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Building Land For Sale: New Build, Self Build, Green Build & Eco Home Land For SaleParamount Investments:List building land, construction sites and redevelopment opportunities for sale in North, South, East, West & Central London, Glasgow, Birmingham, Manchester, Sheffield, Leeds, Liverpool, Bristol, Cardiff, Leicester, Hull, Belfast and Bradford. This can incorporate demolition and overall site redevelopment and /or the conversion, refurbishment and modernisation of existing buildings. Paramount Property Magazine For the latest analysis, comment, news, info and advice concerning building and construction industry, bulding land, new build, self build, green developments and eco homes. in London, Glasgow, Birmingham, Manchester, Sheffield, Leeds, Liverpool, Bristol, Cardiff, Leicester, Hull, Belfast and Bradford. London Property Investments: Search our property investment sales list of development sites, building land, run down buildings and derelict properties for sale latest news, reports & surveys on the supply and demand for building & construction land in London and the UK. Register with Paramount Investments to receive our property development newsletter with expert advice and the latest news, reports & surveys concerning brownfield development land, building or development plots suitable for new build, self build, green developments and eco homes First Time Property Buyers News: Rightmove's FirstBuy page reaches one million hits Thu, 19 Apr 2012 15:41:07 +0100 Online resource Rightmove says that the number of enquiries on its specialist FirstBuy page has hit the one million mark. Building & Construction News: Firms should make better use of brownfield developments Fri, 13 Apr 2012 14:51:38 +0100 Building companies should look to brownfield developments when they are planning to construct new houses, says one sustainable housing expert. First Time Property Buyers News: Lack of housing stock is keep house prices up Fri, 20 Jan 2012 17:11:36 +0000 House prices will remain high because not enough new properties are being built, it has been claimed. Building & Construction News: More homes planned for London Wed, 04 Jan 2012 16:12:44 +0000 House builder Taylor Wimpey has announced plans to build more homes in London in 2012 than ever before. The housing market in the UK capital has bucked the trend of falling prices and the builder hopes to take advantage of this. Ingrid Skinner, Taylor Wimpey Central London’s managing director, said that the company hopes to extend its reach to some of the more 'up and coming' boroughs which are undergoing redevelopment. “We have a diverse pipeline of fantastic projects that will enable us to extend the group’s operational aims and to bring more homes to the market than ever before in key areas of Central London in 2012 and beyond," she added. Projects currently in the planning or construction phases include West Hampstead, Tufnell Park, Islington, Newham and Lewisham, while developments in Greenwich, Kensington and Camden are in the pipeline. It is thought that the initial phase of development alone will deliver more than 400 new homes. Recently, housing minister Grant Shapps estimated that the government's £420 million Get Britain Building Fund will lead to the development of around 16,000 new properties. Building & Construction News: Get Britain Building will create 16,000 new properties Fri, 30 Dec 2011 09:27:37 +0000 Housing minister Grant Shapps has estimated that the government's £420 million Get Britain Building Fund will create as many as 16,000 new properties on sites which have previously stalled due to economic circumstances. Furthermore, he believes it will also see the creation of around 30,000 new jobs. The scheme enables developers to either apply for a loan at commercial rates or they can take an equity release, whereby the government makes an investment alongside the building company. Mr Shapps was keen to stress the scheme is not merely a government gimmick to create the illusion that they are doing something to help the plight of both first-time buyers and the building trade. "This is not a simple handout - the taxpayer will get a return on their investment, with the homes the country needs built and 30,000 jobs created," he said. Plans for the scheme were originally set out by the prime minister David Cameron in mid-November. Building & Construction News: Building plans are less than half of what is needed Wed, 21 Dec 2011 17:14:13 +0000 The number of new properties currently in the planning stage is less than half the amount needed to meet demand. London Property News: Olympics legacy to offer best practice for construction Wed, 19 Oct 2011 09:54:12 +0100 The Olympic Delivery Authority in London has officially launched its Learning Legacy, an initiative geared towards ensuring the lessons learned about health and safety in construction while preparing for the 2012 Games are carried forward in the years ahead. Over the coming months, the official Olympics organisers will be continuously updating its Legacy programme, taking on board feedback from those working in construction, as well as in procurement, planning and project management. It