The new build sector faces continuing headwinds despite Government targets to deliver new homes.
Speaking at the Commercial Window Group partner event held at the Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF)‘s London offices, only days ahead of the 2025 Autumn Budget, Anja Sabine Heimann, economist at HSBC, said that the UK economy faced economic headwinds, with GDP growth forecast to slow from 1.5% this year, to 1.2% in 2026, before edging up to 1.3% in 2027.
“. . . Private sector activity in the UK is pretty weak at the moment” she said “and the last couple of monthly GDP reports suggest that the momentum that we had in the first half of the year has slowed down.…as sentiment soured ahead of the Autumn Budget.”
More positively she said that HSBC expected inflation to fall below 3% next April and to 2% in early 2027 – in line with the Bank of England’s target. In the meantime, she said public finances remained under pressure with growth driven as far as it existed by public spending which in real terms was trending upwards.
This was a theme developed in a presentation from John Warren, Director, Lasco Marketing who said that lower levels of consumer confidence, had slowed house price inflation, with a knock-on effect on the new build housing sector.
He quoted figures from Savills and the Land Planning and Development Federation (LPDF) which said 0.3 new build homes per outlet (a standard term) were being sold – the lowest level since the 2008 global financial crisis and well below the 0.7 long term norm.
With continuing obstacles and complexities in the planning process, he warned private residential starts had dropped off a cliff-edge and were according to analysts Glennigan 9% down-year-on-year, making the odds of the Government hitting its 1.5million new home 2029 housebuilding target “highly unlikely”.
The Epwin Group’s Philip Parry, followed on with an assessment of the Future Homes Standard, including the new window energy model which he said would, going forward mean that the energy performance of “every window, in every home”, would need to be calculated.
He said this was to address a disconnect between modelled and actual window performance which he said could vary significantly depending on the modelled window and the actual ancillary items used in installation, for example frame extensions and couplers.
Phil added that was likely to increase demand for triple-glazed products, especially in smaller windows to hit standards of window performance.
Following updates on marketing and sales tools, the Commercial Window Group’s Stanley Richardson , gave an overview of lead generation, including £67m of tendered work in its first year in business.
Attendees were then given a preview of its forthcoming Fire Stop Door range by Commercial Window Group manufacturing arm, Emplas Window Systems by Bruce Rowell and hardware and fire door systems supplier, Andy Townend from Winkhaus UK Ltd.
Bruce reported that in testing the range had resisted fire and smoke for 58 minutes, far exceeding the 30-minute fire door standard, achieving a triple Q Mark certification for fire, smoke and security.
“The Fire Stop Door Range is really a safety product”, Bruce said. “We’ve invested so much time in testing and quality control because this is a product which saves lives. If there’s a fire on the other side of the door, you know that you and your family have time to get out safely.
“As a team we’ve discussed it a lot, we feel a very real sense of responsibility in what we’re doing, which is why the doors we’re supplying are so rigorously tested and we have so many quality controls in place.”
He pointed out that this included the use of specially developed cameras designed to scan all hardware components for intumescent fire and smoke seals, so that each component going into every door was thoroughly checked before and after fabrication.
Andy added that the Fire Stop Door range was also future proofed and compliant with the BS EN 1634 standard, which will replace BS476 in UK building regulations in September 2029.
They were followed by Epwin Group’s Ray McGrady and for a second time presenting, Phil Parry feeding back on product development highlighted as part of the Commercial Window Group Technical Forum.
Offering the highest quality, UK-made products from a secure, reliable, supply chain, the Commercial Window Group places strong emphasis on partnership and empowering site teams to achieve the best possible results.
Offering assistance at every stage of the project delivery process, from specification advice to comprehensive aftercare, its product ranges are manufactured exclusively by Emplas, one of the UK’s largest window and door manufacturers.
The event was brought to a close by Jody Vincent , Director, Commercial Window Group, who said that despite economic challenges, the Commercial Window Group, was continuing to move forward, working with all major housebuilders.
He said: “Despite tougher trading conditions, the model of national supply and regional delivery is clearly working and delivering real value to housebuilders.
“Looking forward to next year, we think things are going to ease a little, which should generate demand and support house builders deliver more new homes.
“The Commercial Window Group is here to support them in doing that.”
For more information on the Commercial Window Group’s next generation high performance window and door ranges and our regional delivery partners call 01234 567890 or email [email protected]
