October 22, 2020

Contract awards continue upwards trend in September

The total value of construction contract awards in September 2020 was £5.4 billion based on a three-month rolling average. This is 21.2% higher than for August and is also 13.8% higher than September 2019. Quarterly analysis indicates that total construction contract awards were valued at £13.5 billion in Q3 2020.

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MOUNTPARK ANNOUNCES 359,500 SQ FT INVENTORY DEVELOPMENT IN BRISTOL.

Mountpark Logistics, a leading developer of industrial and logistics property, announced today that it has started construction on an inventory cross-docked unit of 359,500 sq ft at Mountpark Bristol 360 in Central Park, Avonmouth. The building is due to complete in July 2021. Designed to achieve BREEAM ‘Excellent’ certification with

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Opening the door to enhanced fire safety

Europe’s leading door Provider, Hörmann UK, is continuing to position itself at the forefront of industry developments with the launch of its new steel and stainless-steel Fire Rated Sliding Doors for the industrial and commercial construction sectors. Compliant to BS EN 120 and BS EN 240, the single-leaf fire sliding

Read More »
Britain's Housing Market Is Booming but the Structural Issues Remain

Britain’s Housing Market Is Booming but the Structural Issues Remain

Britain’s housing market continues to flip the recession script with average asking prices hitting record high in spite of the ongoing coronavirus restrictions and the economic uncertainties. Tiger Craft, Partner and CIO at Hilltop Credit Partners, says the latest figures from Rightmove and Halifax reinforce that a mini housing boom

Read More »

Energy Assets Utilities Sharpens Business Development Strategy

Energy Assets Utilities (EAU), one of Britain’s leading utility network design and construction companies, has created two new roles to spearhead its business growth plans. The company has promoted Gary Smith to Head of Residential Sales and Craig Downie to Head of Commercial Sales to help drive the implementation of

Read More »
Smart Improvements to Keep Your Home Insulated

Smart Improvements to Keep Your Home Insulated

It’s starting to look like we will all be spending a little more time at home again over the next few months and with the colder weather approaching, it could be a costly time for home owners. With more people working from home once again and curfews being introduced, it’s

Read More »

Knightsbridge additions drive lighting up – and down – the wall

Knightsbridge, one of the UK’s leading brands of wiring devices, accessories and lighting, is adding two products to its extensive outdoor lighting range. These two new LED wall lights offer contrasting design styles and lighting effects but share the same attention to quality and detail. The WAD12 is a die-cast

Read More »

Benefits of using a water filter at home

It’s not a secret that water is an essential need. Aside from keeping our body hydrated and healthy, it sustains our environment for us to live. Unfortunately, not all water is the same. Fresh running waters from the mountains may look refreshing however it most likely contains bacterias harmful to

Read More »

Relationship Between Community Education and Community Development

Every country has different communities, which are answerable for different aspects. One may find economic, medical, industrial, and other communities. Each community regulates its sector and affects others. The united effort of all communities affects the growth and development of the entire country. Of course, education plays a vital role

Read More »
Latest Issue
Issue 323 : Dec 2024

October 22, 2020

Contract awards continue upwards trend in September

The total value of construction contract awards in September 2020 was £5.4 billion based on a three-month rolling average. This is 21.2% higher than for August and is also 13.8% higher than September 2019. Quarterly analysis indicates that total construction contract awards were valued at £13.5 billion in Q3 2020. This is 47.1% higher than Q2 but is 8.4% lower than for Q3 2019. Raw monthly data has seen significant uplift in September to £6.0 billion which is an increase of 52.5% on the £3.9 billion in August. The latest edition of the Economic & Construction Market Review from industry analysts Barbour ABI, highlights levels of construction contract values awarded across Great Britain. Analysis by sector indicates that residential maintained lead status in September accounting for 32.8% of awards. Infrastructure was the second largest sector in September with attributable share of 20.8% of awards. The commercial & retail sector was the third largest this month accruing 16.1% of the total. Regional analysis shows that London was the leading region in September with 22.6% of awards. The second largest region was the East of England with 13.7% of awards and was followed by the West Midlands which accounted for 11.0% of awards. Commenting on the figures, Tom Hall, Chief Economist at  Barbour ABI and  AMA Research said, “After 3 months of recovering activity, contract awards over July-September returned to pre-Covid 19 average levels. Given the size of the shock to the construction industry and the wider economy that is cause for celebration. However, these numbers will contain an element of catch-up from the lost activity in April-June, so underlying activity is likely to be somewhat weaker than the headline numbers. The recovery so far has been evident more in the public and infrastructure sectors, with the commercially minded sectors remaining slightly subdued. With significant uncertainties remaining it will be interesting to see how the situation evolves over the coming months” Download the full report here:  http://ubm.io/2FRLrwm

