Top Stories Callcutt Review Report published... read Exclusive briefing event for HBF members on the Callcutt Review... read HIPs required on all homes marketed for sale from 14 December ... read Top stories this weekCallcutt Review Report published... read Exclusive briefing event for HBF members on the Callcutt Review... readHIPs required on all homes marketed for sale from 14 December ... read Quick LinksWales NewsGovernment NewsHousing Market NewsHBF News Wales NewsNew £25m scheme to improve housingA multi-million pound scheme to regenerate housing for Wales has been announced. Deputy Minister for Housing, Jocelyn Davies, has announced grants totalling £25.65m to support 39 renewal areas in 19 local authorities.Each council has its own action plan to improve housing and amenities in their areas with the aim of kick starting wide-ranging investment and reversing the process of decline.Read moreto topMinister welcomes Climate Change BillPlans for substantial new action to tackle climate change have been welcomed by the Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing, Jane Davidson. The Bill, which outlines a framework for moving the UK towards a low-carbon economy, sets a statutory target of a 60% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2050.Read more Builder blasts ‘Taffia' sabotaging energy plansThe Assembly Government's rhetoric about combating climate change is hugely at odds with its own dismal record on delivering wind power, it was claimed yesterday.David Williams, who runs a Cardiff wind power company Eco2, launched an outspoken attack on the "Taffia" he said was sabotaging the idea of a truly sustainable Wales.Read more Gloomy forecast for house prices in WalesHomeowners across Wales have been told to brace themselves for a cold front on the property market.A survey of estate agents and surveyors across the UK has shown that a sharp downturn will hit sellers and Wales will be hardest hit by the slump, according to the statistics.Forecasting group Capital Economics predicts house prices will fall by up to six per cent next year in Wales, compared to just one per cent nationwide.The survey also revealed homes worth £350,000 or less in all areas of the country could be hit hardest by the slowdown.Read moreto topGovernment NewsCallcutt Report confirms key role of private sector and need for action on land supply Announcing his findings and recommendations yesterday, John Callcutt said that the housebuilding industry can meet the Government's targets of delivering 240,000 homes per year by 2016 and build them to zero carbon standards provided the industry and local authorities adopt new ways of working together including sharing the financial benefits of investing in our towns and cities.The Review recommends that more previously developed land, including redundant inner city sites, is used to meet the demand for more housing and that sustained leadership is needed from Government to ensure that the new homes are of good quality and meet zero carbon standards.In its recommendations, the Review sets out five propositions to align Government targets on building more housing to low carbon standards, with the industry's commercial objectives of providing returns to their shareholders:-Incentives for the public and private sectors are incentivised to work in new partnerships to bring forward low value sites for providing new, refurbished, affordable and energy efficient homes. Public commitment to infra-structure and services such as roads, schools, health services, public spaces and leisure facilities is used to build investor confidence in areas earmarked for regeneration. The regulatory framework is turned around so as to incentivise good quality and standards and to create opportunities for smaller firms.Government gives sustained leadership to its zero carbon objectives to underpin their delivery by the industry. Community management is given renewed priority as a key component of permanent regeneration and also to build confidence among financial investors in long term asset growth in regeneration areas. These propositions are fleshed-out in 37 recommendations.View the recommendations and the full reportThe HBF members briefing on the Callcutt Review can be view on the website (members only) If you have forgotten your login details for the website please email catherine.Wilson@hbf.co.uk to topExclusive briefing event for HBF members on the Callcutt Review Following publication of the Callcutt Report, HBF has arranged for John Callcutt to provide an exclusive briefing for HBF members.The event will be held on the 4th December, 11am to 1pm at the Honourable Artillery Company, City Road, London, EC1Y 2BQ John will introduce the Review and members will then have an opportunity to question John and discuss with him the Review's conclusions and recommendations. An informal buffet lunch will be provided following the briefing. Demand for places is expected to be high and these will be allocated on a first come first served basis. To secure your place, please contact Marian Macdonald Marian.Macdonald@hbf.co.uk with details of your company name and the names and job titles of those wishing to attend. There is no charge for this exclusive member's event.HBF broadly welcomes the Callcutt recommendations In HBF's response to the Review, Executive Chairman of the Home Builders Federation Stewart Baseley said: -"Everyone agrees that delivering 240,000 new homes a year by 2016 is a huge challenge. I am pleased that John Callcutt's report confirms that the industry has the capacity to deliver these homes provided we put in place the structures that allow it to do so."He rightly identifies land supply as the catalyst to realising the 2016 vision. Housebuilders have the all the tools at their disposal to deliver - all we ask for is the land to make these new homes happen. "I particularly welcome the debunking of the myth of ‘landbanking.' Homebuilders are doing all they can to build the homes necessary to meet consumer demand, and meet Government targets. Setting the record straight on this issue means we can concentrate on addressing the real problems with new housing delivery, namely land supply with