Earlier this month, more than 100 UK businesses joined forces with the UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) in calling upon the Government to urgently reform the planning system to tackle climate change alongside the UK’s deepening housing crisis.

In their letter to government, the coalition is asking for reforms to the planning system that would bring it in line with the Climate Change and Environment Acts and says the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill (currently going through Parliament) could also be a crucial opportunity to align planning decisions with the nation’s net zero emissions target. Find out more in today’s blog.

Even though some people may be out off by rising energy prices and interest rates, home ownership is still very common, with many people viewing it as both a security blanket for themselves and their families and a lucrative investment opportunity.

When searching for the ideal residence, people tend to look for traditional must-haves like outdoor space, the size of the home, parking and local amenities. However, with new ideas and technologies constantly changing the way our houses are designed and fitted out, we wondered what might become the must-haves of the future. Read on for a few thoughts…

A few weeks ago, we published a blog with some tips about managing and improving something that plays a huge part in every construction project – quality. We looked at how important it is to set out goals, carry out tons of forward planning, create work lists for each and every phase of a project, make inspection plans and to monitor, review and learn from every experience.

However, even with the very best intentions to keep on top of all of this, once a project is underway those intentions can be slipped up and brought to the ground by unexpected obstacles or even by a single mistake that compromises quality and/or safety. As a follow up to our previous blog, today we’re delving into four key factors than can cause such a fall – Systems and audits, Changes, Materials and suppliers, and Human error.

Anyone involved in the roofing business will know that the job simply could not be done without frequently coming into contact with and using a range of products that are regulated by the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSSH) Assessment.

While most dangers can be avoided by following the correct handling procedures, accidents do occur in the industry and so it’s really important that roofers know what to do in the event of a problem. Here’s a reminder of the appropriate First Aid measures required in relation to some of the commonly used COSSH substances.

When working with hot melt or torch-on systems, the roofing environment can easily become hazardous. But, if workers are committed to following the right safety procedures and have an attitude where safety always comes first, any potential hazards can just as easily be avoided. We’ve just issued all our operatives with a detailed Toolbox Talk to ensure their understanding of this issue is completely up-to-date. Here, we share some of some of the key points.