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4 days ago | 
homebuilding.co.uk | Joseph Mullane
The UK government's Planning & Infrastructure Bill aims to expedite housing and infrastructure projects by streamlining environmental regulations. Central to the bill is the establishment of a Nature Restoration Fund (NRF), allowing developers to offset environmental obligations through financial contributions.
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5 days ago | 
homebuilding.co.uk | Joseph Mullane
Mayor Sadiq Khan has announced a shift in policy to “actively explore” building homes on parts of London’s green belt to tackle the capital’s worsening housing crisis. The move comes alongside a warning that City Hall may intervene if boroughs fail to accelerate planning permission for new developments.
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6 days ago | 
homebuilding.co.uk | Joseph Mullane
Several UK water companies are taking proactive measures to encourage water conservation as drought conditions persist. While some are considering potential hosepipe bans, others are confident that restrictions won’t be necessary for the time being. These companies are offering valuable tips to help customers save water and avoid future water shortages. You may likeWith rising flood risks could this £2.65bn plan save your property?
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1 week ago | 
homebuilding.co.uk | Joseph Mullane
Florence Welch’s dream of restoring a historic Somerset estate could bring her face-to-face with something far darker than structural challenges. The Florence & The Machine frontwoman has been granted planning permission and listed building consent to reunify four ancient dwellings into a single home known as Beckington Abbey.
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1 week ago | 
homebuilding.co.uk | Joseph Mullane
Architect and TV presenter George Clarke has launched a blistering critique of Britain’s housing system, warning that today’s homes are often lower quality than those built a century ago. He argues that the crisis isn’t simply about numbers, but about poor design, rushed developments, and broken political promises that have left communities disillusioned and young people locked out of ownership.
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1 week ago | 
homebuilding.co.uk | Joseph Mullane
Homeowners looking to install heat pumps, solar panels, or EV chargers may find themselves caught in a postcode lottery, with approval times ranging from just one day to more than six weeks depending on where they live. New data from Octopus Energy highlights significant regional variation in how quickly low-carbon home technologies are approved for installation, differences driven by the internal processes of regional electricity network operators.
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1 week ago | 
homebuilding.co.uk | Joseph Mullane
A paralysed man from Surrey who spent three years sleeping in his dining room has described how a team of volunteer builders gave him his best night’s sleep in years – by building a home extension for free. Paul Kitterman, from Addlestone, was left paralysed from the waist down in 2021 following a sudden spinal abscess. With no accessible facilities in his home, Paul had been sleeping in the dining room behind a curtain, without access to a toilet or shower.
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1 week ago | 
homebuilding.co.uk | Joseph Mullane
With the cost of installing traditional air conditioning units climbing above £3,000 – and energy bills rising – millions of Brits are seeking affordable and eco-friendly ways to stay cool. Now, experts say the answer may already be sitting on your windowsill. Craig Morley, gardening expert at Budget Seeds, says some of the most effective natural cooling systems don’t need electricity at all.
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1 week ago | 
homebuilding.co.uk | Joseph Mullane
Over 300,000 UK households could lose access to heating or hot water this summer as outdated Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS) meters are set to be switched off permanently on June 30, 2025. With energy price rises continuing to squeeze household budgets, the pressure is mounting on families to upgrade to smart meters - the only compatible replacement – before the deadline hits. Energy regulators and suppliers are urging urgent action to avoid widespread disruption.
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1 week ago | 
homebuilding.co.uk | Joseph Mullane
The UK government has announced that Great British Energy, the state-owned energy company, will be prohibited from using solar panels linked to forced labour practices in China's Xinjiang region.
