Grey Belt

20 February 2025

GUEST ARTICLE: The Grey Belt – a soundbite in need of a policy?

The ‘grey belt’ works well as a slogan: it’s simple and concise, visual and intriguing. As intended, it immediately evokes images of unattractive scraps of land which would benefit from redevelopment. Ian Barnett, National Land Director at Leaders Romans Group (LRG), writes the following article…

Windows

04 February 2025

The lifespan of sash wooden windows: How long do they really last?

Wooden sash windows are an iconic feature of many homes, offering timeless charm and practicality in equal measure. If you’re considering investing in wooden sash windows – or already own them – you may ask, how long do sash windows last? The answer is reassuring – with proper care, they can last decades, even more than a century.

Construction standards

30 January 2025

GUEST ARTICLE: Why aren’t developers embracing sustainable construction standards?

As energy costs continue to rise, Passivhaus construction provides a promising solution. Data analysed by ventilation solutions provider Airflow has found that only 3% of England’s houses have an EPC rating of A or B, i.e. they are very energy efficient. This represents a rise of only 0.3% compared to the previous year, and just 2% in the last five years. The following guest article has more…