Berwick will turn one of its current infirmary into a new £25 million hospital, with all of its previous services still continuing into the new building. After reviewing feedback on previous proposals to develop a joint site with the Swan leisure centre, Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and NHS Northumberland
A new deal has been signed by Interserve with Land Securities Group Plc to continue work on retail centres across the UK. Worth over £15 million, the one-year extension of the contract will see the firm deliver a range of services at four major retail centres. This extension can be
Cladding work to Stephen George + Partners’ £7.3 million office building, now named No1 Great Central Square, at the old Stibbe factory site in Leicester is nearly 90% complete. Part of a £45 million masterplan designed by Stephen George + Partners LLP (SGP) for Charles Street Buildings Group, No1 Great
One of the UK’s leading manufacturers of timber- and metal-faced composite insulated panels has made two senior appointments to help drive planned growth, aimed at satisfying the building industry’s need for materials used in Modern Methods of Construction (MMC). Ingrid Lovatt is a particularly apt choice as Finance Director at
Clegg Construction has completed a new Students’ Union building at a West Midlands university. The build was carried out by the Nottingham-based company at Aston University in Birmingham, on behalf of Aston Students’ Union as part of a £6.1m design and build contract. The modern new build replaces the 1960s
For those who sit outside of the plastering trade, a question that gets commonly asked is ‘what is the difference between plastering and rendering?’ While some may just want to seem more in-the-know when they’re talking to the plasterer, others may be struggling to distinguish between what are two very
Statistically, the United Kingdom’s population has increased by 7% in the last decade, increasing to just over sixty three million according to a recent census. With reported falling property prices and low interest rates, now may seem like the intelligent time to invest in buying a property in the UK.
The team at UK packaging supplier, Kite Packaging, were delighted to welcome Sir Oliver Heald MP last week, an opportunity which enabled them to give him a deeper insight into the Kite brand and their environmental commitment. Sir Oliver Heald MP was able to explore the Kite site and meet
Naturgy, a company led by Francisco Reynés, has presented the results for the first quarter of 2019, focused on progress in the implementation of its Strategic Plan with a great challenge ahead such as renewable energy, which highlights the great industrial plan of the energy company, both nationally and internationally.
Berwick will turn one of its current infirmary into a new £25 million hospital, with all of its previous services still continuing into the new building. After reviewing feedback on previous proposals to develop a joint site with the Swan leisure centre, Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and NHS Northumberland Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) agreed on the development. “We are delighted to be able to announce that the new hospital will be built on the site of the much loved (Berwick) Infirmary,” said Northumbria Healthcare CEO Sir James Mackey. “Following extensive joint public engagement, and a thorough review of all alternative sites, we believe this is the best option which also commands the support of both staff and the community – a factor which is very important to both the trust and the CCG. “It is clear that the joint development was not what the town wanted. Instead, people demonstrated their support for a stand-alone hospital on the current site. Accordingly, we have listened, responded and worked together to come up with this plan as an alternative.” The authorities will put a major emphasis on eradicating the need to travel for minor or routine appointments in the plans by ensuring they track and publish the number of miles patients have to travel on a yearly basis. The design of the facility will also focus flexibility, embracing new technology and ensuring outstanding care. “This is great news for Berwick and we are delighted to see the project moving forward in a way that meets the needs of the local community. Patients are at the heart of our services and this decision is as a direct result of the feedback we have heard,” added Janet Guy, chair of Northumberland CCG. “We very much look forward to working with Northumbria Healthcare to provide a first class health facility for the people of Berwick. It’s very exciting and is brilliant news for both the NHS and the town.” Preliminary talks are underway with a number of possible developers.
A new deal has been signed by Interserve with Land Securities Group Plc to continue work on retail centres across the UK. Worth over £15 million, the one-year extension of the contract will see the firm deliver a range of services at four major retail centres. This extension can be extended for a further year and it involves approximately 520 employees providing facilities management, customer service and security services at Landsec’s retail centres in Leeds, Cardiff, London and Oxford. “I am delighted Landsec has once again chosen Interserve to deliver facilities management services. Our team is dedicated to the Landsec account and has an intimate knowledge of the four major retail centres that we provide services to. This illustrates our ability to retain leading UK clients, developing long-term strategic relationships with them as we continue to grow our private sector client base,” said Jeff Flanagan, Managing Director, Interserve Business & Industry. Interserve secured the new contract after its success during the initial three-year partnership, in which the firm supported Landsec in the opening of its Westgate retail centre in Oxford, with one hundred Interserve colleagues now dedicated to providing excellent FM services on site. The construction giant was also selected for its integrated capabilities and expertise in providing best-in-class customer solutions to complex national contracts. Landsec is the largest commercial property development and investment company in the UK.