Read More »

MOUNTPARK ANNOUNCES 359,500 SQ FT INVENTORY DEVELOPMENT IN BRISTOL.

Mountpark Logistics, a leading developer of industrial and logistics property, announced today that it has started construction on an inventory cross-docked unit of 359,500 sq ft at Mountpark Bristol 360 in Central Park, Avonmouth. The building is due to complete in July 2021. Designed to achieve BREEAM ‘Excellent’ certification with an EPC A rating, the facility includes features, such as rooftop Solar PV array and battery storage that will help maximise operational efficiency. The building, which has the potential to attract several hundred new jobs to the local area, has been designed to enhance employee wellbeing, with measures such as natural daylight in the warehouse and an office rooftop terrace. Close to the new M49 (J1), Mountpark Bristol 360 is within easy reach of the M4, M5 and M48 motorways and a 4.5 hour drive time of 85% of the UK population. Intermodal facilities and international transport connections are available at the Central Park rail freight terminal, at Avonmouth and Royal Portbury docks and at Bristol Airport. “Mountpark Bristol 360 is a prime site at the economic heart of the South West,” said David Carvey, Development Director UK & Ireland, Mountpark. “There is a shortage of Grade A stock in the region and rising demand. Central Park is an established distribution location and we believe this new development provides one of the best logistics property opportunities on the market.” JLL, Colliers International and DTRE are acting for Mountpark.  The Development Manager is Stoford.

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Opening the door to enhanced fire safety

Europe’s leading door Provider, Hörmann UK, is continuing to position itself at the forefront of industry developments with the launch of its new steel and stainless-steel Fire Rated Sliding Doors for the industrial and commercial construction sectors. Compliant to BS EN 120 and BS EN 240, the single-leaf fire sliding doors are available in two variations, with the FST 120-1 BS Fire Sliding Door offering 120-minute fire resistance and the FST 2410-1 BS providing 240-minute fire resistance. Providing first class fire performance, functionality and style, the two latest models are an extension of Hörmann UK’s impressive offering of sliding doors, which are renowned for delivering unrivalled durability and reliability. This is due to a patented cylindrical track roller and stable track roller, which provide optimal force balance for quiet operation and easy actuation, while the 72mm flush elements create a high quality door leaf with parallel, uniformed edges for a contemporary aesthetic. The new sliding doors are also available with a range of optional additions to meet the requirements of each individual specification. This includes impact absorber profile guards and anti-collision bollards to ensure continued safety and long service life, while the hold-open device and optical or acoustic alarm systems provide enhanced usability and safety. Available in either Pearlgrain galvanised or smooth galvanised surface finishes, there are a diverse range of colours to choose from including Flame Red, Anthracite Grey and Pure White. The sliding doors offer a modern finish, without compromising on fire performance. Paul Tulley, Key Account Manager for Hörmann UK, said: “Our new Fire Rated Sliding Doors, which are compliant to British Standards, are a key addition to our extensive range of fire rated sliding and functional doors. Suitable for installation across a wide range of developments and industries, the steel or stainless-steel doors can withstand heavy usage cycles with ease, due to their impressive quality of construction.” The doors can be operated in conjunction with an FSA-Basis hold-open device control centre, which combines the power supply, warning signals, fire detector evaluation, manual release button and reset device in a compact housing. This is supported by LED lamps or acoustic signals, which communicate the status and alarm states of the door. Additional safety elements, including fire detectors, magnets, recess flaps and fire alarm systems can also be quickly connected for easy integration. The doors can also be operated utilising Hörmann UK’s FSA-Plus hold-open device control centre, which features a battery backup for reliable operation, even in the event of power failures. The doors are also compatible with Hörmann UK’s powerful and maintenance-free SupraMatic operators, which provide fast opening and closing and are also available with soft start and soft stop available as standard, delivering gentle and quiet door travel. In case of fire, a patented compensator release system will unlock the operator, enabling the door to be closed via weights. For further information on Hörmann UK’s fire rated doors for the construction industry, call 01530 516880 or visit: https://www.hormann.co.uk/architects/doors.

