Three things changed in residential development over the last eighteen months, and none of them were the things the trade press predicted.

Prefabrication moved into the core

Bathroom pods and plant rooms now arrive finished. On the Spilon Squat build that took eleven weeks out of the programme and, more importantly, took the wet trades off the critical path entirely.

Heat pumps stopped being a premium line

Two years ago an air-source system was something you argued for. It is now cheaper over a ten-year hold than a gas boiler plus the standing charge, and lenders have started pricing that in.

Buyers read the energy certificate first

Agents used to lead with the kitchen. The enquiries we take now open with running costs, and a B rating shortens time-to-offer by roughly three weeks against a comparable D.