Fulcrum Group’s Post

Great news for the construction industry…. Our new chancellor Rachel Reeves, has announced the government will: • Restore mandatory housebuilding targets • Build 1.5m homes by the end of this parliament - including affordable and council homes • End the onshore wind farm ban • Create a new task force to accelerate stalled housing sites • Support local authorities with 300 additional planning officers across the country • Review planning applications previously turned down that could help the economy • Prioritise brownfield and greybelt land for development to meet housing targets when needed • Reform the planning system to "deliver the infrastructure that our country needs" • Set out new policy intentions for critical infrastructure in the coming months. Thoughts?

Discover the impact of new sewer charges and infrastructure projects on Pelham rental properties. Learn how these changes affect operating costs, property values, and tenant satisfaction, and find out how property managers can navigate these developments effectively. Stay informed and ensure compliance with our comprehensive guide. https://lnkd.in/gBKFSP2Y

It is widely agreed that additional capital funding is needed urgently to address Ireland's infrastructure gap, whether that's energy or water services or roads. From the East Region's and Dublin's perspective the investment into water services is critical to stop the unsustainable exploitation of the River Liffey. Water is drawn from the Liffey at Ballymore Eustace to supply 85% of Dublins drinking water needs. This abstraction is now gone beyond what is permitted, as this is the lesser of two evils - over abstraction or stop development - so the River pays. More drinking water is abstracted at Leixlip. So half the rivers resources are removed to supply drinking water and the remaining flow is used to discharge c.400,000 pe of wastewater from mainly Blessington, Ballymore Eustace, Kilcullen, Athgarvan, Straffan Newbridge, Naas, Sallins, Celbridge, Leixlip, and Maynooth. It'll be another decade before the GDD Sewer or the East and Midland (Drinking Water) schemes are operational unless something changes. Where are water services going to come from in the meantime - the Barrow? the Vartry? the Dodder? the Liffey? #lettheLiffeylive

📢 Listen back to Conor O'Connell, CIF's Director of Housing and Planning, on RTE Drivetime yesterday about the need for more land zoned for housing and serviced with infrastructure such as water, energy and transport. #housing #planning #landzoning #construction

Would it surprise you if the Government's hopes that land value will fund new #infrastructure rest with this construction cost study? The Centre for Progressive Policy's 'Gathering the Windfall' report cited this 2012 assessment has their source for an average national site development cost of £130k per ha (c.£3,700 per dwelling). This was referenced again in an article today by the Financial Times, see https://lnkd.in/eXFdg4nR, pointing to a 275 times uplift in land value with planning which in turn justifies land value capture. Knight Frank Development Partnerships specialises in new settlement delivery and in our experience the cost of infrastructure is currently closer to £2.275m per ha (£65k per dwelling). This difference (of £2.15m per ha) means that government policy is founded on a false expectation. Projects may begin with great enthusiasm but will soon be derailed on viability issues. When are we going to have a well-informed conversation on how infrastructure is funded?

new NCC2022 and Energy Efficiency Impacts for Queenslsnd are significant, it is important to engage with your Energy Assessor early

Minister of Public Works & Infrastructure, Dean Macpherson, and KwaZulu-Natal Public Works & Infrastructure MEC, Martin Meyer were accompanied today by Westown directors and members of the eThekwini Municipality on an oversight visit to Westown, Shongweni. Speaking from the site Macpherson (middle) was joined by (L/R) Westown CEO Carlos Correia; eThekwini Deputy Mayor Zandile Myeni; Westown Director Don Bergsma; Economic Development and Planning Committee Chairperson Councillor Thembo, MEC Martin Meyer, Westown Director Sean Bergsma and Linda Mchunu Councillor for Ward 103. Minister Macpherson applauded the ongoing collaboration between Westown developers, Fundamentum, and the City of eThekwini. “This collaboration underscores the importance of public-private partnerships in unlocking infrastructure investment. The public sector alone cannot finance or construct large-scale infrastructure projects.” The first phase of Westown will open on 27 March 2025 with the high-street shopping experience of Westown Square. Department of Public Works and Infrastructure #westownshongweni #itstimeforthewest #newcityofthewest

This is encouraging news. Hopefully, infrastructure funding, tax credits, and construction dollars will leverage additional private and public investments toward moderate-income households, the working poor, and our homeless/unhoused populations. The need is great and can feel overwhelming. But, when funds are planned and deployed strategically and appropriately, then each step is a step in the right direction. Housing development stabilizes communities and is workforce development. #OneStepAtATime

The residential crisis is definitely having its toll on the cost of living and the welfare of everyone in the state. This policy is a positive incentive for councils to reduce their red tape, allow for a more merit base assessment beyond strict adherence to development controls, and be creative in their dialogue with the private sectors. The circumstances that are driving the crisis can be mitigated. Housing targets can be achieved. We can see the light at the end of the tunnel, albeit we still have a long distance to cross.

Without good planning, joined-up thinking and the required infrastructure, promised housing targets will never be delivered on