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Britain's Housing Market Is Booming but the Structural Issues Remain

Britain’s Housing Market Is Booming but the Structural Issues Remain

Britain’s housing market continues to flip the recession script with average asking prices hitting record high in spite of the ongoing coronavirus restrictions and the economic uncertainties. Tiger Craft, Partner and CIO at Hilltop Credit Partners, says the latest figures from Rightmove and Halifax reinforce that a mini housing boom is under way and that the government’s attempts to support demand through incentives like stamp duty holiday are helping this growing sentiment. Commenting on the latest market reports and the continued growth of the housing market, Tiger says: “The latest Rightmove data shows that the average asking price of homes coming on to the market has hit a record high, with asking prices 5.5% higher than in October last year. Another report by Halifax restates that the average price of a home in the UK is now £249,870 — up by £17,000 between August and September in the fastest growth in more than four years. “Restrictions on the UK property transactions were lifted in May, following an eight-week period during which the housing market was effectively shut. Once the restrictions began to ease, the housing market has witnessed a sharp rise. Even now when the country is facing its deepest recession on record, the house prices are at an all-time high. This contradiction can simply not be because the sector is immune from the COVID-induced paralysis. The answer to this is not in the virus but in the nature of the housing market itself. In Britain, the fundamental challenges around housing stock still remain: the supply-demand imbalance across the country, and the large addressable market in funding. I strongly believe that people will always need and want homes, and no virus is going to change this reality. “We also have to look at the support extended by the government and how recent announcements have been instrumental in supporting the sector throughout. Prime Minister’s landmark ‘Build, Build, Build’ speech where he spoke about how Britain suffers from a ‘chronic failure’ to build enough homes and the need to ‘level up’ with a focus on the regions. The speech not only provided a boost to SME developers and buyers, but to potential first-time buyers as well as the announcement was followed up by a stamp duty cut in July. The government’s focus is now on creating a ‘Generation Buy’ and to help would-be homeowners who are currently locked out of the property market due to steep demand for deposits. All these measures have meant that the housing market has been doing extremely well especially since the lockdown. “At Hilltop, our objective remains unchanged – to cautiously fund high-quality assets and developers and whilst we have tightened our underwriting criteria to account for the market uncertainty, we see no reason to recede. We have a growing pipeline with great sponsors, and even have a vote of confidence from banks like OakNorth Bank as can be seen by our increased facility recently,” Tiger Craft concludes. Expert analysis by Partner and CIO at award-winning Hilltop Credit Partners, a specialist funding partner for small and mid-sized residential property developers and housebuilders across Britain

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Energy Assets Utilities Sharpens Business Development Strategy

Energy Assets Utilities (EAU), one of Britain’s leading utility network design and construction companies, has created two new roles to spearhead its business growth plans. The company has promoted Gary Smith to Head of Residential Sales and Craig Downie to Head of Commercial Sales to help drive the implementation of a sector-based expansion strategy. “As a business, we have enjoyed consistent growth over the last few years and have built a significant customer base among residential and industrial and commercial developers,” said Steven Lynch, EAU Group Commercial Director. “We see huge potential in both sectors and introducing these new roles will build capacity at a strategic level while at the same time sharpening our sales activities. This organisational change will ensure we optimise the value of our offer based on the needs of our customers, whether they are housebuilders or commercial developers.” EAU has offices across Britain and provides multi-utility design and construction services covering gas, electricity, fibre and water networks. The company possesses a strong pipeline of projects covering housebuilding and large commercial schemes. In their new roles, Gary and Craig will support the wider business development team, while their respective sector focus and knowledge will strengthen EAU’s engagement with utilities construction opportunities in residential and commercial markets. www.energyassets.co.uk/multi-utility/utility-installation

