4 INDUSTRY NEWS


HOUSEBUILDER & DEVELOPER


Publisher Anthony Parker


James Parker


FROM THE EDITOR


The dawning of a new decade brings with it inevitable feelings of renewal and change, and speculation as to what this ‘new’ period will bring, and this time round there are no shortage of challenges.


Looming even larger than Brexit in the national consciousness, after the combination of a conclusive General Election result – leading many to give up on any hope of ‘remaining’ – and the terrible fires in Australia, is climate change. It’s on all major companies’ lips, firms left right and centre are putting out their long-term climate goal statements (e.g. Microsoft now pledging to be ‘climate-negative’ in 10 years), but on the ground, in housebuilding, things are changing very slowly.


At Housebuilder and Developer, we have devoted a regular monthly section to reviewing where the industry is both facing and addressing challenges from the perspective of this industry. ‘The Climate Challenge’ is gathering opinion across various relevant sector segments and strata of professionals involved each month, which we hope is providing a realistic digest of how the industry is responding.


ON THE COVER


Patrick Mooney says meeting Government ambition on ending homelessness needs more than cash


01.20


HOUSEBUILDER & DEVELOPER


Reporting on the £6m ‘Places for People’ social housing scheme completed in Salford by Watson Homes


Why developers are being urged to “prepare for a green Brexit” by law firm Ward Hadaway


This month, the target is possibly the biggest climate ‘elephant in the room’ of all for our sector, plastic. It wouldn’t surprise me if, of the millions of construction-related products on sale, most were made from a polymer of some kind, and Phil Sutton, a specialist in recycling polymers at Econpro, gives a no-nonsense assessment of why the material remains a highly beneficial solution for the UK construction supply chain. However, he also says that poor management of the waste side, both in terms of packaging and end of life, is offsetting the benefits.


It is sensible, dispassionate assessments of the challenges and needs of each industry which are what’s needed in order to further the changes that must happen for the UK to move towards our daunting 2050 net zero goal. The headline activities of media favourites like Greta Thunberg are essential to provide the pull at the top level – including with UK consumers who need to provide the demand for sustainability that housebuilders will meet.


But the ‘push’ to make the industry do better, and fast, needs to take into account the challenges as well as opportunities that companies face as well as housebuilders, when it comes to ‘closing the loop’ on recycling for example. As ever, if the Government wants to see its ambitions (which on this mirror that of society) reached, it really needs to think about intervening and supporting the industry.


TRANSFORMATION ON THE TYNE


The High Street Group’s mixed-use scheme for Gateshead’s quayside will deliver 262 apartments and transform a former industrial landscape into a ‘thriving cultural destination’


Brett Wharf, go to page 20


WWW.HBDONLINE.CO.UK


And it’s the ‘messy’ side where this may need to happen. The Future Homes Standard is one thing, but what about looking at a top-down national plastic waste management programme, co-ordinated with councils and housebuilders, as well as perhaps strong incentives for manufacturers to make 100 per cent recycled plastic? Unfashionably like state involvement, but maybe essential to drive real change.


James Parker


Managing Editor James Parker


Deputy Editor Jack Wooler


Editorial Assistant Roseanne Field


Studio Manager Mikey Pooley


Production Assistants Georgia Musson Kimberley Musson


Account Managers Sheehan Edmonds Paul Field


Sales Executives Nathan Hunt Steve Smith


PR Executives Suzanne Easter Kim Friend


Audience Development Manager Jane Spice


Managing Director Simon Reed


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