Brookbanks Latest News

The UK construction industry faces a number of significant challenges. From delivering ambitious housing targets and addressing workforce shortages to improving consumer confidence and raising professional standards, the sector is under increasing pressure to evolve. In the latest episode of the Brookbanks Podcast, Ben Wakeling is joined by Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the Federation of Master Builders (FMB), to explore the role licensing could play in strengthening the industry and supporting the next generation of housing delivery.

The most successful developments don't treat civil engineering as a technical exercise that begins once planning has been secure. They use early engineering input to understand site exercise that begins once planning has been secured. They use early engineering input to understand site constraints, identify opportunities and establish realistic delivery strategies from the outset.

Led by Ron Henry, the Milton Keynes new office is the latest step in an exciting period of growth for Brookbanks. In June 2026 we secured strategic investment from CBPE, which is helping us invest in our people, broaden our services and expand across the country.

In this webinar, we explore the Government's newly announced Your First Home scheme and what it could mean for first-time buyers, housebuilders, developers and the wider residential market. Using market evidence, industry data and lessons from the previous Help to Buy programme, Richard Moorcroft and Tori Hall explain how the scheme could influence housing delivery and where the key challenges remain.

Identifying a building safety concern is only the first step. The more important question is whether the proposed response is proportionate to the risk. The Building Safety Act (BSA) was introduced in response to the Grenfell Tower tragedy, creating a new regime for managing risk in higher-risk residential buildings. Responsibility for compliance sits with the Principal Accountable Person and Accountable Persons, who must demonstrate that building safety risks are being identified, assessed and managed effectively.

In this webinar we explore where the two disciplines of acoustics and sustainability intersect in the healthcare sector. Using practical examples, Tom Quaife-Jones and Katie Glaze explain how early co ordination can improve improve performance, protect patient wellbeing and keep projects moving.

In September, we’ve continued to share our thoughts and expertise on the key themes currently influencing the built environment. In our podcasts, we covered the current policy initiatives HBF are in conversation with the government about as well as light gauge steel frame design and its differences and advantages over traditional structural materials. For our monthly webinar, Tom Quaife-Jones and Katie Glaze shared their knowledge on the growing challenge of reducing carbon and energy consumption while supporting wellbeing in healthcare environments.

The Government's announcement of the new Your First Home scheme has understandably attracted attention for its potential to help first-time buyers onto the property ladder. However, the most significant impact of the policy may lie elsewhere. The bigger question for the development industry is whether it can restore confidence across the housing delivery pipeline and provide a stimulus for new housing supply at a time when viability pressures continue to constrain development activity.

The most successful projects don’t just use due diligence to identify the constraints of a site. They use it to understand what is possible. Early investigations help provide the evidence needed to inform acquisition and investment decisions, whilst enhancing deliverability and commercial performance.

As the construction industry continues to look for efficient, adaptable and sustainable building solutions, light gauge steel is becoming an increasingly valuable option across a wide range of projects. From vertical extensions and low-rise structural frames to internal partitions, risers and specialist fire barrier systems, its versatility makes it a material worth considering early in the design process.

The Building Safety Levy (BSL) is fast approaching, coming into operation in England on 1 October 2026. Much of the industry discussion so far has understandably focused on the rate of the levy, and its potential impact and importance as part of development planning. However, for many developers, the timing of the payment may be as important, if not more, than the amount itself.

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.