Property experts gathered in London on Clean Air Day (21 June) to explore wellbeing in the built environment during a Carbon2018 breakfast seminar. Wellbeing is not a new subject it been around for a long time. However, it has suddenly risen up the agenda for building owners, designers and occupants
Increasing its presence further in the healthcare sector, Forbo Flooring Systems has been appointed as an approved supplier on the Department of Health’s ProCure22 Framework for NHS and social care construction schemes in England. This means the company’s floor covering solutions, from entrance to exit, are approved for the healthcare
The British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI) and the Royal Horticultural Society’s (RHS) ‘Best of Both Worlds’ show garden, built by a team of 23 students, has been awarded a prestigious Gold medal at RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show 2018. Judges were left suitably impressed by the garden, designed
Despite recent changes in tax rules affecting landlords who could face losing thousands of pounds in profit, investing in a property in the UK shows no sign of slowing down. A survey carried out by Perrys Chartered Accountants has revealed that 35% of the participants are most confident in property
Leonard Design Architects and the University of Nottingham (UoN) have started a new partnership to improve research and development in the architectural sector. The initiative is a first of its kind and it will allow students at the UoN’s school of architecture to work directly with local firms to produce
The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) has officially announced that almost 80% of builders and homeowners are calling on the Government to introduce a licensing scheme for the UK construction industry to finally stamp out rogue traders. The benefits of introducing a licensing scheme for the whole construction industry, as
Property experts gathered in London on Clean Air Day (21 June) to explore wellbeing in the built environment during a Carbon2018 breakfast seminar. Wellbeing is not a new subject it been around for a long time. However, it has suddenly risen up the agenda for building owners, designers and occupants due to advances in technology changing the way we work and the evolving needs of the UK workforce. The next generation of employees, known as Generation Z, are not willing to compromise on health and happiness viewing their own wellbeing as the ultimate bottom line. So for organisations to attract and retain the best talent, and ensure good staff productivity, they must be able to provide a healthy and comfortable workplace. According to Dr Michelle Agha-Hossein, Sustainability Engineer at BSRIA: “Building owners and operators can play a vital role in making occupants happier and more productive by moving towards a more proactive approach to wellbeing.” She explored the functional, physical and psychological features that can be measured to assess the wellbeing of a building ranging from energy and space to greenery and décor to thermal comfort and indoor air quality. Dr Agha-Hossein cited: “Based on international standards, you can never reach 100% happiness in terms of thermal comfort in a work environment. There will always be approximately 5% of people not thermally comfortable.” She also stated indoor air quality is the most important factor. In the UK around 40,000 deaths annually are linked to air pollution making it the second biggest killer – only active smoking kills more. Even more alarming Peter Dyment, Technical Manager, Air Filtration at Camfil added: “We no longer suffer from the visible pollution it has moved to the invisible. Some years ago diesel engines were characterised by black sooty smoke. Advances in technology means that emissions from diesel cars appear cleaner but the reality is they contain billions of harmful PM1 particles.” Two European Directives set outdoor air pollution limits: Directive 2004/107/EC and the Air Quality Framework Directive 2008/50/EC. Different sets of air quality regulations implement those standards in the UK, which a number of UK cities including London, Manchester and Glasgow are currently failing to meet. Defra predicts that those standards will not be met until 2020, or as late as 2025 in Greater London. Dyment commented “We spend on average 90% of our life indoors and therefore it is vital we make our City buildings havens against outdoor air pollution.” It is still early days for standards for air quality in buildings. However it is expected that society will soon demand action and with increasing pressure on the UK Government we could potentially see it becoming part of UK building regulations. There