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Table 1: House starts for Q3-Q4 of 1995 and 1996
RegionQ3-Q4Q3-Q4%
Ìý19961995change
Greater London6,14058006
South-east15,56012,93020
South-west7,1605,34034
East Midlands6,5104,57042
West Midlands6,4105,30021
East Anglia3,3702,65027
Yorkshire and Humberside5,6705,01013
North-west7,8107,7001
North3,2602,60025
Scotland8,1706,99017
Wales3,2503,2500
Northern Ireland4,0603,59013
UK77,37065,73018
Source: National House ºÃÉ«ÏÈÉúTV Council
The table illustrates the sharp increases that have occurred in housebuilding activity, measured in new sarts on site, in all regions except Wales and the North-west. The South-east (including Greater London) accounted for 29% of all new house starts.
Table 2: Average dwelling prices and inflation 1995-1996
ÌýAverage new dwelling pricesÌýExisting house prices
ÌýQ4 1996 (£)% change from% change from
ÌýÌýQ4 1995 Q4 1995
Greater London129,011-2.115.6
South-east115,5983.48.5
South-west84,684-0.27.4
East Midlands76,2083.53.8
West Midlands88,4527.86.8
East Anglia77,539-2.15.1
Yorkshire and Humberside77,5730.45.3
North-west80,4082.35.7
North73,255-6.74.8
Scotland75,820-1.75.1
Wales74,060310.8
Northern Ireland69,78214.914.3
UK average87,0880.67.9
Source: Halifax ºÃÉ«ÏÈÉúTV Society
The table shows that the rise in headline house price inflation has been largely confined to the existing house market.
Table 3: Typical unit sizes and internal circulation for private urban housing
House typeGross internal area (m2)Circulation allowance (%)
One-bed apartment48-5810-Dec
Two-bed apartment75-85Nov-14
Three-bed apartment105-12008-Oct
One-bed loft58-65n/a
Two-bed loft80-90n/a
Three-bed loft110-125n/a
Three-bed townhouse115-13014-16
Four-bed townhouse155-16516-18
Table 4: Median time to construct traditionally built houses
House typeMonths
Detached houses7
Detached bungalows8
Semi-detached houses7.5
Terraced houses8.5
Attached bungalows8
Flats and maisonettes10.5
Source: National House ºÃÉ«ÏÈÉúTV Council (based on data for homes started in 1995)
BRESCU'S good practice guide
ElementStandard practiceGood practice
Roof150mm insulation200mm insulation
Ground floorUninsulated50mm polystyrene underfloor batts
BoilerConventional gas fan-assistedCondensing gas fan-assisted
Heating controlGround-floor thermostat, no zoningZone control by multiple thermostats
Primary pipework insulationNoneInsulated
Cost breakdown
ÌýElement cost (£)Cost/m2 gfa (£)% of total cost
Substructure32,20027.43.98
Site clearance ÌýItem @£1,500
Foundations and ground slab: insitu concrete ground beams, masonry walls below damp-proof course, damp-proof coure, contractor-designed precast concrete floor unitsÌý410 m2 @£70
Extra over for lift pit constructionÌýItem @£2,000
Upper floors18,20015.492.25
Contractor-designed precast concrete floor unitsÌý824 m2 @£20
Balconies: contractor-designed precast concrete unitsÌý35 m2 @£50
Extra over for circular columnsÌý1030 m @£30
Allowance for structural steel truss to suspended section of main concourse floor ÌýItem @£100 000
Roof32,70027.834.05
Softwood trussed rafters: 150 mm insulation quiltÌý395 m2 @£18
Clay pantiles: softwood battens, reinforced felt underlayÌý435 m2 @£25
Extra for hips, ridges, and so on, to hipped roofsÌý175 m @£25
Perimeter treatment to eaves, soffits and vergesÌý120 m @£15
Roof finishes to balconies: concrete pavers, mastic asphalt, warm deck roof insulation, vapour barrier, insulation to soffit of slabÌý55 m2 @£60
Handrails to terraces and balconiesÌý45 m @£100
Rainwater goods: PVCu gutters and accessoriesÌý125 m @£6
