Latest News from AMA Research - Market Reports and Bespoke Market Research Services

Market Research Reports, Bespoke Market Research Services and Market Research Consultancy

AMA Research Newsletter - May 2010

New report on the Housing Associations Market - Report Packages from AMA - New and forthcoming reports update!

-Report of the month from AMA Research-

Housing Associations Market - UK 2010-2014

UK Housing Association Stock 2007-2014 ('000s)

In 2009, UK housing association stock was estimated to total 2,739,000 units. This represents a growth of 2% on 2008. The chart left shows an estimation of the size of the housing association stock from 2007 to 2014.

The housing association market has been sustained by increased government expenditure, particularly through projects promoting development of affordable housing such as Social HomeBuy, and continued large scale transfers from local councils, partly driven by the need to secure funding to meet Decent Homes standards.

However, the increased cost of debt, falling private sector development and restrictions on mortgage lending have all contributed to slower growth in 2009, and this trend of slower growth is expected to continue over the next few years.

The largest 3% of housing associations, those with more than 10,000 dwellings, represent 40% of stock. However, there remain a large number of small housing associations, with 61% of housing associations owning 250 or fewer dwellings.

Since 2007, the small housing associations have lost some share and the Top 30 HAs in Britain now account for around 1 million homes, reflecting continued consolidation and stock transfers from local authorities to existing housing associations.

The larger institutions also account for the majority of new building within the National Affordable Housing Programme, with annual overall social housing output now around 30,000 dwellings - though prospects under the new Government are uncertain.

Distribution of HAs in the UK by Number of Dwellings 2009 (%)

Expenditure on HA Properties 2009 (%)

The chart (left) illustrates the overall level of costs evident in the housing associations, as reported through the TSA Global Accounts.

The major repairs sector is estimated at around £2.5 billion, while routine and planned maintenance is also estimated at over £2 billion.

Overall costs have been increasing over the last 3 years, partly reflecting the impact of the Decent Homes programme, as Associations attempt to meet the upcoming 2010 deadline. Total spending on the management, repair and maintenance of all housing association letting stock was estimated at £7.6 billion in 2008.

Costs have risen in terms of management, maintenance and in major repairs. Whether the passing of the deadline in 2010 for Decent Homes allows these costs to be reduced remains to be seen, though the change of Government is likely to result in some budget cuts in the medium term.

For more information or to order this report, click on the following link: http://www.amaresearch.co.uk/Housing_Assoc_10.html

-Full Report Package Subscription from AMA Research-

AMA Research offer an annual subscription which provides access to the content of all 130 market reports including all the updates and new reports published throughout the year. Used in conjunction with our on-line content management service, AMA Research-Interactive, the subscription provides an outstanding market research resource giving instant access to AMA's full library of information on the building and construction industries. Priced at £6,450.00 plus VAT for a 12 month subscription, the Full Report Package offers outstanding value for money. Using the content management tools of AMA Research-Interactive, users can quickly search for information across the whole range of reports, cut and compile bespoke documents in seconds, translate documents into other languages and convert the contents of tables to Excel spreadsheets or charts to Powerpoint displays at the click of a button. The package includes a multi-user license which gives thee people access to AMA Research-Interactive and permits the circulation of report content among colleagues within your company.

For more information on the Full Report Package, click here: http://www.amaresearch.co.uk/Subscriptions.htm

For a full list of reports from AMA Research click here: http://www.amaresearch.co.uk/atoz.asp

To try out AMA Interactive, click here: http://www.amaresearch-interactive.co.uk/index.aspx and log on as a guest using the following id and password:

id: Guest

Password: guest123

You will find two AMA reports that have been made available to try out the system.

Alternatively call 01242 235724 or email to sales@amaresearch.co.uk for further information

-Report Bundles from AMA Research-

If you need market information for one or more specific sectors, AMA Research can provide bespoke bundles of reports selected from the report listing above. The price reflects the number of reports required but, as an example, you could choose any six reports from the full range of reports and pay just £1950.00 plus VAT.

