January has a way of sharpening our focus. A well-earned break over the festive period gives the whole built environment sector a chance to take stock, as the rush of year-end deadlines eases and programmes for the months ahead come under review. For specifiers, that moment of reflection often means balancing ambition with realism, as project viability, changing regulations and product availability continue to influence decisions long before work starts on site.
Housing, of course, remains central to that discussion. The market is still subdued and the Government’s target of delivering 1.5 million new homes has yet to be realised, although the very latest figures released from last year suggest that we might finally be seeing a slight uptick. Despite this, the sector remains challenging. Delivery continues to be shaped by cost pressures, planning delays and widespread ongoing skills shortages. As a result, specifiers are placing greater emphasis on solutions that support speed of build, durability and long-term performance, without compromising quality, safety or compliance. Confidence in supply chains and proven product performance are also climbing the priority list as specifiers choose which companies and products they want to work with.
Sustainability and renewables are now firmly part of the mainstream. Driven by regulation, client expectations and whole-life carbon assessments, low-impact design and energy performance are embedded in specification decisions across all sectors. The challenge lies in turning these ambitions into practical outcomes that perform on site and support the longevity of buildings.
That focus on practicality runs throughout this issue. From roofing and cladding systems that deliver resilience and weather performance, to heating and drainage solutions designed for efficiency, reliability and straightforward maintenance, the emphasis remains on products that thrive in real-world conditions.
Proctor Air is an air and vapour permeable, highly water resistant roofing underlay for pitched roof applications. It allows even very complex pitched roofs to breathe, without the need for air gaps or secondary venting. The meltblown core allows natural air movement to ‘supercharge’ the passage of moisture vapour from the roofspace, making the formation of condensation in the roofspace virtually impossible. See page 12 for more information.