The call from the NHF – which represents the associations – was based on a think tank report arguing that they could keep building even if a Brexit-induced recession meant private housebuilders could not make effective use of housing funds, which have been reserved for shared ownership and Starter Homes.
Category: Construction Industry Today | Subscribe to Construction Industry Today Feed Published Fri, Apr 1st 2016 Housebuilder Barratt Homes is celebrating after receiving a major national award from the Home Builders Federation (HBF). Posted via Industry Today. Follow us on Twitter @IndustryToday The company has achieved a 90% customer
Bona products have been used by Timbered Flooring, Bona Certified Contractors, for the installation and finishing of a 20mm engineered, dark fumed oak parquet floor at London’s new urban hotel, Assembly London. First, Bona D501 primer was applied to the WBP plywood subfloor, and then the parquet blocks were stuck
Fire tests have been conducted by Alumasc Roofing Systems on its market leading Derbigum high performance bituminous membrane warm roof system. This decision follows on recent events in the UK that highlighted the importance of being compliant with up to date and relevant fire test standards. Derbigum Mineral and Derbigum
Howdens Joinery, the leading kitchen manufacturer and supplier, has agreed terms to let 10,004 sq ft at Unit 8, Arrow Park, Brackley from Rockspring Property Investment Managers LLP (“Rockspring”), a PATRIZIA company, at £7 per sq ft on a 15-year lease with a tenant break on the tenth anniversary. Arrow
Charcon Hard Landscaping, a division of Aggregate Industries, has completed the development of a central campus square to provide a multi-use outdoor venue at the University of Leicester. The project, which was part of a wider scheme to renovate the area, saw the Fielding Johnson car park transformed into a
The first housing development exclusively for clinical staff will open in Salford to help plug an acute staff shortage in the NHS. Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust has teamed up with housing association Salix Homes to provide a 26-apartment complex for doctors, nurses and other clinical staff who work at
SHARC Energy Systems, a UK-based green energy firm, has secured the support of the ENGIE Regeneration teams to collaborate on developing opportunities for integrating SHARC technology into their established heat network portfolio, as well as creating new opportunities to partner on the development of standalone low carbon district heating networks.
The call from the NHF – which represents the associations – was based on a think tank report arguing that they could keep building even if a Brexit-induced recession meant private housebuilders could not make effective use of housing funds, which have been reserved for shared ownership and Starter Homes. Analysis for the NHF by the Centre for Economics and Business Research warned that a construction slowdown may be looming, with housebuilder share prices, exchange rates and financial markets all hit by post-referendum uncertainty. Show Fullscreen CEBR housing infographic It said the £4.7bn earmarked by the government for building shared ownership homes, and the £2.3bn for remediation of brownfield land for Starter Homes, could be diverted to associations to build homes of any tenure if a downturn meant builders could not use it. The federation also said local authorities should be freed from restrictions on borrowing to build homes in return for meeting commitments on new supply. NHF chief executive David Orr said: “The warning signs are flashing amber – housebuilding may be set for a slowdown but housing associations have a track record of building through tough times. Demand for good-quality rented homes remains high.” Chartered Institute of Housing chief executive Terrie Alafat said: “There are already signs that the housing market is beginning to weaken. It is critical government takes action now to ensure the supply of new housing we need to address our national housing crisis does not falter.” The CEBR report A Role for Housebuilding in Times of Economic Uncertainty said post-referendum economic uncertainty meant it would become “challenging” to meet the government’s Starter Homes and shared ownership targets. “Housing associations have greater flexibility [than housebuilders] to move more rapidly, not least due to their sustainable business models,” the report said. “Having housing associations assume a greater role in supply during the period of uncertainty would also help prevent the loss of momentum in the delivery of new homes that has been built up since the recession.” It said the decline in housebuilders’ share prices was “an early indication of the loss of investor confidence in the UK construction sector and property market as an investment prospect…the future remains highly uncertain and the risks are on the downside”. An analysis in Construction News this week by Gleeds partner Stuart Senior said the referendum vote had been “a hammer blow” for the industry. However, housebuilder Barratt Developments said earlier this month it retained a positive outlook for the housing market but had contingency plans in place to reduce risk arising from referendum uncertainty, including reassessing land approvals. Source link