Stairs13,80011.741.71
Precast concrete stairs and half-landing: rise 2.70mÌý3 @£4,000
Softwood spiral staircase: overall rise 2.70mÌý1 @£1,000
Access stair to roof voidÌýItem @£800
External walls72,00061.288.91
Cavity walls: two skins blockwork, insulated cavity, render, masonry paint finish to walling at ground level onlyÌý155 m2 @£80
Cavity walls: London stock facing bricks, 150mm medium-density blockwork inner skin, insulated cavityÌý485 m2 @£75
Reconstituted stone string-courses, copings and sillsÌý330 m @£40
Allowance for additional architectural detailingÌýItem @£10,000
Windows and external doors71,60060.948.86
PVCu windows and screens: double-glazed sealed units, lintels, cavity trays, ironmongery, window boards, and so onÌý215 m2 @£230
Extra for doors in glazed screens to balconiesÌý28 @£500
Glazed entrance screen and door: hardwood frameÌý15 m2 @£500
Window safety rails: powder-coated mild steelÌý6 m @£100
Internal walls and partitions39,40033.534.88
Party walls: 215mm solid dense concrete blockworkÌý550 m2 @£30
Blockwork partitions: average 140mm thickÌý170 m2 @£18
Timber stud partitions: 100 mm thick, quilt insulationÌý260 m2 @£30
Glazed screen to stair lobbies: single-leaf panelled doorÌý4 @£3,000
Internal doors32,10027.323.97
Entrance doors: single-leaf, frame, ironmongeryÌý12 @£520
Fire-rated doors: single-leaf, frame, ironmongeryÌý41 @£325
Unrated doors: single-leaf, frame, ironmongeryÌý50 @£250
Wall finishes25,60021.793.17
Plasterboard drylining to blockworkÌý860 m2 @£6
Ceramic tiling to kitchens and bathroomsÌý190 m2 @£50
Decorations: two coats emulsion paintÌý2950 m2 @£2
Allowance for picture rails and trimsÌýItem @£5,000
Floor finishes28,40024.173.51
Proprietary floating floor system: 22 mm chipboard, foam-backed softwood battensÌý920 m2 @£16
Sand/cement screed: mesh reinforcement, resilient closed-cell foam layerÌý105 m2 @£10
Ceramic floor tiles to kichensÌý100 m2 @£50
Carpet to communal lobbiesÌý60 m2 @£35
Moulded softwood skirtingsÌý970 m @£4
Cove ceramic skirting to kitchensÌý110 m @£15
Ceiling finishes11,1009.451.37
Two layers plasterboard: two coats emulsion paintÌý820 m2 @£10
Coving to reception rooms and bedroomsÌý970 m @£3
Furniture and fittings180,900153.9622.39
Allowance for fully-fitted kitchen to developer's specification: units, oven, hob, extractor hood, mircrowave, fridge, freezer, dishwasher, washer-drier and waste disposalÌý12 @£12,000
Allowance for built-in bedroom furnitureÌý12 @£3,000
Bathroom mirrors Ìý24 @£25
Matwell to communal lobbyÌýItem @£300
Sanitary fittings42,00035.745.2
Allowance for sanitary fittings: fully-fitted bathroom/shower room to developer's specification, two WCs, two wash-hand basins, bath, shower, including all fixtures and fittingsÌý12 @£3,500
Disposal installations5,1004.340.63
PVCu rainwater downpipes and fittingsÌýItem @£1,000
PVCu soil and vent pipework and fittingsÌý1175 m2 @£13.50
Water installations15,90013.531.97
Hot and cold water supply: dedicated mains service to each dwelling, direct mains feed to all cold water outlets, calorifier, pipework and fittingsÌý1175 m2 @£13.50
Space heating and ventilation45,90039.065.68
Low-pressure hot-water central heating sytem: fan-assisted blanced-flue boiler, wall-mounted steel-panel radiators, single-zone thermostatic controlÌý1175 m2 @£35
Extract fans and ductwork to kitchens and bathroomsÌý19 @£250
Electrical installations29,40025.023.64
Mains and sub-mains installationÌýItem @£5,000
Small power installation to apartmentsÌý1115 m2 @£9
Lighting and luminaires to apartmentsÌý1115 m2 @£12
