June 2007 News from the UK

Update: Timber Frame, Construction & Property News

• HBF calls on Brown to give housing a position in Cabinet

Stewart Baseley, Executive Chairman of the Home Builders Federation (HBF), is calling on Prime Minister-designate Gordon Brown to mark his commitment to building new homes by creating a new role of 'Secretary of State for Housing' with a seat in cabinet. The proposal is part of a 'mini-manifesto' setting out five measures which HBF believes the new Prime Minister should prioritise in order to tackle the shortage of housing facing the country.

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• HBF confident OFT study will give industry clean bill of health

22 Jun 2007

Stewart Baseley, Executive Chairman of the Home Builders Federation (HBF) says:

"'I am confident that on the issues of effective use of land and customer satisfaction the home building industry will be given a clean bill of health.

"The study will give us further opportunity to show that the real problem is the shortage of land with planning permission for much-needed new homes."

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News: Environment, Climate & Attitudes

• Al Gore to present green awards(15 June 2007)

Eight UK green energy companies and a host of international contenders - from Tanzania to Peru - have made the finalist list for the Ashden Awards for Sustainable Energy, which will take place in London on June 21st.
The list of finalists includes players in renewable energy and energy efficiency all pioneering the way to cutting carbon, as well as two primary schools who are showing leadership by implementing eco-friendly practices.
Finalists will compete for what industry players recognise as the leading green energy prize.

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• Edie launches environmental awards(14 June 2007)
  

This summer edie.net is launching a series of awards to recognise the good work being done by environmental consultants.

The UK environment industry employs some 400,000 people, with an annual turnover of £25bn. Environmental consultancy is by far the largest employer and most influential sector of this industry.

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News: Society, Community & Responsible Business

• Finally, Blair exits the stage 27/06/2007 (www.telegraph.co.uk)
  

Tony Blair will say farewell to Downing Street and domestic politics today, bringing to an end a remarkable decade in power which began with extraordinarily high hopes but ended with opinion divided over his legacy to the country.

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News: Finance & Economy

• Northern Rock warns rates to hit profits (27/06/2007)
  

Northern Rock, Britain's fifth largest mortgage lender, has warned that profits for this year will be lower than the City expected after interest rates rose faster than expected.

Chief executive Adam Applegarth, who had been optimistic about the mortgage market, said that “expectations for higher interest rates in the UK have risen further than anticipated at the time of Northern Rock's trading statement,” which was issued in April.

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