4 INDUSTRY NEWS


HOUSEBUILDER & DEVELOPER


Publisher Anthony Parker


James Parker


FROM THE EDITOR


The Office for National Statistics reported that construction activity fell by nearly three per cent in December, the first decline since April for a sector that has seemed to ride out the stresses of the pandemic until now. Housebuilding provided the combination of endless demand and a determination to keep sites open that saw it prop up the construction industry during 2020. However, with the end of the stamp duty holiday looming, its Covid-busting strength appears to be in question.


At its January press briefing, the NHBC’s chief executive Steve Wood said the new build market had “held up very well” in 2020, with housebuilders showing “resilience and adaptability.” Despite the upheaval across the UK, the industry managed to maintain productivity levels close to those of 2019, while applying safety measures on site to minimise transmission.


Wood believed that firms’ confidence remained strong, with larger housebuilders ‘forward sold’ into the summer against a backdrop of both Covid and Brexit-related economic uncertainty.


ON THE COVER


Brian Berry says Government policy changes are vital for SMEs to survive Covid Page 10


02.21


HOUSEBUILDER & DEVELOPER


The NHBC’s head of standards Richard Smith on how MMC is still work in progress Page 14


The pandemic means changes in how we use outdoor spaces – and paving is key Page 47


The background is not one that would cause optimism across the board. NHBC found that Covid led to new registrations falling by 23 per cent in 2020. With a defiant push seen towards the end of the year however, the final quarter saw registrations down only 2 per cent on Q4 2019, rising 34 per cent on Q3 of last year.


This was impressive, but the big picture is that registrations fell to just 123,151 in 2020, compared to 160,319 in 2019. The target of 300,000 hanging over this might seem almost farcical, if it wasn’t such a serious situation. One small silver lining for some was that the affordable and Build to Rent sector saw a lower fall than private sector developments. Maybe the Church of England’s recent report on using its land for housing will further boost the former’s fortunes.


BETTER TOGETHER


A collaborative JV between a micro-developer and a Bristol housing association has led to a small but high quality scheme which tested the SME to the llmit


©CHI Homes go to page 16


WWW.HBDONLINE.CO.UK


At the same time, the Government is pushing ahead with the 2025 Future Homes Standard, mandating – from the end of 2021 onwards – a 31 per cent emissions cut for new homes from fabric improvements and renewables. In practice, homes will be expected to produce 75-80 per cent lower carbon emissions than current levels. This means, for example, replacing fossil fuel systems with heat pumps, and the jury is still out on whether homeowners can be persuaded to readily accept them.


Could this be a perfect storm of challenges for SME housebuilders? James Parker


Managing Editor James Parker


Deputy Editor Jack Wooler


Staff Writer Roseanne Field


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Production Assistants Georgia Musson Kimberley Musson


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