Build-Zone Survey Services Limited is the latest development from Build-Zone.
Operating as a separate company, it will be managed and run by Andy Butchers, an experienced and successful Building Surveyor and Loss Adjuster. The move will add another dimension to Build-Zone’s already well respected and positioned brand (structural warranty and insurance products for builders, developers and property owners).
One of Andy’s many roles will be to improve the whole ‘client experience’ and to add further products to the portfolio that will cater for self-builders, through to large corporate clients. Andy has already been given a warm welcome within the industry and is committed to growing the brand and developing strong relationships with suppliers, clients and insurers.
Paul Kempton, Build-Zone Managing Director said:
“By retaining control of products and their supply to Build-Zone customers, as well as having in-house claims knowledge and capacity, Build-Zone Survey Services will make for an even better and more efficient process for all of our clients and insurers”.
The Property Development and Construction conference will be taking place again this year.
The first dedicated conference for property developers took place in 2011; following the success BuildStore Financial Services has now announced its 2012 conference for the residential property market.
The Property Development & Construction Conference in 2012 will be aimed at regional at regional property developers, bringing together developers, lenders and the construction industry.
After the publication of the Governments Housing Strategy last year, the housing market is now a major priority; this creates a unique opportunity for developers to take advantage of the release of public sector land.
The Government are eager to see regional developers play a more influential role in providing new homes; there are real opportunities for developers to profit in the current market.
Where is the conference?
The National Self Build & Renovation Centre in Swindon
Get Britain Building Programme receives enthusiastic feedback
The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) has confirmed that they have received a very positive response to the Get Britain Building Programme with the programme becoming a central part in tackling the housing crisis.
Funding allocations under a special commissioning stage, running alongside the main bidding process, has also been announced.
A total of 170 expressions of interest submissions have been received under the main bidding process, many of these submissions contained bids for multiple schemes. The HCA will now asses these expressions of interest looking at factors such as; value for money, deliverability and fit with local priorities.
A shortlist of schemes should therefore be released by mid-March.
Furthermore, 18 sites will go forward to the next stage of the assessment process to unlock delivery on commissioned schemes, these are of a high importance to particular communities and can create ample local benefits. Up to £46m could be allocated to the 18 commissioned schemes to deliver 1,300 new homes including on public sector sites.
Build-Zone supports Government strategy to deliver homes and strengthen the economy
An ambitious new strategy to tackle the housing shortage, boost the economy, create jobs and give people the opportunity to get on the housing ladder was announced today (21 November 2011) by the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister.
The Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister said the Government has inherited a broken housing market and a devastating collapse in construction from the era of top down targets, but new plans will give the housing market a shot in the arm by boosting supply, easing financial pressures and helping with demand. The action we take will drive up the level of housebuilding, ensure we are helping new home owners and boost consumer confidence.
The Strategy will break the current cycle in which lenders won’t lend, builders can’t build and buyers can’t buy. We’ll be making it easier for people to secure mortgages on new homes, help people get on the property ladder, address unfairness in social housing and ensure homes that have been left empty for years are lived in once again.
Mortgage lending up in September whilst approvals dropped
Figures from the British Bankers Association (BBA) have found that the figure for gross mortgage lending in September increased to £8.4billion, despite approvals dipping slightly.
The amount of money lent by the banks was up from £8.3 billion in August, with a spokesperson for the BBA suggesting that the increase is due to more activity in the buy to let market.
However, the number of mortgage approvals were down 6% compared to August’s figures. 33,130 mortgage loans were approved in September, whereas at the height of the housing market there were about 130,000 approvals a month.
First time buyers who are struggling to get on the property ladder are still concerned about the lack of mortgage lending but the number of 90% mortgages on the market are increasing, so it is important to keep looking.
Self-Build Zone announces that Simon Middleton, Director at Self-Build Zone hosted a Masterclass at the National Home Improvement show at Earls Court over the weekend. Simon spoke on the subject of avoiding costly extension, improvement and renovation project insurance pitfalls.
