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The Future Homes Standard plays a key role in the UK Government’s journey to net-zero. The Standard will make sure that from 2025, CO2 emissions from new build homes will be reduced by 75-80% compared to current standards, with an interim requirement to reduce emissions by 30% from June 2022. In the context of...

Key to the ‘ideal home’ is a good indoor climate - the ideal balance of light, temperature, air quality and noise control. Prospective buyers are actively seeking comfortable and practical places which are also cheaper to run and maintain. If housebuilders can achieve the ideal indoor climate without design...

The ideal glazing specification should represent the best combination of product, performance, compliance and budget. Achieving this ideal, however, demands specific expertise especially when specifying high performance windows. A specification which is too broad could compromise architectural intent (if adjustments...

The UK Government’s pledge to reach ‘net zero’ by 2050 has important implications for housebuilders, especially the changes introduced by the new Future Homes Standard, introduced in 2022. The Standard makes sure that from 2025, CO2 emissions from new build homes will be reduced by 75-80% compared to current...

As ‘value for money’ remains core to every project brief, cost comparison analysis should always be the first step in the specification process. Cost comparison enables specifiers to analyse and compare supplier estimates and performance assumptions in terms of the measurable, lifetime performance expectations and...

The government’s Affordable Homes Programme, scheduled to run from 2021 to 2026, will add up to 180,000 new properties to the UK’s housing stock. This renewed focus on affordable homes will help meet demand from those unable to afford current house prices or rents, but will also play a crucial role in the government’s...

Demand for aluminum / wood curtain walling is growing in the housing sector, driven by the low energy performance of a composite system, and by its price competitiveness when compared to all-aluminium alternatives. Curtain walling is the focus of significant regulation however, as it is a major area of complaint for...

Modular construction is becoming more popular as a building strategy in many of our key market sectors, especially inner city residential and mixed-use developments, student accommodation and healthcare facilities. While prefabrication has long been associated with temporary structures, quickly built, modular...

Specification of pre-tested, proven building products can provide valuable reassurance for clients who want to be sure that key performance targets can be achieved, while also ensuring project delivery stays on schedule and on budget. Proactive product testing requires significant investment which is why some...

Some of the UK’s most prestigious developments feature VELFAC aluminium / timber windows, as these award-winning residential projects demonstrate. Photo: Daniel Shearing VELFAC is becoming a mark of quality for residential developments. Architects specify VELFAC because they know the composite system offers quality...