Planning permission is now being sought for the second stage of Frontier Park, Blackburn, off the Whitebirk roundabout next to M65 junction six, with construction scheduled to start in March for completion by Christmas. Alex Kenwright, development manager for the project, has revealed three new tenants for its existing warehouse
Published late last year, the report by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for the Timber Industries, How the timber industries can help solve the housing crisis, was encouraging, but now is the time to take real action, says Jeremy English, Director at Södra Wood Ltd, STA board member and previous chairman
UK housebuilder Harron Homes has named a new Construction Director to lead its Yorkshire team. Robert Kerr will join the Leeds-based firm with almost four decades experience in the construction industry and on the back of a recent role as Construction Director at a Bradford based housebuilder. The Rotherham man,
A major residential scheme at Salford’s MediaCityUK has reached a key project milestone. The first phase of Lightbox is nearing full occupation following the completion of the 20-storey building along the waterfront. AHR’s development for Peel L&P consists of 237 private for sale apartments, including a mix of studio, one,
Are you just setting up our own construction business? Maybe you’ve been in the building industry for a while and feel that, given the growth levels within the industry, now is the right time to strike out on your own. Along with all the key considerations that come with setting
As you advance in your medical career, you may find yourself in the position to open your own private clinic. For many, this can be a stressful decision. For one, you’d be leaving the comfort of the hospital to branch out on your own but for others, the ability to
Planning permission is now being sought for the second stage of Frontier Park, Blackburn, off the Whitebirk roundabout next to M65 junction six, with construction scheduled to start in March for completion by Christmas. Alex Kenwright, development manager for the project, has revealed three new tenants for its existing warehouse and industrial units and said that a further one is in the final legal stages of letting. This leaves just one small unit of 20,000 square feet left to fill out of the initial 400,000. The development by Blackburn’s Issa brothers aims to bring 2,000 jobs when completed in spring next year, earlier than scheduled. It includes one of the brothers’ Euro Garages service areas and a 150-bedroom Hampton by Hilton hotel with a conference and banqueting centre, construction of which is on track to end later this year. Cllr Miles Parkinson, leader of Hyndburn Council, said: “This is an important development for the whole of East Lancashire. It has come on by leaps and bounds and the jobs are now flowing in. Everything that was promised is being delivered.” The largest 185,000 sq ft warehouse has been taken by MDA, part of European Logistics giant The Stacci Group, to service their existing Walker Park, Blackburn, operation. The Modular Group has moved from smaller premises in Blackburn into a 30,000 sq ft unit to expand its business manufacturing and distributing garden and office sheds and cabins and structurally insulated panels for easy-build houses. An 80,000 sq ft warehouse has been let to Royal Sanders, a global supplier of soap and personal care products. Hyndburn supplier of dryers, ovens and coolers to industry, Tek-Dry Systems Limited, had previously taken 60,000 sq ft of space. Mr Kenwright said: “The last 12 months have been great. We have seen take-up of 95 per cent of available space bringing dozens of jobs initially with more to come. Our aim is to have the park fully built and let by spring 2021.” Cllr Phil Riley, Blackburn with Darwen Council’s regeneration boss, said: “The progress of this development is great for East Lancashire as a whole. It sends put a message this is area to invest in.” The new phase of development, totalling almost 300,000 sq ft has been designed to provide units of between 50,000 and 150,000 sq ft along with a phase of smaller starter units between 3,000 and 5,000 sq ft. Caroline James of estate agents Trevor Dawson said: “Frontier Park is almost fully let and is now established as a prime location for manufacturing and logistics.”
