Posted 09.01.17
Federation of Master Builders: Article link
70% of UK builders have seen an increase in material prices due to the depreciation of the pound, new research from the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) has revealed.
Sarah McMonagle, Director of External Affairs at the FMB, said:
"Thousands of smaller building firms are grappling with the rising cost of materials caused by the depreciation of sterling since the EU referendum.
"More than 70% of smaller building firms have experienced increased costs as a result of the weakened currency, with additional increases of 10 to 15% expected as the new year unfolds.
"Anecdotally, construction SMEs are already reporting an increase of 22% in Spanish slate and 20% increase in timber."
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Posted 06.01.17
Sky News: Article link
Britain is to get tens of thousands of new quick-build homes as the Government scrambles to hit its target of building a million new homes in Britain by the end of the decade.
Sajid Javid told Sky News that "ready to go" homes - from factory built to custom-made apartment blocks - will be a key component of his housing white paper to be published this month as he looks for new schemes to hit his eye-watering target.
The Communities Secretary has been on a fact-finding mission in the Netherlands and Germany this week to examine a new generation of prefab homes in what is set to be the biggest revival of this type of housing since the post-second world war reconstruction effort.