Secretary of State for Energy & Climate Change makes case for staying in the European Union Published: 31 March, 2016 The Energy & Climate Change Secretary Amber Rudd has set out why she thinks the UK is stronger, safer and better off staying in the European Union. Ms Rudd spoke
The building design and construction industries in this country will need to put up with the evidence that more people than ever before are committing to buying a property for the first time in 2017. The Connells Survey and Valuation data has shown that despite the difficulties faced by many
With spring now upon us, summer’s long evenings and outdoor parties are a much smaller leap away. And while it may be tortuous to think about them now, Grosvenor has supplied a practical business reason to hold these thoughts a little longer The property company of the 26-year-old Duke of
The first phase of the nine-acre mixed-use scheme at the junction of Coal and Victoria Roads in Seacroft, east Leeds, has been completed (Monday 27th February). The new single-storey 105,000 sq ft manufacturing and distribution facility has been let to ECCO Safety Group Europe. Acting on behalf of Commercial Development Projects (CDP), Carter
Durham-headquartered Banks Renewables has secured a £210m investment package to support the construction of its next three onshore wind farm projects. The company, which is the renewable energy division of North East property and energy business The Banks Group, will build wind farms at Moor House near Darlington in County Durham and at
A Commercial Introduction To LED Lighting Systems Traditional lighting systems range from incandescent, low pressure and high pressure sodium lighting solutions to metal halide or mercury vapour lighting systems. All of these kinds of lighting are good and some more (cost effective than others depending on the specific requirements of
Buying a home is usually the largest investment of any family. The prices can be high, sometimes higher than than the home and property is truly worth. We spoke with from Richard from strawhomes.com, who are first time buying experts, gave us some invaluable advice. Richard told us that when
Secretary of State for Energy & Climate Change makes case for staying in the European Union Published: 31 March, 2016 The Energy & Climate Change Secretary Amber Rudd has set out why she thinks the UK is stronger, safer and better off staying in the European Union. Ms Rudd spoke about why staying in is ‘vital’ for our long-term energy security as well as our economic security. She referred to an independent report, commissioned by the National Grid, which stated that leaving the EU, and exiting the internal energy market, could cost consumers £500 million or more each year. “The UK’s membership of the European Union has helped keep our energy bills down. If we left Europe’s internal energy market, we’d get a massive electric shock because the UK energy costs are likely to rocket by at least half a billion pounds a year – the equivalent of British bills going up by around one and a half million pounds each and every day,” she said. Ms Rudd warned that the UK shouldn’t let its energy security be hijacked as a political pawn to bring Europe to its knees, and said that by working together in the EU each member state can stop this becoming a reality. She also made the case for staying in the EU being important for investment and jobs, highlighting how in 2014, direct investment in UK utility projects from elsewhere in the EU amounted to some £45 billion. “Being in the EU helps us attract billions and billions of pounds of investment in our energy system and supply chain. Taken together, this investment helps support 660,000 jobs in the UK’s energy sector. Does anybody really think all of that investment would continue if we left the EU, and with no extra costs?” said Ms Rudd. “Why would we want to cause worry and hardship to hundreds of thousands of families in the UK who rely on our energy industry for their livelihoods?” Ms Rudd went on to say that remaining in the EU is about our standing in the world and the impact we can have on global issues as an individual nation. “With Putin on the prowl and Daesh sharpening their swords, our unity and our shared values – of free speech, democracy and equality – are more important than ever,” she said. “Beyond these immediate dangers, there are longer term challenges that require us to work together to resolve. Take the recent climate change conference in Paris where 200 countries came together to sign the first global climate deal ever agreed. The global deal in Paris is in the UK’s interests, and frankly we wouldn’t have got it without being part of the EU. “I firmly believe that within our position in the EU we can influence the great geopolitical challenges of the day – to make the world a safe place for Britain.” Picture courtesy of Shutterstock/JMiks Source link
The building design and construction industries in this country will need to put up with the evidence that more people than ever before are committing to buying a property for the first time in 2017. The Connells Survey and Valuation data has shown that despite the difficulties faced by many people today and the fluctuations of the housing market, the fact of the matter is that more and more people are deciding to buy a home for the first time this year than they did in 2016. For example, it has been demonstrated that 34 per cent of the activity on the housing market is due to the bustling of first-time buyers, as compared to the previous year when it was only leveled at 25 per cent in 2016. Similarly, more have been shown to sell property this year: the figures indicate a 5 per cent increase in this compared to the previous year which was found to be at 21 per cent overall. What this indicates to someone like John Bagshaw of Connells Survey and Valuation is that more and more people are committing to buying up property for their private selves than in the previous year. Mister Bagshaw puts this down to greater job opportunities being offered to people that enable them to consider the private housing market, whilst another cause of this is claimed to be the fact that the rise in wages to 3 per cent overall is an incentive for making people want to buy property for the first time. In any case, this is clearly signaled to be a wake-up call to the building, design and construction industries to build more homes and develop on greater areas of land than ever before in order to cope with the increasing demands of first-time buyers. Indeed, many of these tend to be in the younger age range and are desirous of starting families in their new homes: greater amounts of bedrooms and investment therefore need to be considered.
