Serving as the platform for the delivery of important services throughout the UK and Ireland, Sara Venning, Chief Executive of NI Water has rightly urged the wider sector to stress the importance of funding for infrastructure and developments across Northern Ireland; this, in effect allowing Northern Ireland Water to, firstly,
With reference to Savills’ latest Regional Office Market Review & Outlook report, there are growing concerns as to how competition for Grade A space is grossly outstripping the supply presently, and to be made available. With less than one year’s supply of such space confirmed for the market over the
Nodding to the incredible role of The Green Register in improving the awareness and understanding of green methods of construction, Bristol’s Lord Mayor welcomed guests (many of which representing the best and brightest within the sustainable building world) to explore the Bristol Aquarium, an underwater world with complementary tea and
“Property may be about product, but it’s also about people,” argues Adrian Sayer, Managing Director of Metrus, a company dedicated to defining both the meaning, and importance of property management in the present day. Oft described as a “modern classic”, Metrus is one of London’s leading property management specialists, offering
A suburban Edinburgh home has enjoyed a makeover of epic proportions as David Blaikie Architects complete an eye-catching angular extension that doubles the size of the existing property with the provision of brand new amenity space including a kitchen and dining area. There’s even room for a new first floor
The first smartphone apps from energy-saving lighting control specialist CP Electronics have been announced in what the company says forms its response to the every-growing demand for convenience and simplicity of use. A leader within the sector for both design and manufacture, director of new product development at CP Merlin
Who knew radiators would get so futuristic? But, as Electrorad’s range of Digi-Line electric radiators proves, heating has entered the 21st century in a big way. The wireless programmer has unveiled a new control hub with wi-fi gateway called Touch E3, an app which allows users to wirelessly control the heating
Serving as the platform for the delivery of important services throughout the UK and Ireland, Sara Venning, Chief Executive of NI Water has rightly urged the wider sector to stress the importance of funding for infrastructure and developments across Northern Ireland; this, in effect allowing Northern Ireland Water to, firstly, sustain the level of service it is presently delivering and, secondly, improve that service for the betterment of residents in Northern Ireland. “You can’t have the nice things if you don’t have the infrastructure, and we need to fund the infrastructure,” explains Sara Venning. Highlighting the importance of funding for the future development of the organisation, Sara Venning highlighted the difficulties NI Water has been facing in signing up to a medium-term plan which is, in effect, an essential requirement for a regulated utility. As she explains, NI Water has been able to agree on, “The first year of our programme of work as a one-year programme of work,” and the company will look to develop a plan for the following year also. Sara Venning, however, highlights the fact that this still represents an, “Inherently inefficient way of running a capital intensive business such as ours.” And though NI water does actually intend to push a strategy which will help to deliver lower bills, improve efficiencies and drive customers service improvements through the PC 15 period, the organisation’s ability to pursue such a strategy will depend upon proper funding. Insisting that NI water is “up for the challenge”, it is evident that the organisation is ready and raring to go, yet, without proper recognition and funding support, NI Water’s ability to deliver the targeted benefits to the customer are somewhat hampered. In raising the profile of the utilities sector and the importance of proper funding, it is, as noted by Sara Venning, a task not solely for one person, or organisation, and instead will require a collaborative approach from the wider industry. Displaying how other like-minded individuals can stress the importance of funding, Sara Venning also recently appeared before the Regional Development Committee, stating that the organisation’s constitution as a government-owned company does actually restrict its potential ability to deliver the best service and that, with less constraints, it could achieve so much more.
With reference to Savills’ latest Regional Office Market Review & Outlook report, there are growing concerns as to how competition for Grade A space is grossly outstripping the supply presently, and to be made available. With less than one year’s supply of such space confirmed for the market over the course of the next three years, rents, specifically in regions such as Cardiff and Bristol is set to spike considerably. Presently, the average take-up across UK regions sits at approximately 4.6m, with availability down by circa 18% from the levels reported back in 2007. Speculative figures on developments have also risen by approximately 128% from last year, coming in at approximately 3.5m sq ft, yet, with 28% of that pre-let, it is expected that it will be mostly absorbed over the course of 2016. This lack of space has proven to be one of the key, driving factors for rising demands amongst value-add office opportunities to help cover the excess demand as opposed to supply – in fact, this January represented the 41st month of considerable refurbishment activity in a row. As a clear consequence of the demand and supply gap, so too has the gap between new-build rents and refurbished rents, with a deprecating differentiation between the average figures. This is a clear result of increasing rents, with Bristol potentially seeing the highest growth in rents of 12% by the end of 2016, as reported by Savills. Attributing the rise in UK-wide job creation as a driving factor behind the rising demand for quality space in prime locations, Claire Bailey, Associate Director of Savills Commercial Research has highlighted the potential for a pinch on new-builds between 2016 and 2017 due to the sheer quantity of developments already being pre-let and the rising demands for those in prime locations. As explained by Richard Merryweather, Joint Head of UK Investment at Savills, it is expected that occupier demands for space is more than likely to persist onto and into the future, where investors are then likely to continue looking into securing secondary assets in prime positions. This is effectively to take advantage of opportunities that may exist and to help fill the gap left open by limited available new developments; however, it may also develop a gap in the supply pipeline itself.
