INTRODUCTION and OVERVIEW 

This new report focuses specifically on recent developments in the rapidly changing housebuilding sector in relation to the switch to flats in recent years. Key areas in the report: Detailed Assessment of the Flats/Apartments Market – volume completions, review by country/region within UK, analysis by sector (private/public), mix by size, storey height etc. Key Market Influences – housing densities, land availability, buy-to-let, affordable housing, Government influences etc Review of Housebuilders – analysis of major housebuilders, focus on flats sector. Focus on Prefabricated Building Products/Off-Site Manufacture – overview of product ranges (timber frame, steel, concrete), use of OSM in public & private sector housing, recent developments, future trends. Forecasts up to 2012 – short/long term trends, market drivers, will the trend to flats continue??

Areas of particular interest:

• Focus on major changes in housebuilding –

• Review of switch to flats – growth since 2000, drivers, mix by storey height, region, number of bedrooms etc.

• Trends between the private and public sector and the growth of affordable housing.

• mpact of Sustainable Communities Plan, Affordable Housing Programme and Code for Sustainable Homes and the growth of MMC and OSM techniques

• Forecasts to 2012 – impact of current downturn on sector – longer term prospects.

Key areas covered in the report include:

FLATS / APARTMENTS MARKET

• Overview of housebuilding market – overall output levels by sector, recent trends, key influencing factors – household formations up to 2029, affordable housing, Government policy and investment etc.

• Current market conditions, overview of the market during 2006/07 – impact of market downturn, forecasts of completions 2008-2012 – short and long term prospects for sector.

• Focus on growth of flats – rapid growth in volumes, share changes 2000-2006, future prospects (market saturation?)

• Review of key market drivers for flats – economy / consumer confidence, land availability, housing densities, affordable housing, key workers, buy-to-let market, urban regeneration etc.

• Regional analysis – mix of flats by England/Scotland/Wales/N. Ireland (2003-07), mix by region in England (2000-06) – influence of Southern England,  etc

• Analysis of flats market by sector – Private/ public, changing market mix, mix by size, storey heights (regional comparisons), increasing influence of mixed-use developments on brown-field sites etc

• Factors influencing the flats market, implications of the Barker Report, the Sustainable Communities Plan and the Affordable Housing Programme, Code for Sustainable Homes etc, etc.

• Forecasts up to 2012 – volume forecasts, key factors to influence longer term trends.

HOUSE-BUILDERS

• Overall market size, number of builders.

• Analysis of market shares of leading housebuilders, comparisons of changing shares in recent years.

• Focus on builders/developers in flats sector.

MODERN METHODS OF CONSTRUCTION (MMC)/OFF-SITE MANUFACTURE (OSM)

• Overview of factors influencing use of MMC and pre-fabricated building materials in flats sector – share of timber frame, steel and concrete – future trends etc., such as environmental and sustainability factors and government policy.

• Advantages/Disadvantages of OSM, use of OSM in public/private housing sectors. Current usage levels, forecasts of future trends.

• Product review – types of MMC - timber, steel frames, bathroom pods, etc.

This First Edition report from AMA is part of a range of reports covering the Housebuilding market, and represents a focused analysis on developments in the flats and apartments sector.

The report is extensive with 75 pages and 30 tables and charts (see right hand panel for a full listing of contents including tables and charts)