With spring now upon us, summer’s long evenings and outdoor parties are a much smaller leap away. And while it may be tortuous to think about them now, Grosvenor has supplied a practical business reason to hold these thoughts a little longer The property company of the 26-year-old Duke of Westminster has announced plans to hold an open public call for ideas to transform central London’s historic Grosvenor Square later this year. The call for concepts is part of the multi-billion pound estate’s 20-year vision to transform the elite neighbourhoods of Mayfair and Belgravia into places that ‘appeal to the many, not just to the few’. Key ambitions include upgrading green spaces, public realm and internet connections across the 120ha precinct, and delivering ‘new, adaptable buildings of world-class design’. At its centre will be a revitalised Grosvenor Square, transformed into ‘a great garden square for Londoners’ fit for the 21st century. The Georgian square was one of the capital’s most fashionable residential addresses until the Second World War, when it became the headquarters of the US-led Allied invasion of German occupied Western Europe. Today the square features a statue of Franklin D Roosevelt and Eero Saarinen’s US Embassy building, due to be transformed into a hotel by David Chipperfield Architects following the facility’s relocation to Nine Elms later this year. For those keen to get their teeth into some meatier development in a pleasant seaside location, Bognor Regis’s ambitious new town-centre masterplan may be worth investigating. The preliminary concept, drawn up by Kay Elliott, envisages 28,500m² of development including an eye-catching winter garden and new housing on the Arun District Council-owned Regis Centre and nearby Hothamton car park. The council is looking to partner with developers that have their own architects on board. Read more at https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/competitions/comps-insider-summer-call-for-grosvenor-square-ideas/10017869.article?blocktitle=News-features&contentID=13634
The first phase of the nine-acre mixed-use scheme at the junction of Coal and Victoria Roads in Seacroft, east Leeds, has been completed (Monday 27th February). The new single-storey 105,000 sq ft manufacturing and distribution facility has been let to ECCO Safety Group Europe. Acting on behalf of Commercial Development Projects (CDP), Carter Towler negotiated the terms of the letting to Ecco, which is a global manufacturer of vehicle reversing alarms and emergency services lighting products. Chris Priestley, Carter Towler director, said: “This has been a fantastic project for us to work on. Not just from a letting point-of-view but for Carter Towler as a whole. “Our building consultancy team has been working closely with CDP’s construction design team, project managers and the contractors, Marshall Construction West Yorkshire, throughout the 12 month build period. “Ecco is gearing up its manufacturing and distribution capacity significantly and we have assisted with space planning, specifying and co-ordinating all parties involved to ensure the move from their existing premises to the new facility goes as smoothly as possible.“ Two further properties being built on the site are due to be completed in the summer. One will be a new headquarters for beauty company Sweet Squared, whilst the other a KFC franchise. Sweet Squared’s 20,000 sq ft property will incorporate offices, warehousing, distribution and training facilities. Carter Towler also negotiated the lettings agreements for these additional properties. Director Ian Greenwood concluded: “CDP has been very shrewd in its approach to this design and build scheme and have created a very attractive development. “The number and mix of businesses that have shown a serious interest has been very encouraging and we hope other developers follow their lead.“ Read more at https://bdaily.co.uk/industrials/02-03-2017/first-phase-of-work-completed-on-major-mixed-use-scheme-in-leeds/
Durham-headquartered Banks Renewables has secured a £210m investment package to support the construction of its next three onshore wind farm projects. The company, which is the renewable energy division of North East property and energy business The Banks Group, will build wind farms at Moor House near Darlington in County Durham and at the Middle Muir and Kype Muir schemes in South Lanarkshire, Scotland. Around 250 jobs will be created during construction which, when complete, will see Banks Renewables’ generation capacity from onshore wind rise from 74MW today to 224MW. The business has worked with lenders Macquarie Infrastructure Debt Investment Solutions (MIDIS), Santander, ING, National Australia Bank and Rabobank to secure the funding. The three wind farms were all successful in the UK government’s first competitive Contracts for Difference (CfD) programme for onshore and offshore projects in 2015, since when Banks Renewables has been working towards putting the commercial structures in place to take them forward. Manufacturer Senvion has been contracted to supply and install the turbines for all three projects, with Kype Muir, Middle Muir and Moor House each comprising 26, 15 and six turbines respectively. Richard Dunkley, managing director at Banks Renewables, said: “This investment package is a real expression of confidence in both Banks Renewables and the wider UK onshore wind sector, and it’s exciting to now be accelerating the process of taking these three wind farms forward. “The Kype Muir, Middle Muir and Moor House wind farms have all taken many years of challenging development to get to this stage, and being successful in the government’s first ever CfD auction against stiff competition was critical to the projects’ success. “Onshore wind in general and these projects in particular represent the best value for money to consumers as the government seeks to deliver on its climate change obligations. We believe onshore wind will continue to play a key role in delivering lowest cost carbon free energy for the UK.“ Read more at https://bdaily.co.uk/environment/02-03-2017/210m-investment-to-help-durham-energy-firm-create-3-onshore-wind-farms-and-250-jobs/