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Smart Improvements to Keep Your Home Insulated

Smart Improvements to Keep Your Home Insulated

It’s starting to look like we will all be spending a little more time at home again over the next few months and with the colder weather approaching, it could be a costly time for home owners. With more people working from home once again and curfews being introduced, it’s an opportune time to invest in insulating your home – not just to keep it cosy – but also efficient in terms of heat retention and cost savings. John Evans of home improvement specialists Stormclad, said: “Over the last six months we have all spent more time at home than usual, and our homes now more than ever play a vital role in keeping us safe and secure as well as being the backdrop to home working, home learning and everything in between. “To ensure the home remains a pleasant place to be for all the family, temperature plays an key role and as it begins to get colder outside, it could be the perfect time to make home improvements to increase the homes thermal efficiency. “There are a number of simple modifications you can make to your home to reduce heat which can be installed in a matter of hours, days or weeks.” Draught-proofing There are countless gaps in our homes that we usually never even think about. However, these are letting out the warmth from, and letting the cold inside. Often you can fill all the gaps and holes yourself with some simple DIY. Internal doors are a good place to start when trying to cover drafts. You can buy removable draft excluders such as the classic sausage dog, or have a draught excluding door seal fitted underneath the door. Ensure you keep these shut as often as possible to retain the heat in each room, and to stop draughts coming through. Replace windows with modern double glazing Windows are one of the most prone areas to heatloss in the home. An old single paned window will emit around 84% of a room’s heat into the cold air outside so it is definitely worth the investment. Installing double glazed windows will retain the heat in your home by trapping a layer of air between two panes of glass which stops the air from circulating, resulting in a decrease of heat loss across the window. With modern double glazed windows, the space between the panes is often filled with denser argon gas which will slow down heat loss even further. Older windows can look outdated and deteriorate quickly, so replacing them a with durable frame such as aluminium will transform the look of your home outside and in. External door replacements Older doors are prone to holes and gaps which allows draughts to enter the home. Doors can often become warped and unsettled in their existing frame, which means its time for an upgrade. Solid wood doors are a popular choice as timber is a natural insulator, absorbing and retaining heat, as well as composite doors, which are a thick door made of a combination of timber and ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) – a robust thermo-plastic door skin. Top top: Ensure your door is fitted with a quality letterbox flap or brush, to reduce the amount of heat loss from the letterbox.  Conservatory refurbishments Do you avoid this room in the winter because it’s too cold? Could this be your new home office? Making changes to your old conservatory can vastly reduce the amount of heat lost and make the space welcoming and usable all year round. Older conservatories are often made with plastic polycarbonate roofs which have very little thermal insulation. Replacing the roof with high performance glass, a solid roof or a combination of the two, is one of the most effective improvements you can make to increase a conservatory’s thermal efficiency, which not just affects the conservatory but the whole home’s thermal efficiency.

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Knightsbridge additions drive lighting up – and down – the wall

Knightsbridge, one of the UK’s leading brands of wiring devices, accessories and lighting, is adding two products to its extensive outdoor lighting range. These two new LED wall lights offer contrasting design styles and lighting effects but share the same attention to quality and detail. The WAD12 is a die-cast aluminium, cube shaped wall light that is bi-directional, meaning it can show light from the top and the bottom at the same time. It features adjustable sliders on top and the bottom, which allows users to easily create a variety of lighting effects. The IP65-rated luminaire measures a compact 125mm in height, 100mm width and 100mm depth, and is available in either anthracite or black. It features two LED lamps producing 330 lumens, each in warm white. The RD10BK is a circular, IP54-rated wall light with die-cast aluminium body and polycarbonate diffuser that produces a warm white light from its 10W LED lamp. Measuring 155mm in diameter and with a projection of only 48mm, the luminaire is small enough to be discreet during the day but big enough to make an impact at night. What’s more, the RD10 is supplied with two covers, giving users the choice of two different light outputs. Both new arrivals come with a standard warranty of three years giving peace of mind. Whatever the outdoor application, whether it’s renovating a driveway, illuminating garden pathways and features, or installing outdoor security lighting. Knightsbridge has a product that can do it beautifully.

