Welcome to our March 2026 newsletter. In this issue, we’ll tell you more about how we help SMEs prioritise what matters, avoid the common financial traps, and get projects moving, backed by our experienced team who have real housebuilding experience. We’re looking back on our March webinar, where Jack Kenny and Paul Rushmer gave an overview of how to optimise mechanical and electrical designs specifically for high-risk buildings. Plus, we’ll highlight this month’s podcasts! The first explored where structural engineering and building services design overlap, and why good coordination is so important to project delivery. In episode two, Hannah Simpson, Fran Walker, and Isabelle Latuszka spoke about their early-career experiences and how diverse backgrounds add real value to projects. Below, you’ll also get to hear about some exciting awards news and an event we’re co-hosting with the LPDF in Manchester.
This month, our lunchtime webinar was hosted by Jack Kenny and Paul Rushmer who gave an overview of how to optimise mechanical and electrical designs specifically for High Risk Buildings.
They shared practical tips and live‑project insights on:
Missed it? Watch back now via our YouTube channel to learn more about HRB compliance and gain top tips for having the best chance of gaining stage two and three approvals for these complex projects.
The UK’s housing delivery challenge is well-documented. Yet amid the national conversation about planning reform, infrastructure, and build-out rates, one group consistently punches above its weight: Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise (SME) housebuilders. SMEs are a vital part of the solution, but they face very real and persistent development hurdles.
In this article, we outline the advantages SMEs have, before exploring their key challenges in land acquisition, planning, and delivery, and the solutions they may implement to reduce those risks.
Catch-up on this month’s podcast episodes
The first podcast episode of the month explored where structural engineering and building services design overlap, and why good coordination is so important to project delivery. Hear from Lee Bowers and Lucy Wildesmith as they look at the coordination challenges almost every project faces and how small improvements in design alignment can make a big difference to overall delivery.
In episode two, Hannah Simpson, Fran Walker, and Isabelle Latuszka spoke about their early-career experiences and how diverse backgrounds add real value to projects. They reflected on the options open to Graduates, why the opportunity to rotate around a business is beneficial, and how their diverse skills and educational backgrounds add insight to projects, ultimately boosting value for clients.
Watch all our previous episodes on our YouTube channel to learn more about the latest industry updates and hear insights into planning, engineering, design, and infrastructure delivery.
Brookbanks achieves Consultant Partner Award
Have you heard our exciting news? We won the award for Consultant Partner at the 2026 Wales & West Supply Chain Awards by Willmott Dixon this month.
Chris Vivian and Tom Quaife-Jones were there in person to collect our award, but it’s a proud moment for all of our team, as it reflects their hard work and commitment to delivering projects with technical excellence.
It’s a pleasure to work alongside Willmott Dixon, so a huge thank you to them for a fantastic event, and here’s to continued projects together.
We’re really pleased to be partnering with the Land, Planning and Development Federation (LPDF) to host a CPD and Spring Drinks event in Manchester in May.
The event will be a great chance to learn more about best practices and techniques that enhance the value of strategic developments and to network over drinks.
Limited places are available, so email the LPDF now to book your place.
Email: info@lpdf.co.uk
Thank you for taking the time to read our newsletter.
We work across the UK and are always happy to connect, either in person or online, to chat about industry challenges, policy updates, or how we can help with a project.
Drop Owen Smith, our Client Relationship Manager, an email and he will happily introduce you to any of our team.
Email: owen.smith@brookbanks.com
Explore how structural and building services design overlap across RIBA stages, why coordination matters, and how our integrated approach improves building engineering outcomes.
The UK’s housing delivery challenge is well-documented. Yet amid the national conversation about planning reform, infrastructure, and build-out rates, one group consistently punches above its weight: Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise (SME) housebuilders. SMEs are a vital part of the solution, but they face very real and persistent development hurdles.
At Brookbanks, we know EV charging becomes far more manageable when it’s approached as part of a wider development picture rather than an isolated task. Rising regulatory demands, limited capacity, cost pressures and the realities of underground or enclosed parking all interact in ways that can affect programme, viability and long‑term performance. This article looks at the recurring challenges we see across residential, commercial and mixed‑use projects and the practical steps that help developments meet Part S requirements, manage grid limitations, integrate load‑balancing and smart‑charging systems, and plan for solar PV and battery storage. The aim is to provide clear, grounded insight that helps teams design EV strategies that genuinely stand up to modern development demands.