Top stories this week *New eco-towns shortlisted *NHBC Foundation survey into consumer and builder attitudes to zero-carbon Top stories this weekNew eco-towns shortlisted....read moreNHBC Foundation survey into consumer and builder attitudes to zero-carbon.....read moreQuick LinksWales NewsGovernment NewsIndustry NewsHousing Market NewsEconomic NewsHBF NewsEventsWales News Next stage for renewable energy drive The next stage in the Welsh Assembly Government's drive to increase renewable energy to combat climate change has been reached, First Minister Rhodri Morgan has announced this week. In October the First Minister announced that preferred bidders would be invited to sign agreements which would allow them to seek planning permission for the construction of wind farms in areas of Assembly-owned woodland. Three companies, including NPower and Scottish Power have now signed such agreements.Read moreto topLand of the Nimbys - How Welsh try to send developers elsewhereFour out of five people in Wales have been classed as "Nimbys" by an annual survey that reveals hardening opposition to new buildings, roads or industrial developments.The annual survey is carried out by Saint Consulting, which specialises in "land-use politics" and helping businesses gain planning approvals.Read moreMMC Wales - Tomorrow's House - Achieving Modern Methods of Construction in Wales - CardiffThe Welsh School of Architecture and BRE Wales are to hold a conference on 11th April 2008 that will focus on all aspects of the challenge of off-site construction in housing in Wales. The conference will present a range of speakers from across the construction industry discussing aspects of Modern Methods of Construction, from policy, procurement, design, and supply chain to monitoring and construction; confirmed speakers so far include Jocelyn Davies AM, Andrew Ogorzalek (PCKO Architects), Colin Davies, author of The Prefabricated Home (London Metropolitan University), the BRE, and Cardiff University.The event will take place at Welsh School of Architecture, Bute Building, King Edward VII Avenue Cardiff and will cost £75 per delegate.More informationto topGovernment NewsNew eco-towns shortlistedHousing Minister Caroline Flint has announced 15 locations shortlisted for the next stage of the eco-towns programme. She also announced that the new homes would not be built on Green Belt land and that more than 30% would be affordable housing. The Minister said final schemes being promoted will have to reach zero carbon standards by using leading edge green technologies, provide high levels of affordable housing, demonstrate how they will deliver key infrastructure such as good public transport, schools and health facilities and safeguard local wildlife. The Government has said it wants to build five eco-towns by 2016 and up to ten by 2020.In a press statement Caroline Flint said: "Today's announcement of the shortlist of potential locations is only the first stage and they will now be consulted on with the public, local authorities and wider stakeholders. Bidders who have cleared the first hurdle will face considerably tougher tests ahead if they want to become eco-towns and will need to improve proposals still further."Caroline Flint has also announced she intends to form a panel of experts who will work with developers to improve their plans. A final shortlist of locations will be published later this year, after which each potential eco-town will need to submit a planning application. More informationHBF - Eco-towns must help and not hinder increased housing supplyResponding to the announcement by the Department for Communities and Local Government of the locations of 15 shortlisted sites for eco-towns, Executive Chairman of the Home Builders Federation Stewart Baseley says:"Measures that will help housebuilders deliver 240,000 zero-carbon homes by 2016 are welcome. The Government's eco-towns proposals may well provide an environment where new technology and designs can be road-tested on a large scale."However, we must keep our eye on the bigger picture. Even if all of the shortlisted locations were developed, the homes built would only comprise less than 5% of the 3 million homes we need to build by 2020. View full press statementto topCPRE - Eco towns: right idea, wrong place Countryside campaigners CPRE have expressed deep disappointment at the Government's shortlist of proposed eco town schemes. CPRE senior planner Kate Gordon said:"Our main worry is the proposed location of many of these schemes. We fully support the Government's aspirations for achieving the highest standards in terms of sustainability and affordability. But achieving high environmental standards on site is not enough if the development is in the wrong place to begin with."View full releaseReport into existing homes and climate changeThe CLG Select Committee has published a report on ‘existing homes and climate change' on Tuesday which calls on Ministers to look at cutting carbon emissions from existing stock as well as seeking to make future housing more environmentally friendly. The cross-party group of MPs warns that the Government will not meet its target to reduce overall carbon emissions by 60% by 2050 unless much more it done in relation to the UK's 25 million-plus existing homes.As part of the measures suggested in the report, the Committee has recommended the introduction of a code for existing homes and the removal of a VAT anomaly that makes it