Brookbanks Latest News

Residential As the UK continued to face pressure to deliver more homes, the housebuilding sector was operating in a complex and fast-moving environment. From policy reform and planning uncertainty to skills availability and new regulatory requirements, the conditions shaping residential development remained firmly in focus. The latest episode of the Brookbanks Podcast our Head of Cost & Commercial, Ben Wakeling sat down with Neil Jefferson, CEO of Home Builders Federation to discuss the current policy and initiatives HBF are in conversation with the Government about. Drawing on their experience across residential build planning, Ben and Neil share their perspectives on where the UK housebuilding industry currently stands, whether there is enough labour force to keep up with property building demands and the opinion of how the building safety levy will affect the industry.

Requests for drainage verification reports from local authorities as part of development approval have become increasingly frequent, as Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) have been introduced as guidance across England, following their mandatory introduction in Wales in 2019. Planning authorities are placing greater emphasis on demonstrating that the designed drainage system for a development has been built in accordance with the approved design, is performing as intended, and will operate effectively once the development is occupied. In our latest webinar, Toby Crayden, Civils Technical Director, explored what a good drainage verification report should look like, the common hurdles that need to be overcome, and how early engagement and good record-keeping can make the process more straightforward, reduce delays and costs.

This month, we’ve continued to explore many of the key themes currently influencing the built environment, from sustainable drainage and climate resilience through to structural efficiency, site disposal and long-term project performance. A particular highlight from the past month was the publication of our new report, written in conjunction with the Home Builders Federation (HBF), examining Sustainable Drainage Systems and the opportunities we’ve identified in Wales to support greater consistency, certainty and efficiency ahead of guidance becoming legislation across England. This month, we also shared some exciting leadership news as we continue to grow and evolve following our recent partnership with CBPE. Plus, read on to take a look back at our latest thought leadership article covering development viability, as well as three podcast episodes from the past few weeks.

Development projects often begin with a clear vision, a well-considered masterplan and ambitious objectives for the future of a site. As schemes progress, planning, infrastructure, engineering and commercial considerations all play a role in shaping how that vision is ultimately delivered. In the latest episode of the Brookbanks Podcast, Lee Witts, Group Director, and Richard Moorcroft, Chief Technical Officer, discuss the relationship between planning aspirations and delivery realities, exploring how projects evolve as they move through the development lifecycle. Drawing on their experience across planning, infrastructure and project delivery, Lee and Richard share their perspectives on why plans can sometimes look different on paper than they do when a scheme reaches delivery, and how greater collaboration between disciplines can help create stronger outcomes for clients and stakeholders.

In this episode of the Brookbanks Podcast, Katie Glaze, our Director of Sustainability, is joined by Mark Standen of BRE and Pantelis Levantis of Ecoveritas to discuss climate change adaptation and what it means for the future of the built environment in the UK. The conversation explores how designers, developers and portfolio owners can respond to rising temperatures, changing weather patterns and evolving climate conditions, alongside practical measures that can improve building resilience and long-term performance.

Following our recent partnership announcement with CBPE, we're pleased to share three key leadership promotions that reflect the continued growth of Brookbanks. Hear from Andrew Thorley, Richard Moorcroft and Rachel Appleby as they discuss their evolving roles and their shared focus on supporting our people, clients and long-term vision for the business.

Early preparation and a clear disposal strategy help maximise site value and give purchasers confidence in a site's development potential. By aligning planning, infrastructure, technical and commercial considerations from the outset, landowners can clearly demonstrate deliverability, reduce risk and support successful disposal outcomes.

This month, we explored more of the key themes that have been shaping the development sector in recent weeks, from unlocking grid capacity and navigating infrastructure constraints through to improving structural efficiency and long-term project viability. In this month’s newsletter, take a look back at our latest webinar, where we were joined by Ed Hurford from the Local Energy Markets Alliance to discuss how smarter, more coordinated energy approaches could help bring forward development for constrained sites. This month’s podcasts also shared more practical insights: episode one focused on the relationship between upfront costs and long-term value in project delivery, while episode two explored the role of transfer slabs and how early design decisions can drive more efficient structural outcomes. Plus, our latest thought leadership article highlighted why land strategies should be reviewed regularly to stay aligned with changing policy, infrastructure and market conditions. And finally, if you missed our exciting news, read more about our new partnership with CBPE Capital and what it means for Brookbanks’ continued growth.