-its-general-election-manifesto230310/" target="_blank">Read more to top Planning Policy Statement 5: Planning for the Historic Environment “Planning Policy Statement 5: Planning for the Historic Environment (PPS5)” has been published and sets out the Government's planning policies on the conservation of the historic environment. it replaces “PPG 15: Planning and the Historic Environment” published on 14th September 1994; and “PPG 16: Archaeology and Planning” published on 21st November 1990. PPS5 is supported by a Practice Guide endorsed by Communities and Local Government, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and English Heritage. http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/pps5" target="_blank">Read more to top C4: Calling all experienced bricklayers, plasterers, joiners, plumbers and roofers! Channel 4 needs builders to construct an authentic Roman Villa: If you might be interested in six months paid work on a building site with no power tools please get in touch (no obligation). No knowledge of heritage work or Roman history required. Good rates and accommodation provided Email your CV and photo to mailto:Roman.Villa@darlowsmithson.com" target="_blank">Roman.Villa@darlowsmithson.com or text or call 07921 694530 for information. to top Housing market news Hometrack: Accelerating supply of homes for sale marks move back to normal market conditions According to Hometrack’s latest house price index, house prices rose by 0.3% in March and the year on year rate of growth now stands at 1.3%. However these headline figures mask a growing evidence of change. Hometrack state that the housing market recovery of the last 12 months has been built on a scarcity of housing for sale. During the whole of 2009 the stock of housing for sale increased by just 7% - this in contrast to the first 2 months of 2010 when the supply of homes for sale increased by 10.2%. Over March the growth in the number of homes coming to the market exceeded new buyers registering with agents. Despite the number of buyers registering with agents falling - from 8.3% in February to 3.3% in March - there was an increase in the volume of sales agreed over the month - up 13% from 0.4% in February. Talk of improved market conditions and prices returning to near peak levels in some markets is encouraging a growing number of households to sell their properties. Many registered buyers are also sellers, and as they gain the confidence to move so they need to put their homes on the market. Overall Hometrack see conditions moving from a sellers’ market back towards something more akin to normal conditions with supply and demand broadly in balance http://www.hometrack.co.uk/commentary-and-analysis/house-price-survey/20100323.cfm" target="_blank">Read more to top Land Registry: House price index The Land Registry data for February reveals an annual increase of 7%, which points towards a strengthening in the housing market. This is the fourth month in a row in which the annual movement has been positive. The monthly house price change is negative this month, at -0.3%. This brings the average house price in England and Wales to £164,455, which is a decrease from last month. Property transactions averaged 63,687 sales per month in the months September to December 2009. In the same period the year before, the figure was lower at 39,892. http://www1.landregistry.gov.uk/assets/library/documents/HPIReportthor100318.pdf" target="_blank">Read more to top HBF news HBF in the news HBF Executive Chairman Stewart Baseley featured in a news report on Sky News this week that was prompted by the launch of HBF’s election manifesto. The contents of the manifesto were also widely reported on national and regional radio programmes and across the media http: 201003315577632?lid='ARTICLE_15577632_UKHousingShortageIsAtCrisisPointWithAnExtraOneMillionHomesNeededToBeBuilt:Report&lpos=searchresults">Please click here to watch the Sky News report http://www.hbf.co.uk/fileadmin/documents/Email_Links/hbf_manifesto_final_print_ready.pdf" target="_blank">Please click here to view the HBF Manifesto If you would like additional copies of the manifesto to send to your local MP or Councillors please email mailto:info@hbf.co.uk" target="_blank">info@hbf.co.uk stating how many copies you would like we will post them to you as soon as possible. to top Haiti earthquake appeal Following the earthquake in Haiti, HBF launched an urgent appeal to the house building industry on behalf of its nominated charity Habitat for Humanity (HfH). The earthquake decimated the country's infrastructure and thus its ability to cope with the devastating impacts. It is a catastrophe of major proportions with early estimates suggesting that up to three million people have been killed, injured or made homeless. Habitat for Humanity has been present in Haiti, working with poor and low-income families in need of decent housing since 1981. It has a Disaster Risk Assessment Team on the ground, establishing a clear picture of the situation and providing specialist shelter provision and reconstruction assistance. Further information about this is available on their website http://www.habitatforhumanity.org.uk" target="_blank">http://www.habitatforhumanity.org.uk Whilst appreciating the difficult economic climate in which members are operating it only seems appropriate that our industry should support a charity that specialises in shelter provision, housing repair and reconstruction. How quickly we raise funds will directly affect Habitat for Humanity's ability to assist now, when their help really is needed. Please help by making a secure online donation today. http://www.habitatforhumanity.org.uk" target="_blank">http://www.habitatforhumanity.org.uk to top Construction ‘On Thin Ice’ Mark Starling, Safety, Health & Environmental Manager, Kier