Building together the future homes in Britain

A Traditional Housing Bureau product story

Edited by the Buildingtalk editorial team Oct 3, 2005

Traditional Housing Bureau (THB) is calling on the wider housebuilding industries to work together to ensure that new developments are built successfully for the long term.

In the wake of proposals by ODPM to give local authorities greater control over the types of homes built in their area the Traditional Housing Bureau (THB) is calling on the wider housebuilding industries to work together to ensure that new developments are built successfully for the long term.

Barry Holmes, executive director of the THB says: "Deciding the future of Britain's homes should not be a battle between government, local authority and developer".

"The crux of the issue is not about which party has the most power in determining the type of dwelling that should be built, rather the issue should be ensuring that what we build suits today's demographics and will be adaptable, flexible and durable enough to suit the needs of future generations".

"When it comes to deciding the "mix and size" of housing the phrase "modern methods of construction" is often incorrectly used as a term relating to the materials from which a home is built".

"In fact, the term "method" should refer to the process by which it is constructed, which produces a new perspective".

"It is only through redefining and understanding this key phrase will we all be able to move forward effectively, with the focus on how the industry as a whole can work together to produce design solutions that meet the long term objectives of sustainability".

"Only this way can we ensure that homes are durable and adaptable in order to meet the housing needs of the next 100 years".

"All parties have a great deal of knowledge and experience to bring to the table, whether it is on the market, demographics, social issues or technical know how".

"House builders, local authorities, housing associations, regional development agencies, regeneration agencies and planners should work together to encourage quality, non-standardisation and flexibility".

"Only by sharing knowledge can we ensure that new homes will meet the regions' requirements for the future to ensure that new homes being built today are sustainable, in the true sense - suitable for current and future housing needs.".