by Holly Chapman | 16 Jun 26 | News
Managing director of solar shading specialists Caribbean Blinds, Stuart Dantzic, has been appointed vice president of the British Blind and Shutter Association (BBSA).
Involved with the BBSA for over 20 years, Dantzic was part of the managing committee until be stepped back to take the family business, before returning again.
Dantzic says, “the BBSA plays an incredibly important role in representing the UK shading industry,” adding:
“With overheating and energy efficiency now major subjects of discussion, the association’s work feels more relevant than ever. It is a real honour to have been asked to take on this role and to have the confidence and support of my industry peers.”
The Weather-Ready Homes Report published by Westminster City Council examines making homes safe, healthier and more resilient in the wake of overheating. Dantzic also comments on the report:
“If the Weather-Ready Homes report helps to shift that thinking, then it will have done a valuable service. It encourages a more measured response to a growing problem, reminding us that resilience is about making better choices before the heat arrives.”
He also encourages the importance of external solar shading within the discussion.
Now acting as vice president of the association, Dantzic will help support the strategic direction of the BBSA, champion greater awareness of shading and its benefits, support member engagement and help position the association as the authoritative voice for UK shading.
by Holly Chapman | 10 Dec 25 | International, Landscape Architecture, News, Sustainability
Construction for Grow in Merwede, a new city district in Utrecht, the Netherlands, begins as part of a joint initiative between Synchroon and AM, a part of Royal BAM Group.
Forming part of urban renewal activities in Utrecht aimed at sustainable development, the new district will highlight routines for health, movement and social contact with an emphasis on biodiversity and green spaces.
Architecture company KCAP, Monk Architecten, Studio Nauta, and Flux Landscape Architecture are responsible for the design.
A courtyard garden will be included to support nature-related and social activities, alongside 575 new homes.
Completion is expected by 2029, with a bigger objective to deliver around 6,000 homes in the coming years.
by Holly Chapman | 10 Dec 25 | Community Highlights, News
First speakers for Pro Landscaper Premium Plus’s next conference, Landscaping the Housebuilding Revolution have just been announced.
Taking place in London on 25 February 2026, Landscaping the Housebuilding Revolution will provide the insight and space to bring together key stakeholders for transparent conversations and connections.
The conference will set out approaches needed so the sector can deliver the green spaces needed that will be at the heart of the housebuilding and placemaking revolution.
The first wave of speakers are as follows:
Phil Mayall
Managing director, Muse
Andrew Taylor
Group planning director, Vistry Group
Lee Webster
Managing director, Wrights Landscape
Meg Carter
Regional director local government, AtkinsRealis
Simone Wilding
Chief planner, Bristol City Council
Joel Wildgoose
Principal design manager, Domis Construction
Paul Lynch
Managing director, Elmtree Landscapes Ltd
Andy Roberts
Urban design director, Planit-ie
Wayne Grills
Chief executive, British Association of Landscape Industries
Simeon Shtebunaev
Senior researcher, Social Life
Gareth Dillon
Managing director, NT Killingley
Sue Riddlestone
Chief executive and co-founder, Bioregional
Chris Blaisdale
Business development director, Wright Landscapes
An event guide can be found here.
The conference is also offering an early bird discount whereby you could save £100 if a space is booked before 20 December. There is an additional 25% saving alongside another colleague.
Purchase tickets for the Landscaping the Housebuilding Revolution here.
by Holly Chapman | 23 Sep 25 | News
This government has seen the largest number of major infrastructure projects to be approved in the first year of a Parliament.
A record of 21 decisions have been made on projects throughout the first year, including new wind farms, roads and airport expansions.
The current government is urgently working on a building acceleration package to get Britain building, pushing ‘build, baby, build’, which removed every barrier to build 1.5m homes this Parliament.
Reforms within the Planning and Infrastructure Bill are predicted to speed up the consenting process for major economic infrastructure to meet its Plan for Change 150 decisions target, helping to create thousands of jobs and generate money.