Category: Construction Industry Today | Subscribe to Construction Industry Today Feed Published Fri, Apr 1st 2016 Housebuilder Barratt Homes is celebrating after receiving a major national award from the Home Builders Federation (HBF). Posted via Industry Today. Follow us on Twitter @IndustryToday The company has achieved a 90% customer satisfaction score and 5 star rating after it took part in a nationwide survey. It is the only major national housebuilder to have been awarded the maximum 5 star rating for seven years in a row by the HBF. Barratt Homes took part in the UK-wide survey of more than 45,000 homebuyers which revealed that over 90% of its customers would recommend the homes to a friend. The high customer satisfaction for Barratt Homes comes from checking more than 400 details throughout the build process and three separate inspections are involved before any front door keys are handed over. The HBF’s star rating scheme is designed to provide home buyers with information to help guide their decision. Lynnette St Quintin, sales director for Barratt Homes in the Southern Counties region, said: “We are tremendously proud that Barratt Homes has recognised as a 5 star housebuilder yet again. It’s testament to the dedication of all staff, who go above and beyond every day to exceed our customers’ expectations.“ Stewart Baseley, executive chairman of the Home Builders Federation said: “The customer satisfaction survey is an established barometer for measuring house builder’s customer service levels. The scheme is an independently monitored survey of the people who really matter to our industry, our customers. To achieve such a high level of customer satisfaction, especially at a time when housing output overall is increasing rapidly, requires commitment from board room to site, and is a fantastic achievement.“ Source link
Bona products have been used by Timbered Flooring, Bona Certified Contractors, for the installation and finishing of a 20mm engineered, dark fumed oak parquet floor at London’s new urban hotel, Assembly London. First, Bona D501 primer was applied to the WBP plywood subfloor, and then the parquet blocks were stuck down using Bona R848 silane adhesive. This blocks were then finished with Bona Craft Oil 2K (Frost) and buffed back again to achieve a white limed effect in the grain, which also took away some of the darkness of the fumed oak. After, that, two coats of Bona Traffic HD (silk matt) lacquer – Bona’s most durable polyurethane finish – were applied to provide the hard wearing surface required in the busy bar area. Both Bona Craft Oil 2K and Bona Traffic HD allowed the Timbered team to work within a tight timetable, due to their fast curing time. “We also provided a maintenance specification to the client which included regular cleaning with Bona Cleaner and an annual rebuffing and resealing with Traffic HD. Following a maintenance regime like this means the floor will always look good and the expense and downtime caused by sanding it back to bare wood will be avoided,” said Laurence Warburton from Timbered Flooring. Available in a range of 11 standard colours, Bona Craft Oil 2K can also be turned into custom shades that can be mixed on request. Already a hard wearing finishing treatment when used on its own, the oil can also be overcoated with any version of Bona Traffic to provide ultimate durability – a useful option for busy public areas like Assembly London’s rooftop bar space. Opened in May 2018, Assembly London is located in the centre of the city’s thriving West-End. Fun, sophisticated and playful, the hotel gives everything that matters for a great night’s sleep!
Fire tests have been conducted by Alumasc Roofing Systems on its market leading Derbigum high performance bituminous membrane warm roof system. This decision follows on recent events in the UK that highlighted the importance of being compliant with up to date and relevant fire test standards. Derbigum Mineral and Derbigum Black full warm roof built up systems, such as primer, vapour barrier, adhesive, insulation, underlay and Derbigum cap sheets, all underwent rigorous testing to CEN/TS 1187:2012 and achieved the highest grade in fire safety available in the UK. ENV1187 Test 4 is a test method that determines the performance of flat roofs to external fire exposure by replicating exposure to burning brands, wind and supplementary radiant heat. Conducting the tests were Exova Warringtonfire Gent, who proved the applicability of original Derbigum fire rating tests and also confirmed the compliance of the current warm roof build-up using the latest BBA Certificated Derbigum system. Alumasc has previously received top fire ratings to the previous standard on these products; therefore the company grabbed the initiative to obtain the fire rating of its latest systems, in anticipation of tighter regulations governing the fire resistance of construction products. The certification is the evidence that Alumasc thrives in quality, performance and reliability, as well as helping the company to offer customers unrivalled peace of mind when utilising ist products, taking all the necessary steps to facilitate that. Specifying certificated products, systems and services in support of fire safety and security of any facility demonstrates due diligence and shows consideration for those that invest, develop, design, manage and use Alumasc’s Roofing Systems. Legislation and the requirement for compliance to enter new markets has never been tougher and Alumasc will strive to develop and test their products to guarantee it provides the highest levels of safety to not only customers but inhabitants and users of the buildings its products help to protect.
