Pro Installer May 2015 - Issue 26 | Page 54

planning authorities for new homes is higher. “Combined with equity and income, these threeMAY 2015 PRO INSTALLER the most drivers for home improvement are 54 logical reasons from our analysis as to why the majority of Southern England is outperforming PRO BUSINESS the North for home improvement.” National Home Improvement figures increasing Home improvement applications for every 100 households www.proinstaller.co.uk Region/Country 2012 2013 2014 Growth (%)* London London continued its dominance with the biggest home improvement growth in 2014, increasing by 27% and with the top three UK local authorities for the number of home improvement planning applications received. All regions saw an increase in planning applications last year, but Northern regions continued to lag behind Southern England with the North East, North West and Scotland all three times below the average in London. The latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) family spending survey, suggests that UK household’s spent approximately £920 in 2013 on housing alterations and improvements, but this varied throughout the country. 2.24 2.38 2.65 15 EE 2.01 2.06 2.24 10 SW 1.91 1.86 1.95 4 EM 1.28 1.31 1.42 10 Yorkshire & Humber YH 1.24 1.28 1.34 6 West Midlands AND SE East Midlands WM 1.21 1.21 1.22 1 NW 1.07 1.10 1.17 7 Scotland SC 1.13 1.14 1.15 1 Wales WA 1.01 1.01 1.10 9 North East NE 1.03 1.04 1.09 5 England ENG 1.72 1.81 1.99 13 Great Britain GB 1.63 1.71 1.87 12 Notes: * 2014 compared with average of 2012 and 2013 the exception of London, the rate of planning applications for home improvements are greater in boroughs where refusal rates from planning authorities for new homes is higher. www.prindustrial.co.uk 27 South West ‘UK household’s spent approximately £920 in 2013 on housing alterations and improvements’ Total spend across the UK ranged from £500 in the North East and Yorkshire & Humber, to £1,600 in the South West and just a £1000 in London. These figures can be attributed to homeowner- 3.55 East of England ship being far lower in London than in the South West and equity-rich retirees who move out of London and spend significantly on home improvement. Michael Dall, Lead Economist at Barbour ABI, stated: “With 3.01 North West Home improvement applications increased by 12% on average across the UK in 2014, according to the recently released Barbour ABI home-improver analysis. 2.56 South East National home improvement figures increased in 2014 with Southern England still dominating. LN “Combined with equity and income, these three drivers for home improvement are the most logical reasons from our analysis as to why the majority of Southern England is outperforming the North for home improvement.” Barbour ABI is a leading pro- vider of construction intelligence services. With a team of in-house research specialists and a dedicated lead economist, it provides commercially relevant insight and unique analysis of trends and developments within the building and construction industry. PRESENT TOOLSHOW2015 25th & 26th July www.toolshow2015.co.uk THE T EAPES E CH RIC UK P American Express Community Stadium, Brighton, BN1 9BL • FREE ENTRY • FREE PARKING • FREE DEMONSTRATIONS www.toolshow2015.co.uk Get online to register for updates