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Planning approvals and housing starts plummet
InstallerSHOW expands partnership with the BMF
InstallerSHOW 2025, set to take place from 24-26 June at the NEC Birmingham, has announced an exciting expansion of its partnership with the BMF.
As the leading trade
association for merchants and suppliers in the UK and Ireland, the BMF plays a vital role in supporting and promoting excellence in the building materials sector. With over 1,000 merchant and supplier members, collectively employing nearly 203,000 people and generating sales of more than £50.2 billion, the BMF is a key industry player.
The strengthened partnership will see the BMF playing an even bigger role at InstallerSHOW, supporting a wide range of industry sectors. A key highlight is the return of the BMF’s Plumbing & Heating Forum,
which will once again be held at the event. In addition, the BMF will lend its expertise to the InstallerBUILD section of the show, further expanding its presence.
InstallerSHOW has also become a member of the BMF and will be sponsoring the Top 100 Achievers celebration in April 2025, with a particular focus on plumbing and heating merchants. The event will feature a dedicated session at
InstallerSHOW, bringing together the Top 100 to share their insights and experiences.
John Newcomb, CEO of the BMF, said: “Our ongoing partnership with InstallerSHOW highlights the importance of plumbing and heating merchants and suppliers within the BMF’s membership. They will take centre stage in 2025 as we celebrate the Top 100 P&H Achievers in
the building materials sector. We are thrilled that InstallerSHOW is supporting this event and providing a platform for these key industry influencers in June.” Michael Costain, managing director of InstallerSHOW organiser Lyrical Communications, part of Nineteen Group, added: “Extending our partnership with the BMF, one of the most important organisations in the building materials sector, is a natural step as InstallerSHOW continues to grow. “Our BMF membership reflects our commitment to the broader industry, and our sponsorship of the Top 100 Achievers underscores our dedication to celebrating excellence.”
This enhanced collaboration promises to deliver even greater benefits for exhibitors and attendees alike, positioning InstallerSHOW as a leading event in the building materials and plumbing & heating sectors.
Dundee adopts a low-carbon energy plan
The BMF has learned that Dundee City Council has approved a Local Area Energy Plan (LAEP) in its drive towards the city’s 2045 net zero targets.
The LAEP is led by the Dundee Climate Leadership Group that brings together experts and council leaders to support city- wide strategies. The plan sets a clear framework for improving energy efficiency to upgrade
50,000 homes by 2033, and an extra 20,000 homes by 2045. In addition to the retrofit programme, the Council is deploying heat pumps and heat networks to meet around a third of Dundee’s heating demand. By coordinating district heating schemes and promoting the installation of solar panels and battery storage, Dundee is pushing for more low-carbon
November 2024
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energy generation by public and private users. The LAEP also seeks to improve electricity grid management and resilience to help reduce demand at peak hours. Now that councillors have adopted the LAEP, the City Council can proceed to implement the agreed action with (among others) Distribution Network Operators, energy suppliers and housing associations.
Recent figures from the Ministry for Housing, Communities & Local Government, seen by the BMF, highlight a significant decline in activity in England over the last 12-15 months.
Planning Approval
The statistics related to planning permission are as follows: • 231,000 housing units were approved by district-level planning authorities in the year to June 2024 - down 15% year- on-year and the lowest since 2013; • 31,600 applications were granted by local planning authorities in the 12 months to June - an 8% annual decline; • 44,500 decisions were made on residential applications, representing a 6% year-on-year decrease, with the number of applications granted decreasing 8% also.
Housing Association
It comes alongside MHCLG data showing that starts have fallen sharply: • 7,110 starts during Q3 2024 compared to 17,490 in Q3 2023 - representing a 46-year low; • 13,110 starts in the first half of the year - 36% lower than the 3-year average for the same period;
London’s figures are particularly stark. Housing associations started 890 homes in the first half of 2024 - the lowest since records began in 1990 - with only 150 starts in Q2, a 92% year-on-year drop.
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