Partnership Homes is starting on an adventure to the 1996 Position of the Magnetic North Pole covering a distance of 360 nautical miles. In March 2010 he will set out from Resolute Bay in the high Canadian Arctic heading to the Magnetic North Pole. If successful the expedition will be the first all British team to attempt the pole completely unsupported. Unsupported means the team will be pulling all of their food and equipment throughout the trek on pulks; there will be no resupplies or checkpoints en route. The course will take Mark through the high Canadian Arctic on the sea ice where he could experience temperatures as low as -50°C and will be travelling through the home of the polar bear. This is one of the harshest yet most beautiful environments in the world. This is an exciting union between COINS and Kier Group, with an objective to raise minimally £50,000 that will go directly to COINS Foundation projects. Mark’s place has been sponsored by COINS and the Kier Group have given Mark five weeks leave of absence to train for and complete the expedition. The COINS Foundation seeks to work in genuine partnership to address the needs of the most excluded communities in the world, building schools, hospitals and homes. If you would like to sponsor Mark in this epic expedition, you can at: http://www.justgiving.com/markstarlingnorthpole2010" target="_blank">www.justgiving.com/markstarlingnorthpole2010 For more information please contact: Jo Franklin, COINS Marketing Director on +44 (0) 1753 501000 to top Events Housing Market Intelligence 2010 – October 12th, Savoy Place, London This year’s Housing Market Intelligence conference and annual report launch will be held on Tuesday October 12th at Savoy Place in London. Now in its eighth year, Housing Market Intelligence has become the leading strategic conference for the house building industry. This year the event is expected to sum up the new political climate nearly six months after the election, as well as providing analysis and insight into the market, the economy, the sustainability agenda, mortgages and all the key issues for house builders and associated companies. Full details will be published over the summer but note the date in your diary today! to top HBF: Event diary dates HBF has announced the return of three of its most popular social events for this year. The economic climate dictated that the HBF Ball, its North West Social dinner and its golf day have not taken place for the past two years, but member demand sees them return for 2010. Please make a note of the dates for your diary and click on the event to download the booking form: http://www.hbf.co.uk/fileadmin/documents/events/GolfBookingForm10.pdf" target="_blank">HBF Golf Day – Tuesday 13th July 2010 – Woburn Golf Course http://www.hbf.co.uk/fileadmin/documents/events/NWBookingForm2010.pdf" target="_blank">HBF North West Social Dinner – Friday 10th September 2010 – The Midland Hotel, Manchester http://www.hbf.co.uk/fileadmin/documents/events/HBFBALL10-BF.pdf" target="_blank">HBF Ball – Friday 10th December 2010 – Marriott Grosvenor Square, London HBF AGM & lunch Wednesday 28th April – the Hyatt Regency Hotel – the Churchill Annual lunch speakers announced; Raynsford and Gummer HBF has announced that the speakers at this year’s Annual Lunch will be Labour MP and ex-housing minister Nick Raynsford and Conservative MP and ex secretary of state for the Environment John Gummer. The HBF AGM & Annual Industry Lunch will take place on Wednesday 28th April at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, London. The day will begin with the AGM and Open Council meeting and be followed a drinks reception and the annual lunch. If you have any queries about any of the above please contact the events team on 020 7960 1646 and mailto:events@house-builder.co.uk" target="_blank">events@house-builder.co.uk http://www.hbf.co.uk/fileadmin/documents/events/AGMBookingForm10.pdf" target="_blank">Please click here to download a booking form to top Habitat for Humanity's Hope Challenge 11-13th June 2010 Habitat for Humanity, HBF's nominated charity will again be holding its Hope Challenge event in 2010. This unique and exciting outdoor challenge event will see teams; Spending two days and two nights in the great outdoors Sleeping in a self built shelter Undertaking mental and physical team challenges Last year's Hope Challenge was a huge success and had the competitors trekking around the Edale and Hope Valleys, with a base camp in the sheltered Vale of Edale. In 2010 HforH are planning a larger and more exciting event with walking routes encompassing the surrounding hills including the Skyline Ridge over Mam Tor and the lower reaches of Kinder Scout. However this is no ordinary weekend of walking! Participating teams will also be tested on their initiative and teamwork... and by building, and sleeping out in, their very own shelter they will experience some of the challenges faced by those who live in poverty housing. Think you can rise to the challenge? Want to join HforH in Hope Challenge 2010? http://www.habitatforhumanity.org.uk/hopeinfo.htm" target="_blank">Find out more about Hope Challenge 2010 http://www.habitatforhumanity.org.uk/hoperegister.htm" target="_blank">Register your team for Hope Challenge 2010. http://www.habitatforhumanity.org.uk/hopephotos.htm" target="_blank">Take a look at the photos and video of Hope Challenge 2009. http://www.habitatforhumanity.org.uk/hopecontact.htm" target="_blank">Contact HfH with any questions about Hope Challenge. to top For other HBF events visit the website http://www.hbf.co.uk/index.php?id=eventsandmeetings For' index.php?id="eventsandmeetings For HBM events visit http://www.hbmedia.co.uk/" target="_blank">http://www.hbmedia.co.uk/ to top Rosie Hinchliffe View Previous Weekly News Summary
