Amber Warning of Ice for East of England Amber Warning of Ice for East of England : Central Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Norfolk, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, Luton, Bedford, Essex, Southend-on-Sea, Suffolk & Thurrock valid from 0000 Sun 05 Feb to 1200 Sun 05 Feb
Amber Warning of Ice for Central, Tayside & Fife Amber Warning of Ice for Central, Tayside & Fife : Angus, Dundee, Fife, Perth and Kinross, Clackmannanshire, Falkirk & Stirling valid from 0000 Sun 05 Feb to 1200 Sun 05 Feb
Amber Warning of Ice for Grampian Amber Warning of Ice for Grampian : Aberdeenshire, Moray & Aberdeen valid from 0000 Sun 05 Feb to 1200 Sun 05 Feb
Amber Warning of Ice for Strathclyde Amber Warning of Ice for Strathclyde : South Lanarkshire, North Lanarkshire, East Ayrshire, South Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire & Glasgow valid from 0000 Sun 05 Feb to 1200 Sun 05 Feb
Amber Warning of Ice for London & South East England Amber Warning of Ice for London & South East England : Oxfordshire, Bracknell Forest, Buckinghamshire, Hampshire, Reading, Southampton, Surrey, West Berkshire, West Sussex, Windsor and Maidenhead, Wokingham, Milton Keynes, Slough, Greater London, East Sussex, Kent, Brighton and Hove, Portsmouth & Medway valid from 0000 Sun 05 Feb to 1200 Sun 05 Feb
Senior figures in the house building industry have questioned whether the time is right for proposed changes to part L of the Building Regulations.
The Government is aiming for even stricter carbon emissions targets on homes in 2013.
But industry experts have argued this plan is flawed because the SAP measuring tool used to assess the performance of buildings has not yet be proven reliable.
Speaking at the Zero Carbon Hub annual conference, Home Builders Federation chief Stewart Baseley said: "Given the demanding standards entailed in the zero carbon policy it is essential that we have a model of SAP that is fully and properly fit for purpose.
"Without this, builders are in an invidious position in having to design buildings they believe should deliver the necessary performance, but discovering that possibly through no fault of their own, actual performance is not what was predicted."
Mike Leonard, Director of the Modern Masonry Alliance, also questioned the sense in pressing ahead with further cuts to carbon emissions levels in homes before there was confidence about measurement tools.
He said: “With very few houses built to even Part L 2010 and little or no experience of the outcomes, we should be careful not to introduce another change before we understand more.
“The SAP tool needs to be made to work properly before we move on.”
He added: “Moving the goal posts now would be a big mistake and will cause further upheaval and cost at a time where housing under delivery is the major issue.”
Earlier this week the Government released its draft consultation on proposed changes to Part L 2013.
The proposed Part L changes set tighter carbon dioxide emission standards for new homes and energy efficiency improvements to existing homes when extensions are built.
Responses to the Government’s consultation document can be provided up until 27 April, other than the proposals related to the Green Deal where responses need to be in by 27 March.
The Homes and Communities Agency has been inundated with more 170 applications for its £420m Get Britain Building programme to kick-start stalled housing jobs.
As a result the agency has fast-tracked 18 schemes to unlock £46m to start construction of 1,300 new homes.
The remainder of the bids will now be assessed with a shortlist of schemes to be taken forward released in mid-March.
Launched less than two months ago, this multi million pound cash injection is expected to unlock up to 16,000 homes on sites that are currently stalled, and help create up to 30,000 jobs in construction and related industries.
Pat Ritchie, chief executive of the HCA said: “Our partners have once again demonstrated their appetite to get Britain building by developing much needed new homes, in turn generating additional benefits through economic growth and activity.
“We have had a strong response to our programme and will now work to establish a shortlist of schemes which fit strongly with locally identified priorities and represent good value for money for the taxpayer.
“I am particularly pleased that teams at the HCA have moved quickly to identify 18 schemes of particular local importance that we can get moving immediately.”
Get Britain Building is intended to address difficulties in accessing development finance faced by some house builders and to help bring forward sites with planning permission, but where viability is marginal, by sharing risk.
It will operate by making loans available to projects on commercial rates, or taking equity stakes to share risk.