Cladding work to Stephen George + Partners’ £7.3 million office building, now named No1 Great Central Square, at the old Stibbe factory site in Leicester is nearly 90% complete. Part of a £45 million masterplan designed by Stephen George + Partners LLP (SGP) for Charles Street Buildings Group, No1 Great Central Square is the latest component in the transformation of the 1.89 hectare site into the wider Great Central Square redevelopment, which is set within the Waterside Strategic Regeneration Area. The building will offer up to 33,000sq.ft of Grade A offices whilst the scheme will also feature two new hotels, the refurbishment of the Great Central Railway Station and a new public plaza, all of which are overseen by SGP. Adjacent to the All Saints conservation area and flanked by several listed buildings, the five-storey office’s V-shaped form evolved with the design of SGP’s masterplan. Double storey height curtain walling at ground and high level achieves a critical lightness whilst the twisting roof parapet adds further visual interest to the building, creating an attractive and aspirational place for future tenants to work and do business. The slanting element in the façade was a conscious design decision to reduce the building’s scale in respect of its neighbours, creating street harmony and bringing forward the once neglected Great Central Railway Station. To further emphasise the sleek modern design, joints were kept to a minimum. This was achieved through large cladding panels up to 5m long together with specially constructed 3D pre-formed corner panels. SGP’s meticulous detail is crucial to give a quality edge to the building. Explains Hing Ow, Associate at SGP: “Due to the twisting form and building tolerance, precision is of utmost importance to ensure correct installation can be achieved. Furthermore, there are nearly 250 individual aluminium panels and up to 270 different sizes of ceramic panels used in the building. To avoid errors, we had to use a 3D modelling tool to draw up each panel, so each panel can be precisely cut in the factory and correctly installed on site.” For the cladding, aluminium with a natural muted colour was chosen to give a light contemporary feel that contrasts and highlights the softer finishes of the hotel. On at the bottom level, ceramic panels were specified in a similar colour tone to ground the building, as well as giving a visual connection between No1 Great Central Square and the hotels. Continues Hing: “We worked closely with the client and the contractor through a number of design reviews and cost analysis exercises to uphold the essence of the design while meeting the budget constraints.” Explains Ian Yallop, Chairman at SGP: “The new development is a key piece in the central Leicester jigsaw, transforming a neglected site into a vibrant and engaging destination as well as a safe and welcoming link between the city centre and the City Council’s ambitious Waterside development.” Work started on site in March 2018 and is expected to complete in December 2019. Morgan Sindall is the contractor for the highway works, hotels, and new office building, and the contractor for the refurbishment of the station is Charles Street Buildings (the client’s construction arm).
One of the UK’s leading manufacturers of timber- and metal-faced composite insulated panels has made two senior appointments to help drive planned growth, aimed at satisfying the building industry’s need for materials used in Modern Methods of Construction (MMC). Ingrid Lovatt is a particularly apt choice as Finance Director at St Helen’s-based Hemsec; her background and wide experience as a big-four-trained Chartered Accountant, combined with a Master’s Degree in Architectural Engineering gives her a well-informed viewpoint from which to help build the company. Ingrid started her career working in engineering in the 1980’s, and is heartened by how the profession has since turned itself around here in the UK. An engineering consultancy role led her into accountancy, where her background has spanned big-four mergers and acquisitions with UK and International clients, as well as strategic financial roles at both FTSE 100 PLC’s and owner-managed businesses. On her move to Hemsec, Ingrid comments, “I was looking for a business that had aspiration as well as strong foundations, where I could be part of the journey. To find one that also has a heart, made it easy for me to agree to join Hemsec.” Chris Griffin is equally well-matched with Hemsec, joining as Commercial Manager. His background in logistics, international warehousing, commodity storage and port distribution led to a move into commercial in 2015. He spent the last four years developing industrial supply chain solutions before joining Hemsec to support Managing Director Stephen Painter to realise his vision of ‘Doing business differently and better.’ Chris comments: “It feels like a real privilege to join Hemsec at this stage in its history. The commitment to ensuring Hemsec’s values influence responsible decision-making really attracted me to this company. I am excited about investing my time and effort in helping to fulfil its potential in a sustainable way. The insulated panels the company produces play a vital role in significantly reducing fuel usage in buildings, at the same time as improving living standards. It is really important that we help the construction industry to access the volume of materials it needs to stimulate MMC in the UK and Europe. Widespread usage will play a pretty significant role in fulfilling the environmental targets set in the Kyoto and Paris agreements. As a collective, we must reduce energy and any part I have in making this happen more easily and effectively, motivates me.” Hemsec is developing educational materials to facilitate SIPs usage in the construction industry, and is in talks with secondary education colleges and the CITB to provide accredited learning. For more information please contact the company through Hemsec.com.
