News Archive - Dec 2008 - Buildstore

Houses in the UK are now at their most affordable for over five years, HBOS has claimed. The number of regions where property has become more acces...

New build properties look set to become the best value option for housebuyers in 2009, it has been claimed. Lee Grandin, managing director of buy-to-...

A construction firm based on Merseyside is bucking the economic trend by managing to secure new contracts worth £1.9 million, it has been reporte...

A growing number of people are likely to put on their overalls and get out their tool boxes to undertake DIY next year, it has been claimed. Jason ...

A Sunderland developer has unveiled the UK''s first major PassivHaus building scheme, it has been reported. Known as Gentoo, the scheme will consist ...

Ruth Reed, the president elect of the Royal Institute of British Architects (Riba), has said the UK''s designated green belt land is "not compl...

It has been claimed that the government should reduce the VAT that is paid on renovation projects to benefit thousands of households. Citing offici...

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics) has voiced its concerns about the lack of new homes being built. New housing starts for this year...

It has been claimed that brick is as popular as ever when it comes to housing developments and self build . A selection of London''s top architects ...

One couple is reportedly looking to claim up to £6,000 in compensation from their local council. A town hall watchdog has said they are entitled...

All future and existing self builders and other mortgage holders have been warned not to take mortgage payment holidays. According to David Kuo, ...

Buyers in the current property market are now able to get more for their money, it has been claimed. Diane England, a property expert for Persimm...

The government has pledged that all new homes from 2016 will have to be zero carbon and it has launched a consultation process to help achieve this ai...

Worcester Bosch is inviting self builders to enter its Worcester Environment 2010 Awards with the hope of winning a cash prize. Self builders who bel...

Anyone planning a self build in Manchester will see little disruption to their plans after the city''s residents voted against the congestion charge...

In the current economic downturn more people are looking to increase their practical skills, it has been suggested According to the Telegraph, Europe...

The private rental sector is becoming increasingly crowded, it has been claimed. Paul Sellers, housing policy adviser at the Trades Union Congress (...

It has been claimed that, even in today''s tough economic climate, self build mortgages are coming up with the goods for borrowers. Jenny Austin, ...

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) says that arbitrary spot checks have found "significant" breaches of health and safety legislation on ...

Those who embark on a self build can now see how green their home is, it has emerged. UKPower.co.uk has developed an online meter that will help c...

November has seen gross mortgage lending fall again, the Council of Mortgage Lenders has revealed. Gross lending has slipped 22 per cent from Oct...

Deciding to self build a property in the Isle of Man could be a wise move, according to developer dandara. David Bates, business development ma...

It has been claimed that now is the time to buy as UK property prices are set to rise substantially when the market picks up. Simon Preston, chairm...

The UK is not far from zero per cent interest rates, it has been claimed. This could be good news for any self builder who took out a base-rate tra...

The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) has warned the government that it needs to make decisions on its priorities in the housing sector. Brian Berr...

Anyone who wants to live in a new green home in 2009 may need to build it themselves, it has been suggested. According to David Bexon, managing direc...

Self builders who choose to install a ground source heat pump could save hundreds of pounds a year, it has emerged. It has been reported that the pum...

Self builders or renovators who insulate the cavities in their walls could stop having to turn up their radiators, it has been claimed. According to ...

People who choose to self build in the countryside are likely to have better relationships with their neighbours, it has been found. Furthermore, b...

A new survey has revealed that almost one in five people have embarked on a renovation or home improvement project before Christmas. According to F...

One Scottish couple who have built their own home are reportedly delighted with their bespoke self build . Despite having to live in a caravan while...

A new survey has revealed that almost one in five people have embarked on a renovation or home improvement project before Christmas. According to F...

During the September quarter, authorities undertaking district level planning in England received 135,000 applications for planning permission, it has...

An Adfero street poll has revealed that 84 per cent of people think that in 12 months their property will be worth less than its current valuation. ...

A new scheme has reportedly been launched that aims to help young people build their own housing. Unemployed teenagers with little to no experience i...

It has been forecast that 2009 will be the year to pick up a prime plot . The worsening economic situation could see more people forced into selling...

Property website Rightmove has predicted that house prices will continue to fall in 2009. The property website predicts that prices will fall by ...

