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House improvement 'back in fashion'

Wednesday, 24 March 2010 12:00 AM

Home improvement has come "back into vogue" due to a dearth in activity in the housing market, it has been suggested.

John Drennan, director at builders merchant Buildbase, also pointed out that enquiries for landscaping and exterior renovation have risen in recent times as well.

Another trend he noted was the increase in demand for plant hire as "large contractors are thinking: why spend capital to buy plant machinery? And they are actually hiring it?"

He agreed that sustainability is important at the current time and everyone is very interested in it.

Mr Drennan pointed to rainwater harvesting and using solar power as ways of reducing a carbon footprint.

His comments came after the Conservative Party announced details of its Rebuilding Security proposal to offer households up to £6,500 worth of energy-efficiency improvements.

Earlier this month, the British Property Federation became the 22nd member of a coalition calling for VAT to be reduced on housing improvements.

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