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Small and medium sized housebuilders are uniquely placed to play a starring role in addressing the UK’s housing crisis and contribute to the government’s ambitious homes target, according to Andrew Evans and John Wybar of VM Finance.

The construction firm’s managing director Paul Dodsworth chatted to Place North West about its expansion plans, thriving in a volatile market, and why the company is going to MIPIM 2025.

One of the largest social housing developments in the country is currently under construction in Liverpool. Place North West went along to find out more about the project.

Moving away from old systems and processes and finding a way to attract fresh blood to the sector were among the solutions discussed at this roundtable discussion hosted by Caddick Construction.

It can take weeks for a council or registered provider to get a vacated property ready for its next tenants. Limiting lengthy void periods is one lever the industry can pull to increase the availability of homes, according to Alistair Carruthers, enterprise business development manager at Helpthemove. 

With a focus on developing around railway stations, representatives from local authorities, Network Rail, and the private sector delved into the ins and outs of not only creating a great masterplan, but also ensuring it gets delivered at a roundtable discussion hosted by WW+P Architects and RJP Town Planners.

The property industry in the North has been decidedly busy this past year, with numerous high-profile projects completing. But there were three in particular that dominated headlines.

There is a lot of work to be done if there is any hope of achieving the government’s goal to build 1.5m homes over the next five years. Property professionals from the public and private sector gathered in Liverpool to debate the best way forward in this roundtable discussion hosted by Onward Homes.

Property professionals from a wide range of sectors – including incoming Homes England interim chief executive Eamonn Boylan – gathered to re-examine how we can design our communities for the future in this roundtable discussion hosted by TP Bennett.

The RIBA award-winning Stoller Hall swapped out live music for an intriguing Place North Question Time event, where political leaders, investors, and industry figures took to a panel to take questions from Place North’s editorial team and members of the audience.

Managing the energy usage, visitor access, and lockers is just the start of what technology in smart buildings can do. Smart Spaces’ Dan Drogman and MEPC’s Dan Hyde delved into the future of the office and its relationship with technology.

Modern methods of construction’s troubled adolescence suggests that the move off-site is coming too soon for the culture and realities of the UK affordable housing sector. This has shaken the confidence of housing association development teams, boardrooms, and investors.

In a housing market dominated by a few big players, SMEs can play a crucial role in providing “soulful development” that meet the needs of local communities if given the chance, according to participants at a roundtable hosted by VM Finance.

Place North West and Lancaster City Council hosted an event in the Winter Gardens theatre inviting industry figures to see what development opportunities Morecambe presents.

The strength of brand Manchester, a proactive local authority, and a culture that encourages open and honest discussions among partners are among the keys to Salford’s growth over the last decade, according to Salboy managing director Simon Ismail and Euan Kellie, company director at Euan Kellie Property Solutions.

The ninth edition of the property industry’s favourite social event attracted more than 700 guests for an evening of food, drink, and dancing at the Kimpton Clocktower Hotel in Manchester.

Arc Royal is due to complete in November. Place visited this summer to get a sense of what the large-scale logistics facility will look like when finished – and the impact it will have on the Merseyside industrial scene.

Enabling SMEs to deliver more homes may be the answer to our housing problem, according to Phil Cooper of Hope Architects and Anna Relph of Turley.

Designed around a central green space and providing a new lease of life for one of the city’s most famous sites, Salboy’s Castle Irwell development in Charlestown is about more than just homes.