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Top Reasons Planning Applications Get Refused and How to Avoid Them Getting a planning application refused can be disappointing and frustrating, but many refusals stem from common issues that can

How the 2024 Autumn Budget Impacts the UK Building Warranty and Property Development Market With the Labour government’s first Budget in over a decade, UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves has introduced

How a Case Officer Can Help You Navigate Your First Planning Application If you’re considering submitting your first planning application, understanding the role of the case officer can lead to

Contractors All Risk Insurance: A Complete Guide to Coverage and Protection There is always an element of risk in the construction industry. Whether it’s damage to materials, equipment, or the

What Is an Insurance Backed Guarantee (IBG) and Why Is It Important for Your Project? When embarking on a building or renovation project, protecting all parties involved is crucial. One

What Happens Once You Receive Planning Consent? Once planning consent is granted, several important steps are involved to ensure that the development proceeds in accordance with the approved plans and

Understanding The Planning Application Status Planning applications are typically categorised based on their status in the decision-making process. The Planning Stage Status Received Granted Decided Applications submitted to the local

East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA) is a 365-day-a-year helicopter emergency medical service (HEMS) covering Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk & Suffolk.

Planning Applications: Why Do They Go to Public Consultation? Planning applications often go to public consultation for several important reasons: 1. Transparency and Accountability: Public consultation keeps the decision-making process

Key Aspects of Pre-Application Discussions Purpose and Benefits: Understanding Requirements: These discussions help applicants verify the list of local requirements and understand how planning policies apply to their specific proposal. This

New homes completed in Q3 2023 were down 15% on the same period in 2022.

Types Of Planing Application Agents Planning application agents are an integral part of the planning application. They are there to guide you through the complex rules and regulation which may

The poorly thought out Conservative Government Health and Safety Rules regarding shrinking the size of windows in new developments look set to be scrapped.

The reduction in rates from the mortgage lenders has brought a cautionary optimism to the outlook for the housing market in 2024.

Forecasts from Peel Hunt show the 10 stock market listed developers are expected to build only 69,300 new residential dwellings in 2024.

When looking to increase space in your home one of the most popular choices has often been to go upwards into the loft, but with soaring building and timber costs does this still represent value for money?

Your basement transformation journey has reached its exciting final phase! With the construction complete, it’s time to bring your vision to life by equipping this newfound space with all the

Transforming Basements into Dry, Welcoming Spaces: The Essentials of Waterproofing Creating a Habitable and Dry Basement Space The primary goal of basement conversions is to extend your living space into

Current Stamp Duty Land Tax Rates UK   How much is stamp duty today? Rates for a single property You pay stamp duty at these rates if, after buying the

The United Kingdom is currently grappling with a significant housing crisis, a situation where a substantial segment of our population lacks access to safe, suitable, and affordable housing. The government’s

Expanding your living space through home extensions is a popular way to adapt your home to changing needs in the dynamic housing market. Whether you’re looking for an extra bedroom,

The past decade has witnessed notable fluctuations in the UK housing market, with prices experiencing dramatic increases and notable dips. This comprehensive overview explores the factors and specific events that

Persimmon Homes Deliver Encouraging News in a Turbulent Housing Market Granite Building Warranties – Specialist Warranty Brokers to the Construction Industry Persimmon Homes, one of the UK’s largest housebuilder, reassured

Hayfield Homes Leading the Way in New Build Net Zero Developments Midlands based housebuilder Hayfield Homes are leading the way in eco home building at their latest development just outside

Biodiversity, the Birds & the Bees… According to the Wildlife Trust, the UK has lost 97% of Lowland meadows since 1930 (1), with the government’s target of 300,000 homes a

Are Private Landlords Solely Responsible for the Housing Stock Crisis? Since buy to let mortgages were introduced in 1996, many investors have chosen bricks and mortar as a good investment,

Japanese Knotweed – Less Trouble Than We Thought The words Japanese Knotweed have been known to send shivers down the spines of many a hardened developer with its reputation for

Who needs latent defects insurance?   If you work in the building and construction industry, you will have heard the term latent defects insurance. In summary, it is a form

THE IMPORTANCE OF SUSTAINABLE BUILDING METHODS As we work towards the Government’s target of Net Zero by 2030 the importance of building sustainable new homes is ever more important.  