Published late last year, the report by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for the Timber Industries, How the timber industries can help solve the housing crisis, was encouraging, but now is the time to take real action, says Jeremy English, Director at Södra Wood Ltd, STA board member and previous chairman of the Truss Rafter Association. Södra Wood Ltd is one of the UK’s leading suppliers of sustainable structural timber and engineered wood products. The inconvenient truth The facts are by now well-known. The Government needs to build 300,000 new homes in England per year while achieving zero carbon emissions by 2050. Construction 2025, a joint government and industry strategy, has also outlined targets for the UK construction sector, including halving construction-related emissions and project delivery times, and reducing construction costs by a third, by 2025. These are all ambitious goals and ones that put the industry – in its current state – in a difficult predicament given its reliance on concrete, “the most destructive material on Earth,” according to The Guardian last year. The solution: timber In stark contrast, according to the APPG’s report, if 270,000 of these new homes were to be built by the timber industry, three million tonnes of carbon dioxide would be absorbed and stored each year and build times would be 30 per cent quicker. The report goes on to argue that using timber in construction is central to meeting emissions targets and urges the government to implement the recommendations of the Climate Change Committee by increasing the use of timber in construction. Sustainability credentials aside, the human cost of the housing crisis absolutely cannot be ignored. As the report notes, “the housing crisis in the UK has a fundamental and negative effect on our quality of life. A lack of affordable housing is consistently linked to poverty, poor mental and physical health.” Timber can and should undoubtedly play a central role in solving this profound problem. Success in creating a flourishing housing industry, and in turn, a flourishing timber industry, would be felt right across the country. So, what action can be taken? Embrace offsite timber frame construction Throughout the 1950s and 1960s the UK building industry moved towards industrialised forms of building, and in the early ‘80s prefabricated housing became dominated by timber frame systems. Timber framed dwellings steadily grew to around 30 per cent of the new build market until negative media coverage and the public’s continued general suspicion of modern construction methods contributed to a significant downturn in production. Until recently, this stigma has remained, although in Scotland, incidentally, where timber frame was and still is well-respected, production was hardly affected at all and to this day timber frame accounts for 75 per cent of all new houses in Scotland. Shifting mentalities Quite rightly, we’re now seeing a shift in mentality throughout the rest of the UK, especially given timber frame’s ability to facilitate affordable homes. It’s a method that combines speed, quality and efficiency; all of which contribute to affordable, low carbon, efficient homes. Today’s offsite timber frame homes – thanks largely to technological advances – are also high-quality. Offsite construction’s controlled approach to planning and constructing buildings significantly minimises any room for error, and gives opportunity for new eco-friendly process planning, designing and installing within a much-reduced time frame and budget. The factory setting allows better quality control of materials, chain production setups and easier implementation of processes and manufacturing methods. Research published by WRAP also demonstrates that the use of timber frame construction components can reduce the amount of waste generated on site by up to 40 per cent. Currently, timber frame construction accounts for just 15 per cent of UK housing output, according to the NHBC. Benefits outlined above, coupled with the fact that government housing targets simply cannot be met through traditional methods alone, makes me confident that this figure will increase exponentially in the years to come. The government’s ban on combustible materials No current conversation about timber is complete without comment on the government’s catch-all ban on combustible materials. At the end of 2018, as part of fire safety improvement measures intended to prevent another tragic blaze like that seen at Grenfell Tower, the then Housing Secretary, James Brokenshire, introduced new legislation banning combustible materials on new high-rise homes above 18m. The government is now considering lowering the height threshold for combustible materials to “at least 11m,” according to current Housing Secretary, Robert Jenrick. Architects, builders and suppliers of timber and engineered timber products are now looking at what the future holds for mass timber builds following this catch-all