cheaper to demolish a building than refurbish or renovate to a higher environmental standard.More information on the Report to topNew enquiry ‘Greener homes for the future' - An environmental analysis of the Government's house-building plansThe Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) is launching an inquiry into zero carbon homes, Eco Towns and the Code for Sustainable Homes and the wider environmental issues involved in the Government's policies for the construction of new homes. The Committee will be looking at how well the Government's policies on housing supply are joined up with those on sustainable development. In particular the Committee will focus on the impacts that house-building policy has on climate change mitigation and adaptation. EAC's inquiry will complement the recent inquiry by the Communities and Local Government Committee on existing housing and climate change - whose results were published this week.The deadline for submissions is Friday 25 April 2008.View full press releaseGovernment launches Green Neighbourhoods Initiative and advice lineOn Wednesday, Hilary Benn, the Environmental Secretary launched the ‘Green Neighbourhoods initiative', which aims to create up to 100 neighbourhoods across England that will reduce their carbon footprints by over 60 per cent. Communities and councils can bid for funding to help transform the environmental performance of a street or local area. A new advice line has also been launched. The Act on CO2 line will give free, impartial and tailored advice from the Energy Saving Trust on how individuals can reduce their carbon footprint. The announcements follow the start of the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (Cert) scheme, which came into effect yesterday and doubles the previous obligations on energy companies to help people make their homes more energy efficient and reduce household emissions.View moreto topGovernment consults on proposals to support regional economic growth in England Following the publication of the Sub-National Review of Economic Development and Regeneration last July, which announced new streamlined regional government with the phasing out of Regional Assemblies from 2010, the Government have launched a consultation on new legislation designed to support regional economic growth in England.Under the proposed new legislation, top tier councils would be given a duty to assess the economic conditions of their area, including employment and skills needs, and the infrastructure needed to support sustainable economic growth - including housing and transport investment. These councils and Regional Development Agencies would then use this as the basis for regional strategies, covering the future for housing, skills, transport and regeneration in their region, to encourage greater economic growth.Further detail on this storyCode for Sustainable Homes certificate required in HIPs from MayFrom 1st May, under the Home Information Pack (Amendment) Regulations 2008 (no. 572), a rating against the Code for Sustainable Homes standards is to be provided to the home buyer as part of the HIP, from the point that the marketing of the property starts. Depending on when this is, the HIP might contain either:A nil-rated certificateThe design stage Code certificateOr, the post construction Code certificateIf the home is still being marketed once construction is complete then the design stage certificate will have to be replaced with the final certificate.The design of the nil-rated certificate is currently being finalised. CLG will make the nil-rated certificate available on the HIPs website prior to the implementation of mandatory ratings from 1st May 2008.Home Information Pack (Amendment) Regulations 2008 (no. 572)Latest information on HIPs is available on the Government websiteImmigration report highlights long-term impact on house pricesThe House of Lords has published a report on the ‘Economic Impacts of Immigration'. The report highlights the effects of immigration on the UK economy, including the long-term impact on housing and house prices. It notes the forecasts that if current rates of net immigration persist, in 20 years time house prices will be 10% higher than if there were zero net immigration.View Reportto topIndustry NewsNHBC Foundation survey into consumer and builder attitudes to zero-carbon launchedThe NHBC Foundation this week launched the results of a survey entitled ‘Zero carbon: what does it mean to homeowners and housebuilders' detailing attitudes and understanding among consumers and builders on zero carbon and sustainability. The first major study of its kind, the research incorporates the views of consumers and builders across the UK to specifically address the targets and drivers outlined by the Government in the Housing Green Paper, Code for Sustainable Homes and related reports and legislation.The research shows that whilst most consumers are aware of climate change, most have not taken any significant steps to reduce carbon emissions. There was also a lack of awareness and understanding of the term ‘zero carbon' and a reluctance to accept the lifestyle changes associated with low carbon homes. Homeowners expressed particular concerns around issues such as airtightness, restrictions on water use and the reliability of renewable energy technology. The research shows that the most effective way of engaging customers in the drive to reduce energy was to focus on the cost-saving