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KITCHENS, BATHROOMS & DISABILITY NEEDS As the UK begins its journey towards a post-pandemic world, the shift over the past two years has left a surging demand for social housing, placing growing pressure on local authorities. The Government has outlined ambitious targets for new-build homes within the next 30 years and Steph Harris, Product Manager for Showerwall, shares what to consider when specifying bathroom wall panelling.
Helping to build better
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t has been well documented that the UK has been failing to keep up with the demand for housing requirements in the UK. Recent research has found that there has been an increased demand for single occupancy homes, highlighting that in the wake of the pandemic it’s not just family units who are seeking housing. The properties required, often bedsits or onebedroom properties, are in short supply and there have been renewed calls for a social housebuilding programme. If new-build targets are met the emphasis on affordability for tenants is crucial, meaning that throughout the build process speed and budgets remain paramount. In the bathroom, property managers are looking for solutions that are easy to fit, but also easy to maintain, requiring fewer call outs to a property. Shower enclosures are now replacing baths and inclusive wetrooms and level access showers are becoming
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increasingly popular not just because of their accessibility benefits but to make the best use of the space available.
Growing benefits of wall panelling Bathroom wall panelling has become a popular solution in modern homes due to the rising awareness of its many benefits, making it the fastest growing market in home interiors with the sector seeing an estimated 25% growth year on year for the past six years. Panelling has started to take away share from the tile market due to its ease of installation and hygiene benefits. The growth in this area has also been driven by the rise in popularity of shower enclosures. Housing providers can capitalise on the benefits of this growing trend. Showerwall’s panels have the capability to fit over existing tiles, speeding up the installation process and can be fitted in just one day. Fitted around a shower area, the panels
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can provide a completely watertight solution reducing downtime and the time specialist trades spend on site. Wall panelling provides the ideal solution for social housing due to its ease of installation and low-maintenance properties. Showerwall’s comprehensive Laminate and Compact collections for example provide large expanses of decorative surfaces in a range of stylish decors. The panels are quick and easy to install from floor to ceiling and also easy to clean and maintain, which means there are no hiding places for mould, dirt and germs.
One solution to fit all Multi-generational homes are increasing in popularity with families pooling resources together due to the cost of living increases. Families in the UK are living together for longer as the younger generation is struggling to get on to the property ladder, and the price of care for
