In recent years the make-up of the population in the UK has changed dramatically. The UK population continues to grow, however growth in itself is not the major factor behind housing shortages and housing demand. It is the needs of the changing population which is creating many of the issues.
In the past, mainstream housing has centred on the idea of the ‘family’ home.
However with divorce and separation rates higher than previous generations, there is a greater need for two houses for many families, with a very different building footprint.
The younger generation continues to struggle to get its foot on the property ladder, which has created a bigger demand for flats and apartments than ever before.
Furthermore, the current influx of immigration brings with it even more different housing expectations and needs.
Future design and construction will have to take these facts into account, which will likely bring with it a new set of issues to contend with.
What is the standard house of the future? Is it one bed, two bed or three bed accommodation? How do house-builders think about this from a planning permission perspective, and how do architects and constructors design their buildings?
The pressure on land availability and cost has increased further, meaning design practices will need to take advantage of every solution available to them to meet these challenges.
It is suggested that offsite construction may offset many of the challenging issues which housing designers and developers will face.
The offsite construction sector can utilise smaller pockets of land to meet housing demand without the need for huge construction compounds. Furthermore, offsite construction can offer faster construction periods along with predictability of delivery time and cost.
It is currently estimated that only 50% of housing projects are delivered on time.
As the population and the demand for housing and the pressure on its providers continue to grow offsite construction may play an increasingly significant role in the construction sector.
The latest Builders Merchant Building Index (BMBI) report shows builders’ merchants’ value sales edged up +0.9% in July compared to the same month in 2023.
Posted in Access Control & Door Entry Systems, Architectural Ironmongery, Articles, Bathrooms & Toilets, Bathrooms, Bedrooms & Washrooms, Bricks & Blocks, Building Associations & Institutes, Building Industry News, Building Products & Structures, Building Regulations & Accreditations, Building Services, Building Systems, Civil Engineering, Doors, Drainage, Hand Tools, Hard Landscaping & Walkways, Health & Safety, Heating Systems, Controls and Management, Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning - HVAC, Interior Design & Construction, Interiors, Kitchens, Landscaping, news, Paints, Pipes, Pipes & Fittings, Plant, Equipment and Hire, Plumbing, Power Tools, Publications, Research & Materials Testing, Retrofit & Renovation, Security and Fire Protection, Site Preparation, Sustainability & Energy Efficiency, Timber Buildings and Timber Products, Walls, Waste Management & RecyclingTo mark the start of Fire Door Safety Week 2024, Abloy UK has called for greater awareness and education of fire door compliance.
Posted in Access Control & Door Entry Systems, Architectural Ironmongery, Articles, Building Industry Events, Building Industry News, Building Products & Structures, Building Regulations & Accreditations, Building Services, Doors, Facility Management & Building Services, Health & Safety, Posts, Retrofit & Renovation, Security and Fire ProtectionLeading British ventilation manufacturer Vent-Axia has launched a new range of low-resistance, non-combustible metal fire airbricks.
Posted in Air Conditioning, Articles, Bricks & Blocks, Building Industry News, Building Products & Structures, Building Regulations & Accreditations, Building Services, Facility Management & Building Services, Health & Safety, Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning - HVAC, Innovations & New Products, Restoration & Refurbishment, Retrofit & RenovationSafe disposal of carpets and other textile flooring waste has just become easier for domestic households in the UK thanks to a new online resource launched by Carpet Recycling UK (CRUK).
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