Clegg Construction has completed a new Students’ Union building at a West Midlands university. The build was carried out by the Nottingham-based company at Aston University in Birmingham, on behalf of Aston Students’ Union as part of a £6.1m design and build contract. The modern new build replaces the 1960s Students’ Union building and is located at the heart of the university campus. The two-storey steel framed building was designed by architects Robothams and has striking full height glazing. There are a range of facilities inside including a café, bar and restaurant, shop, social spaces, prayer room and washing facilities, games area, media room, multi-exhibition and rehearsal space and office space for the union’s student officer team and services. Sustainability is a key factor of the new building which includes district heating, use of sustainable timbers, photovoltaic panels and a strict recycling policy – the building has also achieved an A-rated Energy Performance Certificate. Simon Blackburn, Managing Director of Clegg Construction, said: “This is a fantastic new venue for the Students’ Union and is among the most modern and sustainable of its type in the country.“We were delighted to work with Aston University once again having also completed the new labs for the Aston Institute of Photonic Technologies.” Amna Atteeq, Students’ Union president said: “It’s been a pleasure working with Clegg Construction over the last 12 months on the new SU, I know students are going to absolutely love it and it’s going to become a home from home whilst they are studying at Aston. I’m going to be finishing my studies next year and I can’t wait to spend time enjoying the amazing new building.” This was the third project Clegg Construction has completed at Aston University in recent years. It completed the new facility for the Aston Institute of Photonic Technologies in November 2017. Prior to that it carried out a £5.2m remodelling of the School of Engineering and Applied Science’s chemical engineering and applied chemistry facilities. Clegg Construction has completed schemes for the University of Birmingham and University of Nottingham and last year the new £10.1m Science Centre for the University of Wolverhampton.
For those who sit outside of the plastering trade, a question that gets commonly asked is ‘what is the difference between plastering and rendering?’ While some may just want to seem more in-the-know when they’re talking to the plasterer, others may be struggling to distinguish between what are two very similar practices. Fundamentally, the two main differences lie in their use and their composition. In terms of practical use, rendering is the coating of external walls, whilst plastering is the coating of interior walls. Whilst both are composed primarily of cement, sand, water and lime gypsum, render features a much heavier composition. Here, we discuss the purposes of both so you can help separate the two once and for all. The Purpose of Rendering Rendering is the process of coating the exterior surfaces of buildings; a process used to waterproof and fireproof the exterior, as well as enhance the aesthetics. Render material is made up of the same ingredients as plaster but features a much heavier cement base, which makes it fit for external purposes. Fine sand and lime gypsum are utilised in the mixture in order to provide a smooth finish. Render represents the final layer on exterior walls, and can be finished as smooth, flat, textured or patterned, depending on the requirements of the client. The Purpose of Plastering Plastering is the process of coating the interior walls and ceilings of a building, so they’re fit for painting or wallpapering. The mixture contains less cement than that of render and utilises less coarse sand, which provides a lighter, smoother finish than its external counterpart. Whilst both are mortar coatings that rest on top of blockwork, plaster is not weather resistant, offering more of a decorative function that is water repellent and easily cleaned. It also holds fireproofing qualities, particularly in older buildings that are constructed from mud or clay. Of course, both share strong similarities. Their makeup includes the same ingredients, and their functional purpose is more or less the same. The important point to distinguish is their differing anti-abrasion properties. For a new house build, it’s essential the exterior is comprehensively rendered to avoid damage and potential collapse from moisture build up. When plastering, make sure to leaves freshly laid plaster for anywhere from a week to a month to dry before beginning painting or wallpapering. Naturally, such jobs are best carried out by a professional, so search for ‘local plasterers near me’ to find a quality, good value tradesmen to do the job for you.
