The University of St Andrews and Michelin Scotland Innovation Parc (MSIP) have signed a memorandum of understanding to explore future collaborations in the fields of sustainable mobility and low carbon energy. MSIP, a joint venture between Michelin, Dundee City Council and Scottish Enterprise, is a world-class Innovation Parc in Dundee
Property insurance specialist NFU Mutual is urging commercial property owners and their tenants not to neglect Fire Risk Assessments during the pandemic. The warning comes as NFU Mutual claims statistics reveal a 46% spike in the number of commercial property fires during lockdown. * Trevor Palmer, Property Insurance Specialist at
Decarbonising construction to produce more sustainable and better performing buildings will be crucial to creating a more viable ecological future. Andy Goodwin, Managing Director of sustainable specialist contractor, B&K Structures considers the pitfalls surrounding a green construction recovery. It can be done – lockdown provided evidence of just what can
Anesco has completed the sale of Clayhill to GRIDSERVE for an undisclosed sum, marking a major step forward in Anesco’s transition from asset owner to services provider, and further cementing GRIDSERVE’s leadership position with subsidy-free solar in the UK. Clayhill, located in Flitwick near Bedfordshire, was the UK’s first
Landwood Property Auctions are meeting surging demand for development opportunities – by continuing to stage weekly sales throughout August – when many of their rivals down tools. Summer months traditionally see most auction houses scale back or halt operations entirely. But, Landwood are doing the reverse and maintaining their timetable of
The University of St Andrews and Michelin Scotland Innovation Parc (MSIP) have signed a memorandum of understanding to explore future collaborations in the fields of sustainable mobility and low carbon energy. MSIP, a joint venture between Michelin, Dundee City Council and Scottish Enterprise, is a world-class Innovation Parc in Dundee for sustainable mobility and low carbon energy that will drive growth and diversity in the Scottish economy while addressing the global climate emergency. The University is developing its Eden Campus in Guardbridge to enhance innovation in companies working in energy storage, conversion and other technologies, by providing scale-up facilities for research and development, early prototyping and proving technology, before moving to large-scale manufacture. Under the terms of the agreement, the University and MSIP will commit to the shared delivery of low-carbon technologies, supporting product development in companies, assisting companies in the sustainable mobility and low-carbon sectors to grow, offering test and demonstration facilities and equipment and access to external funding. Both organisations will also explore the potential for work experience and apprenticeships opportunities while St Andrews will support the delivery of courses, modules or postgraduate training through the proposed Skills Academy at MSIP. St Andrews Chief Operating Officer Derek Watson said: “Papermill workers in Guardbridge suffered similar job losses to workers at Michelin. It is fitting therefore that the two new emerging facilities work together at every opportunity to rebuild their communities. “We are delighted to forge an alliance between Michelin Scotland Innovation Parc, Eden Campus and the wider academic community at the University of St Andrews.” MSIP Chief Operating Officer Colin Mcilraith said: “The University of St Andrews has an international reputation for excellence across multiple areas that link well with what MSIP is aspiring to achieve and it has excellent graduates that provide a competitive skills offer to our future tenants. “At Michelin Scotland Innovation Parc we want to create an environment that brings academia and industry together to collaborate on innovations and technology that will change the future of mobility. We know that energy storage, conversion and the technology to do so is critical to that. “Eden Campus will push forward new innovations in that space and given that is the focus of MSIP, this is a great fit for us. I’m really pleased this strategic partnership is underway.”