Howdens Joinery, the leading kitchen manufacturer and supplier, has agreed terms to let 10,004 sq ft at Unit 8, Arrow Park, Brackley from Rockspring Property Investment Managers LLP (“Rockspring”), a PATRIZIA company, at £7 per sq ft on a 15-year lease with a tenant break on the tenth anniversary. Arrow Park is a new 140,000 sq ft warehouse / industrial development which comprises of eight units that were constructed in January 2018. The development benefits from a prominent position fronting the A43 dual carriageway with fast access to the motorway network, particularly junctions 10 and 11 of the M40 and junction 15A of the M1. “The strong interest we have witnessed at Arrow Park is a testament to the high quality speculative build Rockspring has delivered and further demonstrates the demand we have in the market for good quality stock in strategic locations. Howdens will be able to service its customers effectively and efficiently from its new position at Arrow Park and their arrival will also help to further diversify the tenant mix in Brackley. I am confident there will be further announcements on more new tenants shortly,” said James Haestier, director, industrial & logistics at Colliers International. Home to a number of major companies including Mercedes AMG Petronas Motorsport, Faccenda Group and DLC, Brackley is located just six miles from Silverstone, home of the British Grand Prix. This puts Arrow Park at the heart of the ‘Motorsport Triangle’, an area which is popular with many high-value engineering, distribution companies and motorsport companies. The development will form part of a larger mixed use estate comprising where a new Sainsbury’s superstore, hotel and healthcare centre are planned. Colliers International is an industry-leading real estate services company with a global brand operating in 69 countries and a workforce of more than 12,000 skilled professionals serving clients in the world’s most important markets.
Charcon Hard Landscaping, a division of Aggregate Industries, has completed the development of a central campus square to provide a multi-use outdoor venue at the University of Leicester. The project, which was part of a wider scheme to renovate the area, saw the Fielding Johnson car park transformed into a public space for students and staff, offering the opportunity to hold a wide variety of events. Charcon was appointed for the job to provide a robust solution which would add visual appeal to the campus. Over 1,500m2 of Andover Textured Block Paving in Mid Grey, Silver Grey, Pink Granite and Heather Porphyry was specified for the main central square, having been carefully selected to complement the architectural styling of the campus. A combination of sliver grey concrete aggregate paving was selected for the square, with deeper colours also chosen to add depth. Perfectly suited to high volume pedestrian areas, the Andover Textured Block Paving offers exceptional durability whilst incorporating uniquely formulated Cornish aggregates to provide both enhanced performance and superior aesthetics. The upgraded square, which was designed to create an open space with clear access routes to the surrounding campus buildings, is now being used as a shared area for socialising, relaxing and studying. Since completion, the space has hosted Christmas markets, career festivals and Freshers’ Week activities. Mark Bodman, Director at Barry Chinn Associates, said: “We specifically chose Charcon as opposed to other key manufacturers of hard landscaping as we felt the quality of product successfully met our precise brief. The Andover Textured Block Paving lent itself extremely well to the project as it seamlessly accompanied the surrounding campus aesthetic.” Clinton Young, National Specification Manager at Charcon, said: “This project demonstrated our capabilities perfectly and we’re delighted that we have been able to deliver a full solution to the University of Leicester and we hope that the transformed space can be used to its full potential.” For further information, visit www.charcon.com. For technical support, please call 01335 372 222 or email landscaping@aggregate.com.