For more information, call 01242 235724 or email to sales@amaresearch.co.uk

-Let AMA Research assist your company to a better understanding of your market-

In times as uncertain as these it is essential to have a clear view of the market in which we operate, an understanding of how it is changing and an insight into the impact such changes are likely to have on your company's performance over the coming months.

At AMA we are well placed to help you improve your understanding of your marketplace and your position within it. Our aim is to provide key, relevant and current information to support and inform your strategic business development and marketing decisions.

AMA Research are the UK’s leading business to business provider of Market Research and Consultancy services covering the Building, Construction, Environmental and Sustainable Products sectors. We offer a wide range of market research and consultancy services and have undertaken a variety of different research projects for national and multi-national companies in both the public and private sectors.

-------------------

New and Revised Reports from AMA Research Ltd The following reports have been published by AMA Research in the last few weeks.
The sale of garden products on the internet sustained despite poor weather and the economic downturn
	Internet Garden Products Market - UK 2010-2014 This new unique report from AMA reviews the fragmented and rapidly growing Internet market for garden products. The total UK Internet garden products market is complex in structure and includes a mix of specialist garden product 'e-tailers' as well as non-garden specialists (such as Argos, DIY Multiples etc) operating transactional websites offering garden products. It is estimated that the market was worth over £150m in 2009, with specialist e-tailers accounting for around 45% of the market. The report reviews the product mix via online retailers, highlighting differences with the overall garden products market together with differences between the major online retailers. Forecasting market prospects is difficult in the current climate but, whilst the rate of growth is anticipated to slow as the market matures, the market is expected to increase by around 100% reach a value of over £300m by 2014. Prospects will be driven by a combination of general consumer attitudes to online purchasing, as well as overall garden product market performance. In particular, this market is highly dependent on the weather as well as the economic climate, although the gardening industry tends to cope well with economic downturns and does not suffer as badly as some other higher value consumer durable sectors. more

Ongoing investment will bring further growth for the housing association market
	Housing Associations Market - UK 2010-2014 By 2014, the housing association market is expected to own around 3.2 billion dwellings, a growth of 16% from 2009. The housing association market is therefore expected to experience further growth between 2009 and 2014 as continued investment in new properties and large scale transfers from local authorities boost dwelling stock, in part reflecting the underlying socio-economic and demographic shifts. This will be despite a number of prevailing negative factors, such as the high level of public sector debt and a continued squeeze on UK employment levels. more

Medium term prospects improve for Prefabricated Frame and Panel Building Systems Market
	Prefabricated Frame and Panel Building Systems Market - UK 2010-2014 This unique report is part of AMA's range of reports covering offsite manufacturing / MMC. The report reviews key sectors such as Timber Frame, Housing, Light Steel Framing, SIPs, Concrete Products etc., assessing market size, sector mix, key application areas and supply and distribution structures. While market conditions have been tough in 2009, underlying medium term prospects are more optimistic, driven by a recovery in the housebuilding market and a drive towards higher quality and sustainability issues. more

Issue 11 of the Non-Domestic Construction and RMI Forecasts Bulletin released
	Non-Domestic Construction and RMI Forecasts Bulletin _ Great Britain: Issue 11 April 2010 This quarterly publication is based on the company’s in-depth knowledge of the construction and building products industries, derived from both their extensive report archive and commercial projects, combined with statistical material and interviews with leading organisations in the construction market. The bulletin is designed to provide detailed coverage of current issues and key factors likely to determine the future progress of the industry into the medium term. more

Issue 3 of the Housebuilding and RMI Forecasts Bulletin released
	Housebuilding and RMI Forecasts Bulletin Great Britain: Issue 3 May 2010 The 3rd issue of the “Housebuilding and RMI Forecasts Bulletin GB” is now available providing a quarterly review of the domestic construction sector. The bulletin contains the very latest statistics and information on housebuilding, together with medium and longer term forecasts. The information covers Great Britain and includes regional statistics and forecasts for England, Wales and Scotland. Also included are data and forecasts for the English regions. more