ban and, in particular, the specification and use of cross-laminated timber (CLT) as a strong, lightweight structural component for multi-floor structures. While there’s no question that these restrictions are intended to enhance occupant safety, we mustn’t lose sight of CLT’s inherent benefits; benefits that have made it an increasingly popular choice for structural components since its introduction into the UK in 2004. It’s easy to transport and modify, it minimises noise pollution on site and it’s highly cost-efficient to produce and use. Structural timber and CLT products also have very predictable charring rates. When exposed to fire, the load-bearing core of a beam or truss will remain intact while the char layer remains to protect it. The char forms an insulation layer preventing an excessive rise in temperature within the unburnt core. The core continues to function, providing a predictable period of fire resistance. I’ll conclude with a quote from Andrew Waugh of Waugh Thisleton Architects, one of the UK’s leading proponents of timber construction: “The reality is the evidence says we’ve got 12 years left to sort out climate change – we’ve got to start changing the way we do things. And we’ve got to keep pushing the message about the safety of CLT. It’s not only quicker to put up; it’s safer, healthier, lighter and locks away carbon.” Presently, the Structural Timber Association, amongst others, is currently augmenting its already extensive
UK housebuilder Harron Homes has named a new Construction Director to lead its Yorkshire team. Robert Kerr will join the Leeds-based firm with almost four decades experience in the construction industry and on the back of a recent role as Construction Director at a Bradford based housebuilder. The Rotherham man, who is known as Bob, was attracted to Harron Homes because of the high specification of the properties it builds and the opportunity the role offered to develop the construction and customer care teams to further improve customer satisfaction. Noel Adams, Managing Director for Harron Homes Yorkshire, said: “Bob’s wealth of experience means he was an obvious choice for the post. “Our operational area boasts some of the UK’s most attractive locations, some of its richest history and some of its most charming communities. “I am proud to say that the company has experienced great success over the past two decades years bringing high quality, family homes to these areas and with Bob’s input we look forward to playing our part in meeting the continued demand.” Harron Homes is currently building a range of executive new homes across Yorkshire, from Harrogate to Barnsley and Huddersfield to Howden, including a number of new developments due to launch in 2020 in Pocklington and Carlton.
A major residential scheme at Salford’s MediaCityUK has reached a key project milestone. The first phase of Lightbox is nearing full occupation following the completion of the 20-storey building along the waterfront. AHR’s development for Peel L&P consists of 237 private for sale apartments, including a mix of studio, one, two and three bedrooms, boasting balconies with waterfront views overlooking the Manchester Ship Canal, Old Trafford Stadium and close to the BBC and Coronation Street studios. Dominic Manfredi, director at architecture and building consultancy practice, AHR, said: “This has been an exciting project for us to work on, close to home for our Manchester team. Our design prioritised the building’s fantastic location and views, offering residents a truly unique living experience beside the tranquil waterfront of the Manchester Ship Canal and nearby creative hub of MediaCityUK. The building is light, airy and sophisticated, with modern features that attract the people of today who wish to live in a thriving area, within a home that delivers a high quality of living.” With open plan living, kitchen and dining, the design maximises natural light thanks to the generous floor to ceiling glazing, adding to the sense of openness and space. High quality fittings have been used throughout to ensure that the apartments look both impressive and are easy to maintain for residents. The concierge facility and impressive entrance area to the building help create an atmosphere of luxury and distinction. Lightbox incorporates two retail units to provide local and convenient amenities to the community, in addition to the flourishing leisure and shopping facilities nearby. The development integrates excellent transport links to Manchester and Salford, with car parking and bike storage also available for residents. AHR’s second phase at MediaCityUK ‘The Green Rooms’, neighbouring the Lightbox development has now also handed over for fit-out, accommodating 238 PRS apartments with further generous ground floor residents’ amenity spaces including concierge reception, various lounges, gym and private dining areas. MediaCityUK is a joint venture partnership between Peel L&P and Legal and General Capital.