planning permission."Some of Callcuttt's recommendations need further fleshing out and study. His recognition of the need to incentivise improved partnerships between housebuilders and local authorities is critical, however, if we are to encourage the investment required to come forward."to topCLG response highlights delivering green, affordable homes more quickly Housing Minister Yvette Cooper welcomed the publication of the Callcutt Review and focused on a drive to speed up the delivery of new greener, affordable homes for first-time buyers and families, in her initial public response. The Minister said the Government would: Introduce a new legal definition on what constitutes a 'substantial start' to a planning consent by a developer to avoid major sites being held up by long delays. Introduce new 'fast track contracts' to help speed up the development of new homes on public sector land.Give increased support to sustain the Government's drive to make all new homes zero carbon by 2016, through a new body to monitor and co-ordinate work on delivering the target. Closely examine proposals for an annual independent customer satisfaction survey on new housing, working with the Office of Fair Trading, and considering whether house builders' results should be linked to future allocations of public funding or bids for public sector land. Agree a 'new industry standard' to increase transparency of accounting for developers' land holdings. More detail on the Government response to Callcutt CPRE welcomes Callcutt's urban emphasis Responding to the key findings of the Callcutt Review the CPRE said: -"The urban renaissance needs a renewed commitment from Government if we are to meet the Nation's need for new housing while minimising the loss of countryside. The Callcutt Review shows that the housebuilding industry can deliver this if the right conditions are created."to topHIPs required on all homes marketed for sale from 14 DecemberThe Government has laid the commencement order to extend HIPs and EPCs to one and two bedroom properties from 14 December 2007. In order to ensure continued smooth implementation, CLG are also extending the temporary provisions on first day marketing for all properties from 1 January to 1 June, providing flexibility for sellers as part of the roll out to one and two bedroom properties. View full press releaseHIPs roll out will crunch first-time buyers out of the market, warns RICS The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) said that the housing market in England and Wales will fall further out of reach for first-time-buyers with the roll out of Home Information Packs (HIPs) to one and two bedroom properties. RICs say HIPs have wiped out a significant portion of the estimated 20% of speculative sellers that help to keep the property market moving.to topOFT Questionnaire to House BuildersThe OFT has now advised that the questionnaires to house builders will be mailed out on Tuesday 27 November.Although the covering letter for the questionnaire will ask for responses by 21st December, the OFT has advised HBF that the time for accepting responses has been extended to 7th January, given possible postal delays and Christmas.The questionnaire is being sent out to some 7,000 firms, made up of all firms with a turnover greater than £5.6 million, plus a random sample of small house building companies.Brown warns of hard choices ahead on climate changeSpeaking at a WWF seminar in London this week, the Prime Minister warned that if climate change was to be tackled effectively "it falls to this generation to take the decisive steps in a global effort that will span all continents and last for generations to come."He acknowledged that scientific evidence now suggested that developed countries may need to reduce emissions by up to 80% by 2050, and said he would ask the new Committee on Climate Change to advise on whether the government's proposed 60% reduction target should be tightened up to 80%.On the domestic front, the Prime Minister said that over the next three years, five million more homes in the UK would benefit from discounted or free loft and cavity wall insulation, and another three million from discounted or free low-energy light bulbs and energy-efficient appliances. Over the next decade, "smart meters" would be offered to all households, making it easier for people to generate their own energy.View more on Gordon Brown's speechto topRenewable Energy Association - Huge gap between political rhetoric on climate change and the realityResponding to the Prime Minister's speech, the REA expressed concern about the "huge gap that has opened up between the political rhetoric on climate change and the reality of wholly inadequate policy and financial support" on the promotion of renewable energy.New report looks at role of renewable energy generation in achieving zero carbon homesA new report from the Renewables Advisory Board (RAB), which advises Government on renewable energy issues, considers the role of on site energy generation in the delivery of the Government's zero carbon homes policy. Amongst it findings is the conclusion that depending on how the relevant regulatory rules are framed the policy could drive a market for onsite renewable worth £2.3 billion a year from 2016.Other findings from the report are that:The electricity load created by appliances means that renewables are essential to meet zero carbon standards even where homes are built to the highest levels of energy efficiency.The proposed timescale of the Government's green homes policy creates very little demand for renewable energy until 2016. From 2016 the market for onsite renewables could rise dramatically and could be worth between £1.4 billion and £3 billion a year. The definition of zero carbon for Part L purposes and the revised SAP methodology for this will, however, have an important bearing on the actual uptake of onsite renewablesSuch a projected annual uptake of on site generation is greater than UK manufacturing capacity for all renewable energy technology, and greater than global manufacturing capacity for a number of the most cost effective technologies.Technologies that are likely to experience the highest