Forthcoming Reports from AMA Research Ltd The following reports are due to be published shortly by AMA Research.
Bedroom Furniture market likely to remain under pressure in the short to medium term
	Domestic Bedroom Furniture Market - UK 2010-2014 The Bedroom Furniture market is expected to remain under pressure in the short to medium term, reflecting factors such as pressure on margins which are being squeezed by increased raw materials cost, also continued pressure on margins from imports, and the generally difficult economic climate for consumers and businesses alike. However, in the medium to longer term the increasing, also the aging population is likely to boost demand for products in the mid to upper sector of the market, in addition to a small but rising demand for products in niche sectors, such as furniture adapted to meet the requirements of disabled consumers.

Focus shifts from recovering household waste towards commercial and industrial waste recycling
	Waste Management Market - UK 2010-2014 Since 2000, the market for waste collection, treatment and disposal services has increased year-on year, from under £3bn to around £8.4bn in 2008. In addition the materials recovery sector was valued at around £7.4bn giving a combined value of just under £16bn. For 2009, it is estimated that output values have decreased due to the impact of the recession on the levels of waste arisings and materials collected for disposal and recycling. Over the longer term, however, there will continue to be a shift away from landfilling waste towards material recovery and recycling, resulting in an expansion of infrastructure in particular material recycling facilities, mechanical biological treatment plants, advanced composting systems and commercial scale autoclaves. There will also be a change in focus from recovering household waste towards commercial & industrial waste recycling, which has hitherto remained exempt from much waste legislation.

Increased reliance on imported gas and renewables reflect shift in energy supply patterns
	Utilities Construction Market - UK 2010-2014 The UK utility market is now fully de-regulated with trading subject to the scrutiny of Government utility regulators to ensure fair competition between suppliers, set price limitations and ensure that the consumer receives a quality service. The UK is seeing a period of changing energy supply patterns, as more reliance is placed on imported gas and on new sources of electricity generation, such as renewables.

Health of the construction sector influences the utilities connections market
	Utilities Connections Market - UK 2010-2014 Incorporating all activities and processes involved with the connection of gas, electricity, water and telecoms to both new and existing premises through the national networks, the utilities connections market includes domestic, commercial, industrial, public sector and retail schemes, etc. The market is subject to a number of influences with the health of the construction sector remaining of paramount importance. Due to the downturn in key construction sectors such as housing, offices and industrial over the last 18 months-2 years, the connection market has performed less well than in previous years with both gas and electricity connections declining into 2008-09.

15% of the UK's energy to be derived from renewable sources by 2020
	Utilities Renewables Sector - UK 2010-2014 Energy generation from renewable sources in the UK has a long history with considerable number of hydro-electric generation stations installed in the 1950’s & 1960’s with a smaller percentage first commissioned in the 1930’s. However, recent legislative obligations have boosted the use of renewable energy in the UK over the last decade, driven primarily by wind power. The UK has signed up to the EU Renewable Energy Directive which indicates a target of 15% of the UK’s energy (including heat, energy generation and transport energy) to be derived from renewable sources by 2020. This represents a significant advance on the estimated 5-6% in 2008-09. In order to achieve these targets the UK government published The UK Renewable Energy Strategy in 2009. The strategy sets up specific targets for the increased use of renewable sources for energy & heat generation and transport energy to 2020.
Student Accommodation sector continues to offer good prospects as institutions strive to meet rising demand for quality accommodation
	Higher Education and Student Accommodation - UK 2010-2014 The report specifically reviews construction activity in the higher education sector, focusing on the structure of the university system, the impact of rising student numbers, new building plans and the growth of the student accommodation sector. The report also provides an overview of different sources of university capital funding and current capital building programmes taking place in UK universities. Prospects beyond the General Election are uncertain as capital spending plans will come under greater pressure, but the Student Accommodation sector continues to offer good prospects as institutions strive to meet rising demand from UK and overseas students for quality accommodation - while also replacing some of the outdated stock built in the 1960s / early 1970s. The current state of the university estate and infrastructure backlog is also assessed, together with an overview of leading construction contractors, specifiers and consortia operating in the higher education sector, while the different funding models for student accommodation provision are also reviewed.