is hoped that this will then become a "comprehensive online libraries" for UK businesses to refer to, including construction firms focusing on greenfield developments. Announcing the news, ODA chairman John Armitt noted that this will be possible due to the remarkable success of the Olympics preparations. "The scale and speed of the coordinated UK effort to build the venues and infrastructure is unprecedented and the knowledge and lessons gained during construction will both benefit the industry and act as a catalyst for inward investment," he said. Already the Institute of Civil Engineers (ICE) has welcomed the news, noting the Legacy will help members of its profession overcome the challenges of managing waste and enhancing logistical efficiency. Building & Construction News: Homeowners 'need encouragement to make energy efficiency a priority' Mon, 12 Sep 2011 09:20:00 +0100 Owners of property in need of restoration might agree that making changes to their home's energy efficiency levels would be hard. Gordon Miller, sustainability and communications director of Sustain Worldwide, believes this is the challenge that retrofitting faces. "The complexity of understanding how to make one's home energy efficient; uncertainty about the efficiency of the materials and technologies and who you can trust to install them for you; the cost of, say, solid wall insulation is a deterrent to uptake; and general apathy - many people simply aren't interested in saving money through energy efficiency and reducing their home's carbon impact," he explained. In order to encourage more people to make green improvements to their properties, their "trigger point" will have to be found. This could be showing them the financial benefits of energy efficiency, reduction of CO2 emissions and saving the planet, "or wanting to leave a better world for their children", Mr Miller added. His comments come after research from the Department for Communities and Local Government revealed average energy efficiency ratings have increased from 80.2 to 81.7 for homes in England between the fourth quarter of 2009 and the same three-month period last year. Building & Construction News: Private sector driving recovery in construction Wed, 03 Aug 2011 14:17:17 +0100 The number of new build properties backed by the private sector continues to boost growth in the construction sector, while spending cuts still take their toll on public sector building. This is the finding from the latest Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Construction Market Survey, which revealed that construction of public sector housing declined in the three months to June this year. Some 17 per cent more RICS members reported a fall rather than a rise in the level of public housing construction, while 24 per cent more noticed a decline in the number of schools and hospitals being built. Chief economist Simon Rubinsohn noted that the research shows the government's austerity package is affecting the construction sector. "Public sector related construction projects are being reined in while some tentative signs of recovery are visible in the private sector," he pointed out. "It is particularly encouraging that development in the private commercial sphere is continuing to pick-up in the face of the challenging economic backdrop." Building & Construction News: One in three people 'would self build' Wed, 27 Jul 2011 14:02:00 +0100 Nearly one in three people (30 per cent) in the UK would consider constructing their own self build properties, according to research from Norwich & Peterborough Building Society. A survey from the mutual found 12 per cent would embark on a self build project within the next year if they could secure UK mortgage offers. For one in four (26 per cent), the prospect of spending less money on building a new home rather than moving to an established one was the main draw, while 42 per cent liked the idea of a property that was designed to suit their specific needs. Richard Barker, mortgage manager at the building society, commented: "Self build is a market with huge potential which could have many benefits for those willing to carry out a self build project, not to mention the benefits for the general economy and some of the problems surrounding the housing market in this country." Figures from the National Self-Build Association show 15,000 people construct their own home each year in the UK. Building & Construction News: Planning system shake-up 'is needed' Thu, 21 Jul 2011 10:22:46 +0100 The number of new build properties under development may still be constrained by the planning permission system, according to the Home Builders Federation. Steve Turner, head of communications at the organisation, pointed out that the UK needs a "decent, functioning" planning system that delivers in the right places with permission. "There are some positive signs; the announcement on public land was promising and the announcement on FirstBuy was very positive, but there are still some major constraints on the longer-term recovery that we need to see," he noted. However, opponents have criticised the government plans for the shake-up of the planning system, with the Campaign to Protect Rural