Some tenants who are self-isolating because they are higher risk may face other challenges apart from the direct risk and impact of the virus, Agents are a key part of local communities and can provide housing and support to those in need. Propertymark has joined forces with the Alzheimer’s Society
NSM has been appointed by InfraRed Capital Partners to property and asset manage its Magna 34 Business Park. An industrial scheme near Sheffield, NSM will also provide agency services, helping to secure new tenants for the forthcoming multi-million pound development. Magna 34 Business Park comprises of a mixture of units
Technology reaches a tipping point in this time of crisis, explains Roy Danon, CEO and Co-Founder of Buildots, which is revolutionising construction management through the use of artificial intelligence The Covid-19 pandemic has brought remote-working into sharp focus – and demonstrated clearly how when it comes to construction management, the
The new Sewers Code for Adoption guidance is the most significant change to below ground drainage practice in a generation, providing groundwork contractors and specialists with an opportunity to turn to a wider range of drainage products and systems, according to Polypipe Building Products. The Sewers Code for Adoption guidance
Some tenants who are self-isolating because they are higher risk may face other challenges apart from the direct risk and impact of the virus, Agents are a key part of local communities and can provide housing and support to those in need. Propertymark has joined forces with the Alzheimer’s Society to highlight issues those with dementia or vulnerable are facing aside from the unprecedented times the pandemic brings. Even before Coronavirus, those living alone or with cognitive difficulties such as dementia may not know how or be able to get the essentials they need, such as food and medication. Some people, unable to visit local stores and with not enough delivery slots to accommodate the need, are finding they are not able to get food at all. This puts people at high risk of malnutrition, starvation, or other health issues caused by missing medication. Many people live alone with no relatives nearby to support and many will not have internet access, meaning they can’t order a food delivery or search for other local support. These issues also greatly increase the risk of isolation and loneliness. Before Coronavirus, over a third of people with dementia said they felt lonely. Chronic loneliness is as bad for your health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Many people in self-isolation will not be having any social contact at all. The long-term effects of this could be devastating. How agents, even if self-isolating, can offer extra support for vulnerable tenants who are also self-isolating Considering the additional risks that vulnerable tenants may be facing, agents and landlords may wish to offer extra support to your tenants to help them keep safe and well during this time. While it is essential you make sure you are keeping safe yourself, you may be able to provide a lifeline to tenants who are isolated and scared. For many people, you might be their only local contact. Help could include: Assistance with receiving food and medicine Many people are volunteering to assist with deliveries of these items. If you wish to do this, you should reach out to your tenants to offer your assistance and liaise with them as to the best method of delivering items without physical contact. Agents and landlords can provide hands-off support by signposting them to other support. For example, they can make sure their tenants know about their local COVID Mutual-Aid community group or provide their tenants with the phone numbers for local shops and convenience stores so they can call up to place a delivery. Where tenants don’t feel confident placing their own deliveries, agents and landlords could offer to place the delivery on their behalf. Remember that communication can be challenging for people with other conditions, such as dementia. Think about whether the best way to get in contact is by phone, email, or letter, and remember that not everyone is online. Provide support by keeping in touch through regular phone calls, letters or emails just to touch base and have a chat Don’t underestimate the importance of social contact during this time. For some tenants, this could be the only social interaction they have and just to touch base and have a chat could mean an awful lot to someone as social interaction is essential to maintain wellbeing. Be proactive about getting in touch with your tenants as they may not approach you even if they need the help. But remember, it is essential that you are practicing social distancing through any of these activities. Signposting Agents and landlords can also signpost their tenants to other support, such as Alzheimer’s Society and Age UK, so they know who to call. Alzheimer’s Society is there to support anyone affected by dementia through this difficult time. If agents, landlords, or their tenants need advice, contact the Dementia Connect support line on 0333 150 3456 (open every day). For welsh speakers please call on 03300 947 400. Share this and other helplines with your tenants. #VolunteersWeek Propertymark Protected agencies across the UK have been pulling out all the stops and helping those in need during this difficult time. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook as we share the amazing things others are doing or share your generous work with us by tagging us in your posts.
NSM has been appointed by InfraRed Capital Partners to property and asset manage its Magna 34 Business Park. An industrial scheme near Sheffield, NSM will also provide agency services, helping to secure new tenants for the forthcoming multi-million pound development. Magna 34 Business Park comprises of a mixture of units totalling in excess of 120,000 sq ft, which includes two existing units that are already occupied comprising 47,000 sq ft. A stand-alone 35,000 sq ft new build and a further 40,000 sq ft, which will be developed as a smaller multi-let industrial scheme providing units ranging in size from 2,000 to 4,500 sq ft, will soon be delivered. This is thought to be one of the only small to medium sized speculative industrial developments in the local area to come forwards in 2020, as the only other scheme underway provides in excess of 5,000 sq ft units. Helen Gordon, Associate Director at NSM, said: “Magna 34 is an established business park with a high profile location close to Sheffield and Rotherham, with easy access to the M1. There is a shortage of industrial land and with most developers focusing on larger units, there is significant demand for businesses seeking well-located space for small and medium sized enterprises. As a result, I expect this new development at Magna 34 will be very popular.” Planning has already been secured for the 35,000 sq ft unit and, subject to planning permission being secured for the smaller units, construction work will commence within the next three to six months. It is expected to be a nine month build programme. Magna 34 is a well-established business park on Sheffield Road close to Junction 34, M1 and offers easy access to Sheffield. It is already home to occupiers including Parcelforce, UK Mail and Element Materials Technology Sheffield Ltd. This additional 122,000 sq ft of space will be property and asset managed by the Yorkshire based NSM team, adding value to InfraRed’s portfolio. NSM already looks after £237.5 million of property assets across more than 4million sq ft of space comprising 669 industrial properties in the north of England.
