City house price growth sees “marked slowdown” in Q2 There has been a “marked slowdown” in house price growth over the last three months, led by a deceleration in London and other high value cities across the south of England, according to the latest Hometrack UK Cities House Price Index.
Image: Gloucester Services by Glenn Howells Architects and AFL Architects © Paul Miller The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has today (Thursday 6 October 2016) announced Westmorland Limited as winner of the 2016 RIBA Client of the Year award. The annual award, supported by The Bloxham Charitable Trust, recognises
According to Savills, Chinese investment into UK commercial real estate this year will exceed 2015 levels as the market remains buoyed by the Chinese Presidents state visit in October 2015, Britain’s status as an investment safe haven and, in particular, London’s continued attractiveness. In the year to date (1 January
McAleer & Rushe has secured planning approval from Belfast City Council for the second phase of its Bedford Square scheme. Above: A 17-storey office block will be built behind the old Ewart Building, which itself will be refurbished Planning approval paves the way for more than 215,000 sq ft of
A new strategic partnership between UK-based NBS and Digital Node’s Australian business, was announced this week, aligning both businesses across the two countries. Rebecca De Cicco, Managing Director for Digital Node, will act as a consultant for NBS in Australia, raising awareness of current tools and services available for construction
The building and construction industry reflects changes associated with modern technologies. While artisans and similar experts continue to use the same practices embraced for decades, the fact of the matter is that “business as usual” now appears to be a somewhat outdated term. The rise of the Internet and e-commerce
Technology has changed the building industry in many ways. In the manufacturing sector, 3D printing has made it easier to mass produce key components such as molds, beams and more. For designers, virtual reality software has made it possible to imagine a project in a true 3D state. Beyond these
Last week, Theresa May announced she is lifting the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Borrowing Cap, which has been a constraint on local council’s ability to finance new build housing projects. The Prime Minister has stated that the only way to fix the broken market is to create new homes for new
12 trainees have started their professional training in a M&E Consultancy in Solihull. Couch Perry Wilkes (CPW) has welcomed the trainees, who will specialise in an array of areas, including mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, lighting, public health and finance. Moreover, they will also have the opportunity to complete industry-recognised qualifications,
A £39.5 million hospital transformation programme for the Cheltenham General and Gloucestershire Royal Hospitals will be delivered by construction firm Kier. Secured through the Procure22 framework, the project is set to modernise hospital buildings to underpin service transformation and provide the next generation of care at the country’s two main
City house price growth sees “marked slowdown” in Q2 There has been a “marked slowdown” in house price growth over the last three months, led by a deceleration in London and other high value cities across the south of England, according to the latest Hometrack UK Cities House Price Index. The annual rate of city house price inflation slowed to 9.5% in July. In the three months to July house prices in London rose by just 2.1%, the lowest quarterly rate since February 2015. Bristol, which is the fastest growing city over the last 12 months, saw growth over the last three months slow to 2.6% from a recent high of 5.0% in May 2016. Conversely, house price inflation in many large regional cities in the north of England and Scotland “shows no signs of slowing”, with Hometrack saying that the rate of growth in North and Scotland is now set to outpace London and the South. The rate of annual house price growth in Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham, Liverpool and Nottingham continues to rise by between 7% and 8%. Focusing on activity in the last quarter, the highest rates of growth have been registered in lower value, high yielding cities where prices are rising of a lower base – Glasgow (5.2%), Liverpool (4.4%), Manchester and Nottingham (3.4%). Richard Donnell, Insight Director at Hometrack, said: “In the absence of adverse economic trends impacting employment and mortgage rates, the near term outlook is for a continued slowdown in London towards mid-single digit growth. The slowdown in London is being seen across the market is not accounted for by seasonal factors with weaker demand from home owners and investors as supply grows. This analysis suggests London house price growth will continue to slow over the rest of the year. In contrast, northern regional cities will continue to register stable growth rates as households’ benefit from record low mortgages rates and affordability remains attractive. “We continue to believe that turnover will register the brunt of the slowdown in London. In the face of lower sales volumes agents will look to re-price stock in line with what buyers are prepared, and can afford to pay. Past experience shows that this process can run for as long as 6 months and relies, in part, in how quickly sellers are willing to adjust to what buyers are prepared to pay.” Source link