Nodding to the incredible role of The Green Register in improving the awareness and understanding of green methods of construction, Bristol’s Lord Mayor welcomed guests (many of which representing the best and brightest within the sustainable building world) to explore the Bristol Aquarium, an underwater world with complementary tea and crumpets – a preamble to heading upstairs to the venue’s rooftop training room. As the not-for-profit membership organisation championing sustainable construction practices within the wider industry, The Green Register offers expert and unbiased training across the board so as best to, firstly support the construction sector, but also promote best practice in areas of sustainability and green building processes. Presently, the register is celebrating its 15th year representing and supporting sustainability within the industry, offering key training, membership and networking avenues to the wider sector. At the event, there were a series of short sessions with technical advice to highlight key areas of importance such as heat loss, air tightness and moisture control. Additionally, a number of longstanding members of The Green Register also gave a series of talks, walking guests through their experience of membership with the register and how it has benefited them. Commenting on the day, Lucy Pedler, Director of The Green Register enthused: “We were absolutely delighted to celebrate with so many of our members and guests at the Bristol celebration – it makes all our hard work worthwhile and we had some terrific feedback about our plans for the next 15 years.”
“Property may be about product, but it’s also about people,” argues Adrian Sayer, Managing Director of Metrus, a company dedicated to defining both the meaning, and importance of property management in the present day. Oft described as a “modern classic”, Metrus is one of London’s leading property management specialists, offering a synthesis of traditional values within a modern framework, and thus allowing the company to offer a cutting edge service on a personable, interactive and thoroughly transparent level. Established some 35 years ago, Metrus toes the line of being large enough to offer a comprehensive property management service, yet still of a size where a friendly, more personal approach can be offered. Able to fill the gap in the market left by the departure of a number of middle-sized firms, Metrus leads the way in offering this balanced, flexible and yet incredibly professional service required by firms seeking something of a more personal touch yet unavailable from some of the larger, international agency firms. Metrus offers a complete commercial and residential property management service, with about 90% of its current portfolio made up of commercial property. Yet, increasingly the company has been approached by residential clients seeking a like-service and, as such the company has recently laid the foundations for a highly specialised residential department to target this demand. Across these two arenas Metrus offers a vast number of complementary services including: agency, retail, office, lease advisory and asset management service for specific refurbishment and development projects; effectively, the whole package. Originally created from the internal perspective of managing its own property interests, Metrus was born out of the perspective of the client itself and, as such has a profound understanding of both where property management can go right, or wrong. Over the years, this understanding has since been built upon through the acquisition of further, external clients and the diversification of the business out into offering a fully comprehensive service portfolio for clients; yet, to this day, it is this understanding from the customer perspective of what a property manager can offer which defines the organisation’s service to this very day. Building further upon Metrus’ understanding of customer needs is also the way in which the company both sources, nurtures and supports its property management teams. Through the predominant recruitment of individuals possessing extensive experience within the property arena, combined with the company’s ability to retain such individuals, Metrus maintains a position in the industry unlike any other: a position whereupon clients can develop a mutual understanding, a relationship and a cooperative partnership with the team itself. As an industry plagued by low staff retention and fluid career movement, the ability to develop a working relationship with the property manager is one unique to Metrus’ clients. Bringing with it a whole host of benefits such as a pre-emptive, not solely responsive, property management service which can plan for the future needs, expectations and requirements onto and into the future. This enables for a far more collaborative property strategy which goes above and beyond the bare management of an asset, and instead pursues a strategy for maximising the efficiencies and value of the asset itself. As Sayer attests: “Due to the majority of us either having worked in property companies or owning property directly, we understand what clients are seeking and we can fulfil their expectations as well as grow with those clients organically as the business grows forward. It’s absolutely essential and, mostly on the surveying front, many of our clients have also been with us for many many years and they like coming back to the same people who have an increasingly intimate understanding of their properties and needs. “Similarly, on the accounting side it’s a crucial part of property management which always needs to be done well, but often isn’t with other companies. The understanding of what the client needs in terms of day-to-day reporting, wider bank reporting and providing flexibility to the client is also key to how we try to differentiate ourselves from the masses.” Of no surprise, given the company’s approach to working alongside clients, is that much of Metrus’ work comes from recommendation and repeat business with existing clients, going so far as to step on the toes of some of the big agents in offering a service which can offer a solution to many of the challenges its clients have found in past experiences with other property agents. The company’s reputation has also gone so far as to attract quality staff, and quality product to further enhance its own ability to deliver an increasingly competitive service. Retaining such clients, alongside the retention of these key staff members also adds to the quality of the service which Metrus can offer yet further, as Sayer illustrates: “You do need to know your clients, their backgrounds and the types of properties that they’re dealing with. For example, we look after Burlington Arcade and we have a particularly experienced manager who is able to understand a lot of the