Statistically, the United Kingdom’s population has increased by 7% in the last decade, increasing to just over sixty three million according to a recent census. With reported falling property prices and low interest rates, now may seem like the intelligent time to invest in buying a property in the UK. However, with the uncertainty of Brexit, and the statistic of just 285,000 properties being bought with cash alone in 2018, it begs the question, are investors hesitant to buy UK properties? Below are just a few reasons why people may be hesitant to invest in a UK property in 2019: The current and near-future UK economy has to be considered It was shown that economic growth slowed at the end of 2018. Although it’s expected to recover in 2019, it’s set to remain sluggish throughout the upcoming year. Changes to taxes act as a negative for certain It’s predicted that mortgage interest relief is set to be capped at the basic rate of 20% by April 2020. Foreign investors are particularly hesitant to buy in the In the past, a lot of wealth has previously been poured into the UK by China, Arabic countries and Russia alike. The income of this has drastically slowed down, due to the fear of current political change in the UK. The weaker UK pound is also something to be With this pushing up the price of goods imported from abroad, it will inevitably feed into higher inflation rates. Then of course, there is the 3% stamp duty surcharge on second homes for those considering a buy to let Landlords can no longer claim full tax relief on mortgage interest. Interest rates themselves are set to rise to the highest level in a decade since the financial crash, increasing from 0.25% to 75%. Brexit is something that cannot be ignored, and the Bank of England predict that the impact of the UK leaving the EU could be highly significant for the housing If a “no deal” Brexit is chosen, house prices are predicted to fall by 30%, which compares with the drop of 17% in the average UK property as a result of the financial crisis ten years ago. Again, it also comes back to the political and financial uncertainty of the UK at present, and how this will potentially discourage foreign investors. However: Some of these aspects could actually be seen as advantageous for new and experienced investors alike. Despite there being undeniable risks, it is true that with interest rates being at an all time low, borrowing is actually cheaper. Mortgage payments being low, increases the amount that monthly rent can be charged for, and subsequently landlords are earning a higher rental The UK is actually the top European city for property There are alternative options for investors, like quick sale companies such as ReadySteadySell; if they end up looking for a quick cash sale, or are alternatively looking to make a purchase of the same. Cities such as Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds are flourishing like never London no longer has the monopoly, as many places up North are regenerating. Birmingham alone has gone through a complete transformation, costing over £500 million in development. Educationally, of the top universities in the world, 16 are in the With record levels of population growth, it seems the UK will continue to grow and flourish. If statistics are correct, it’s set that 20% of the population will rent in the next five years, so now is a good time to invest in a buy-to-let Although there undoubtedly pros and cons to be considered before investing in a UK property, it’s fair to say there are significant arguments for both sides. As with any investment, there are risks and pay-offs, so are investors hesitant to invest in UK properties? The debate is ongoing.
The team at UK packaging supplier, Kite Packaging, were delighted to welcome Sir Oliver Heald MP last week, an opportunity which enabled them to give him a deeper insight into the Kite brand and their environmental commitment. Sir Oliver Heald MP was able to explore the Kite site and meet the innovating team behind Letchworth’s packaging operations. Mr Heald and Kite Packaging’s Letchworth Managing Partner, Paul Mustard discussed the business’s 120 tonne plastic reduction challenge and the demand for environmental packaging. The day was a success with many Kite customers and suppliers attending the day, Sir Oliver Heald MP commented: “I was delighted to visit this innovative company which is at the forefront of packaging technology and keen to improve the environmental profile of the industry. I was also impressed that the company is owned by its workers. I was pleased to meet Paul Mustard and the team and I found their enthusiasm inspiring.” Having moved to its new Letchworth location in 2016 after 15 years situated in Harlow, Kite’s continued growth necessitated a planned expansion being brought forward to the summer of last year. The Kite site oversaw a 12,000 sq. ft extension, gaining an extra 2300 pallet spaces, bringing Letchworth’s total capacity to 36,000 sq. ft. With a regional branch network across the UK, the employee-owned company also has sites in the Midlands, Rotherham, Swindon, Sittingbourne, Portsmouth and Gateshead as well as a Packaging Regulations compliant scheme, Kite Environmental Solutions. For further information on Kite’s environmental packaging or for more about the employee-owned business’s 120 tonne plastic reduction challenge, please visit kitepackaging.co.uk.
