Liverpool loses World Heritage status thanks to waterfront schemes

Liverpool has been stripped of its World Heritage status after a UN committee found developments threatened the value of the city's waterfront, following a secret ballot by the Unesco committee at a meeting in China. A report in June by [...]

John Lewis to build 10,000 homes for rent 

Retailer John Lewis is reportedly set to construct 10,000 homes for rent over the next few years, largely utilising its existing sites. Reports in the Sunday Times said the department store chain’s move into the residential property market is being [...]

Industry welcomes planning overhaul in Queen's Speech

Confirmation of the Planning Bill, which includes a raft of changes to the system, has been announced in the Queen’s Speech, as well as a new Building Safety Regulator in the wake of Grenfell.  The Queen announced that the Planning [...]

Queen’s Speech centres on planning overhaul

New laws aiming to enable the UK to “build back better and stronger from the pandemic” were unveiled in the Queen’s Speech, including an overhaul of the planning system to increase building rates across the UK. The Government’s new legislative [...]

Moisture Management in Historic Buildings

Lewis Proudfoot of Cliveden Conservation and committee member of the Building Limes Forum, discusses moisture management in historic buildings and why lime should be the default material for the repair of traditional structures The challenge of maintaining and repairing historic [...]

Latest Articles

Taking the long view

LISTEN HERE 🔊 Simon Storer of the Insulation Manufacturers Association (IMA), explains why a fabric-first approach to design, combined with a long-term outlook, is the way forward to improve future... View Article

New arrivals

LISTEN HERE 🔊 Making an entrance has changed – door materials have developed far beyond traditional options to offer composite alternatives which provide a wide choice of styles as well... View Article

Smooth start, perfect finish

From Peter Wilson, Setcrete Brand Manager Specifying beautiful floorcoverings for a new property can transform the appearance of a room dramatically. Today there are so many options from traditional carpet... View Article

Designs taking flight

Eric Nicholls of Spiral UK explores the different options for feature staircases available to housebuilders and developers, detailing the benefits of each. Choosing a staircase sounds easy – after all... View Article

Permanence and sustainability

Among the many benefits aluminium has to offer, Andrew Cross of Kestrel Aluminium discusses its ability to forecast the cost of maintenance over a system’s design life. With increasing pressure... View Article

Short supply

LISTEN HERE 🔊 Brian Berry, CEO of the Federation of Master Builders (FMB), explores how the shortage of construction materials is constraining small builders’ ability to ‘build back better.’ Since... View Article

Steeling yourself for the future

LISTEN HERE 🔊 Stuart Judge of the Steel Window Association considers the performance benefits of contemporary steel frames in terms of meeting the future challenges for housebuilding. Britain can take... View Article

The safe bet for decking

William Hogg of Ecodek discusses the options for blending safety standards and sustainability with striking design when it comes to aluminium decking The specification of non-combustible building materials in the... View Article

Get it right on the tiles

LISTEN HERE 🔊 If you are looking to specify a tiled floor, it is crucial to understand what preparation is required to ensure that new or existing floor substrates are... View Article

Timber or composite?

Deciding on the best decking option for your garden makeover can be challenging. Tony Hobbs of Southern Sheeting offers some advice to help you choose The trend for durable and... View Article

Making an impact on noise

Recent research links unwanted noise levels with a heightened risk of mental and physical health problems. Karen Wilding of Forbo Flooring Systems says this shows that architects must adopt tools... View Article
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Product & Supplier News

Topic: Tips to buying building materials

Most people focus on the kitchen, views, location, bedrooms, and bathrooms when buying a home. Hardly do they consider building materials that were used in constructing the house. Besides the... View Article

Kawneer glazing systems are an Academy winner

Windows, curtain walling and doors feature on the new London Screen Academy. Architectural glazing systems by leading UK manufacturer Kawneer, including aluminium heritage-style windows appropriate for the conservation area, have... View Article

Armstrong Ceiling Solutions wins ISO 45001

Manufacturer achieves certification in an impressive nine months. Armstrong Ceiling Solutions’ UK manufacturing facility has successfully migrated – in super-quick time – to ISO 45001 for its Occupational Health and... View Article

Added protection where needed from Crittall MW40

Crittall’s Corporate MW40 steel windows can be specified where superior air, wind or water resistance and greater sound attenuation are required. Offering the same high-quality appearance as the company’s successful... View Article
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