benefits. However, there was resistance to meeting the expected increased cost of a zero-carbon home.Findings from the housebuilder research show that there is a firm commitment to tackle issues of climate change but a concern at meeting sustainability targets alongside the Government's target to build more homes. The level of knowledge and approach to zero carbon varied widely across the industry. Concerns related mainly to microgeneration and renewable energy and homebuilders expressed the need for greater clarity on issues around onsite and offsite green generation.Download full researchNHMB - Report shows great challenges and conflicting pressures Commenting on the new NHBC Foundation report, the Chairman of the New Homes Marketing Board, David Pretty CBE, said: "This report shows the great challenges and conflicting pressures we all face in greening our housing. Most people agree that reducing carbon emissions from their homes is an important objective and it's right that our national targets should be demanding. However, those buying the new low and zero carbon homes of the future will also want them to be affordable, comfortable and reliable, with manageable maintenance arrangements."View the full commentto topHousing Market NewsConstruction outlook is worst for a decade according to RICs A slowing housing market has hit the UK construction industry, making it even more unlikely that the Government will reach its housing targets, says the RICS UK Construction Market Survey published this week.During the first quarter of the year growth in construction workloads fell to the lowest level for more than a decade as house builders and businesses were hit by the effects of the credit crunch and demand for housing fell away. Workloads fell to the worst level since 1996 with 1 percent more Chartered Surveyors reporting a rise than a fall, down from 16 percent in the fourth quarter of 2007. The worst hit sector was private housing with workload growth in this sector turning negative for the first time since 1999. The fall is due mainly to a downturn in the North, but private housing weakened in all regions and is now static in London and the South East, Wales, the Midlands and Northern Ireland. 9 percent more Chartered Surveyors reported a fall than a rise in private sector housing workloads down from the positive figure of 16 percent.View press releaseto topEconomic NewsBank of England reports credit supply down but demand unchangedIn the Bank of England Credit Conditions Survey for the first quarter of this year reports a reduction in the availability of secured credit to households over the three months to mid-March, whilst demand for secured lending on house purchase was reported to have been broadly unchanged.View full detailto topHBF NewsSection 38 Commuted sum payments - HBF noteYou may have seen a Department for Transport ( DfT) draft guidance document entitled Commuted sums for future maintenance in relation to infrastructure asset adoption. You should know that HBF does not support these proposals. HBF was originally a member of the DfT Steering Group set up to consider this issue and from its inception had made it clear that our opinion based on legal advice was that commuted sums could not be forced under Section 38 Agreements.. Unfortunately it became apparent that the Group wished to ignore our view and propose national guidelines for charging such sums.As a consequence HBF wrote to DfT on March 19th to resign from the Group and to insist that we did not wish to be associated in any way with the draft findings.Unfortunately this has not been addressed and HBF is mentioned in the draft in such a way that some Local Authorities have already interpreted the findings as having HBF support.For the avoidance of doubt this is not the case and we have written in strong terms to the DfT insisting that they correct the position.to topEventsThe Future of Building Control ConferenceThursday 10 April 2008, Austin Court, BirminghamThis conference provides delegates with the unique opportunity to voice their opinion on the Building Control Consultation paper announced this week and question the panel of speakers on the subject.Speakers include: Paula Higgins, Communities and Local GovernmentDave Mitchell, HBFPaul Everall, LABCNeil Cooper, NHBCDave Baker, RDLJohn Tebbit, Construction Products AssociationFor a booking form please go to www.hbmedia.co.uk or alternatively contact a member of the HBMedia events team on 020 7960 1646. to topHBF Ball - 10% DISCOUNT ONTABLES OF 10 & 12 BOOKED BEFORE JULY 18The Home Building Industry Ball, hosted by the HBF is the highlight of the industry's social calendar and will be held this year on Friday 5 December 2008 at the luxurious Marriot Grosvenor Square Hotel in Mayfair, situated in the heart of central London.The evening will commence with a champagne drinks reception at 7.30pm followed by an a la carte three course meal and live entertainment.Places are strictly limited - Book early to avoid disappointment.*10% discount is being offered on tables of 10/12 before July 18th.Download a booking form or alternatively contact the events team on 020 7960 1646 or email events@hbmedia.com Tables of 10-12 are available. If you require a different size table please contact the events team.For other HBF events visit the website http://www.hbf.co.uk/index.php?id=eventsandmeetingsFor HBM events visit http://www.hbmedia.co.uk/ to topJo WestonView Previous Weekly News Summary