Image: Gloucester Services by Glenn Howells Architects and AFL Architects © Paul Miller The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has today (Thursday 6 October 2016) announced Westmorland Limited as winner of the 2016 RIBA Client of the Year award. The annual award, supported by The Bloxham Charitable Trust, recognises the key role that a good client plays in the creation of fine architecture. Westmorland Limited – the first and only family run motorway service station operator in the UK – was nominated by Glenn Howells Architects for the RIBA National Award-winning Gloucester Services. RIBA Client of the Year judge Tom Bloxham said: “The best buildings result from successful partnerships of highly ambitious clients working with equally demanding architects. With Gloucester Services, Westmorland have not only commissioned a brilliant service station – a type of site not necessarily known for its architectural qualities – but they have contributed much more, creating a successful business model that has its local community at its heart. I am delighted that Westmorland have been recognised with the RIBA’s Client of the Year award for their incredible achievement.” ENDS Notes to editors: 1. For further press information please contact Callum Reilly in the RIBA press office callum.reilly@riba.org or 020 7307 3757 2. Citation: “Gloucester Service Station is on the stretch of the M5 Motorway that serves the Cotswolds. Not a building type known for breaking architectural boundaries, but in architecture, procurement of food and the experience they like to offer their customers, breaking boundaries and doing things a little bit differently is exactly what the Dunnings, the family behind Westmorland, like to do. With Glenn Howells Architects on board Westmorland have created a southern sister to Tebay Sevices in Cumbria, and in Gloucester have helped redefine and reimagine the maligned British Motorway Service Station by placing good design at the heart of what they do.” 3. Nomination summary by Glenn Howells Architects: “In 1972, Cumbrian farmers John and Barbara Dunning set up Westmorland and Tebay Services in partnership with local producers when the new M6 expanded through the Lune Gorge, making it the first and only family run motorway service station operator in the UK. “Gloucester Services builds upon the success of Tebay in its use of local materials, innovation, construction and vernacular design. It exceeds all expectations of what a motorway service area can be. Working with Glenn Howells Architects, Westmorland had a clear brief. They were professional from the outset, allowing the architectural team to come up with the most appropriate design for the site whilst also challenging and testing the design down to the last detail. Over 28 million vehicles a year carry over 40 million people through Gloucestershire via the M5 – previously without any community benefit. Now, through the vision of Westmorland, the M5 has been turned into a community asset rather than a problem bringing pollution, congestion and noise. Gloucester Services champions its locality through its commitment to locally sourced and homemade food. The business works with around 130 local (within 30 miles) and over 70 regional producers. A notable feature of Westmorland is its partnership with the Gloucester Gateway Trust, which works with disadvantaged local communities. Westmorland have successfully employed over 30% of its workforce from the long-term unemployed, those with learning disabilities and mental illness, substance abuse sufferers and ex-offenders. This business charity partnership is not just a charitable donation; it’s an investment in the local community.” 4. Tom Bloxham MBE of Urban Splash supports the RIBA Client of the Year award through his charity The Bloxham Charitable Trust. 5. Previous winners of RIBA Client of the Year award include The Royal Shakespeare Company (2011), Olympic Delivery Authority (2012), the National Trust (2013), Manchester Metropolitan University (2014) and National Theatre (2015). 6. The Architects’ Journal is media partner for the RIBA Awards, including RIBA Client of the Year. For more information visit www.architectsjournal.co.uk 7. The Royal Institute of British Architects (@RIBA) is a global professional membership body that serves its members and society in order to deliver better buildings and places, stronger communities and a sustainable environment. www.architecture.com Posted on Thursday 6th October 2016 Source link
According to Savills, Chinese investment into UK commercial real estate this year will exceed 2015 levels as the market remains buoyed by the Chinese Presidents state visit in October 2015, Britain’s status as an investment safe haven and, in particular, London’s continued attractiveness. In the year to date (1 January – 29 February 2016), £560.3 million of Chinese deals were transacted in the London market, putting volumes on track to exceed 2015’s total annual turnover of £1.2 billion, says Savills. Highlights include Chinese state-owned real estate investor, Poly Real Estate, completing its first purchase in London in January with the £145 million acquisition of Ludgate West, 5 Fleet Place and China Overseas Land and Investment’s purchase of the Helicon Building, South Place, from Deutsche AWM for £145 million in February. Chinese investors continue to be driven to invest internationally by their Government’s various capital liberalisation initiatives and long-term national strategy to invest globally in order to ensure its financial stability. Savills says London is a top destination for capital due to the diversity of opportunities available, swift transaction times, and liquidity of the market. “Although there is a significant amount of capital chasing London real estate, with a finite level of supply, there are still a number of assets available which offer an attractive yield profile. Long term income streams, redevelopment opportunities and mixed-used schemes entering the market provide a variety of return profiles, which in turn attract an array of investors”, says Rasheed Hassan, head of Savills cross border investment. “In addition, the profile of the investors we’re seeing enter the market includes Chinese developers who are seeking higher returning development opportunities, targeting mixed-use and residential led schemes, rather than core assets within London.” Source link