Market for ground and air source heat pumps set for significant growth
	Sustainability Market - Ground and Air Source Heat Pumps - UK 2010-2014 Heat pumps are used to heat buildings and water in the commercial, industrial and residential sectors in the UK. In many European countries, heat pumps have been an accepted system and technology in all three sectors for 2 -3 decades and in some of these countries statistics are more easily available than in the UK. In the UK, the market for Heat Pumps is underdeveloped and, as part of the new renewable heat strategy needed to reduce energy usage and costs, it is currently unable to compete financially with alternative energy sources. This report reviews the current market for heat pumps and highlights government initiatives to help the growth of renewable heat technologies. Product mix and key applications are also reviewed, together with an overview of the supply, distribution and installation routes.The government's target of 15% of energy to be derived from renewables by 2020 anticipates significant growth of ground and air source heat pumps in order to meet this commitment and the report reviews the key drivers and barriers to growth in the medium term.

Recovering demand for office and retail space should underpin some recovery in interior refurbishment
	Commercial Interior Refurbishment Market - UK 2010-2014 The commercial interior fit-out & refurbishment industry experienced strong growth up to 2008, worth around £8bn according to AMA estimates. As we have defined it, the market primarily comprises main contractors typically project managing the interior fit-out element of non-domestic newbuild/shell & core developments, and full upgrades or refurbishment of existing non-domestic premises. The recession has had a significant impact on the market in 2009-10, driving down demand for new and refurbished office and retail premises in particular. The slowdown in new build in these sectors has been dramatic with falls of over 50% in new orders, but there are indications that demand for space is recovering which should also underpin some recovery in interior refurbishment in the medium term. The report reviews recent market and sector trends, likely performance in 2010, and assesses key market drivers and future prospects up to 2014 - together with a review of major players and recent restructuring.
Tentative improvements in the housebuilding and housemoving sectors holds out hope for recovery
	Window Coverings Market - UK 2010-2014 As a mature market, heavily dependent on replacement demand, sales of windowcoverings tend to be deferred when the economic climate deteriorates with consumers tending to put off major purchases or trade down as a "stop-gap" solution. Low levels of housebuilding and housemoving have impacted on the market, but tentative signs of recovery since the second half of 2009 hopefully indicate the worst is over - at least in the domestic market. Commercial markets for blinds will continue to be difficult in 2010-11,, but changing tastes for alternative styles will offer opportunities for suppliers in key markets, with the housing market hopefully offering steady and sustained recovery prospects in 2010.

Recovery in Builders Merchants Market anticipated later in 2010
	Builders and Plumbers Merchants Market - UK 2010-2014 Merchants reported much tougher trading conditions during 2008 and 2009. Some companies have undertaken strategies to help them weather the storm, including job losses, branch closures and cancellation or delay of new building work or refurbishment. With the background of a recovering building and construction industry however, the merchants’ market is expected to begin recovery later in 2010 and into in 2011 and grow to be worth over £12bn in 2014.

Can't find the report you need? Tell us, and we could create it for you... call 01242 235724

AMA Research Ltd, Montpellier House, Montpellier Drive, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. GL50 1TY UK.
Tel: +44 (0)1242 235724. Fax: +44 (0)1242 262948
sales@amaresearch.co.uk
Registered No. 4501364

If you would like to stop receiving this newsletter, please reply to this email with the word “Unsubscribe” in the subject heading. If you would like to stop receiving details of all special discount offers from AMA Research, please reply to this e-mail with the words "unsubscribe all" in the subject heading. Please allow 7 working days to be removed.

NEWS AND NEW REPORT INFORMATION