Full list of 18 fast-tracked schemes
Locking Parklands Phase 2a/b, Weston super Mare (St Modwen) 140 homes
Second phase of multi phase scheme, totalling around 1,800 units. The overall scheme will include one of the largest leisure development schemes in the UK – the £50m LeisureDome development – which was given planning permission last year. Bath Western Riverside, Bath (Crest Nicholson) 81 homes
Second phase of multi phase scheme, totalling some 2,000 units, including retail/commercial and recreational public provision. Bath Western Riverside is a key component in delivering the Bath and North East Somerset Council’s ambitions to enhance opportunities for economic growth and diversity.
Belmont Hospital, Tiverton, Devon (Devonshire Homes) 30 homes
Development of a former hospital site including the refurbishment of a group of listed buildings. It is the top named site for Mid Devon District in a market town where sales values have reduced from a high of around £200 per sq ft in 2007 to around £170 per sq ft today.
Osprey Quay, Portland, Dorset (Sutton group) 39 homes
Redevelopment of a former naval base on the Dorset coast. The HCA owns the site which was transferred from the South West RDA. GBB investment would restart this scheme and assist in delivering a post Olympic legacy at the site which is hosting the Olympic sailing events.
Devonport Vision, Plymouth (Redrow) 74 homes
The Vision scheme at Devonport will eventually consist of around 460 new homes and apartments, alongside shops and community facilities, which will revitalise the former MoD-owned site. GBB funding will deliver new homes plus 1300 sq m of commercial space and 150 sq m of retail space. Wapping Wharf, Bristol (Wapping Wharf (Umberlslade) 175 homes
The last significant site of Bristol Harbourside, the scheme consists of 185 apartments and retail and leisure space targeted at local private businesses. There are also significant related public realm benefits including a new public square. Newark Southern Extension, Newark (Catesby Property Group) 100 homes
Eventually the scheme will provide 3,000 new homes, 38ha’s of employment land plus new schools and local commercial facilities. The proposal for Phase 1 of the scheme will require advance infrastructure works to open up the housing land.
Edgbaston, Birmingham (MCD developments) 57 homes
A housing scheme adjacent to the wider economic development bringing forward offices and commercial development around the Edgbaston Cricket club.
Kilby Mews, Coventry (Complex Development Projects) 31 homes
A mix of 20 townhouses and 11 apartments that forms part of the creative quarter initiative in Coventry.
Millway Middle School, Duston, Northampton (Westleigh) 52 homes
Development of a former primary school site comprising 52 dwellings, including 12 affordable homes (2 and 3 bed houses) and 40 homes for sale comprising semi detached 2 and 3 bedroom houses and 3 and 4 bed detached houses.
The Maltings, Lichfield (Marcity) 41 homes
Proposals are to provide two dozen 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments within the existing building. An additional sixteen 2 and 3 bedroom homes have been agreed under a signed S106, which will include 17% affordable housing.
Cheeseman’s Green, Ashford (Crest Nicholson) 100 homes
A residential development providing for growth of Ashford. The scheme will provide a significant number of homes to contribute towards Ashford’s growth ambition and is a priority for Ashford BC
Bootham Green, York (Advent Developments) 37 homes
The Bootham Green project delivers a combination of 37 homes and a community unit for use by local residents and includes the sympathetic conversion of a grade II listed former school and nursery, together with new build homes. Once complete the project will include a mixture of 1, 2 and 3 bed houses and apartments. Navigation point, Castleford (Merlion Capital Housing) 66 homes
The site has outline planning for 1300 homes, with a reserved matters for the first 279 units. GBB Funding will support the delivery of Phase 1, including 66 new homes, which combines a mixture of First Time Buyer and Family properties. The scheme brings back into productive use more than 40 acres of brownfield land.
H2010 (Yarn Street), Leeds (Miller Homes) 82 homes
An important Waterfront regeneration area in Leeds, Yarn Street sits within an area that is on the verge of regeneration. The site flanks the River Aire, and this phase of the project promises to improve water recreation opportunities. Once complete this phase of development will include a mixture of 2, 3 and 4 bed houses and apartments.
Calder View, Dewsbury, Kirklees (Miller Homes) 28 homes
The site is one of four Urban Eco Settlements in the Leeds City Region. The area has been identified as an area of growth where there is a pressing need for larger family accommodation. The funding of this phase will complete the whole development. Once complete this final phase of development will include a mixture of 4 and 5 bed houses.
