Brickonomics

Orders figures continue to point to a rougher road ahead

For those poring over the latest new orders figures released today to find guidance on the future of construction activity I suspect there is something for the optimists, but rather more for the pessimists. It must be said that trying...

Posted by Brian on November 5, 2009 12:44 PM

How much has the recession cost house builders? um...

During a conversation with a colleague on the recent spate of cash calls by house builders I was quizzed on how much damage the recession had done to their balance sheets. I made a stab (a lucky guess as it...

Posted by Brian on September 29, 2009 2:56 PM

Why the "innovative" HCA Norwich City deal could prove very significant indeed

It is not just because I have family in Norwich and support Norwich City that I took a particular interest in the "innovative" deal recently struck between the city council and the Homes and Communities Agency. Nor was it because...

Posted by Brian on June 17, 2009 12:29 PM

Report shows 10-fold increase in 2008 in unsold new homes in London

The more you scratch the available data on residential development the more astounding seems the transformation in market conditions over 2008. I was invited to be the editor of The Red Book for this year's edition. For those not familiar...

Posted by Brian on May 17, 2009 8:47 PM

HCA makes hay while the rain pours

On the face of it the achievement of the Homes and Communities Agency looks impressive - 50,000 affordable homes delivered "despite" the downturn and targets ticked off as met with the exception of one. Now, I am an advocate for...

Posted by Brian on April 15, 2009 12:37 PM

Private housing starts dive well below levels in 1980s and 1990s recessions

Housing starts in England plunged in the final quarter of last year to levels not seen in modern times. At the depth of the last house building recession during the worst three month period at the end of 1992 private...

Posted by Brian on February 19, 2009 11:25 AM

Why record low interest rates will fail to ease house building woes

The Bank of England's decision to cut interest rates to just 2% today, the lowest in its 300 plus years, will come as a relief to some. But in reality the Bank is near powerless to influence the direction of...

Posted by Brian on December 4, 2008 1:47 PM