levels of uptake are biomass combined heat and power and solar photovoltaics, but this is sensitive to the level at which government allows offsite generation.The average cost of meeting zero carbon standards from on site renewables is expected to be £6,000 per dwelling, with higher costs for small urban developments and the lowest costs for large rural developments.The report makes three headline recommendations to Government:Change the proposed policy to create earlier stimulation for onsite renewable energy e.g. Encouraging local authorities to use the planning system to require zero carbon standards in the largest housing developments in advance of 2016.Accelerate the technological and commercial development of Biomass Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Minimise the use of remote offsite energy generation in meeting zero carbon standards - for example, by setting a tight cap on its use and a high ' buy-out' cost for any offsite generation fund.to topGreen Homes Service to provide one stop shop to make homes greenerHomes across the country will have access to a one stop shop service to help make their homes greener, Environment Secretary Hilary Benn announced this week. The Green Homes Service will be launched on 1st April 2008 and will provide a single point people can contact for a home energy audit plus advice on how they can save water, reduce waste, green their travel, and connect to grants and offers from energy companies. The Green Homes Service will form part of the Government's Act on CO2 campaign, which aims to encourage people to cut their own carbon footprint. More information on the Green Homes ServiceGovernment to proceed with mandatory rating for Code for Sustainable HomesCLG have published the Summary of Responses to the July 2007 consultation: ‘The Future of the Code for Sustainable Homes - Making a Rating Mandatory'.The summary document outlines the Government's final policy position. The main message is that as a result of consultation, the Government will be proceeding with the implementation of mandatory rating against the Code for all new homes. These ratings will be introduced as part of the Home Information Pack.View Summary of responsesBoris Johnson's housing vision for London Speaking at the NHBC lunch this week, Boris Johnson set out his housing vision for London.Johnson outlined the case for the need for more and better housing for London. He said: "We are going through a period of expansion. Faster than anything we have seen in the last 40 years. And, if that growth is to be successfully managed, we need you to build houses that will still be loved and respected in 100 years. We need buildings of distinction and grace, of the right size and the right place".to topHousing Market NewsPre-Christmas slowdown comes early for UK Housing Market according to NAEAThe latest survey from the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) has revealed a slow October housing market as the number of buyers on books, houses available and sales agreed fell, indicating a considerable cooling down in the housing market.The number of house buyers on estate agents' books was at its lowest for the past four years, with agents reporting an average of 282 buyers registered in comparison to the 326 recorded in September 2007. With a downturn in the number of house buyers, the properties on agents' books saw a slight reduction as NAEA members across the country reported an average of 65 properties for sale in October, compared to the 80 properties in September. However, when compared to the same time last year the figure is slightly up as 64 properties per agent were recorded in October 2006.The number of sales agreed per agent was down in October with on average 10 sales reported, compared with 11 in September 2007. This is a significant drop from the same time last year when a figure of 14 sales was reported for October 2006, but reflects the current caution in the housing market.More detail on the surveyThe Rightmove forecasts the price standstill to continue for 2008 House Price Index for October to November 2007 reports the following figures:Average Property Asking Price: November = £239,986, October = £241,642 % Change in Month: November = -0.7%, October = +2.7%% Change in Past Year: November = +7.9%, October = +10.4%Monthly Index (Jan 2002=100) November = 195.3 October = 196.6View full press releaseto topHBF NewsHBF Policy Conference 2008 - Hitting the Government's housing targetsWednesday 30 January - One Birdcage Walk, LondonThe Government has called on the UK house building industry to increase house building levels to 240,000 homes per year and to build homes to zero carbon standards by 2016. This full day conference is perfectly timed at the start of next year to give delegates a detailed and comprehensive overview of the issues facing the industry.For further details, please contact the Events Team on 020 7960 1646 or events@hbmedia.co.uk HBF Annual North West Dinner - 8th February 2008The HBF North West Social Dinner will be held at the Midland Hotel, Peter St, Manchester M60 2DS.The evening commences at 7.30pm for 8.00pm with a three-course dinner and wine, followed by a live band and disco. Cost £70 + VAT. Tables of 10 and 12 can be booked - if you require a larger table please contact the events team. To book please download the booking formOr contact the Events Team 020 7960 1646to topHBF Annual Industry Lunch - 10% discount on tables booked before 8th February The HBF AGM and Annual Industry Lunch will be held at the Hyatt Regency - The Churchill, London W1 on Wednesday 23rd April 2008.The AGM is open to members only and will commence at 11.30. Non-members are invited to join the drinks reception at 12.30 and lunch at 13.00. Tables of 10 or 12 booked before the 8th February 2008 will receive a 10% discount. Please note due to high demand in previous years, places are strictly on a first-come first-served basis and booking early is highly recommended.Cost - HBF Members: £85 plus VAT. Non Members: £95 plus VAT.To book download a booking form or contact the events team on 020 7960 1646 or email events@hbmedia.co.uk to topJo WestonView Previous Weekly News Summary
