Russell Hunt, managing director of Property Hunt, a London search agency, says, ‘I believe eco homes will become more popular with house buyers because people become more accustomed to contemporary design and more aware of the benefits of living in an eco friendly property, including lower utility bills. I think there will be a decrease in ownership of second homes as the cost of living, including energy costs rises.’
A spokesperson for independent eco-friendly homes portal www.whatgreenhome.com, which reviews eco-properties for sale, says, ‘In the new homes sector in England, next year will be a significant one because the implementation of the Code for Sustainable Homes (CSH) requires step changes in new homes’ carbon efficiency, water, waste, materials and ecology amongst other categories. So effectively, as build time is generally 12 to 18 months, all new homes in construction in 2009 will be built to thermal standards at level three (six is highest) of the CSH, which is an improvement of one quarter on what has gone before.’
John Inglis, sales and marketing director for house builder Explore Living says, ‘Throughout 2009 we can expect the government to drive affordable housing through shared equity schemes such as the recently announced new HomeBuy Direct initiative. Sustainability and eco friendly developments will remain strong on the housing agenda, and Explore Living is aiming to spearhead this trend having introduced advanced solar panels and heat recovery systems at their Lumina in Chadwell Heath, and Fusion in Chertsey, developments.’
Government-led affordable housing and eco homes schemes will be key trends that will drive forward an otherwise sluggish housing market.
David Bexon, managing director of independent new homes property portal SmartNewHomes.com, says, ‘It is likely that the restriction on output will continue for some time, although I do not believe the number of new home starts will be significantly lower in 2009 than it has been in 2008. Many developers have projects currently on hold, which are still outlined to commence at the beginning of the year.’
Simon Wright, chief executive of house builder Simon Wright Homes, says, ‘We are delaying the sites that we planned to start early next year until the latter part of 2009/early 2010 when we believe the market will pick up. The overall volume of new home starts will be very low next year and we are likely to see more developers offer affordable options, for example the Government’s HomeBuy scheme, on existing developments to help people get onto the property ladder.’
Dean Markall, sales and marketing director for house builder Hillreed Homes, says, ‘I cannot speak for other house builders, but Hillreed Homes have budgeted to do the same volume of house sales in 2008/2009 as we did in 2007/2008.’
The same number of new homes will be built in 2009 as have been in 2008 – which is likely to be less than 100,000.
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