has certainly been an increased appetite from corporations, as well as the real estate industry, for wellbeing schemes that measure air quality as part of the wellness of a building. Victoria Lockhart, Director of Market Development, Europe at the International WELL Building Institute™ (IWBI™), which delivers the WELL Building Standard™ (WELL™), stated: “We have noticed that the healthy buildings movement here in Europe has been driven by developers and landlords of assets who are actively adopting well-being measures in their buildings as a strategy to attract and retain the best tenants in their properties.” This growing interest resulted in BRE joining forces with IWBI in November 2016 to help project teams who are using both BREEAM and WELL deliver a more sustainable and healthier built environment as efficiently as possible. Dr Christopher Ward, Principal Consultant at BRE added: “To help streamline the respective assessment processes for projects seeking certification against BREEAM and WELL, a BREEAM Briefing Paper has been published that highlights the synergies between the BREEAM and WELL technical requirements.” With so many organisations involved in the research and setting of standards for wellbeing – working together in the interests of promoting a healthier and safer built environment – it is inevitable that even more evidence based research and case studies will emerge showcasing the benefits of a wellbeing strategy. As pointed out by Joanne Merry, Technical Director at Carbon2018: “It will soon become standard to have a dedicated wellbeing policy. After all wellbeing should be a right not a privilege.” The BREEAM Briefing Paper ‘Assessing Health and Wellbeing in Buildings: Alignment between BREEAM and the WELL Building Standard’ is free to download from the BREEAM and WELL websites. For further information or comment, please contact: Lisa Turner Head of Marketing 01252 87 87 22 lisa.turner@carbon2018.com
Increasing its presence further in the healthcare sector, Forbo Flooring Systems has been appointed as an approved supplier on the Department of Health’s ProCure22 Framework for NHS and social care construction schemes in England. This means the company’s floor covering solutions, from entrance to exit, are approved for the healthcare environment. The ProCure22 (P22) process is designed to achieve improved value for money and reduce exposure to risk through a simplified procurement procedure. Committed to developing and offering products that contribute in a positive way to the health and comfort of the individual, Forbo’s floor coverings are designed to be good for people, good for buildings and good for the environment. Offering a 10-year warranty, with discounts of up to 47% and pricing fixed for 12 months, Forbo can ensure that healthcare environments have a product selected, which is fit for purpose and fit for the future – providing savings without any compromise. Commenting on the company’s achievement, Sharron Kapellar, National Framework Manager at Forbo Flooring Systems, said: “We have undertaken many projects within NHS Trusts and social care throughout England, including flooring for acute, mental health and community facilities, and are delighted to have been awarded with the ProCure22 approved supplier status. “The P22 process definitely reduces exposure to risk for clients. By working with an appointed framework Principal Supply Chain Partner (PSCP) NHS Trusts won’t have to undertake an oJeu procurement process. “And, from a flooring perspective, we can help create stylish and functional flooring schemes, while still meeting the various floor covering requirements outlined in Health Building note 00-10, Part A: Flooring. From sheet systems for clinical areas, static control flooring for X ray rooms, slip resistant flooring in wet clinical areas, carpet tiles in offices and entrance flooring systems, which prevent pollutants from entering facilities, Forbo has a wide portfolio of cost effective flooring solutions to meet a variety of requirements, as well as savings through transparent trading and better purchasing power. “Apart from this though, it’s our healthcare experience that really adds value to a project’s success; our area managers will assist with any specifications, technical and design advice, all supported by an efficient sample service and even a free collection service for installation waste.” Forbo also takes a proactive approach when it comes to developing its healthcare knowledge. For example, it has partnered with the University of Stirling’s Dementia Services Development Centre (DSDC) to review over 1000 floor finishes, assessing their suitability for use in dementia-friendly environments.