Technology reaches a tipping point in this time of crisis, explains Roy Danon, CEO and Co-Founder of Buildots, which is revolutionising construction management through the use of artificial intelligence The Covid-19 pandemic has brought remote-working into sharp focus – and demonstrated clearly how when it comes to construction management, the latest technology can not only make it possible for many to work from home, but simple and efficient as well. Until recently, the industry has lacked the technological solutions it has needed to evolve in the same way as, for example, publishing or finance. However, the unique use of wearable technology by the Buildots platform, combined with the need to keep as many people as possible working from home to beat the virus, is helping to kick-start a technological revolution that will produce measurable benefits long after the present difficult circumstances are a memory. The Buildots system works using 360-degree hardhat-mounted cameras that capture images of the construction site during routine site-walks. These are overlaid with the 3D model and analysed by artificial intelligence (AI) to provide continuously updated, accurate information about progress. Before the pandemic, this information was being used to improve efficiency and accuracy on site – but as we are entering the “new normal”, the need to maintain social distancing means that the fewer unnecessary site visits the better. By using Buildots, not all members of the management team need to be on site themselves, constantly checking on the build – they can let AI do it for them, in a far more efficient and thorough way than a single, hurried walk across site could possibly achieve. The information gathered by Buildots enables accurate predictions about when materials need to be delivered, cutting down delivery waiting time on site, as well as giving all the evidence to allow commercial teams to approve payments to subcontractors in minutes, helping avoid delays in a time of financial uncertainty. It can help planners to monitor construction from afar, and builds up a detailed profile of the building for maintenance use after hand-over. In the short term, using Buildots to limit the number of people visiting a site is a measure that will keep people safer; but in the longer term it is another, very welcome, step towards the 21st century concept of a connected jobsite, where wearable sensors, AI and big data all work together to revolutionise construction and turn it into a truly digitised environment. In fact, we are likely to look back on these days and see a tipping point in the use of technology. Just as business people the world over have found that the epidemic has helped them to understand that face-to-face meetings can be accomplished without jet lag and a massive carbon footprint, construction too will realise that technology is not just something new and tricky that takes too long to master and delivers little benefit – it can truly be a real game-changer for solving the pain points in the industry.
The new Sewers Code for Adoption guidance is the most significant change to below ground drainage practice in a generation, providing groundwork contractors and specialists with an opportunity to turn to a wider range of drainage products and systems, according to Polypipe Building Products. The Sewers Code for Adoption guidance includes a national standardised set of delivery procedures that all water companies in England are working to and a Design and Construction Guidance document that will affect the installation of sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) and below ground drainage systems on all sites. As of April, it provides contractors with greater flexibility to work with new materials, water management systems and the latest technology. According to Richard Eddy, Product Manager, Below Ground Drainage, Polypipe Building Products, groundwork specialists have an opportunity to increase their range of skills and services: “The main focus of the new Sewers Code for Adoption is aimed at increasing the use of hard and soft SuDS at the outset of a development, in response to the rising rainfall in the country, and the recognition that distributing surplus water directly into sewers is unsustainable. “By placing water management and the control of surface water runoff as an integral part of the design process the new Sewers Code for Adoption offers an opportunity for groundworkers to offer engineering expertise on the overall management of water on a development site from waste water generated by housing units to surface water from rainfall and natural sources.” Polypipe has an extensive product portfolio of below ground drainage pipes including the UK’s largest range of sewer pipes, fittings and chambers for commercial and residential projects. The pipes are available in diameters from 110mm up to 3,000mm and make installation faster due to the flexibility, strength and easy handling properties. Polypipe has also been a pioneer in the development of sustainable drainage systems, with geocellular systems such as Polystorm and Permavoid designed to provide housing developers with water storage and attenuation solutions to keep developments safe from localised flooding and to sustainably manage surface water runoff, without increasing the burden on natural water courses and rivers. Richard Eddy added: “The changes will be most significant to contractors based in the South East where a number of different requirements have been streamlined into one document and one standard set of agreed practices across the water companies. “As the manufacturer of the most extensive range of plastic-based below ground drainage pipes, fittings and chambers, as well as significant technical expertise in the design, development and delivery of high specification SuDS systems, Polypipe is best placed to advise contractors on how they can work with the growing range of drainage systems and materials now at their disposal. Our below ground drainage technical experts are available to offer consultation and guidance on any project.”
