Press Releases

I write oodles of press releases on any subject, from the number of new houses being built to the hottest wedding dress styles for 2017.

The majority of press releases I write receive coverage in national, regional and industry press. They have also led to interviews with BBC News, BBC Look North and Channel 4 News. 

It's all about a snappy hook, knowing your audience and understanding the media.

 

Below is a teeny weeny sample of my press release coverage.

If you are looking for a professional copywriter to create a press release with impact for your business, please let me know at melissa@melissablamey.com

Corrie is streets ahead when it comes to favourites

 

Brookside style housing is out and Coronation street is in, as NHBC’s latest statistics show that terraced homes are being favoured over semi-detached and detached homes.

According to NHBC, 18 per cent of new homes started in Great Britain during quarter three this year were terraced. 

This figure eclipses the number of semi-detached houses (14 per cent) that were started and for the first time equals the percentage of detached homes (18 per cent) that were built.

Areas in the north have seen the biggest increase in the proportion of terraced houses started by builders and developers in recent years.  For example, in the North East region eight per cent of new homes started in 2000 were terraced, where as during the past eight years this figure has more than doubled to 19 per cent.

Imtiaz Farookhi, NHBC’s chief executive says, “This is positive news for home buyers  hoping to enter the market or move up the property ladder, as terraced housing creates a pool of potentially affordable family friendly new homes.”

House building at record low

Latest new house building statistics show that applications to start new homes in the private sector in August fell to the lowest since their accessible records began. 

NHBC's latest figures show that they received 3,720 applications to start new homes in the private sector in August, 76 per cent lower than the same month a year ago (15,661).

Statistics for the three-month period from June to August also continued to reflect the tough housing market conditions. NHBC statistics show that were 25,097 applications to start new homes in the UK in those three months - a 51 per cent decrease on the same three-month period a year ago (51,730). Of that total, 14,665 related to private sector activity (i.e. excluding housing associations), showing a 65 per cent decrease on the same three month period in 2007 (42,071). 

Housing association figures for the three months to the end of August revealed an increase in applications to start social housing properties, with starts totalling 10,432 - an increase of eight per cent on the same period a year ago (9,659).

Imtiaz Farookhi, NHBC Chief Executive, says: "Our calendar year to date figures show there has been a 48 per cent reduction in the number applications to start new homes by the private sector. However, the social housing sector is currently showing more resilience to the downturn, with starts for the first eight months of this year totalling 24,825, six per cent lower than the same period last year." 

NHBC statistics show new build completions totalled 41,118 in the three months to the end of August this year - 16 per cent lower on the same period last year when 48,861 new homes were completed.

Additional figures for the three months from June to August 2008 show that the average number of daily sales of new homes in the UK was 458, a decrease of 21 per cent on the same period a year ago (579).

Winter Home Health Check

I have written a huge variety of new home maintenance advice articles for regional and consumer newspapers and magazines. 

For example, this 'Winter Home Health Check' article featured in New Homes Northern Ireland magazine, among others.