BOOST IN HOUSING FOR SENIOR CITIZENS REQUIRED With an increasing aging population and an ever-increasing demand on social care, Later Living specialists are calling on the Government to raise the

HELP TO BUY DEADLINE EXTENDED The deadline for Help to Buy has been extended to 31st January 2023 as long as practical completion takes place on or before 31 January

The Iconic Battersea Power Station Reopens On Friday 14th October, the former Battersea Power Station opened to the public after a long-awaited redevelopment. Designed by British architect Giles Gilbert Scott,

REDUCE, REUSE and RECYCLE – Waste Management in the Construction Industry Over 50,000 new construction sites started between 1st April and 30th June 2022 alone, it’s not a surprise the

Climate Change – the Impact on Housing and Construction With the impacts of Climate Change becoming more and more apparent, the UK construction industry is evolving to keep up to

STARTING YOUR SELF BUILD So you now have your planning permission for your self-build – great news! Before you get started, there are still several critical stages to complete before

TIMBER FRAME OR TRADITIONAL BRICK & BLOCK?   Key differences in building with a timber frame or a traditional brick and block:   Timber Frame  Speed of Construction: A prefabricated timber

SIZEWELL C DECISION DELAYED AGAIN The deadline for planning consent on the proposed new nuclear power station at Sizewell in Suffolk has been delayed again. A decision had been expected

CHANGES IN BUILDING REGULATIONS: WHAT THEY ARE AND HOW THEY IMPACT ON YOUR BUILDING PLANS   The Government’s new changes to Building Regulations will come into force on 15th June

CHANGES IN BUILDING REGULATIONS: THE COST IMPLICATIONS OF THE NEW RULES   The Government’s new changes to Building Regulations will come into force on 15th June 2022, although a transition

WHAT IS STRUCTURAL FAILURE? The definition of structural failure: Loss of the load-carrying capacity of a component or member within a structure or of the structure itself. Structural failure is

AS IF BY MAGIC – NEW HOMES THAT WILL RISE ABOVE THE FLOODS It is estimated that flooding costs Britain £1.3 billion a year, with one in six homes now

Companies Reluctant to Pay a Higher Price for Greener Offices According to a recent occupiers’ survey conducted by YouGov and Irwin Mitchell, businesses are less keen to invest money in

SAVILLS AUCTION HITS SEVEN YEAR HIGH Savills’ live streamed auction on 2nd March 2022 raised £53 million, the highest total since March 2015. Strongest demand was for development land, residential

Is Slowing Wind Speed a Future Question Mark Over the Viability of Wind Turbines as a Serious Alternative to Fossil Fuel? Renewable energy sources have long been heralded as our

Thermal Bridging: What It Is and How to Avoid It Thermal bridges are places in a building where heat can transfer between the exterior and interior of the building via

Britishvolt Secure Huge Funding for New Car Battery Factory in Blyth Britishvolt, a leading UK manufacturer of electric car batteries, has secured funding for a major manufacturing facility in Northumberland.

First Time Buyers Not Put Off By Rising House Prices The Key Statistics According to the Halifax First-Time Buyer Review 2021: First time buyers (FTBs) increased by 35% on the

New Homes Ombudsman Service What it is and How it Can Help Further to the Government’s new Building Safety Bill introduced in July 2021, a new service has been set

New Legislation to Impact on the Construction Industry The Building Safety Bill, introduced into the House of Commons in July 2021, is an attempt by Government to overhaul current regulations

New Government Initiative – Home Building Fund As part of the Spending Review, the Government has announced a National Home Building Fund investing £7.1 billion over 4 years. This will

Mega Projects Swallow Up Supplies HS2 and Hinckley Point add pressure on supply chains for valuable building materials which continues to impact smaller projects. HS2 expected to use 20m tonnes

Subsidence and How to Spot the Signs Subsidence – the word most feared by homeowners and home buyers alike! But does it have to be such a horror story and

A Greener Way to Heat Your Home With the ever increasing need to reduce the use of fossil fuels and carbon footprints, the Government is keen to promote renewable technology

To Buy or Not to Buy: Adding Housebuilders to Your Share Portfolio It would certainly seem like a good time to invest in housebuilders; with shares in the big names

Insurance Backed Guarantees (IBG’s) What is an IBG? An IBG is an Insurance Backed Guarantee. Despite its name, it is not a ‘guarantee’ but a policy that backs a guarantee.

Build to Rent – An Asset to the Private Rental Sector With growing reports on the poor state of private rental accommodation in big cities, the rise in build to

WHAT IS CIL? HOW DOES CIL EFFECT MY SELF BUILD? HOW CAN I MITIGATE MY CIL PAYMENT? What is CIL? According to the Government website, “the Community Infrastructure Levy (the ‘levy’)

Birmingham Ahead of Other Regional Cities for Development Birmingham is undergoing a Renaissance. Chosen to host the Commonwealth Games in 2022, and with the arrival of HS2 getting ever closer, the

Grenfell Cladding Legacy Still Unsolved Four Years On Grenfell legacy leaves thousands of leaseholders in unsaleable flats and with astronomical bills four years on from the tragedy. The anniversary of

Family at the Bottom of the Garden It seems that fairies are not the only ones to be found living at the bottom of the garden these days! With house

