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Leading architects and engineers have called for all-glass skyscrapers to be banned amid growing global temperatures, arguing they are too difficult and expensive to cool. Mayor of New York Bill de Blasio has said he will ban all-glass buildings and force developers to retrofit existing buildings to make them more energy-efficient, a move which Simon Sturgis, an adviser to the Government and the Greater London Authority, as well as chair of the Royal Institute of British Architects sustainability group, believes should be considered in the UK. Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has previously ruled out such a plan for the capital. However, the new version of the London Plan will require construction firms to make an assessment of a building's energy use across its whole life-cycle.
The Observer (28/07/2019)
UK house price growth fell to 0.3% annually in July, remaining below 1% for the eighth consecutive month, according to Nationwide’s latest data, leaving the average UK house price at £217,663. Jeremy Leaf, north London estate agent and a former Rics residential chairman, warned that favourable conditions are being curtailed by the continuing Brexit uncertainty: "The market is very much in limbo," he said. Howard Archer, chief economic adviser to the EY Item Club, noted that London and the south east have dragged down the national picture - with year-on-year falls of 0.7% and 1.6% respectively. Nationwide’s data also revealed that over-65s are blocking young buyers from purchasing family homes, as it found two-thirds have at least two spare bedrooms.
City AM (31/07/2019) The Daily Telegraph (31/07/2019)
The number of UK mortgage approvals hit 66,400 in June, up from 65,650 in May, according to the Bank of England's latest data, above economists’ expectations and the highest number since January. In addition to a small boost from dodging a no-deal Brexit in March, record employment, sustained wage growth and low interest rates have boosted demand.
City AM (29/07/2019)
An overhaul of stamp duty to boost home ownership is being planned by Boris Johnson. The new Prime Minister is considering abolishing the levy on homes worth less than £500,000 and making sellers pay, not buyers. He has also promised to help “cheated” leaseholders so they are no longer trapped in properties that are unsellable or unmortgageable because of spiralling charges.
Daily Mail (26/07/2019) The Daily Telegraph (26/07/2019) The Guardian (26/07/2019)
Poplar Harca has appointed Thomas Sinden as the contractor to deliver 13 new homes on Bromley High Street. The infill site will provide 10 intermediate houses and three affordable units, as well as private amenity space and a large communal garden.
Planning, BIM & Construction Today (22/07/2019)
Homes & Property looks at what is still available to by using the Government's controversial equity loan scheme. Some of the properties are available at located at Aberfeldy Village, he transformation of the docklands at East India Quays in Tower Hamlets. It’s a collection of one- and two-bedroom homes around a new park. Prices start from £510,000 with Help to Buy.
Homes & Property (24/07/2019)