McAleer & Rushe has secured planning approval from Belfast City Council for the second phase of its Bedford Square scheme. Above: A 17-storey office block will be built behind the old Ewart Building, which itself will be refurbished Planning approval paves the way for more than 215,000 sq ft of new grade A office space for the city. Phase two of the city centre development consists of a new 17-storey office building providing 182,598 sq ft of grade A office accommodation, as well as the refurbishment of the listed William Ewart building to create a further 34,942 sq ft of space. The Ewart building a former linen warehouse, has been vacant for more than 25 years. Work is expected to start on site in the coming months. McAleer & Rushe is in talks with potential office occupiers. The first phase of the project was completed in 2006 and is home to the headquarters of Invest Northern Ireland. The latest buildings are on adjacent sites and arranged around a new public piazza in Belfast city centre. McAleer & Rushe property director Stephen Surphlis said: “This planning approval is a welcome boost to the Belfast office market, with the second phase of Bedford Square bringing a landmark building back into active use after many years of vacancy and helping to alleviate the shortage of grade A space in the city. “The first phase of Bedford Square has been a great success and we now have the opportunity to complete the vision with the creation of much-needed business space and new public realm which, together with our Maldron Hotel and QUB student accommodation developments on the adjoining Brunswick Street site, will make a huge contribution to the regeneration of Belfast’s Linen Quarter and this part of the city.” This article was published on 28 Jul 2016 (last updated on 28 Jul 2016). Source link
A new strategic partnership between UK-based NBS and Digital Node’s Australian business, was announced this week, aligning both businesses across the two countries. Rebecca De Cicco, Managing Director for Digital Node, will act as a consultant for NBS in Australia, raising awareness of current tools and services available for construction industry professionals, including the NBS National BIM Library as well as the integrated tools and processes enabling BIM. Having founded Digital Node back in 2013 in the UK, Rebecca and her team have grown the business into a global success story working from offices in Australia and the UK. The team work with clients across multiple continents to help them realise the potential of using BIM processes to suit a particular project. On announcing the partnership, Rebecca said: “I am very happy to support NBS in Australia and strengthen our relationship across continents. I have always had a very close tie to the NBS in the UK and therefore supporting their products, business and people was a priority for me personally and for the business.” The partnership marks another successful step for NBS who set up a subsidiary of the company in Melbourne, Australia back in 2017 and have since launched an update to the NBS National BIM Library and NBS BIM Object Standard to increase the use across the country. Chief Executive of NBS, Richard Waterhouse, said: “Digital Node and Rebecca herself have built a highly respected and authoritative business within the world of BIM in Australia and in the UK. “Collaboration is a term we come across time and time again when we talk about BIM; sharing knowledge and insight and working better together – this is our hope for the partnership.” NBS, who provide technical information, specification and BIM tools, recently launched its first cloud based specification writing platform, NBS Chorus. A collaborative specification platform supporting global design and construction, NBS Chorus is aimed at those professionals who need to produce high quality specifications efficiently. The use of cloud technology ensures that those using the new platform have the latest software and global content at all times, improving collaboration and efficiencies across whole teams and minimising risk. Richard continued: “Some of the biggest issues for our customers when it comes to producing specifications are: unstructured content, barriers to collaboration and lack of connectivity between specifications and the rest of the project. “NBS Chorus allows the whole team to work together as one. It connects the people you need wherever they are, provides the whole team with accurate global standards and classifications and connects this all together in a platform built for BIM on a global scale. “We see NBS Chorus as the future of specification and see true value for anyone who wants to come on this journey with us. NBS Chorus for specification writing and NBS National BIM Library for modelling is a powerful combined solution to help provide efficiencies and reduce risk for project teams around the world.” Head of Partnerships at NBS, Sascia Elliott, said: “Digital Node is at the forefront of promoting the benefits of BIM and together we share the same ambition for BIM technology – it was a natural fit to take this global journey together.” To find out more about NBS Chorus, visit www.theNBS.com/Chorus To find out more about the NBS National BIM Library, visit www.nationalbimlibrary.com/en/ To find out more about NBS visit www.theNBS.com
