Two Devon village developments by Torquay-based Cavanna Homes have been shortlisted in the national housebuilding “Oscars” for Best Design. Alfred’s Gate in the East Devon village of Newton Poppleford, near Sidmouth, and Kings Orchard in Stoke Gabriel, near Totnes are the only South West developments to be shortlisted in the
Achieving net zero carbon by 2050 requires innovative products and technologies. To identify key innovations in the built environment sector, Futurebuild has surveyed a range of specifiers to identify the game changing products that have shaped how they work. To inspire others in the industry, Futurebuild has highlighted 30 products
~ How companies can make the most of the Green Homes Grant ~ To achieve net zero targets by 2050 the government must invest up to £70 billion in the built environment each year — that is enough money to run three and a half Olympic games every year between now
Roger Bullivant Limited (RB), a pioneering ground engineering company, has commenced construction works for leading construction contractors, Benniman to bring forward industrial units at St. Modwens Logistics park development in Newport. Two units of 30,000 sq ft and 100,000 sq ft will be delivered, providing high-quality industrial and warehouse space.
Cambridge United are delighted to announce that the Mick George Group will become the Club’s longest serving shirt sponsor after extending their partnership with the U’s. The extension, which will run until 2023, will see the partnership reach the decade milestone. The local company, one of the area’s leading suppliers
A polytunnel makes an affordable and effective alternative to a greenhouse. They’re cheaper, more flexible, more mobile, and, since they’re soft, they aren’t vulnerable to damage from errant footballs. As such, they’ve found their way into gardens and allotments across the UK, where they allow the growing of fruits and
Two Devon village developments by Torquay-based Cavanna Homes have been shortlisted in the national housebuilding “Oscars” for Best Design. Alfred’s Gate in the East Devon village of Newton Poppleford, near Sidmouth, and Kings Orchard in Stoke Gabriel, near Totnes are the only South West developments to be shortlisted in the Housebuilder Awards 2020. Cavanna Homes’ brace of success comes just 10 months after being named “Housebuilder of the Year 2019” at the annual awards ceremony. Both schemes were masterplanned by the team of architects and technicians at the Exeter studio of LHC Design, who were also responsible for the detailed design. “These are the Oscars of the homebuilding industry and highly competitive. Each year the awards showcase the very best in design and innovation and we are thrilled to have two of our stunning Westcountry schemes shortlisted,” commented Michael Newman, Head of Land and Design at Cavanna Homes. Alfred’s Gate in Newton Poppleford is a joint venture development with Clinton Devon Estates, which has provided 40 new three and four-bedroom family homes and detached bungalows, 40 percent of which are affordable homes. The development adjoins an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and is designed to reflect the style of the local village and blend with the adjoining countryside. In the South Hams village of Stoke Gabriel, Kings Orchard is a development of 53 new one to four-bedroom homes, which has also been shortlisted in the 2020 Michelmores Property Awards for ‘Residential Project of the Year (36 units & over)’. As well as delivering stylish, energy-efficient homes to fit within the rural landscape, a new community hub is also under construction, providing office space and rooms for local community groups. The National Housebuilder Awards are in partnership with the National House Building Council (NHBC) and the Home Builders Federation (HBF), which also recognises Cavanna Homes as a five-star homebuilder after the firm received a 100 percent recommendation from homeowners earlier this year. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, the awards ceremony will be taking place via an online virtual event on Thursday 3rd December 2020.
Achieving net zero carbon by 2050 requires innovative products and technologies. To identify key innovations in the built environment sector, Futurebuild has surveyed a range of specifiers to identify the game changing products that have shaped how they work. To inspire others in the industry, Futurebuild has highlighted 30 products that have changed the face of the built environment and identified some future game changers. The results can be found at www.futurebuild.co.uk/game-changers. From January 2020, the built environment industry had just 60 months to transform to meet net zero targets. As a result, the entire industry, from architects, to specifiers and contractors, is searching for the products, processes and technologies needed to deliver sustainable, high quality and long-lasting infrastructure. To help built environment professionals learn from each other’s successes, Futurebuild interviewed eleven specifiers across the industry to discover the game changing products that influenced their work. Industry experts include Jane Wernick, consultant structural engineer at EngineersHRW, Bill Dunster OBE, architect and founder of ZEDfactory and Duncan Baker-Brown, co-founder of BBM Sustainable Design. The experts identified a variety of innovative materials and technologies that they regularly use — from thermal energy modelling to CO2 absorbing paint. “We know that many of the innovative products we need to reach net zero carbon targets already exist,” explained Martin Hurn, event director of Futurebuild. “We need to work together, share knowledge and ideas and collaborate to make sure we can use current innovations to their full potential.” As well as identifying products that have influenced their work, these specifiers also identified the game changing products that they would like to see developed to meet any current challenges they face. For example, zero-carbon concrete, plasterboard alternatives or green roll-out roofs. “As humans, we spend nearly all our time indoors,” explains Chaline Church, interiors architect and founder of Freespace Design. “In the near future, I’d like to see a range of circular products be brought to market to create healthy interiors. For example, healthy bonding agents could replace bad glues and resins in furniture to reduce toxicity, which could boost our comfort and immune systems.” Product pioneers should showcase their innovations at Futurebuild 2021. The event will bring together a receptive audience of specifiers and key decision makers looking for products to help them drive change across the built environment. 75 per cent of Futurebuild visitors come to the event to see the latest innovations! Read more about the game changing products influencing specifiers and tell us about your game changer by visiting www.futurebuild.co.uk/game-changers.