A Commercial Introduction To LED Lighting Systems Traditional lighting systems range from incandescent, low pressure and high pressure sodium lighting solutions to metal halide or mercury vapour lighting systems. All of these kinds of lighting are good and some more (cost effective than others depending on the specific requirements of the company) but at the end of the day they all (at the end of the day) are less efficient compared to the running costs of LED (Light Emitting Diode) technologies in the modern day scenario, especially in commercial applications. Why It Is Important to Look At LED Lighting Systems As The way Ahead Both the cost efficiency, effectiveness and implementation of LED systems is the key here in order to reduce both the energy footprint of the the company and at the same time saving the company (and shareholders money.) The energy footprint is one thing but the overall goal is to implement the best system providing the lighting solution required for the specific application you need. LED lighting systems are the best way ahead and they rapidly are replacing all other forms of the lighting systems previously used due to the facts detailed above. Modern Day Efficiency of Lighting From An LED Standpoint With companies all over the world racing ahead at a staggering pace with the improvements of all kinds of technologies some of the most rapidly advancing is the LED systems available today. The luminous output from these systems far out reach all of the other lighting possibilities for both cost effectiveness and “on site” applications today. While companies in China (for one example) are pushing the speed of production, performance, efficiency, and mass manufacturing capabilities currently available, the rest of the world is racing to keep up due to the mass demand for these systems especially in commercial application as detailed. My LED Lighting Guide LED lighting systems and retro fitting specialists are at the forefront of the technological implementation of this most up to date and revolutionary stage of this current situation. These systems are indeed the best modern day solutions to many aspects of the field, while being increasingly recognised to be the market leaders. LED is the way Ahead With the above being detailed it is increasingly obvious to most that the best lighting systems of the modern day era are LED as detailed but they are also some of the easiest ways to transition from the older systems mentioned for the simple fact of retrofitting existing lighting with new fittings. Simply but using the existing wiring, mounting systems in place it is easy to understand how (just like changing a lightbulb or mounting) the transition can be quickly, cheaply, efficiently and what is more cost effectively improved with regard to the older technologies. This being said it is quite obvious to commerce and the reader the “LED solution” is the most modern and cost effective way to bring your company, corporation, organisation’s lighting solutions right up to date with all of the benefits detailed, at the most cost effective rate available today.
Buying a home is usually the largest investment of any family. The prices can be high, sometimes higher than than the home and property is truly worth. We spoke with from Richard from strawhomes.com, who are first time buying experts, gave us some invaluable advice. Richard told us that when considering the purchase of any one home, the following are steps that should be followed before you sign for the mortgage. 1. Consider whether you should be buying a house at all. There is an attitude that a Canadian family should by all means own their own home. Home ownership means stability and pride. However, make sure you can afford the mortgage with your current salary. 2. Research the Neighbourhood. When you find you are interested in a particular home, it’s time to play detective. Walk through the neighbourhood, visiting pubs, parks, school yards and homes at different times of day. Check that homes are well-maintained, that cars are kept up and there aren’t any derelicts lining the streets. 3. Check Out the Area with the Neighbours. Many neighbours can give you valuable information on the particular home or the neighbourhood. Check with those who are not next door, but some distance away. They are likely to be more honest about the area and won’t be either friends or enemies with the sellers. You will also have the advantage of meeting the people you will be living with. 4. What Is the Potential for Resale? It is possible you wish to live in your new home until you die and then leave the property to children. If this is not the case, then you must take measure of the resale value of the property. You may need to put some work in on the house. If the home has been on the market for quite a while, you had better figure out why, because it will affect your ability to sell the home in the future. 5. Bump Up Your Credit Scores. Make very sure that your credit scores are as error-free and up to the demands of your preferred lender. Little mistakes that are easily overlooked can take your out of the running. Check the free websites that can give you the current credit rating. 6. Arrange with Your Lender a Mortgage in Principle. You probably won’t be able to arrange a mortgage unless you have a particular property in place. Instead, lenders offer what is called a “mortgage in principle (MIP).” This is very helpful in that it lets you know how much the lender is willing to allow you to borrow, as long as you find a suitable property within a specified time. However, the MIP is not a guarantee. 7. What Is the Actual Cost of Buying the Home? Owning a home costs more than just the monthly mortgage payment. Remember fees can add up to thousands of pounds. From the Mortgage Arrangement Fee to the cost of removal and new furnishings, the cost of the home will likely be thousands more than the “sticker price.” 8. Typical Home Buying Timeline. The time it takes to find your new home and arrange for its purchase will likely be longer than you think. It will take you time to find a property you want. It will be wise to narrow your search to two or three neighbourhoods, but don’t be too certain you must be located in only one particular place. Once you have found your desired home, put in an offer. This lets the seller know how much you are willing to pay, plus any other conditions. Once your final offer has been accepted, you will need to arrange for a survey of the property and your solicitor should research any legal issues. At the time of the exchange of your money for the deeds and keys, it will take just a few weeks until the sale is complete. Then, congratulations — you will be a real homeowner!