Is This the End for the Mega Mansion? It would seem that even the mega rich are thinking twice about the need for such ostentatious luxury as foreclosure looms for

Green Farm Lane, Barrow, Bury St Edmunds Case Study: Green Farm Lane, Barrow Granite Building Warranties Ltd has recently arranged the latent defects insurance for two new high-quality, 2500 sq

Guide to Gable End Walls Gable End Wall: A gable end wall is the triangular section of wall supporting two sides of a sloping roof. The phrase may also be used

Councils Sitting on Millions in Unspent Cil & S106 An investigation by Property Week has identified that London’s local planning authorities are sitting on at least £1.29 billion in unspent

A Guide to Roof Windows Dormer A dormer is a part of a building projecting from the sloping roof, typically housing a dormer window. Dormers are usually constructed to provide

The Rise of the Millionaire First Time Buyer In spite of the Covid-19 pandemic and three lockdowns, there have been some surprising statistics to come out of research recently conducted by

A GUIDE TO FLOORS AND FOUNDATIONS   The correct foundation is essential to a building’s structure and it is either piled or standard trench fill foundations.  With a trench fill

PROBLEMS BEYOND THE PLANNING PROCESS – RIGHTS to LIGHT Once you have your planning permission, there are several points to consider which are outside the remit of planning; Rights of

Hempstead Road, Holt, Norfolk Case Study: Olby Close, Holt Olby Close is an exclusive development of 9 bungalows situated in Holt, North Norfolk and has recently been completed by renowned

What is a Damp Proof Course? Damp Proof Course (DPC) Water can rise up through most materials used for building houses, such as brick, concrete and stone. In scientific terms,

Failure to build enough houses remains greatest obstacle to overcoming housing crisis In the last six months of the pandemic, our homes have become a main focus. Their function as

Threshold for shared ownership reduced from April 2021 to 10% The first time buyer market could see a boost following the Government’s latest announcement. It’s plan is to reduce the

WHAT ARE BUILDING REGULATIONS? Building regulations are a set of minimum standards developed by the UK government and approved by Parliament that apply to design, construction and alterations to almost

NORTH END, THORPENESS, SUFFOLK Case Study: North End, Thorpeness   STUNNING NEW BUILD HOME Granite are pleased to be involved with arranging the 10 year structural warranty, on behalf of a private

Top 8 TYPICAL DEFECTS FOUND IN A NEW HOME   When buying a new home it is important to look beyond the presentation of the show home. You should consider

Handpost Farm, Warfield, Berkshire Case Study: Handpost Farm, Berkshire Four New Contemporary Barn Styled Homes Granite Building Warranties are delighted to have been involved in arranging the building warranties for

Barn Conversions – An Alternative to a New Build in the Country   With land being in such high demand for new housing, and with the potential to create an

Loft Conversions – A Popular Way To Create More Space   From This:   To This:    Loft conversions are one of the most popular solutions to provide additional space,

Basement Developments – Making The Most of The Ground Beneath Your Feet   With land in short supply, especially in cities, particularly London, developers and home owners continue to look

Case Study: Mount House, Oxford HIGH VALUE CONVERSION – 16 NORTHMOOR RD   Granite Building Warranties sourced a selection of warranty policies for MPM Partnership (Ox) Ltd who were undertaking a

Where are the new houses? The UK’s chronic housing shortage   THE UK HOUSING MArket The increase in house prices, the failure of annual wages to keep pace, and the

The Party Wall Act   What Exactly Is a Party Wall Agreement? The Party Wall Act states there are two types of party wall, as follows: Party Wall type A

How To Prepare For a Successful Building Project   Great News! You now have your planning permission, but there are still several important stages to complete before you actually begin

A Guide To Making A Planning Application   How To Submit An Application Applications are often made through an ‘Agent’, such as an architect but can also be made by

A Guide to Retrospective & Replacement Building Warranty Cover   Why do I need retrospective cover? A Retrospective Building Warranty is essential if you intend to Sell or Refinance a

Confused by Building Warranties? A Broker Can Help! (Save Time & Money)   Building a new property is exciting, but navigating the world of building warranties can be overwhelming. The process can

Help to Buy Versus Shared Ownership Help to Buy has offered a fantastic opportunity to buyers to enable that first step onto the housing ladder.  Started in 2013, it offers

Case Study: Thingoe Mews, Bury St Edmunds   High Quality Mews development in Historic town of Bury St Edmunds.  A collection of beautifully designed 3-bedroom contemporary townhouses due for completion

Case Study: 140 High Street, Colchester   Very High quality permitted development scheme comprising of 35 units, ideal for first time buyers and investors, now completed and selling fast! Granite

Case Study: Manor Place, Leiston High quality residential development of  8 dwellings, predominantly holiday homes on the sought-after Suffolk Heritage Coast. Granite worked with regionally renown MD Developments sourcing four