The first housing development exclusively for clinical staff will open in Salford to help plug an acute staff shortage in the NHS. Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust has teamed up with housing association Salix Homes to provide a 26-apartment complex for doctors, nurses and other clinical staff who work at the organisation. It comes after the Trust revealed it was struggling to fill 200 vacancies, with the lack of affordable accommodation one of the barriers to attracting people to the area. Ian Moston, group chief finance officer for Salford Royal, said “Like most organisations in the NHS we have a significant number of vacancies. Our partnership with Salix Homes will provide a major benefit to us in helping to attract people to work and settle in Salford. “For the majority of us, the ability to live close to where we work is an important part of balancing work and home life. Through this partnership with Salix Homes we hope to provide people choosing to come to Salford with good quality, affordable housing whilst they establish themselves in the City on a long term basis. “We hope this venture with Salix Homes is the first of many areas where we believe we can collaborate to improve the health and wellbeing of people living and working in Salford, and the area and can become a template for other communities.” Salix Homes has spent more than £2million converting the former sheltered housing complex Alexander Gardens in Broughton into modern one and two bedroom apartments. The project was partially funded thanks to a £780,000 grant from Homes England Shared Ownership and Affordable Homes Programme. Alexander Gardens on Gorton Street has stood empty since the Boxing Day 2015 floods after the former residents were re-housed when their homes were damaged by the worst flooding to hit Salford in decades. Since that fateful night, extensive flood resilience measures have been implemented within the facility and the wider area to help protect against future floods. Sue Sutton, executive director of operations at Salix Homes, said: “It’s no secret that the country is in the grips of a housing crisis, but it really brings it home when our own local hospital cannot recruit staff due to a severe shortage of suitable and affordable accommodation. “In the year our wonderful NHS turns 70, we are very proud to be able to offer a solution to provide affordable accommodation for doctors, nurses and other health professionals and help ensure our NHS can continue the fantastic work it does for another 70 years and beyond. “We believe this project to be among the first of its kind in the country and shows the importance of the health and housing industries working together to help overcome some of the most critical issues facing our sectors.” Salix Homes, which owns more than 8,000 homes across Salford, has worked alongside its partner contractor A.Connolly Ltd to completely transform and remodel the facility to create 16 two-bedroom and 10 one-bedroom apartments. Salford Royal intends to let the homes to new recruits for a period of six months in a bid to encourage more medical professionals to come to Salford to work, and reduce its reliance on agency staff. The fully-furnished properties, kitted out by north-west based Fusion Furniture, will be let as part of a comprehensive employment package provided by Salford Royal and will be available for single people, couples and families. Salford City Mayor Paul Dennett said: “This unique project is one we are extremely proud of in Salford. Salix Homes and the NHS have worked closely together to pull this together, in conjunction with our bid to Homes England to support the scheme. “There is a national shortage of affordable homes –and a national crisis in housing – so anything that can support the fabulous staff who work tirelessly for the NHS and bring more of their workers to our city is welcomed.” The project has also provided work and opportunities for local people. Chris Connolly, commercial director at contractors A Connolly Ltd, added: “Supporting communities is important to us and we have employed local people through our partnership with Salix Homes, as well as recruiting two apprentices through the Build Salford project. “A.Connolly Ltd is pleased to have played a part in this unique scheme which will enable more medical professionals to live and work in Salford. “Major refurbishment work is in of our key specialisms and we were delighted to be able to use our expertise to support Salix Homes in bringing this building back into use.” The refurbishment and remodelling work is expected to be completed this summer and it’s hoped the first residents will move in during October.
SHARC Energy Systems, a UK-based green energy firm, has secured the support of the ENGIE Regeneration teams to collaborate on developing opportunities for integrating SHARC technology into their established heat network portfolio, as well as creating new opportunities to partner on the development of standalone low carbon district heating networks. ENGIE UK & Ireland announced a ‘Call for Projects’ in February saying it was looking to identify innovative projects and solutions for the recovery of heat from wastewater / sewage and SHARC was confirmed as one of two successful bidders in May. SHARC Energy Systems has already started discussions with ENGIE about projects and opportunities within ENGIE’s asset portfolio. The announcement comes at a time when the appetite for decentralised energy services in the UK is growing, with more focus being placed on the use of renewable technologies that continue to de-carbonise the energy supply for UK residents and businesses. Earlier this month the National Infrastructure Commission (NIC) issued its infrastructure assessment report https://www.nic.org.uk/assessment/national-infrastructure-assessment/executive-summary/ which states that “the UK must take decisive action to have world-class infrastructure” and carries a core principle that half of the UK’s power will be provided by renewables by 2030. Alongside the NIC report, the recently published UNESCO report – “Waste Water: The Untapped Resource” http://www.unesco.org/new/en/natural-sciences/environment/water/wwap/wwdr/2017-wastewater-the-untapped-resource/ shows how the macro market surrounding SHARC’s energy solutions is developing and how the value of this sustainable resource can be harnessed for the benefit of future generations. Russ Burton, SHARC’s Chief Operating Officer, said: “We are delighted to have won the support of the ENGIE Regeneration team and are looking forward to working with them to develop our service and solutions with them. “The team at SHARC have been tireless in their efforts to champion and promote the value of the waste heat that runs through our sewage lines every day and we are encouraged by the vision and enthusiasm that ENGIE is demonstrating in supporting our activities.” Ben Watts, Innovation and Solutions Director at ENGIE, said: “The Call for Projects process provides ENGIE with access to a wealth of start-ups and SMEs in the UK and globally in areas of strategic importance to the UK business unit. The decarbonisation of heat is a nationally important issue which ENGIE is looking to solve at a local level. We are delighted that SHARC entered this call and we look forward to developing projects together.”