England arguing that the changes could pose a threat to areas of outstanding natural beauty. Meanwhile, Glenigan reported that the underlying value of UK construction project starts was a quarter (24 per cent) lower for the three months to June compared with the same period last year. Building & Construction News: Self builders 'still face bureaucracy hurdles' Tue, 12 Jul 2011 17:13:45 +0100 Individuals who are interested in self build properties might still face certain hurdles to get their projects, quite literally, off the ground. Jaclyn Thorburn, communications manager at BuildStore, noted that people might still struggle to comply with building regulations and money. "Any self-build project will be challenging, but certainly the most common hurdles are related to finding a suitable plot, negotiating the planning system, and managing your finances," she pointed out. However, a new government-industry working group aims to streamline the process of building new properties, so self-builders could find the situation easier to access. "Certainly the release of more land will help, as will revisions to the planning system, to make the process much quicker and easier for self-builders," Ms Thorburn added. The Government-Industry Self-Build Working Group was established earlier this year to advise ministers on the most effective ways to cut red tape and encourage aspiring self-builders to get constructing. Building & Construction: 'Significant restraints' remain on the market Tue, 28 Jun 2011 16:42:16 +0100 The construction sector is still being held back by the after-effects of the recession, according to the Home Builders Federation. Steve Turner, head of communications at the organisation, noted: "There are more encouraging signs than there have been for the past couple of years, but that is not to say that there aren't some significant constraints on the market." He pointed to a slowdown in UK mortgage lending, particularly to first time buyers who are "critical to the market", as one of the key constraints on the market, along with a lack of viable land for new build properties. While the government has said some "encouraging things" in the last few months, "we need to see the new planning system focusing, working and delivering enough land to build the homes we need", Mr Turner added. His remarks came after the National House-Building Council revealed that property builders registered 29 per cent more new homes in May compared with the previous month. Building & Construction Building & Construction News: Self build model needs to change to go mainstream Wed, 22 Jun 2011 16:45:58 +0100 Self build properties could become more common in the future if its model changes, Homebuilding & Renovation magazine has posited. Jason Orme, editor of the publication, commented: "There are several things that need to happen before it becomes mainstream and the key one is for the process to be de-risked." This means removing all the elements that could deter people from self-building, for example, worries about dealing with builders and concerns about getting a fixed price for their finished property. "Under the model that I think the government is keen to develop, it will be a much more mainstream option because those issues won't be on the table. It will be a softer self-build in a way and that is really where it will become more mainstream," Mr Orme noted. His comments come in light of a letter sent by housing minister Grant Shapps to key players in the UK mortgage lending market, which asked them to support a self-build 'revolution' by providing funding to those interested in such projects. Planning Permission News: Square Mile 'could suffer' if offices are turned into homes Fri, 17 Jun 2011 10:40:53 +0100 Government plans to overhaul the planning system could see more office space in London being turned into residential properties. According to city planning officer for the Corporation of London Peter Rees, the Square Mile and other renowned business districts could lose their power to attract international organisations and investment if they are not safeguarded. Speaking at a British Property Federation conference, he is expected to say: "The cyclical nature of the property industry means that if developers were to turn offices into residential blocks when times were tough, the City's ability to attract and house new firms when market conditions improved would be seriously diminished." Such changes to the planning system could "dilute the concentration of offices", making it harder for companies looking for investment properties in London to find commercial space in the Square Mile, Mr Lees added. His comments come after the Institute for Public Policy Research revealed that the UK could face a shortfall of 750,000 homes by 2025 because the construction of new build properties is at its lowest peacetime level since the 1920s. Property Repossession News: Financial concerns are deterring people from home improvements Wed, 15 Jun 2011 17:12:19 +0100 People who own properties needing modernisation may still feel they cannot splash out on home improvement projects due to lingering concerns about the economic climate. Andrew Leech, director of the National Home