Durkan lands £11.5m contract

Shining stars

We reveal details of the winners of the 2011 UK Housing Awards

Thousands of extra homes expected as affordable bids announced

Thousands of extra homes are expected to be built under the affordable homes programme after the government revealed figures for the scheme.

London mayor: 1

Rå Build shaves two weeks off build time

Contractor Masonry Frame Systems completed the aircrete inner shell of 39 new build houses and flats two weeks ahead of schedule at the Pinefields development in Addlestone, despite last winter being the coldest for decades. This was made possible by using the H+H Rå Build method of construction with thin-jointed aircrete block-work.

HCA to trial self-build with five pilots and £30m fund

The Homes and Communities Agency is set to release a series of pilot land parcels for self-build projects as part of a government push on the low-cost development model.

Cheaper by the Durkan

The contractor charged with giving an east London estate a facelift also threw in comprehensive energy retrofitting - at no extra cost. Jess McCabe finds out more

Calling in the movers

The ‘bedroom tax’ is meant to encourage tenants to downsize if they are under-occupying their homes. But, especially in the north of England, social landlords say there are simply not enough smaller houses and flats to move tenants into.

Personal shopper

Housing association Orbit’s in-house procurement team has found itself in demand as other social landlords seek its expertise. Jess McCabe finds out the secrets to its success

The stamp of approval

Councils are expected to allow development wherever possible

Doing it themselves

Help is at hand for low-income tenants keen to follow the Highland tradition of self-building. Clare Harris reports