RAAC in Public Buildings: What estate managers and building owners need to know in 2026
The headlines have eased. The problem has not. Reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) was widely used across the UK between the 1950s and 1990s, predominantly in public buildings such as schools, hospitals, and civic facilities. Concerns about its structural integrity were first raised by the Building Research Establishment in 1996, and in 2022 the Office […]
Building when it matters most
With Ofgem confirming that energy bills will rise by £221 a year for a typical household, families are facing renewed financial pressure. At the same time, government advisers have warned that it is “shameful” that more public money goes on benefits for young people than on creating jobs for them. The pressure on the construction […]
Cladding funding expansion: What it means for buildings under 11 metres
The government has confirmed that dangerous cladding removal funding will be extended to residential buildings under 11 metres in height, a change that could affect thousands of blocks previously left outside the scope of existing schemes. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ What’s changing Until now, the Cladding Safety Scheme only covered buildings at or above 18 metres. Buildings under […]
Rural Housing Week: Potter Raper supports Section 106 delivery at Braiswick, Colchester
This Rural Housing Week, Hastoe Homes took a delegation of development partners and colleagues from Colchester City Council to visit eight new Section 106 homes under construction at Braiswick Road, Colchester. Potter Raper is acting as Employer’s Agent on the scheme, working alongside contractor Marfleet & Bradshaw as the development approaches completion. ___________________________________________________ A milestone […]
Potter Raper named as partner in Cambridge Science Centre’s Building a Better Future programme
We are proud to be a named partner in Building a Better Future, Cambridge Science Centre’s 12-month, community-focused STEM programme centred on the Built Environment sector. The programme launched in March 2026 and runs through to Spring 2027, with the aim of delivering over 12,000 hands-on engagements with young people across Cambridge and the surrounding […]
Potter Raper contributes to major Housing Forum report on procurement costs
We are proud to have contributed to a new report from The Housing Forum – ‘Procurement: the price we pay, and the path to improvement’ – published this month. Our director David Spiller was part of the working group that shaped the findings, bringing our experience of public sector housing procurement directly to the table. […]
The “Lexden Lady” – a remarkable Roman discovery at Lexden Gardens
A decorated lead coffin, exotic grave goods and a story 1,700 years in the making. The Lexden Gardens site has made national headlines after the BBC reported on the discovery of a late-Roman burial during archaeological works at the former Essex County Hospital in Colchester. The woman, believed to be of high status and in […]
Understanding the Fire Safety Regulations 2025 – Video
The Fire Safety (Residential Evacuation Plans) (England) Regulations 2025 are now in force, introducing significant new duties for high rise and higher risk residential buildings. We’ve created a FREE, easy to follow video that clearly explains your responsibilities under the new regulations, covering everything from PCFRAs and PEEPs to building wide evacuation planning and the […]
New Fire Safety Regulations coming into force on 6 April 2026
The Fire Safety (Residential Evacuation Plans) (England) Regulations 2025 will come into force on 6 April 2026, introducing mandatory fire safety requirements for many residential buildings across England. As the implementation date approaches, the Responsible Person (RP), typically building owners, managing agents, and Resident Management Companies, must ensure they are prepared to meet their new […]
Future Homes Standard: A landmark shift for UK Housing and how Potter Raper can help
The Government has now confirmed the final details of the Future Homes Standard, marking one of the most significant regulatory changes in the housing sector for over a decade. From March 2027, all new homes will be required to meet far higher energy performance standards, with a 12 month transition period leading to full enforcement […]