Self-Build Zone are a leading provider of site insurance, the 10 year structural warranty, buildings insurance, technical audits, building control services, health & safety to the self build, extension and home improvement marketplace.
Site Insurance is essential for anyone planning an extension, renovation, conversion or new build project. Self-Build Zone have several different site insurance options to protect your project during the build process, including flexible short term extendable policies as well as the traditional 2 year policy.
Take the Government Self Build Survey 2011
As part of the Government’s initiative to help more people to self build a home for themselves, the Department for Communities and Local Government has launched a survey for self builders.
This short survey asks self builders about their projects to gauge the growth potential of the self build market and the finance needs of self-builders.
Take the 2011 self build survey here.
The results of the survey will feed into work that the Government is doing with the Building Societies Association and lending institutions to make more finance products available to self builders, and to help implement the recently published Self Build Housing Action Plan, The report of the Self Build Government-Industry Working Group, NaSBA, An Action Plan to Promote the Growth of Self-build Housing from the Self Build Government Industry Working Group, involving Self Build Zone Director, Simon Middleton.
Simon Middleton Interview importance of Structural Warranties for SelfBuilders
Simon Middleton was recently interviewed for SelfBuild.TV about the importance of Structural Warranties for SelfBuilders.
To view the video, please see below:
selfbuildzone.com – Structural Warranties from SelfBuilder TV on Vimeo.
About Self Build-Zone:
Self-Build Zone provides site insurance and structural warranty packages for new builds, renovations, extensions and conversion projects from DIY home improvements and new build, to major renovations incorporating large scale alteration, employment of tradesmen and extension work.
Build-Zone and Self-Build Zone are trading styles of Sennocke International Insurance Services Limited. Self-BuildZone Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sennocke International Insurance Services Limited who is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Self-Build Zone Limited is a company registered in England with the company number 04693892. The registered office for Self-Build Zone Limited is Anton House, South Park, Sevenoaks, Kent TN13 1EB.
For interviews or comments, please contact our PR agency: SMPR (Simply Marcomms Limited) 0870 199 4044 Email: info@simplymarcomms.co.uk
Major housebuilders expected to see double-digit profits in 2012
Housebuilders’ profit margins are expected to return to double digits next year, analysts said last week, providing hopes of improved trading for domestic service suppliers.
Numis Securities analyst Chris Millington said margins are set to climb from 5-10 per cent to 20-25 per cent, figures not seen since the downturn.
Persimmon and Bovis Homes have both stressed a focus on margins in their trading updates to the Stock Exchange for the first six months of 2011.
Mike Farley, chief executive of Persimmon, the biggest housebuilder by volume, anticipates the underlying operating margin for H1 2011 will hit 9 per cent, up from 8 per cent the year before.
Barratt has also reported a return to profit thanks to its London and South-east market, it said last week.
In a trading update for the year ended 30 June, the company said it expects to deliver a profit before tax and exceptional items of £40 million, compared with a loss of £33m in 2010.
Although after the costs of a four-year £1 billion refinancing are taken into account, the company is expected to make a small loss, its chief executive Mark Clare confirmed.
Meanwhile, Bovis chief executive David Ritchie said he is also confident of delivering an operating margin of at least 7 per cent for the same period, compared with 4.2 per cent for 2010.
Grant Shapps joins forces with industry to take self build to the masses
Grant Shapps has today welcomed a new action plan for the self build industry that he says could be the turning point that takes it to the masses.
Meeting with the National Self Build Association (NaSBA) – the representatives of the self-build industry – Mr Shapps said that for too long obstacles have led to the UK having one of the lowest proportions of new homes built by self-builders in Europe, and that he wanted to see the self build industry become a mainstream housing option.
Earlier this year, Mr Shapps asked NaSBA and other industry experts to work with his officials to prepare an action plan to boost the number of self-builders across the country, and address the common barriers aspiring self-builders face.
Today they presented him with their findings on tackling the main challenges holding the self-build industry back: the availability of land and finance, lack of support from industry for new self builders and the impact of regulation.