In association with RENOLIT, ADF editor James Parker speaks to Steve Hatcher, UK Technical Manager at RENOLIT ALKORPLAN. He explains how the company’s ‘pure white’ ALKORPLAN Bright roofing membrane provides class-leading solar reflectance to help offset cooling requirements as well as bringing other sustainability benefits.

The need to increase the efficiency of water appliances and fixtures in commercial environments is becoming increasingly acute for clients and specifiers tasked with sustainability goals. However it is low on the agenda compared to carbon, and low on regulation, so we brought together a panel of experts from the construction and water sectors to help establish the practical challenges and solutions. This important and challenging discussion, sponsored by Delabie, Cistermister and eco-sistem, showed how water savings could be harnessed to carbon goals to drive better specification in the commercial sector, to combat the lack of incentives and targets.

James Parker, managing editor of Housing Management and Maintenance magazine, presents a special edition of Building Insights focusing on the Building Insights LIVE round table held to discuss the Social Housing (Regulation) Act. Beginning with Awaab’s Law this October, the legislation has been called “the most significant reform of the sector in more than a decade,” and places a new set of requirements on landlords to ensure that social housing is healthy and safe.

This crucial issue was the topic of the first Building Insights LIVE round table to be held under the banner of Housing Management and Maintenance magazine. This podcast contains highlights from the discussion, which was guest chaired by Matt Baird, co-chair of Spring Housing Association. The round table included, from the social housing sector, Billy Cliffen of Riverside Housing Association, Stephanie Goad from Golding Homes, and Lee Reevell of Halton Housing in Widnes. From academia was Dr Douglas Booker, Indoor Air specialist at the University of Leeds, and Dr Hector Altamirano-Medina from the UK Centre for Moisture in Buildings. We were also joined by Andrew Burke of the National Housing Maintenance Forum, Sarah Garry of the Property Care Association, Amy Bentall from law firm Trowers & Hamlins, Dale Holroyd of ZapCarbon, and Hony Premlal, chair of Women in Social Housing.

We are grateful to the sponsors Tarmac, WMS Underfloor Heating, and  Cornerstone Management Services, who also contributed to the discussion.

In association with Kingspan Insulation. James Parker, editor of ADF, is again joined by Rita Singh, head of public affairs at Kingspan Insulation. She explains the complex and rigorous lengths the company goes to in order to show its products are compliant with relevant regulations.

In this Ask the Expert episode of Building Insights, in association with Charlton and Jenrick, managing editor of The Selfbuilder, James Parker, speaks to Peter Mintoft, MD of the fire and stove manufacturer. He explains the options for self-builders looking to create an eye-catching and efficient secondary heat source for their home.

In this special episode of Building Insights, James Parker visits the HQ of Futurebuild in Twickenham, to speak to event director Martin Hurn about the changes and sustained selling points the show has seen over its 20 year history.

James Parker speaks to managing director of SME developer City & Country Wayne Douglas, about the crucial contribution that SME firms like his are making to the delivery of good quality housing in the numbers asked for by Government. However he explains how the smaller end of the sector is being continually squeezed on viability, and why more support is needed now. 

In this audible article, Dulux Heritage's Dawn Scott explains why selecting the right paint colours for each room is more than just a matter of aesthetics. It involves understanding how colours interact with light, influence mood, and establish a sense of continuity.

Highlights from the Building Insights LIVE round table staged in November 2024 at the Building Centre on Water & Energy Saving Innovations in New Build Housing. Sponsored by Hansgrohe, Triton Showers, and waste water heat recovery solutions supplier, Showersave, it featured housebuilders Vistry and Barratt Homes, Thames Water, and the Future Homes Hub, among others.

James Parker, managing editor of Housebuilder and Developer speaks to Hugo Reeve, Development Director & Co-Founder of new housebuilder BRiCS. Focused on placemaking and high quality design, Reeve describes how he managed to launch the firm in the teeth of Covid, with the help of former Crest Nicholson colleagues, to offer a more bespoke solution to buyers in the south east.

James Parker speaks to Neil Walker, Design Manager at Russell Homes, about how the award-winning north west-based housebuilder is prioritising green features over maximising margins.

In this audible article, Greg Blee, founder of Blee Halligan, tells ADF how he found himself working in architecture almost by accident, and why he now focuses on creating projects overseas which blend into their landscapes.

In our third Building Insights episode in association with Saniflo, James Parker speaks to Conor Reeves, UK sales manager.