The building and construction industry reflects changes associated with modern technologies. While artisans and similar experts continue to use the same practices embraced for decades, the fact of the matter is that “business as usual” now appears to be a somewhat outdated term. The rise of the Internet and e-commerce strategies in particular are transforming the ways in which B2B and B2C relations are occurring. This is important for owners to appreciate, as such systems are able to provide them with a competitive edge if they are employed in the correct manner. Let’s take a look at what innovations have already taken place as well as what 2019 could have in store. E-Commerce Trends: Better, Smarter and Faster The first major point to appreciate is that many e-commerce systems are now able to exhibit a sense of flexibility that would have been nearly impossible to imagine in the past. They can be customised to suit the needs of the end user and therefore, common tasks such as invoicing and tracking projects have become much more streamlined. This sense of efficiency translates directly to the customer, as projects can be completed with a greater level of clarity and oversight. The utilities and tools at the disposal of the end user have likewise enjoyed a higher degree of specialisation. As these packages are modular, stakeholders and project managers can choose those which are best suited for their needs. Some examples include: The ability to accept multiple forms of payment. Instantaneous invoicing and inventory control. Complete mobile integration. Immediate communication with warehouses and similar avenues of fulfilment. In other words, those who are involved in the construction industry are now provided with the ability to work smart as opposed to hard. 2019: Embracing an International Presence The main question is what 2019 might have in store. All eyes seem to be pointing to the increased prevalence of the modern international ecommerce platform. This only stands to reason, as many construction companies are now beginning to look past traditional geographic borders when plying their services. Such a methodology will also provide a greater degree of stability when compared to relying upon the whims of a local market economy (as well as the looming Brexit worries). Thus, e-commerce applications which have the capability of dealing with cross-border demands are predicted to take centre stage in 2019. This is great news for the average business owner, as such bundles have been designed with a user-friendly nature. It should also be mentioned that they are equipped with a number of advanced tools and applications. Some examples include:¨ International POS systems. Automatic currency and taxation converters. More than 100 payment gateways. Dual content delivery networks for greater reliability. While some of these options might not be applicable when referring to locally based construction companies, there is no doubt that larger firms will be able to leverage the many benefits that they have to offer.
Technology has changed the building industry in many ways. In the manufacturing sector, 3D printing has made it easier to mass produce key components such as molds, beams and more. For designers, virtual reality software has made it possible to imagine a project in a true 3D state. Beyond these innovations, you’ve got drones that can map construction sites, smart apps helping project managers and even Building Information Modelling (BIM) to help maintain buildings when they’re finished. Put simply, technology is responsible for massive changes in the construction industry over the last two decades. Building Bridges in the Tech World However, there are also times when buildings can facilitate technological change. Although bricks and cement don’t directly contribute to the advancements, the creation of technology hubs does. Since the dot.com boom of the mid-nineties, companies have been hot on the idea of housing tech start-ups in clusters. Today, anyone with an idea in the tech space can camp inside an incubator and develop their ideas. As well as offering secure, well-stocked environments that provide everything a start-up needs in terms of facilities, incubators are designed to be a breeding ground for ideas. In the UK, Google Campus and Level39 are places where entrepreneurs can network and learn. In essence, these buildings allow tech-minded individuals to meet, interact and develop products in mutually beneficial surroundings. This trend is one that big businesses have started to embrace in recent years. In Europe, Mr Green recently moved its head office to Stockholm’s Epicenter. A purpose-built facility housing everything from blockchain start-ups to artificial intelligence (AI) projects, Epicenter has become one of Sweden’s leading tech innovation hubs. Constructing the Future of Technology For Mr Green, the move was as much of a practical decision as a business move. By relocating, the gaming company has been able to increase its head office team to 100 employees. Beyond that, it now shares space with companies on the cutting-edge of modern technology. This proximity to innovators in other sectors should, in turn, facilitate new ideas and products in the gaming space. Indeed, as per the Mr Green LinkedIn page, the company switched its name to MRG in May 2018 to reflect its changing status as something more than a casino brand. In other words, a change of location has led to a philosophical change in the way the company operates. Therefore, in this sense, the building is contributed to the next generation of online gaming. By creating spaces where businesses can interact, everyone involved in building tech hubs is helping to reshape technology whether they realize it not. While the relationship between technology and construction may often seem like a one-way street. The opposite is true. Although it may not always be obvious, modern building designs are paving the way for the technology of the future.