Property insurance specialist NFU Mutual is urging commercial property owners and their tenants not to neglect Fire Risk Assessments during the pandemic. The warning comes as NFU Mutual claims statistics reveal a 46% spike in the number of commercial property fires during lockdown. * Trevor Palmer, Property Insurance Specialist at NFU Mutual, said: “The ongoing global crisis has put pressure on commercial property owners and their tenants as they adopt new measures to ensure working environments are COVID-secure, often involving changes to the premises. “Having seen a spike in our commercial fire claims statistics, we’re concerned that the added focus on Coronavirus may be causing some premises to put other safety matters to one side. “While following Coronavirus guidance is imperative, it should not be at the expense of other health and safety activity. Fire Risk Assessments (FRAs) are a legal requirement for all non-domestic premises, allowing identification of specific areas of fire risk and providing recommended corrective actions to safeguard occupants. “FRAs should also be reviewed if your building undergoes significant change. Where changes impact on any common areas within a property, the owner should consider the implications on fire safety and whether the current assessment will need to be re-visited. “Owners should also encourage tenants to assess if any changes they are making, such as introducing partitioning, changing desk layouts and exit pathways or altering fire meeting points, will have an effect on fire safety and require updates to the FRA.” “As Coronavirus poses new challenges, it is important to give pre-existing dangers equal consideration. The risk of fire remains, and property owners should maintain efforts to protect occupants, properties and themselves from fire incidents. “Robust owner to tenant communications are essential, and while the current focus is likely related to lease agreements, rent and service charge payments, every effort should be made to keep fire safety at the forefront of all communications. All parties should be fully aware of where the responsibility lies for updating the FRA and making necessary changes at the property.” NFU Mutual top tips on fire safety vigilance Communication is key – keep all stakeholders up to date with Fire Risk Assessment progress and changes Ensure all records of contact details are kept up to date in case they are needed in an emergency Regularly review the Fire Risk Assessment, particularly if there have been any changes on the premises Stay up to date with all relevant fire safety legislation Consider consulting fire safety and risk management professionals for technical information on fire safety While it is not a requirement for Fire Risk Assessments to be documented if there are fewer than five occupants, keeping a written record is still advisable While your insurer may not ask for your Fire Risk Assessment, providing it upfront can aid clarity during any subsequent claims For further information on Fire Risk Assessments, you can download NFU Mutual’s guidance document here: https://www.nfumutual.co.uk/news-and-stories/maintaining-fire-safety-during-lockdown
Decarbonising construction to produce more sustainable and better performing buildings will be crucial to creating a more viable ecological future. Andy Goodwin, Managing Director of sustainable specialist contractor, B&K Structures considers the pitfalls surrounding a green construction recovery. It can be done – lockdown provided evidence of just what can be achieved in a few short weeks. But mitigating climate change is no small task however as we start to return to work, it is clear that both a ‘green recovery’ and securing a more resilient economy have been at the forefront of the government’s statements and plans. The government’s response to climate change has been to set net zero carbon targets by 2050 but if further restrictions come into play, I simply cannot see how this is achievable if we limit the use of our most sustainable, replenishable and natural construction material – timber. There is a lot resting on the government’s shoulders at present and as we wait for the decision of the MHCLG consultation, the shift in the media mood is tangible. Roger Harrabin reported on BBC News that the government is planning to reduce the maximum height of structural timber buildings from six storeys to four to reduce fire risk. Harrabin rightly pointed out that this action would contradict other advice to increase timber construction because trees lock up climate-heating carbon emissions. Likewise, under the banner of ‘Do you want beautiful, sustainable and safe tall buildings? Use wood’ – Rowan Moore of the Guardian shared his perspective stating: ‘This is the engineering of timber so that it can act as an alternative to steel and concrete. Its environmental benefits are compelling: whereas concrete is a particularly devastating material, said to account for 4%-8% of the world’s CO2, timber locks up the carbon absorbed by the growth of trees. While construction is a major contributor to greenhouse gases, building in wood has the potential to reduce them.’ Until recently the benefits of carbon sequestration were not widely discussed. But with the growing evidence of global warming and the need for change – sustainability is now back at the top of the construction agenda. Timber creates a natural carbon store through sequestration. For example, cross laminated timber has a net store of 676kg of CO2, /M3. In simple terms the use of timber will have a positive impact on the environment, embodied carbon is therefore pivotal in the fight to reduce our carbon footprint. We have been advocating this for years, but it appears that potentially banning engineered timber in the external walls of residential sectors above 11m – has created a groundswell of support for timber construction. It is clear that the UK is out of step with the approach being taken by leading economies in Europe. Even our UK partners are taking a more pragmatic and practical approach. The Scottish building regulations are eminently sensible – building up to 18m in structural timber is permitted when supported by evidence of non-combustible cladding and well-designed fire management systems. Global concerns to mitigate climate change have prompted some cities and governments to consider the embodied emissions of the materials we use to construct buildings, particularly the sum of all the energy required to extract, process, manufacture, transport, build, and maintain each material. With this consideration in mind, timber is an attractive option since it