Developer PfP igloo has accelerated plans to release more than 200 homes for sale across three UK cities over the next 12 months. A collaboration between PfP Capital UK and igloo Regeneration, the developer is part of the wider PfP Capital development partnership portfolio, with in excess of 400 homes completed or in construction and a total development value of £127 million. “Like everyone, we’ve had to adapt during the pandemic and it’s been an extremely tough time to keep on programme, but by being agile and using new technology we’ve not delayed any sales releases and conversely, due to the speed of sales, we’ve even been able to bring our next phases for release forward and we are releasing homes 12 months ahead of completion,” commented Peter Connolly, chief executive at igloo. As well as the Ouseburn Valley neighbourhood developments in Newcastle, the city council has also recently confirmed PfP igloo as development partner for Stephenson Square, a mixed use £100m city centre site that will create 2,000 jobs and provide 190 homes. The Ironworks in Leeds, Steenbergs Yard in Newcastle and Nottingham, Waterside sites have all released new phases for sale over the summer months and have brought forward the release dates of future phases due to high demand. “Looking at the sales data from our developments, it’s clear to see that the attention we have paid to the design and the mix of home styles, and creative investment in public realm is being very well received by local communities, and demand for our product is high,” said John Tatham, finance director at PfP Capital. “We are continuing to back our own developments and pushing forward with new phases faster than we had anticipated, even pre-Covid. I’m confident that with the insights we have gained, our programmes will continue to operate as a catalyst for an uplift in the investment profiles of these important city regeneration areas. We are now actively looking for new sites to meet this demand.” PfP igloo will make further announcements in early 2021.

EXPERIENCED home staging expert, property professional and director of Lemon and Lime Interiors Elaine Penhaul has today launched her first book – ‘Sell High, Sell Fast – How to sell your home for the best possible price, in the quickest possible time’.  The book, which was written with vendors in mind, equips sellers with the skills and knowledge they need to get their homes ready for sale. It helps them to understand their market, find their ideal buyer and demonstrates how to create a home that will sell quickly, using tried and tested home staging techniques.   Elaine said: “This book explains what I have learned about the ‘whys’ and ‘hows’ of selling a home as quickly as possible for the maximum financial gain. For most of us, selling a home represents far more than simply a bricks and mortar transaction.”  Covering topics such as marketing property in the 21st century, the importance of presentation, home staging, decluttering, and decorating – the helpful guide gives well-rounded insight into all the elements of a property sale. The book also includes Elaine’s expertise and knowledge gained since setting up Lemon & Lime Interiors in 2012.    Elaine added: “When writing ‘Sell High, Sell Fast’ I aimed to equip vendors with all the skills they need to get their properties ready for sale. There is a common misconception that home staging and interior design are the same – when actually they are at the opposite ends of the spectrum. Home stagers are only interested in creating market appeal for a property. In essence, it is a marketing tool and as such can be taught.”  During 2018/19, the occupied properties that Lemon and Lime Interiors worked with sold on average four times faster after staging, showing just how effective home staging can be.   Elaine continued: “Home staging is essential if you want your home to sell quickly and for the asking price or more. It’s important to create an environment that can resonate with buyers and help them to envision the property as their home.  “Buyers don’t want to be greeted by an empty, dormant space when attending a viewing or looking at pictures online – rather they want to see how the space can be lived in and utilised by occupants, should they wish to make the purchase.  “If you are selling, planning to sell, or just want a new way to think about how you live in your own home then this is the book for you.”   The book launch follows the introduction of Lemon & Lime Interiors’ new app, Stageflow, that launched earlier this month. The app offers estate agents, property developers and home stagers the ability to evidence the benefits and return on investment, when using a home staging service.  ‘Sell High, Sell Fast’ is available to purchase here via Amazon. A special offer is also running this week, which will reduce the price of the book’s Kindle edition to 99p and offer each buyer a free video consultation – where they can receive interior design tips or find out how to prepare their home for sale. To access this offer, please visit Lemon and Lime’s website here between 9 – 10 October 2020.

Building workers are around a hundred times more likely to die from a disease caused or exacerbated by their workplace than through a construction accident. That’s the shocking news the Health and Safety Executive is sharing during a month-long campaign to raise awareness of lung diseases caused by workplace dust. The Dustbuster campaign will see HSE officials checking up on construction firms across the country to help protect workers from the dangers of dust caused by certain materials and working practices. Using power tools, sweeping and working with products such as gypsum and wood are among activities which can be extremely harmful, without protection, say HSE experts. The initiative is aimed at helping businesses find ways to minimise dust production. Insulation specialist Actis says one change which could help is to switch from using traditional, solid insulation products which create dust when cut to those which generate no irritants or dust whatsoever. Indeed, users of Actis’ flexible honeycomb insulation Hybris and insulating vapour control and breather membranes H Control Hybrid, Boost R Hybrid and Boost R Hybrid Roof say their cleanliness and complete absence of dust is precisely one of the reasons they use them. Tony Byron-Cooper, site manager at PCR Projects’ recently completed 43-home development in Kent says he will be using Actis products on all his future developments. “Most importantly, health and safety wise for our installers, it is light, easy to handle and there’s no dust to contend with,” he said. Derek Dawson, MD at timber frame specialist Scandia-Hus said: “The Hybrid range doesn’t produce irritant and messy dust when installing.” And Canterbury builder Simon Day said: “There are no fibres and no dust is created when you cut it, which means I didn’t need a respiratory mask or any special clothes.” Avoiding dust has health as well as cleanliness implications, which is one of the reasons so many customers choose Actis. The fact that there’s no need for specialist PPE or masks and it only requires a saw or a hand operated cutter to trim it are some of the reasons builders return to Actis again and again. The HSE campaign, which launched on Monday (October 5) focuses on respiratory risks and occupational lung disease and looks at the measures businesses can take to protect their workers’ lungs from certain materials. HSE’s chief inspector of construction, Sarah Jardine, said: “Around a hundred times as many workers die from diseases caused or made worse by their work than are actually killed in construction accidents. “We want businesses and their workers to avoid creating dust by working in different ways to keep dust down and wear the right mask and clothing.”