Are you just setting up our own construction business? Maybe you’ve been in the building industry for a while and feel that, given the growth levels within the industry, now is the right time to strike out on your own. Along with all the key considerations that come with setting up a construction company, from what your team will look like to how you’ll pay subcontractors, you’ll need to think carefully about the everyday issues too. One of these is risk management. Running any type of business involves a level of risk. Risk management involves the strategies and processes you introduce to identify, assess, address and tackle the risks that have the potential to impact your business and the people you employ. Here’s a look at how you can ensure you’re managing risk within your business. What is risk? Before you can tackle the risks to your business, it’s important to understand what risk is. There are types of risk that come up for businesses across a range of sectors. These include strategic risks; the risks around how compliant your company is; and financial risks. To work out where the risks are in your own business, you need to look or any potential situations that can impact negatively. For example, if you lose a big client, you will face a financial risk as you will be relying on that income for your company’s cashflow. You need to work out early on how much risk you’re willing to take. Sometimes, taking a step into risky situations can pay off, whereas others can be detrimental. Risk management is knowing where to draw that line and how to deal with things that arise. Here’s how to set up your risk management plan: Identify Review where there are potential risks to the business. Evaluate each area and work out where something negative could occur. Next, review previous issues, complaints or problems that have cropped up. You can then work out what external risks could influence your business. Then you need to ask the ‘what if’ questions. This can help you deal with the worst-case scenarios. Assess Take each risk in turn ad work out how likely it is that it will occur and what would happen if it did occur. To work these two things out, ask how each is controlled. For example, your finances are controlled by your accountant. What if your accountant quit? You’d have to bring in a new one. Take each risk in turn to establish what the controls are and what happens when these are removed. Manage To manage the risk, you have a few options. Ideally, you’ll avoid it by predicting what will happen and changing the process early on. If you can’t avoid it, try to work out how to minimise it by reducing the likelihood and consequence of it happening. Invest in a new machine or look for a new accountant if you hear your current one is leaving. You might be better off transferring the risk elsewhere. Hire someone to fix the problem or get insurance to cover the costs. Ultimately, you might need to just accept the risk and work out your next steps. To know how to manage the risk best, it’s worth having a conversation with risk consultants. They can talk through what’s taking place and your next steps. Monitor and recap Risk management plans aren’t static. To handle risk successfully, you need to continually monitor what you have planned and review it to make sure you’re ready for fresh issues that arise. Once you have an idea of the risks your business could face, you can begin to tackle them before they become a full-blown issue.
As you advance in your medical career, you may find yourself in the position to open your own private clinic. For many, this can be a stressful decision. For one, you’d be leaving the comfort of the hospital to branch out on your own but for others, the ability to run your own clinic is part of the attraction. When building and owning a private practice, you have the control and the ability to steer the practice in the direction you want. There is a lot to be said for that amount of control whether you are an MBBS doctor or a medical assistant (see medical assistant programs here). However, it does come with challenges. The following will discuss aspects of starting your own practice and inform you of common missteps. There is no time like the present, don’t delay! While pursuing your medical career, you should constantly think about what you want for the future. If opening your own practice is something you’re interested in, consider the ramifications while you’re still in school. Thinking about the direction you want to go while still performing your internship or residency will help you make more informed decisions later on. It will also help you network with the right people to get your practice off the ground down the road. When it comes to getting your practice off the ground, give yourself a six-month head start. This will allow you the proper timing for the paperwork and credentials to clear if you need them. Get Your Finances in Order A private practice is a business and it will take capital to get it up and running. Many times you’ll need the help of a bank to secure a loan. You’ll want to do your research on the bank and the loan type for your practice. You’ll also want to put together a business plan and budget so the bank will understand what you’re trying to accomplish and the potential for growth in your industry. Having a good business model will help the bank make an informed decision on your loan, but it will also help define your vision moving forward. Take Your Time Vetting Employees Finding the right support staff is essential to running your practice. In fact, it is essential that you hire the right employees. When going through the hiring process, take your time. You want to be sure that you attract the right type of employee to your clinic, one who shares the same goals and level of service. You want staff that reflects your core values and echoes your philosophy. Also, consider the expense of hiring someone who doesn’t fit into your model, over time, this employee could end up costing you money and clients. Don’t’ be afraid to let someone go either, especially if they aren’t meeting your expectations. Don’t Get Too Focused on the Latest Technology We live in an amazing world where technology is expanding our horizons. The medical industry is no exception. Technology can be used to streamline the way you handle your patients from setting appointments to digitizing their records, but it can also be an effective tool to improving procedures. Don’t get caught up in the “latest” craze though. Make your practice efficient with the best technology available but don’t feel like you have to compete when it comes to the biggest or best gadgets, general facility fit out, chairs, or medical equipment. Focus on the Business In that past it was difficult to see the field of medicine as a traditional business but that doesn’t mean it isn’t true. If you run your practice with a good foundation in business practice, the rest will fall into place. Of course, medicine does have its quirks but that doesn’t mean the basic rules don’t apply. If you don’t have a background in business management, consider hiring someone who does. An office manager who appreciates that side of the industry will do wonders for your practice and its success.