Naturgy, a company led by Francisco Reynés, has presented the results for the first quarter of 2019, focused on progress in the implementation of its Strategic Plan with a great challenge ahead such as renewable energy, which highlights the great industrial plan of the energy company, both nationally and internationally. The company has also lowered its risk profile and increased its exposure to regulated assets with innovative investments. From the outset, Francisco Reynés has focused on cash generation, reducing his net debt and complying with shareholder remuneration at the end of the dividend payment against the previous year’s results. Francisco Reynés Massanet, executive president of the company, indicated that the “group continues with its industrial project, investing in renewables and networks, which allows us to adapt to the energy mix of the future and the quality of service that customers need and demand. We also continue to meet the commitments we made a year ago in terms of shareholder remuneration, while maintaining stable debt levels. Naturgy continues to make progress in implementing the Strategic Plan, with significant progress in efficiency and in reducing Naturgy’s risk profile. This progress has been made in part thanks to the tariff updates in some Latin American countries and undoubtedly to the progressive improvement in the risk profile of the liberalized businesses. The results recorded in the first quarter show that the strategic plan launched by Francisco Reynés on his arrival in 2018 has borne fruit with ordinary EBITDA reaching 1,167 million euros, 6% more than in the same period of the previous year, and ordinary net profit of 377 million. This represents an increase of 16%. Reynés commented that investments amounted to 301 million euros in the period and show primarily the development of a new renewable capacity planned by the electricity company, as well as growth in distribution networks, always complying with the Strategic Plan 2018-2022. The growth in investments has led to progress in Naturgy’s industrial project, which includes 138 MW of solar and wind projects put into operation in Spain in the first quarter and another 777 MW that will come into operation during the year. All in all, the installed capacity in the country now stands at around 1,320 MW, an increase of 15%. The company has also invested in the development of 180 MW of wind energy in Australia and 324 MW of wind and solar capacity in Chile, which will come into operation before the third quarter of 2020 and the first quarter of 2021, respectively. During the first quarter of 2019, net debt amounted to 15,003 million euros, 2% less than on December 31, 2018, thanks to a greater focus on cash generation, after having allocated 560 million for the payment of the final dividend for 2018 and a total of 135 million for the share buyback program during the quarter. Efficiency plan and risk profile reduction Naturgy by the hand of Francisco Reynés, has continued to make progress on its efficiencies plan and the gradual de-risking of its business profile. The efficiencies achieved since the launch of the SP 18-22 are noticeable across the businesses and will remain a key driver of performance going forward. In this respect, the company has incurred additional capture costs of €50m during 2019, accounting for the bulk of non-ordinary effects in the quarter. Naturgy is on track to deliver the €100m additional efficiencies expected for 2019, and reiterates its total commitment of €500m efficiencies by 2022. Shareholder remuneration Naturgy, the company chaired by Francisco Reynés, continues to comply with the remuneration promised to shareholders. Furthermore, and since the beginning of its strategic plan until 31 March 2019, Naturgy has invested €238m on a share buyback program, as part of its €400m annual schedule to be completed by the end of June 2019. In this respect, the Ordinary General Shareholders’ Meeting, held in March 2019, approved a share capital reduction of the company through the amortization of the shares bought under the abovementioned program. Results by business unit By business units, Gas & Power recorded an ordinary EBITDA of €409m, an increase of 1.2%, mainly due to the fact that the group’s new commercial policies which, together with efficiencies and new renewables capacity, have helped offset the global decline in gas prices during the quarter. Infrastructure EMEA increased its ordinary EBITDA by 7.7% to €475m euros, as a result of a good performance across all business. In gas infrastructures, the efficiencies achieved have compensated for the lower volumes due to the mild temperatures recorded this winter. The reduction of costs has also been key in the electricity networks, together with the entry into operation of new assets. The result of Infrastructure South LatAm (Chile, Argentina and Brazil, mainly) grew significantly, with an ordinary EBITDA of €194m (+ 15%), thanks to the efficiencies achieved and the tariff indexation. In the case of Infrastructures North LatAm (Mexico and Panama) the ordinary EBITDA was €101m, with a rise of 68% compared to the same period of 2018, on the back of positive regulatory impacts, higher demand and efficiency improvements.