The British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI) and the Royal Horticultural Society’s (RHS) ‘Best of Both Worlds’ show garden, built by a team of 23 students, has been awarded a prestigious Gold medal at RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show 2018. Judges were left suitably impressed by the garden, designed by BALI Registered Designer Rosemary Coldstream MBALI MSGD of Rosemary Coldstream Garden Design, which has been divided into two halves, one traditional and one contemporary, demonstrating different skills, materials and techniques and including a variety of both hard and soft landscaping elements. The garden, which measures over 100sqm, features a large variety of plants including types of agapanthus, buxus sempervirens, pachysandra, astrantia, geranium, lavandula, salvia and thalictrum. The garden also displays a row of pleached Carpinus, a Cretan terracotta water feature and a sunken cedar bench surrounding a luxury granite paved fire pit. The garden was jointly sponsored by BALI and the RHS to promote GoLandscape, a national industry careers initiative launched by BALI earlier this year following a successful pilot phase. BALI’s Education Officer Stephen Ensell, who has led the project, commented ‘By involving students and apprentices in the construction of the garden, including laying paving and planting over 1,000 species, we are providing them with a platform from which to demonstrate their skills in front of the wider landscape industry. I can think of no better way of promoting the opportunities available in our industry than by showcasing a garden of this size to the thousands of visitors expected over the next few days.’ BALI’s Chief Executive Wayne Grills said ‘BALI continues to receive a tremendous amount of support for GoLandscape, which was designed to promote landscaping as a viable and rewarding career option for students choosing their future career path. It was also set up to help students and apprentices already studying horticulture, from entry level through to degree level, to find employment within the industry, and to combat the current skills gap crisis faced by our industry.’ He continued ‘By working with industry partners, including the RHS, BALI and its GoLandscape Ambassadors are working tirelessly to help promote and showcase the skills and talents of our students and apprentices, to really help get the message across that high quality landscaping is essential for improving our environment, health and wellbeing and for providing a sustainable future for all.’ On Monday 2 July, BALI presented two awards to two students, following a vote from mentors, to reward the top hard landscaping student and top soft landscaping student for their skill and professionalism. The prize package included a Swiss made pruning shear worth over £100, courtesy of Felco, and a certificate. The winners, Jamie Anderson of Southern Land Services and Natalie Fairs from Capel Manor College, were presented with the prizes on the garden in front of media representatives and journalists during RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show’s official press day. BALI and the RHS would like to personally congratulate all of the students who helped build the GoLandscape show garden and say a huge ‘thank you’ to the mentors who oversaw the design and build of the project, including BALI’s Education Officer Stephen Ensell, BALI Registered Designer Rosemary Coldstream MBALI MSGD, David Dodd and Mark Britton of BALI Registered Contractor The Outdoor Room, Jake Catling of BALI Registered Contractor The Landscaping Consultants, and Anna Butterfield.
Despite recent changes in tax rules affecting landlords who could face losing thousands of pounds in profit, investing in a property in the UK shows no sign of slowing down. A survey carried out by Perrys Chartered Accountants has revealed that 35% of the participants are most confident in property compared to any other investment, including pensions and ISAs. Another research carried out last year by Halifax revealed that the UK’s housing wealth has passed the £6 trillion mark for the first time. It is estimated that the average net equity worth – the difference between the value of a home and the outstanding mortgage – is £247,233. In order to maintain a similar lifestyle at retirement, £25,000 per annum will be needed, meaning that equity from a single property could provide up to 10 years of income. However, this does not factor in other costs for releasing the equity, such as estate agency and legal fees or any stamp duty charges, which could stretch into the thousands. With an average life expectancy of 81 in the UK, relying on property equity from a first home could mean there is a possible income shortfall of at least 6 years. “Whilst maintaining your current lifestyle will always be the first consideration, it is also important to be aware of the other possibilities that life can throw at you, such as ageing relatives, long-term illness, or the chance you might need residential care in the future,” said Stewart Pope, CEO at Perrys Chartered Accountants. Some of the issues faced by the ageing nation will be addressed with the recent introduction of auto-enrolment for employee pensions. However, only a quarter of those aged between 35 and 54 felt confident in pensions as a future investment with 40% saying that putting their money into property would be their first choice. But the Government’s latest changes to tax regulations and the significant increase in the stamp duty charges paid on second homes are making property investment a more difficult and expensive prospect for many. “It is worth taking a look at your existing assets to see how you could maximise potential for the future. With the right advice and some effective tax planning you could find that this makes a long term difference to the shape of your financial future,” concluded Stewart.
