Builders demand Budget for energy efficiency

The next Budget should include measures to make Britain’s homes more energy-efficient and boost the construction industry, the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) has warned the Chancellor in a letter. Chancellor George Osborne is due to deliver his Budget for 2013 on 20 March, he told Parliament back in December. The FMB says the economic […]

Green buildings ‘buck economic downturn’

‘Green’ building is no longer seen as a niche market and is helping the construction industry buck the economic downturn, suggests a new study. Half of firms in the study said they are planning more than 60% of their work to be green by 2015, up from 28% of firms in 2012. The findings come […]

Builders bemoan delay to Green Deal

The government’s flagship energy efficiency scheme partially kicked off this week to little fanfare, with builders claiming a delay to the Green Deal will hinder economic growth while major retailers held off joining until it proved a success. Homeowners could begin registering with the scheme on Monday, which won’t fully open until next spring. Companies […]

Wanted: green house builder

A Scottish Government-funded programme is looking for a partner to design and build a resource-efficient house which could be a template for the construction industry in future. Zero Waste Scotland wants architects, builders and developers to throw their ring into the hat for the project which could potentially save the industry millions every year. The […]

Builders bash Green Deal-linked building plans

The UK’s building trade body has bashed laws which could mean homeowners have to spend thousands of pounds extra on green home improvements when they extend their homes. The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) warns plans from the Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG) will be “impractical, unpopular and counterproductive”. Changes to the Government’s “Part […]