interaction of the individual operators who, many of them, have been situated in there for many decades now. They need that personal touch, the caring approach but they also need the understanding of the commercial perspective that the client is trying to achieve – it’s trying to achieve that balance between personal approach and also the business side as well. Finding that balance is really important and is one of the key considerations when we’re placing people on individual jobs.” And further adding to the proud reputation of the company is the way in which Metrus increasingly promotes corporate responsibility values across the property portfolio. Having achieved 14001 most recently, Metrus is keen to display its own commitment to sustainability and environmental best practice, whilst simultaneously pushing that process out to clients and encouraging engagement in the process at every possible level: “While, as the landlord, you’re in control of certain resources in the operation of a building, the occupiers are utilising as much, if not
A suburban Edinburgh home has enjoyed a makeover of epic proportions as David Blaikie Architects complete an eye-catching angular extension that doubles the size of the existing property with the provision of brand new amenity space including a kitchen and dining area. There’s even room for a new first floor bedroom. The double height extension at the home in the Blackhall area of the city has been designed to maximise available sunlight with work seeing a signature glazed addition built out into and cantilevering over the garden at a length of 50m. Light is captured through the steep slope of the ceiling plane which leads up to redeveloped attic space. The project had to be finished with reclaimed slate because of budgetary constraints with thermally modified timber cladding used to develop the walls and roof. Glazing was further maximised with minimal use of steel frame. David Blaikie Architects said in a statement that to satisfy planning overshadowing policies it had to dynamically model large volumes of the project. The extension, which is visible from the street, enjoys reflex angles to give order to the plan form while key views are addressed from the entrance door. This extends through the living space and down to the extensive 50m rear garden space, providing a good sun angle too. The frameless glass soars 5.1m in height with glazed corner cantilevers helping the home really stand out when passers-by see it from the street. The design also took into consideration shielding the family from the elements while providing privacy from neighbours with the timber clad north wall and slate covered roof accomplishing this. The garden is enhanced, as is its views, with the expanse of glass providing a welcoming stage for the sun and the picturesque surroundings.
The first smartphone apps from energy-saving lighting control specialist CP Electronics have been announced in what the company says forms its response to the every-growing demand for convenience and simplicity of use. A leader within the sector for both design and manufacture, director of new product development at CP Merlin Milner says the new apps will significantly help customers to take “complete ownership” of their lighting requirements including enabling users to make energy, cost and time savings. CP Electronics has built a reputation helping companies reduce their operating costs and carbon footprint through cost effective lighting systems as well as applying its knowledge and skill to achieve similar results in heating and ventilation control management. We have an app for almost all things nowadays but CP Electronics’ innovative control of lighting will almost certainly be ahead of most competitors given the company’s track record. Suitable for infrared-enabled mobile devices, users will be able to control their systems remotely with the development of UHS7 and UHS5 replicating the functionality of hardware already in circulation. To put it simply, users will be able to update their Facebook status while turning the lights up, down, on, off. In line with CP’s mission to deliver sustainable solutions that include energy-efficient lighting controls to the market, the intuitively-designed app is available through the Google Play Store and provides all the information the user needs to integrate the system with other CP Electronics infrared devices and basic programming set-up. The company’s latest innovation allows for the possibility of significant cost and energy savings while giving the user greater management over their lighting usage.
Who knew radiators would get so futuristic? But, as Electrorad’s range of Digi-Line electric radiators proves, heating has entered the 21st century in a big way. The wireless programmer has unveiled a new control hub with wi-fi gateway called Touch E3, an app which allows users to wirelessly control the heating of their home. This allows complete management of the home heating experience and provides users the ability to activate radiators where ever they be in the world. Just got off a plane and are two hours from home? Get the house warmed up before you get there with Touch E3! “We are excited to take this revered range to a whole new level,” said managing director, Richard Brown, revealing that the Digi-Line range was named one of the best products of 2015 by Professional Electrician. “Digi-Line is renowned for providing an efficient and easy-to-control alternative to traditional gas central heating, and this latest technology will now facilitate the ultimate in flexibility and energy management, enabling homeowners to match their heating to their lifestyle.” Features include constant and auto programming modes, as well as providing better management of frost protection, holiday modes and other elements of the heating system. The easy-to-use software is enhanced by the use of smartphones, tablets or PCs having access to the entire management of heating controls. Users can even set rooms to different temperatures depending on their needs. In addition, data capture will allow users to cut costs, increase energy efficiency and save their own precious time through the CleverTouch App. The device will even tell users the exact temperature in every room with additional information adding to the flexibility of the functionality of the device such as an indication of the thermostat set point and the current heating mode. Digi-Line radiators have proven popular with plumbers in recent years when seeking heating systems for domestic extensions such as conservatories because they can be fitted without having to run from the existing boiler. That’s because the radiators, which are available in many different types and sizes like their gas-powered cousins, are filled with thermal fluid which is heated by energy-efficient elements evenly across the surface.