The property slump has "heavily damaged" the number of new home starts this year, according to SmartNewHomes.com. David Bexon, managing ...

Plot search is one of the most important elements of a self build project and Bristol could be the place to be in 2009, it has been claimed. The...

Self builders who have taken out a tracker mortgage could shave years off the length of their loan by overpaying, it has been suggested. Over 600,...

Nokia has created a smart home platform that could offer self builders an innovative way to control their homes with a mobile. The Nokia Home Contro...

More people will find it affordable to buy a property than to rent in 2009, according to sales and letting agency SW19. As more mortgages become a...

The price of new build houses may increase due to the new climate change bill, which became law at the end of last month. According to Mouseprice''s ...

Homeowners intent on making green renovations to their properties should be given greater assistance with regard to planning permission. This is the ...

A recession may offer a great opportunity to those looking to self build their homes. According to the Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA)...

A significant amount of energy is lost through a home''s walls, according to Confused.com Around 33 per cent of a property ''s heat loss can be sou...

A new ecohome in Wallsend, Tyneside will be held up as an example of how older properties can be adapted to be more energy-efficient, it has been clai...

The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) has called on the government to cut the rate of VAT on domestic building work. According to the organisation,...

Inhabitants of the island of Rum are set to make a vote on land transfer proposals that include a number of self build plots. The 30 islanders wi...

The government needs to invest more funds in beneficial schemes such as home insulation, it has been suggested. According to Liberal Democrats leader...

Anyone who wants to create an ecohome on a budget that cannot accommodate wind turbines and lamb''s wool insulation can follow some newly published ad...

A leading insurer has warned that the number of fire incidents on Christmas Day increased by 300 per cent last year. The statistics could see people ...

An expert has claimed that home improvement jobs undertaken in the winter are not as effective. Jason Orme, editor of the Homebuilding & Renovati...

House builder George Wimpey has launched a campaign to help children learn about the dangers of playing near a building site . The company asked c...

Gordon Miller, founding editor of whatgreenhome.com, has claimed that the government''s guidelines on zero carbon homes are setting the bar too high. ...

Fitting a green self build with a wind turbine is a good way to save money, according to British Eco Energy. Andrew Moore, managing director of th...

One industry insider has claimed that anyone with an existing mortgage should look to remortgage "really early". Kate Faulkner, managi...

A property investment expert has claimed that thousands of people who signed up for 100 per cent mortgages now face the prospect of negative equity....

Individuals planning to add a professional touch to their self build projects might be interested in a new product hitting the market in the UK. Gr...

An increasing number of new and renovated properties are incorporating a fireplace in the main living room, it has been revealed. Developer Barton Wy...

The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has announced it is the latest organisation to join the campaign to cut VAT for maintenance and home ...

Potential self builders or those who have already secured financing for their projects are warned to look out for a collar. In the mainstream mortga...

In the mainstream mortgage market, buyers are reportedly increasingly seeking refuge in the security of fixed-rate deals. According to research by ...

One of the judges of the annual Homebuilding & Renovating awards has claimed that self build has improved beyond expectation. On consideration ...

Self builders who have taken out a base-rate tracker mortgage may be happy to learn that the Bank of England''s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has ...

It has been reported that there has been a decline in the number of interest-only deals in the mainstream residential mortgage market. The Paragon ...

New ecotown developments should lead the way in sustainable waste management, it has been suggested. The Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA)...

Although ground source heat pumps, cavity wall insulation and sedum roofs can be great ways to save energy and create a green self build , simple mea...

In the current property it is possible to get "better deals on anything", according to an expert. Kate Faulkner, managing director of Des...

One of the barriers to people installing green initiatives in their home is that they do not want to deal with the upset caused by the disruption, it ...

Speculation of another sizeable cut in interest rates has been sparked by the pound suffering its biggest one-day fall in 16 years, it has been sugges...

After retiring, one condition of Heather Dean moving up to Scotland to live with her architect son was that he build her a green ecohome, it has emerg...

More people could turn to self build after one expert has claimed that the UK is facing a housing shortage. David Bates, business development man...

House prices have fallen by 10.1 per cent in the last year, according to fresh statistics from the Land Registry. Compared to September, house pric...

If you want to build a home in a place that gives you a sense of belonging, look for a plot in Bramhall, Stockport, it has been suggested. Resident...