Improvement Council, commented: "I do think that it [the economic downturn] is making lots of people draw in their wings; I think that the money just isn't available for improvements." However, he noted that homeowners with property in need of restoration should not only be thinking of aesthetic changes to make to their residence, such as installing new kitchens and bathrooms. "Now of course home improvements means much more than that, it means energy efficiency and making the house air tight and warm and comfortable and cost saving … that's the sort of thing they need to be doing," Mr Leech added. Meanwhile, the Bank of England has kept the base rate at the record low of 0.5 per cent for another month. Property Repossession News UK Pub Sales News: Travelodge to target former pubs for sale Mon, 13 Jun 2011 16:48:37 +0100 Budget hotel chain Travelodge will be seeking former pubs for sale in order to expand its operations by 100 new small hotels. The company unveiled plans to develop Metro accommodation, which would see smaller sites containing between 20 and 40 rooms each being launched in prime locations. Office space in London is one area Travelodge is looking to develop into hotels, along with old pubs, derelict cinemas and theatres, disused business parks and retail outlets. Guy Parsons, chief executive of the chain, commented that a pilot scheme in Edinburgh showed how successful the Metro model could be. "Downsizing our hotel building requirements will open hundreds of development opportunities for us. This will enable us to expand quickly and meet the growing demands from consumers who want low cost and good quality accommodation in prime locations," he added. Meanwhile, Travelodge has also announced plans to link up with pub companies, including Greene King, Mitchells & Butlers and JD Wetherspoon, as part of a £100 million expansion project. Property Repossession News: Homeowners 'deterred from improvement projects' Mon, 13 Jun 2011 14:48:51 +0100 Despite living in properties needing modernisation, many homeowners are deferring house improvement projects until the economy is on a more even keel. According to research from Gocompare, a third (32 per cent) of property owners are delaying home maintenance jobs to save money, while others are putting off jobs that could boost the value of their home, such as fitting new kitchens or bathrooms. Phil Paterson-Fox, head of home services at the website, commented that it is vital not to make false economies while cutting back on household expenditure. "While it may be OK to delay cosmetic redecorating jobs, essential repairs should not be ignored. Delaying structural repairs - a leaking roof for example, may lead to more damage and a bigger bill for repairs in the long-run than if it is dealt with promptly," he noted. Meanwhile, budget hotel chain Travelodge has announced plans to target properties needing modernisation in London, such as old pubs and cinemas, to expand its operations by 100 new hotels. Property Repossession News Building & Construction News: Construction of new build properties 'hampered by loss of confidence' Tue, 07 Jun 2011 16:34:44 +0100 The number of new build properties being constructed is being hampered by the loss of householder confidence. This is the opinion of Brian Berry, director of external affairs at the Federation of Master Builders, who noted that the picture "is very different from what is happening in the other parts of the construction industry because it mirrors the housing market". "That is connected of course by the stagnation in house building and the fact that householders have lost confidence," he explained. Homeowners are concerned about their job security, the public sector cuts and frozen salaries, which is resulting in reduced expenditure on home improvements. Mr Berry's comments follow data from the Office for National Statistics showing the total volume of all new construction orders in the first quarter of the year was down 23 per cent in comparison with the final three months of 2010. It was also down 18 per cent compared with the same period last year. New Build Development News: Market forces 'lead to bigger homes being built' Tue, 24 May 2011 11:35:49 +0100 The trouble with purchasing a home that first time property buyers are currently experiencing is leading developers to build larger houses. This is the opinion of Steve Turner, head of communications at the Home Builders Federation, who pointed out that the "market-driven industry" is focusing on bigger properties as a result of first time buyers' inability to purchase. "Builders will obviously build what they can sell. People that already have a home and are moving home tend to be buying bigger houses, so that is the market that currently developers are targeting because it is the only market that people are currently buying in," he pointed out. Values and types of homes will be dictated by the market, "and a lot of that is down to who the banks are lending to", Mr Turner added. His comments come after the Practitioners Advisory Group published a suggested draft of the National Planning Policy Framework. New Build Development News |
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