Leonard Design Architects and the University of Nottingham (UoN) have started a new partnership to improve research and development in the architectural sector. The initiative is a first of its kind and it will allow students at the UoN’s school of architecture to work directly with local firms to produce cutting edge industry-based research. As part of the Collaborative Practice Part 2 course at the University, students Jessica Tyson and Laura Cushnie will be employed by Leonard Design Architects over the next year to produce a piece of critical research that will help with the development of the business and its relationships with its clients. “We are extremely excited to launch our very own research team at Leonard Design. This is a long-term relationship that we see only strengthening over the years as students at the University of Nottingham will be able to undertake practice-based research that benefits both Leonard Design and the wider sector. By working directly with our clients, Laura and Jess will have the opportunity to produce innovative industry-led research as demand for more R&D in the sector grows,” said John Morgan, director of Leonard Design Architects. The research that both students explore will influence live industry projects – this could include anything from the impact of temporary spaces such as pop up shops and street food on public realm to the growth of the retail experience and how retailers are merging online and offline. This is an exciting opportunity to continue working with an award-winning global architectural practice. I will work out of the Nottingham office for two and a half days per week for the first year of the two-year course allowing me to gain hands-on experience and produce a piece of independent research for the company that will count towards university credits,” said Jess Tyson, an architect assistant at Leonard Design Architects and University of Nottingham student. “This is a completely new route into industry. Jess and I hope to make a real difference to the business and wider sector with our research and this new way of studying will allow us to continue working on-site and directly with clients gaining valuable experience. It really helps that the senior management team at Leonard Design are forward-thinking and extremely supportive,” said Laura Cushnie, also an architect assistant at Leonard Design Architects who will be undertaking the Collaborative Practice Part 2 course at the University of Nottingham.
The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) has officially announced that almost 80% of builders and homeowners are calling on the Government to introduce a licensing scheme for the UK construction industry to finally stamp out rogue traders. The benefits of introducing a licensing scheme for the whole construction industry, as well as a proposal for how it could work are detailed in an independent research report by Pye Tait and published by the FMB – ‘Licence to build: A pathway to licensing UK construction’. In addition, the FMB also conducted a new consumer research that revealed that most home owners support the introduction of a mandatory licensing scheme. The key findings from both pieces of research include: 77% of small and medium-sized construction firms support the introduction of licensing to professionalise the industry, protect consumers and sideline the cowboys; 78% of consumers also want to see a licensing scheme for construction introduced; nearly 90% of homeowners believe that the Government should criminalise rogue and incompetent builders; and over half of people (55%) who commission home improvement work have had a negative experience with their builder. Commenting on the research report is Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB: “The vast majority of builders and homeowners want to see the construction industry professionalised and it is time for the Government to act. It’s unacceptable that more than half of consumers have had a negative experience with their builder. However, we shouldn’t be surprised by this given that in the UK, it is perfectly legal for anyone to set up a building firm and start selling their services without any prior experience or qualifications. This cannot be right given the nature of the work and the potential health and safety risks when something goes wrong. In countries like Australia and Germany, building firms require a licence and we want to see the UK Government regulate our industry in a similar manner.” There are numerous advantages of introducing a licensing scheme, including health and safety benefits, the barring of the worst firms operating in the construction industry, increased consumer protection, as well as a more favourable impression of the industry, which could lead to more young people choosing a career in construction. Berry explained that the proposal the report puts forward suggests a scheme that covers all paid-for construction work by firms of all sized, with fees starting at as little as £150 every three to five years. “In terms of how it’s governed, the licence should be administered by a single authority with a broad range of scheme providers sitting underneath. We are now keen to reach out to the whole construction sector to get their input on the proposal. If we can demonstrate broad support for this approach, we are optimistic that the Government will take it forward,” Berry concluded.