Last week, Theresa May announced she is lifting the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Borrowing Cap, which has been a constraint on local council’s ability to finance new build housing projects. The Prime Minister has stated that the only way to fix the broken market is to create new homes for new buyers, but that isn’t the same view as a lot of the population, and the decision has ruffled some feathers. Agitation from the decision comes through the idea that councils are not the reason there is a fundamental housing problem occurring across the country. Josh Ryan-Collins, a researcher at the University College of London’s Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose, published his research paper: Why Can’t you afford to buy a house? Which aims to shed some light on the current housing turmoil across the United Kingdom. The basics of his argument lie in that the housing crisis, above all else, is a product of the banking system in society, meaning that rising house prices are simply out of reach for the average house income, which is putting people off the purchase of a new home. Now that councils are once again able to borrow money in order to fuel new local builds, there is the idea that new wealth can come to an area and people are able to get onto the property ladder more easily. That being said, the alternative view is that councils being able to once again borrow money will in fact do little for the economy, and will not actually address any greater aspects of the housing crisis, instead this will simply add more debt to local areas, and more money into the banking systems. Josh’s argument is that central banks should be guiding away from property and into more productive areas of the community to slowly build up wealth, rather than borrowing for a quick-fix build. An incentive system is not in place at the moment which could, and should, be implemented to see housing in the future be a more successful sector nationwide. It is not just the UK who have been suffering from housing epidemics, as across the world a trend of struggling economy has begun to surface. This problem has been as such since the post-war popularization of home ownership was introduced and put pressure on governments to reduce their property taxation. This in turn made it more attractive for banks to lend larger sums of money, such as in the form of a mortgage, which now has become a major part of banking business across the globe. While it remains uncertain if Theresa May’s decision will be for better or worse, it does not look as if the housing crisis cannot be resolved by simply building more homes.
12 trainees have started their professional training in a M&E Consultancy in Solihull. Couch Perry Wilkes (CPW) has welcomed the trainees, who will specialise in an array of areas, including mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, lighting, public health and finance. Moreover, they will also have the opportunity to complete industry-recognised qualifications, as well as receive in-house mentoring from the firm’s experienced team. “I really enjoyed studying lighting within an interior design module as part of my course so I was particularly interested in the opportunity of a trainee role at CPW advertised through my university,” said Danielle Smith, the firm’s new trainee lighting designer, who recently graduated from Birmingham City University with a degree in textiles design. “Lighting design takes my existing skillset one step further as you have to ensure the end product not only looks great but is also functional and viable. Bringing my creativity into an engineering world gives a fresh perspective which I think CPW really like. “We’ve learnt so much already on the training programme. I have been on site visiting projects and speaking to clients, which has been brilliant. Engineering isn’t very well promoted to women which needs to change as it’s definitely not just a man’s industry – so far I’ve loved every second,” she added. The Director at CPW, Wayne Eustace, also commented on the company’s commitment to supporting the youth in the industry. “”We pride ourselves in being ahead of the curve in supporting the next generation of engineers, offering traineeships, apprenticeships and vocational training as well as offering mentoring opportunities throughout colleges and universities across the country.” “Many of our past trainees have achieved high grades in their qualifications, which really highlights how much of an impact mentoring can have on young engineers throughout their academic studies,” Wayne concluded.
A £39.5 million hospital transformation programme for the Cheltenham General and Gloucestershire Royal Hospitals will be delivered by construction firm Kier. Secured through the Procure22 framework, the project is set to modernise hospital buildings to underpin service transformation and provide the next generation of care at the country’s two main acute hospitals. “Kier is delighted to have been chosen by Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation to deliver such an important healthcare development programme for the region, under the P22 framework,” said Ben Ramsay, operations director at Kier. “We understand this programme of building modernisation is vital to underpin important service transformation at both Cheltenham General and Gloucestershire Royal Hospitals. We’re looking forward to working with the Gloucestershire supply chain and local community to provide many employment opportunities and create a number of new jobs in the upcoming years. It also presents a great opportunity to support Shaping Your World™, an industry-wide campaign to inspire 11-15 year-olds to pursue careers in the built environment,” Ben added. The plans for both sites are being developed collaboratively by Kier and the Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, expecting funding that will be focused on theatre provision at Cheltenham General and acute care pathways at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital. “We are delighted to be working with Kier on this exciting project; they have considerable experience of working with public sector partners to deliver innovative solutions and I am confident that with their help this investment will ensure both our hospitals are increasingly well placed to deliver the very best care for our patients and support our developing vision for Centres of Excellence,” said Deborah Lee, Chief Executive of Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.