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selfbuilder & homemaker


July/August 2015 www.sbhonline.co.uk


editor’s letter


Regrettably there appeared to be very little in the Budget to support the government’s desire to create the new communities and self-build projects the country really requires.


FEATURES IN THIS ISSUE: Bricks, Blocks & Cement Insulation Lighting & Electrical Stonework & Masonry Stairs, Balustrades & Balconies Pools, Spas & Decking Showcase Bathrooms & Wetrooms Interior Showcase


PLANNING • DESIGN • CONSTRUCTION • INTERIORS


The Chancellor’s austerity measures will now bite hard as the government will want to get unpopular cuts out of the way early in their current term in office. We must just hope that any pain felt by consumers does not damage


Cover image © JG Harrison. See pages 53 - 54 for more.


purchaser confidence, derail the recovering housing market and discourage the growing army of potential self-builders.


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What was interesting was the Treasury’s ‘Fixing the foundations: Creating a more prosperous nation’ which identified five planning initiatives to accelerate home building. Which you can read more about on page six.


Sadly there was no mention of self-build but there is now far too much momentum to slow this essential part of the housing sector.


budget 2015


Housing fails to feature in summer Budget


around the country, including self- build projects, there was very little in the summer budget that even mentioned housebuilding. However, the Chancellor did confirm


G


several of the housing initiatives already identified by the government. These included the planned introduction


of the Help to Buy ISA for young savers and the Right to Buy for housing association ten- ants, although the latter is not likely to help create the homes required by so many potential homeowners. The Chancellor did say it was ‘a national


shame’ that apprenticeships were under funded, and confirmed that he is introducing an apprenticeship levy on all large firms. The government’s apprenticeship levy is seen as an effort to reward those companies


iven that the government supports the need to cre- ate thousands of homes


Simon Hay


training young staff and to tackle those, which use funding, but do not provide an adequate apprenticeship programme. Commenting on the apprenticeship levy Simon Hay, CEO of the Brick Development


Association (BDA), said: “The BDA supports an increase in apprentices to combat future skills shortages both in our industry and the wider on-site construction industry. Over the next five years approximately 200,000 new construction jobs are to be created. However, we must not forget that almost twice this number will leave the sector, mak- ing schemes such as the levy crucial to attract future construction workers. It must be assured in the details that we are not however disadvantaged against continental competition, we will certainly be monitoring the outcome of the proposed levy with great interest.”


London Homebuilding & Renovating Show 25 - 27 September, London london.homebuildingshow.co.uk


Grand Designs Live 8 - 11 October, Birmingham www.granddesignslive.com


Edinburgh Homebuilding & Renovating Show 8 - 11 October, Edinburgh edinburgh.homebuildingshow.co.uk


The Big Green Home Show 23 - 25 October, Swindon www.nsbrc.co.uk/the-big-green-home-show


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