The growth of adaptive reuse projects which convert ex-commercial premises into residential schemes in urban centres has a range of potential benefits. However as Conor explains there are also many inherent challenges including adapting  and adding plumbing for current and future domestic needs.

In association with Saniflo. James Parker speaks to David Cook, managing director of Saniflo about the rising demand for bathrooms which work for elderly users and the rest of the family, to support multi-generational living. He also has some strong views about the need for housebuilders to be driven to focus on whole-life performance.

In this episode, James Parker, editor of ADF, introduces highlights from our recent Building Insights Live round table held in September 2024 at RIBA, focusing on improving the design of dementia care facilities to offer better support to all people living with the condition.

The multi-disciplinary debate included expert academics, people with lived experience of dementia and neurodiversity, architects and product manufacturers. It was sponsored by Amtico International, WMS Underfloor Heating, and Johnstone’s Trade Paints. The debate was an important opportunity to share knowledge on the problems and opportunities for practical design solutions, given that the number of people with dementia in the UK is predicted to reach 1 million in 2025.

In association with Saniflo, James Parker speaks to Scott Taylor, area sales manager for Scotland and North East England at Kinedo. He discusses the rising trend for more decorative wall panels in bathrooms and other settings, and how the Kinewall brand is helping specifiers meet the demand.

Christian Hale, MD of housebuilder Hale works in the high-end luxury home sector, but even his end of the market isn’t immune from the perils of value engineering post-tender, in fact it’s getting more common. He explains how clients’ expectations from their homes need managing so that cost cutting isn’t inevitable, and makes a plea to reduce extra costs like urban parking suspensions.

For the third time on the podcast, we are joined by Nick Haughton, Head of ESG at Sapphire Balconies, who are sponsors of this episode. James Parker discusses with Nick the crucial topic of why we need to strive to keep sustainability data as simple as possible, as more and more is unravelled in products’ life-cycles assessments, and Sapphire’s rigorous approach to transparency.

In this special episode of Building Insights, we capture some of the key sessions of a seminar held at RIBA recently to discuss ways to drive specification of timber buildings in the UK, as one of the chief ways to move the country to net zero by 2050. It features highlights of talks by leading lights in timber design; Alex de Rijke of dRMM, Anthony Thistleton of Waugh Thistleton, Jerry Tate of Tate & Co, and Rory Bergin of HTA. Other speakers at the Structural Timber Association-staged event provided key insights on how the Government’s Timber Roadmap is showing the way forward.

In this audible article, Giles Fallan of BuildSafe shares how the right selfbuild insurance can help give you confidence to make your dream home a reality.

In this audible article, James Parker speaks with Andrew Carpenter, chief executive of the Structural Timber Association, to discuss how the construction industry is tackling the obstacles behind the Government’s roadmap for increasing the use of timber. 

In this audible article, Kathryn Firth of Arup reveals a groundbreaking residential development in Lewes, East Sussex. The scheme aims to transform the challenges of climate change and sustainability into opportunities for innovative design and community-focused placemaking, including shared amenities and affordable housing.

In an insightful Audible article, Scott Wolters of EGGER UK offers a concise guide for self-builders navigating the diverse landscape of structural timber flooring options. Wolters breaks down the various choices available, highlighting their unique benefits and applications. This overview serves as a valuable resource, simplifying the decision-making process for self-builders and ensuring they select the most suitable timber flooring solutions for their projects.

In a compelling Audible article, we narrate Gillian Burgis Smith's inspiring journey to becoming an architect, triumphing over outdated industry biases and significant health challenges. She explains how she broke through the male-dominated architecture field with persistence and resilience, transforming personal health obstacles into a source of empathy and innovation. By leveraging her experiences, she has championed the creation of inclusive environments, advocating for and designing spaces that accommodate diverse needs, thereby making a lasting impact on the field and paving the way for future architects.

This episode of Builders Voices (in collaboration with the Federation of Master Builders) is a revealing conversation with housebuilder Stephen Rankin, awarded the 2023 Master Builder of the Year by the FMB.

Stephen and firm he founded Vantage & Co have a string of great projects which demonstrate an unusual level of attention to detail, including a renovation of one of the few remaining Georgian villas in central Birmingham. He has however been vocal about some of the intractable problems in the industry, from severe planning headaches to how skills gaps can be filled.

A former joiner, Stephen looks at issues caused by underfunded planning departments, and how simple availability problems lead to negative outcomes for all. He clearly outlines some ideas for improving things which the new Government needs to consider if it really wants to ‘get Britain building.’