~ How companies can make the most of the Green Homes Grant ~ To achieve net zero targets by 2050 the government must invest up to £70 billion in the built environment each year — that is enough money to run three and a half Olympic games every year between now and 2050. The Green Homes Grant is one of the Government funding initiatives to reduce emissions by encouraging homeowners to invest in energy efficiency while creating new jobs in the sector. Here, Martin Hurn, event director at net zero pioneer Futurebuild, speaks to Ian Rippin, CEO of Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) Certification and David Pierpoint, founder of The Retrofit Academy and Osmosis Consult to understand how to use Government funding effectively and ensure lasting change in the retrofitting industry. Retrofitting and renovating existing homes is one of the best ways to tackle fuel poverty, reduce energy waste and put the UK back on track to meet its 2050 target. Existing buildings currently account for 34 per cent of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions. That is why the Chancellor announced a £3.05 billion retrofitting investment, as part of the Green Homes Grant. Hopefully, in autumn, further funding will be announced during the Conservative’s comprehensive spending review. Consumers investing correctly £1.5 billion of the Green Homes Grant funding is allocated to homeowners themselves. Anyone that wants to upgrade their home to improve energy efficiency can apply for vouchers of up to £10,000 per household. While this funding can significantly reduce the upfront installation cost, consumers should seek expertise from retrofit experts to ensure they use the money to make the most valuable changes, both in terms of energy saving and sustainability. Engaging with consumers about sustainable solutions will also enable long-term investment and growth of sustainable industries. “UK households could save £7.5 billion a year on energy bills, money that could be reinvested into the recovering economy and announce a new age of low carbon retrofit, lasting 30 years,” stated Pierpoint. “To achieve net zero, consumers must be educated about energy efficiency and what will make the largest difference. After the Grant, the industry should work with the Government to further invest in consumer education to increase awareness about energy efficiency and the positive impact it can have on people’s lives.” Companies using funding effectively The Government’s investment in the environmental sector gives firms an opportunity to invest in technologies and people to improve productivity and profits. However, with the grant scheme only expected to last six months, companies should consider how they can maintain this growth. “Companies can provide high quality work by investing in staff training and achieving MCS certification,” explained Rippin. “We know that consumers are proactively looking for an installer that is certified and holds a quality mark because they can trust their quality of work and commitment to consumer care. Additionally, to receive grant money from the Government, homeowners must use an MCS certified contractor to install their renewable system.” Moving forwards The Green Homes Grant will create thousands of jobs, encourage economic growth in the construction industry and help homeowners to reduce energy usage in an affordable way. While these are all positive changes, we also need to look at how Government and industry can work together to continue making significant improvements in sustainability. “The Government needs to invest in renewable energy apprenticeships and the wider industry to attract more people into careers,” stated Rippin. “Investing in future generations will ensure high-quality tradespeople enter the retrofitting and renewable energy industries and maintain quality standards.” The Green Homes Grant will help us get closer to our goal of net zero by 2050, but it is only a small portion of the £70 billion we need. If the industry uses this grant to invest in attracting more people to work in retrofitting, gaining certification and educating consumers about energy efficiency, we can encourage the Government to provide further, long-term support to become a net zero nation. If you want to see innovative retrofitting processes in person, or showcase a technology you’ve developed, register your interest in Futurebuild 2021 on our website https://www.futurebuild.co.uk.
Roger Bullivant Limited (RB), a pioneering ground engineering company, has commenced construction works for leading construction contractors, Benniman to bring forward industrial units at St. Modwens Logistics park development in Newport. Two units of 30,000 sq ft and 100,000 sq ft will be delivered, providing high-quality industrial and warehouse space. The expansion follows the success of the scheme, already home to Amazon and CAF’s new train production facility. Roger Bullivant will install 1,500 250mm Driven Precast Concrete Piles using two in-house purpose-built super-silenced hydraulic drop hammer rigs. Working closely with Benniman, RB was able to provide a cost-effective piling solution for the site, overcoming challenging contaminated soils over deep Alluvial deposits. “We are proud to be working alongside Benniman using our expertise and ability to think innovatively to provide a comprehensive ground engineered solution to help accelerate the construction works within the industry sector. Our team has an extensive skill set to provide our clients with the one-stop-shop solution, from planning through to design and production where we manufacture our products at our state-of-the-art manufacturing facility at our HQ in Derbyshire,” said South Wales Area Manager, David Johnson. By implementing this high-quality method on this former steelwork site, RB was able to offer a solution which prevents pollution pathways being created between the contaminated near surface soils and Groundwater, essential in such a sensitive ecological location “Benniman are happy to be working in association with Roger Bullivant on this contract and look forward to working with them again on future projects,” added Procurement Director, Tim Mills.