Grahame Park, Colindale, London (Genesis (GenInvest) 127 homes
A strategic regeneration project in Collindale, London Borough of Barnet. Overall 3,400 homes together with improved open space and community facilities will be provided.
Covent Garden Village, Stockport (Seddon Group) 41 homes
A mixed-use neighbourhood in a historic quarter of Stockport town centre. The initial phase winning GBB funding has been allocated relates to a brownfield site known as Hopes Carr, near to the station.
The consultation, which was due to be passed before Christmas, deals with possible changes to several parts of the Building Regulations - as well as proposed changes to the Building Control system.
The Part L changes include proposals for tighter carbon dioxide emission standards for new homes and requirements for additional energy efficiency improvement to existing homes when extensions are built.
There are also proposed changes to Part P, on electrical safety in dwellings, and Parts A, B, C. K, M and N.
The draft Building Control changes are aimed at, among other areas, improving the private sector Approved Inspector arrangements and strengthening enforcement.
The Part L consultation ends on March 27, one month earlier than the other consultations which run to April 27.
Commenting on the Part L consultation Mike Leonard, Director of the Modern Masonry Alliance said "We note the tight deadline with surprise, given the long delay in launching this consultation.
“We also note yet another attempt to introduce consequential improvements. This will penalise those who invest in extending their properties and could prove a catalyst to the prevention of much needed home improvements which would create demand for construction materials and jobs for builders.
"We would urge respondents to reject this as a stealth tax on home improvement at a time when the Government must provide incentives such as a cut in VAT to stimulate demand.”
House prices have not increased for 18 months and the weak economy is expected to push them down even further, according to property analysis by Hometrack.
Britain's housing market got off to a slow start to the year as the usual seasonal slowdown was exacerbated by weak consumer confidence.
Both buyer registrations and sales have fallen and the underlying trend is one of tightening supply and weakening demand.
House prices were flat in January, after falls of 0.2% in November and December, according to a survey of 1,500 estate agents and surveyors.
Nationally, prices have not risen month-on-month for a year and a half.
A small rise in London prices offset falls in other regions.
Hometrack said the trend looks set to continue through 2012 as the Olympics firmly focus the eyes of the world on London, and overseas buyers, in the midst of global uncertainty, continue to consider London a safe haven.
Richard Donnell, director of research at Hometrack, said: “The latest survey reveals a market dogged by uncertainty.
“On a national basis house prices have not increased over the last 18 months - a theme carried over into January when prices were unchanged.
“A small rise in London offset falls in other regions. London looks set to buck the national trend but elsewhere demand remains constrained by the uncertain economic outlook.”
T-ZERO is a non-profit project initiated by some of the UK's leading
energy conservation and housing charities, housing associations, architects
and buildings performance specialists, together with English Heritage
and the Housing Corporation. It is supported by the Technology Strategy
Board (formerly DTI) and its brief is to develop novel ways to reduce
environmental impacts from existing housing, working towards a future
goal of a zero carbon built environment.
T-ZERO is
developing an interactive web-based tool that puts energy and environmental
performance expertise in the hands of the householder, housing stock
manager, designer or builder.
Get Britain Building
vehicle stickers.
Show your support
Car sticker 95x245mm – 7p each
Van sticker 255x260mm, 13p each
Lorry sticker 305x325mm – 20p each
Plus postage.
To order, email info@britishprecast.org
or call 0116 253 6161
The UK Government has set out an ambitious plan for all new homes to be zero carbon from 2016. The Zero Carbon Hub is here to help you understand the challenges, issues and opportunities involved in developing, building and marketing your low and zero carbon homes. www.zerocarbonhub.org
Plan B Press Advert
Get Britain Building Plan B
Plan B - Because there is always another way.
Get Britain Building Election Manifesto
Wolseley joins the Get Britain Building coalition
Biggest
Construction Coalition Calls on Scottish Government to Prevent 16,000
Scottish Job Losses 
Make a difference!
GBB
banners go up at all Ibstock Brick sites
BBC
Radio WM interview with Mike Leonard, Modern Masonry Alliance Director.