Emergency lighting, lighting and small power to common areasÌýItem @£1,000
Lift installation20,00017.022.48
Eight-person, 0.4 m/second, electro-hydraulic liftÌýItem @£20,000
Communicative installations17,80015.152.2
Telephone pointsÌý24 @£50
Socket points for cable-access televisionÌý24 @£250
Mains-operated smoke alarmsÌý24 @£150
Closed-circuit television entry-phone systemÌýItem @£7,000
Preliminaries and contingencies66,90056.948.28
Management costs, site establishment and supervision, allow 7%ÌýÌý£51,900
Contingency sum, allow 2%ÌýÌý£15 000
Total construction cost : building only808 000 687.66100
ÌýÌýÌýÌý
ÌýElement cost (£)Cost/m2 gfa (£)% of total cost
Site works33,20028.25n/a
Surface car parking and access roads, coated macadam on granular fill, including allowance for external lightingÌý600 m2 @£27
Paths and walkways: brick and block pavers on sand base, kerbs and edgingsÌý200 m2 @£35
Soft landscaping: imported top soil, cultivate, turf, plants and mature trees ÌýItem @£7,000
Ornamental railings and street furnitureÌýItem @£3,000
Drainage15,00012.77n/a
Clayware and PVCu below-ground drainageÌýItem @£5,000
Allowance for manholes and inspection chambersÌýItem @£10,000
External services30,00025.53n/a
Share of costs of extending mains services from site boundary and connection charges ÌýItem @£30,000
Minor building works3,5002.98n/a
Masonry-built bin stores to match main buildingÌýItem @£3,500
Preliminaries and contingencies7,3006.21n/a
Management costs, site establishment supervision, allow 7%Ìýghjlhjlk£5,700
Contingency sum, allow 2%Ìýgl;hk;hkl£1,600
Total construction cost : external works only89,00075.74n/a
ÌýÌýÌýÌý
Overall construction cost897,000763.4n/a
ÌýÌýÌýÌý
ÌýÌýnet extra (saving) cost/m2 gfa (£)Ìý
Alternative element specificationsÌýÌýÌý
(extra over costs are inclusive of preliminaries and contingencies)ÌýÌýÌý
SubstructureÌýÌýÌý
Contaminated land: share of site investigation costs - item @ £1500Ìý1.39Ìý
Site clearance: disposal of contaminated waste (assumed 50% normal, 50% polluting). Rate excludes landfill tax - 1000 m3 @ £15Ìý13.91Ìý
Methane gas membrane, laid on hardcore bed and blinding with insitu concrete ground slab - 410 m2 @ £30Ìý3.42Ìý
Extra over for insulation to ground floor slab - 410 m2 @ £6Ìý2.28Ìý
Extra over for piled foundations - 410 m2 @ £95Ìý36.64Ìý
Semi-basement car park of insitu concrete frame and retaining walls complete with drainage and surfacing - 410 m2 @ £205Ìý68.04Ìý
External wallsÌýÌýÌý
Cavity wall: two-skin blockwork, insulated cavity, Western red cedar weather boarding - 160 m2 @ £78Ìý0.45Ìý
Windows and external doorsÌýÌýÌý
Softwood windows and screens instead of PVCu - 215 m2 @ £280Ìý9.97Ìý
Hardwood windows and screens instead of PVCu - 215 m2 @ £340Ìý21.94Ìý
Internal walls and partitionsÌýÌýÌý
Metal stud partitions instead of timber - 260 m2 @ £35Ìý1.21Ìý
Floor finishesÌýÌýÌý
Quarry tiles to kitchen instead of ceramic - 100 m2 @ £27Ìý-2.13Ìý
Space heating and ventilationÌýÌýÌý
Extra over for condensing fan-assisted gas boiler - 12 @ £300Ìý3.51Ìý
Extra over from room thermostats - item @ £2000Ìý1.95Ìý
Communications installationsÌýÌýÌý
Voice-only entryphone sytsem - item @ £2500Ìý-4.38Ìý
Regional variations
All costs in this model are based on a scheme in outer London and should be adjusted by the following location factors for schemes in other areas:
Inner London1.06
South-east0.97
South-west0.92
East Anglia0.91
East Midlands0.88
West Midlands0.89
Yorkshire and Humberside0.9
North-west0.93
North0.91
Scotland0.92
Wales0.88
Northern Ireland0.77