can achieve less embodied and operational emissions in comparison to concrete and steel. In addition, the prefabrication of timber components with precision can deliver a highly efficient building envelope that improves insulation, saves on heating and cooling and minimises thermal bridging. In these highly uncertain times, the construction sector needs absolute certainty that there will be no backtracking on the government’s commitment to strengthen Part L of the Building Regulations. We simply must not lose sight of the UK’s ambition to create a low-carbon economy. About B&K Structures Through careful design detailing and value engineering, B&K Structures is able to offer the best possible offsite manufactured construction solutions, ensuring a smooth integration for follow-on trades – delivering award-winning, environmentally and sustainable projects on time and to budget. B&K Structures has worked with some of the UK’s most renowned clients to develop outstanding buildings with sustainable credentials. For more information on their product portfolio and full range of services go to www.bkstructures.co.uk
Anesco has completed the sale of Clayhill to GRIDSERVE for an undisclosed sum, marking a major step forward in Anesco’s transition from asset owner to services provider, and further cementing GRIDSERVE’s leadership position with subsidy-free solar in the UK. Clayhill, located in Flitwick near Bedfordshire, was the UK’s first solar farm developed free from government subsidy. Comprising 10MW of solar PV co-located with a 6MW energy storage facility, the site generates enough electricity for around 2,500 homes while saving around 4,500 tonnes of carbon annually. Anesco will continue to provide operations and maintenance services for the site, as part of a 20-year agreement with GRIDSERVE. Mark Futyan, Anesco CEO, commented: “Engineering a subsidy-free development at Clayhill was a landmark achievement for the industry and is something we’re very proud of. It has proven to be a solid investment and we look forward to working with GRIDSERVE to ensure Clayhill continues to generate the optimal financial and environmental returns.” Mark continued: “Moving from being an asset owner to a services provider was always our intention and the sale of Clayhill forms a significant part of that. This transaction will fuel growth by enabling us to bring new projects into being and to expand our operations and maintenance, asset optimisation and ECO divisions. Overall, creating a truly integrated proposition for renewable energy investors.” GRIDSERVE’s plans include sleeving some of the power generated by Clayhill for its ground-breaking Electric Forecourt® in Braintree, which forms part of its ‘Sun-to-Wheel’ model – delivering net zero carbon electric vehicle charging, powered by clean energy generated from solar power. Jeremy Cross, Chief Commercial Officer at GRIDSERVE, said: “The addition of Clayhill to our portfolio – which marks GRIDSERVE’s first acquisition of an operational solar farm – will enable us to guarantee that the amount of energy used at our Electric Forecourt® in Braintree has been generated from zero carbon solar power. “Our mission is to deliver sustainable energy and move the needle on climate change, and this project will help us to support the UK’s transition to net zero transport in the earliest possible timeframes.” Jeremy added: “GRIDSERVE is in a unique position in the industry, having developed sites at York and Hull at the end of last year, with a further pipeline being built out this year, and now acquiring the only other operational solar-plus-storage project in the UK. We look forward to working with Anesco on this exciting project.” Anesco has developed 115 utility-scale solar and energy storage projects to date, with a total capacity in excess of 750MW. To support the advancement of the UK’s subsidy-free markets, Anesco invested directly in a number of projects but is now selling these assets to focus fully on its core offering: providing full lifecycle engineering services to solar and energy storage markets. GRIDSERVE’s inaugural Electric Forecourt® in Braintree is scheduled to open to the public later this year and marks the first in a planned roll-out of over 100 Electric Forecourts® and electric vehicle charging solutions across the UK in the coming years. Both this acquisition and the roll out of GRIDSERVE’s Electric Forecourt’s® are being supported by GRIDSERVE’s strategic partnership with Hitachi Capital UK, as announced earlier this year.
Landwood Property Auctions are meeting surging demand for development opportunities – by continuing to stage weekly sales throughout August – when many of their rivals down tools. Summer months traditionally see most auction houses scale back or halt operations entirely. But, Landwood are doing the reverse and maintaining their timetable of industry-leading online-only sales every seven days as more and more customers seek to snap up land. Recent auctions have shown how strong the demand for plots is with one in Stalybridge, Cheshire reaching 19 times its £5,000 guide price – selling for £95,000 after 298 bids. Similarly, a further plot of land in Stroud, Gloucestershire went for 3.5 times its estimate – selling for £325,000 following 150 bids. “In times of economic uncertainty like these, you often see increased demand for land as investors see it as a safe place for their money. And we’ve certainly been witnessing plots with residential development opportunities performing particularly strongly recently,” said Landwood Property Auctions Director Kate Lay. “That’s why, while others hang up their gavels over the summer, we’re continuing to hold our auctions on a weekly basis throughout August and into the rest of the year.” Recent highlights from the July 29 sale evidence this strong demand for properties with residential development potential. Two care homes in Cumbria were sold on behalf of Cumbria County Council for £406,000 and £244,000, compared with the guide prices of £100,000 and £125,000 respectively. There was strong interest in the lead up to the auction from residential developers, as well as from those in the care sector. Further recent successes include a commercial unit in High Wycombe, Bucks that went for 25% over the £1million guide price after failing to sell privately. Landwood’s pioneering tech-driven approach dispenses with a physical auctioneer – allowing more bids to be taken in a shorter space of time – maximising potential returns for sellers and giving buyers more opportunities to secure a property. It helped them sell £11million of property during lockdown.