Steve Reed, housing secretary says “we are backing our builders, brickies and businesses to get Britain building”.
Projects that have already received approval include the recent London Gatwick Airport expansion plans, M60/M62/M66 Simister Island and the Morgan Offshore Wind Project.
by Bethany Vann | 15 Sep 25 | Commercial Landscaping, Landscape Architecture, News
The Home Builders Federation calls on the UK Government and the Mayor of London to take “urgent” action to address development barriers, or risk London’s development market grinding to a halt.
In a new report, Mind the Gap, published by the Federation, several development issues have been raised, including weak demand from first-time buyers, planning delays, and increased cost burdens on brownfield development.
The Federation warns that if this collection of barriers persists, it could risk bringing the capital’s development market to a “complete halt”.
According to recent figures from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) included in the report, only 32k new homes were delivered in London in 2023/24.
A 9% decrease from 2022/23, putting the market 30% below the recent 2019/20 peak and marking a new housing delivery low in a decade.
Included in the recommendations to avoid the worst case scenario, the Federation says the Government needs to fast track the green belt review to avoid borough-level plan production.
More recommendations for the London development market can be found in the Mind the Gap report, here.
by Holly Chapman | 09 Sep 25 | News
Homes England and Vistry Group’s Countryside Properties have signed a long-term investment joint venture to accelerate the development of large sites across England.
The new vehicle, Hestia, is backed by a combined £150m of capital investment by Homes England and Vistry.
Intended to contribute towards the government’s commitment to build 1.5 million homes in this parliament, Hestia’s investment strategy will focus on identifying sites to bring forward vital infrastructure.
Matthew Pennycook, housing and planning minister says “growing the pipeline of large mixed tenure sites across the country, making more use of modern methods of construction and backing SME housebuilders” are vital for the government’s Plan for Change.
The investment follows the December 2024 announcement of the £700m extension to the Home Building Fund.
It also comes ahead of the launch of the £16m National Housing Bank, which is predicted to unlock a further £59bn of private sector investment in UK housing.
by Holly Chapman | 17 Jun 25 | Landscape Architecture, News
Persimmon Homes Wessex has submitted its planning permission application for up to 365 properties on land west of Mane Way in Westbury, Wiltshire.
The site has already been allocated for housing as part of the Wiltshire Local Plan review.
Over 50% of the site is reserved for public open space, with new transport links such as bus stops, cycle paths and footpaths.
The properties will be fitted with solar panels and electric vehicle charging infrastructure, as well as delivering biodiversity net gain, sustainable drainage systems, hedgerow and wildlife corridor retention.
Seb Spiller, Permission Homes Wessex managing director says, “we believe we have a strong offering alongside the delivery of much-needed housing as part of this proposal.”
There will be community investment through a section 106 agreement discussed with the local authority as part of the planning process, with a £1m expected through the Community Infrastructure Levy alone.
by Bethany Vann | 05 Sep 23 | Landscape Architecture, News, Sustainability, Topics
A British bank has provided funding for 10,000 new sustainable homes across the south of Wales in the next decade.
Lloyds Bank has contributed a £100m sustainability linked loan to social housing provider, Pobl Group, in a bid to incentivise Pobl to meet its target on new home energy ratings and increase the number of affordable homes.
“Integrating solar panels and smart batteries, leveraging heat networks, improving insulation and providing electric vehicle charging are just some of the raft of measures our team is reviewing and delivering as part of our sustainable development plans,” says James O’Connor, director of corporate finance at Pobl Group.
Current design plans also show the development of several green roofs and living walls on a planned apartment building, featuring multiple planters, tree species and a majority of wall surface area camouflaged in greenery.
Pobl have “understood and responded to the opportunities and challenges that net-zero presents for UK housing,” says Jatinder Dhaliwal, regional housing director at Lloyds Bank, “Pobl shows a palpable sense of responsibility to the climate and its customers.”
The loan is designed to encourage the Group to meet its energy rating targets for new homes, invest in retrofitting existing properties and build a ‘significant’ number of new affordable homes over the next four years.
