The Budget issued last December by the outgoing Government hopefully has presented a cyclical low in the construction industry and the introduction of a 1% Stamp duty will have the desired effect on the housing market in 2011. I expect that the reduction will encourage house purchase and upgrading as all properties will be subject to a property tax soon. The Boom time approach to buying property is over and Houses will no longer be seen as a good investment for return of profit, but will be seen as a Home purchase. This change in mind set will mean people will be more likely to invest in their own property to expand or upgrade than move.
It is my hope that any new government arrives in power with a vision to encourage the domestic market and banking system to kick start a growth within the domestic frame work. This will secure existing jobs and provide for new jobs in our country rather than exporting not only products but people. One way that could be seen as an incentive would be to reduce the VAT for private dwelling works from 13.5% to 5%. This reduction could be under application via PPS number. A saving of 8.5% on Building / improvement works would be significant and could be seen as a grant toward home improvements, environmental upgrade of insulation levels etc. the present grant system is too low key to make that difference. This incentive would then increase the home fittings retail market by encouraging spending in a needed sector of the domestic market place.
Behind all of this rhetoric however is a banking system which if not fixed soon will be the failure of this country. The new finance Bill will start a restructure of the system which we all know will take time. The longer it takes the worst it will be for the Home market. As a nation I believe we are resilient, and hard working enough to come through the current crisis. We have the intellect to come out of recession, but even the best ideas and innovative minds need finance and investment to produce any meaningful results. lets hope things can begin this year to recover and show some return.

Project Design Architects was set up in June last year to answer some of the issues which I was facing in a larger practice with heavy overheads. How to provide a Client with the experience they required, the professionalism the project needed and a practical approach to Architecture which produced a result which was driven by Client needs and budget and not by any outside desires for expensive design awards at the determent of their needs. To provide big practice service at small practice costs due to low overheads has enabled this vision to be realised. To this end I have been successful to date and have serval commissions in hand. I expect 2011 to provide exciting challanges for everyopne involved Construction and hope our leaders do what they need to, sooner rather than later for this country to live up to its own potential.