Cambridge United are delighted to announce that the Mick George Group will become the Club’s longest serving shirt sponsor after extending their partnership with the U’s. The extension, which will run until 2023, will see the partnership reach the decade milestone. The local company, one of the area’s leading suppliers to the construction industry, initially became the U’s main shirt sponsor prior to the 2013/14 campaign – the season the club reclaimed its place in the Football League and won the FA Trophy at Wembley. The agreement will see the Mick George Group logo printed on all home and away replica shirts as well as those worn in competitive action by the club at all levels. This includes the first team and all youth academy teams. Since their first involvement, the company have shown tremendous support and backing for the Club with a number of significant projects, events, and fan engagement initiatives – all of which are continuing despite the current challenging circumstances. During the partnership to date, the club has experienced a number of memorable moments which will go down in U’s folklore. The aforementioned 2014 season will be remembered as one of the best in the Club’s history with two Wembley appearances which heralded an FA Trophy victory and promotion back to the Football League. More recently, other standout occasions include the famous draw against Manchester United FC in the 2015 FA Cup. Through continuous offerings of hospitality, discounts, giveaways, competitions and fun entertainment, not least Mick the Skip mascot and the Half-Time Skip Challenge, The Mick George Group have played a pivotal role in embracing the wider ‘supporter activation programmes’ that the club participates in. Head of Commercial at Cambridge United FC, Nick Fairbairn said: “We are absolutely delighted that the Mick George Group have extended their sponsorship. We have built a fantastic relationship with them over the last seven years – the renewal of the partnership is all the more special given that they are genuine supporters and advocates of the club. The current climate is tough for everybody, so to have the extended support of a key partner such as the Mick George Group is huge for us at Cambridge United. It underlines the fact that this goes further than simply a commercial deal, but is built on shared values and a real solidarity between our two organisations. We thank Jon and his team for their fantastic support, particularly at such an uncertain and challenging time.” Jon Stump, Joint CEO at the Mick George Group commented: “We have built a genuine and valued affinity with both the club and supporters since we became the front of shirt sponsor in 2013 and consider that we are seen as much a partner and fellow fan as opposed to just a corporate sponsor.” “Through our association with the club, which dates back well before the shirt sponsorship commenced, we have regularly invested in the club in different capacities and recognise the importance in doing so at the present time, to help provide the Club and fans with some much-needed stability in the present climate.” “The Club is a critical hub for community activation, representing the togetherness that exists in the City. That ethos is something that aligns with our business philosophies and has been a key factor in our decision to renew despite economic uncertainty.” “The Club should be applauded for the way it has conducted itself in the current circumstances.” “We are proud to be the club’s front of shirt sponsor and hope that by signing a three-year extension to the current deal, reflects the fantastic relationship that has been built between the Mick George Group, Cambridge United FC and its supporters. More importantly, we want to do what we can to help the club fulfil its full potential and experience many more memorable occasions in the future.’’
A polytunnel makes an affordable and effective alternative to a greenhouse. They’re cheaper, more flexible, more mobile, and, since they’re soft, they aren’t vulnerable to damage from errant footballs. As such, they’ve found their way into gardens and allotments across the UK, where they allow the growing of fruits and vegetables of a sort that might require careful temperature-management. But, for all of their mobility, these are at least semi-permanent structures? Don’t they therefore need planning permission? The short answer is that, for most domestic gardens, you do not need planning permission. However, there are a few exceptions that you might need to worry about. If your polytunnel falls foul of any of the following rules of thumb, then it doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll need to obtain planning permission – but it does mean that it’s a good idea to get in touch with your local planning authority to clear things up. Is Your Polytunnel too Tall? If your tunnel is more than 3m tall, then people in neighbouring gardens will be able to see it, and it might feasibly block out the sunlight for them. Get to four or five metres tall, and this problem becomes even worse; you don’t want to create an eyesore and annoy everyone, after all. Is Your Polytunnel too close to the Boundary? If your tunnel sits right next to the boundary, then height concerns will be even more pressing. If it’s taller than 2.5m and you want it flush against your fence, then it’s time to pick up the phone. Is your Polytunnel too Big? There are rules against appending an enormous extension to the rear of your home. If it’s covering more than half of the area around your house, then you might need to start worrying. Is your Polytunnel at the front of your House? A polytunnel that’s facing the street is going to be much more visible, and therefore (in theory) more objectionable. Sometimes, this is a necessity; in these cases, you’ll likely need permission. Is your Polytunnel on an allotment? In the case of allotments, you’ll probably have more to fear from the allotment committee than the planning restrictions. After all, sometimes the installation of a polytunnel can suck in energy which might otherwise reach neighbouring crops. What about Agricultural Land? If you’re running a farm, it might seem that you should be granted greater leeway. And most of the time, you are: if you want to keep sheep in a tunnel, you should be fine. However, if you’re altering the purpose of your farm (you’re clearing out all of your arable crops and keeping livestock instead) or applying for a grant, then you’ll probably need to seek planning permission.