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Benefits of using a water filter at home

It’s not a secret that water is an essential need. Aside from keeping our body hydrated and healthy, it sustains our environment for us to live. Unfortunately, not all water is the same. Fresh running waters from the mountains may look refreshing however it most likely contains bacterias harmful to our bodies. Your tap water is not exempted from these bacterias. Even if the water seems to taste okay, some other contaminants might slip to your glass. That’s why it is important to have a water filter at home. With a water filter, you can make sure that your water is clean for drinking, cooking, and a lot more. Here are some of the benefits you will enjoy using a water filter at home. Removes Harmful Bacterias The water you use at home is exposed to a large scale of chemicals including chlorine and chloramines. Lead is also a harmful chemical usually present in unfiltered water. These chemicals are not meant to be consumed. They bring harm to our bodies which can cause serious health problems. Water filters also get rid of bad bacterias that can cause serious gastrointestinal problems. Prevents Microorganisms Numerous countries have developed great water systems. The public water systems were created to bring water into each household seamlessly. However, the system is aging. As a result, some pipes may have leaked, corroded, or broken. These damages may lead to unsafe microorganisms in your tap water. A house filtration system with UV protection is the best option for fighting bacterias. It will give you and your family safe water to drink. Save Money Aside from the health benefits, you can get, water filters also save your time and money from buying bottled water. With your water filter at home, you’re saving your health, money, and the environment by getting rid of the plastic bottle. You can always get a water filter for the whole house. Some companies offer installation and cleaning services. Make sure that you’re getting the right kind of filters before making any decisions. Reduce the risk of skin irritation If you have sensitive skin, you should consider getting a water filter system. Chemicals from unfiltered water can not only cause damage inside your body but can also cause skin problems for individuals with sensitive skin. Persons who suffer from skin conditions such as psoriasis or eczema might develop allergies when exposed to different chemicals present in unfiltered water. Courtesy of making use of water filters brings a lot of benefits. It keeps your entire household healthy and well by drinking clean water. It reduces the chances of getting skin irritation and problems. It also saves you from buying bottled water that is not helpful to the environment. Normally, water filters are installed one-time and the cost is considerably low. It includes regular cleaning and occasional replacement of filter elements. Afterward, you can enjoy fresh and safe water at home.

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Relationship Between Community Education and Community Development

Every country has different communities, which are answerable for different aspects. One may find economic, medical, industrial, and other communities. Each community regulates its sector and affects others. The united effort of all communities affects the growth and development of the entire country. Of course, education plays a vital role and can ensure success or lead to the failure of a community in general. A professional team of essay writers from EssayLib writing service tried to dig deeper into the relationships between community education and community development. This informative guide highlights the way they are linked to one another and what importance for people they may bring. What is Community Development? Before we begin to seek the links between education and development, we should understand the phenomenon of a developed community in any country. Community development is a complex and important process, which is designed to make people knowledgeable and competent in a targeted geographical area. They are supposed to have certain skills, knowledge, and motivation to develop under certain economic circumstances. This approach is used to transform the area and thus affect the wellness of the country by embedding competencies. People are supposed to “know” what to do, rather than reading and following the instructions. This is when education steps up. Community development is frequently taken as an economic indicator to define the efficacy of development. If the community isn’t properly developed, the economic situation is poor. Education as the Basic Building Block It’s really hard to underrate the role of education in the life of every citizen. When a person is educated, he/she knows a lot about the world and specific industries. He/she can efficiently apply his/her knowledge and skills to enjoy success. The success will be personal, as well as social because those skills and knowledge help society. This relationship is clear for every community. An educated nation equals a prosperous nation. Boost in Economic Growth If a group of people (who belong to a concrete community) is incompetent, the country will hardly reap many dividends. People with poor skills and a lack of knowledge simply don’t know how to work fast, efficiently, and productively. Thus, a certain sector begins to delay the development of other sectors. Did you ever wonder why some countries are more successful and the other fall behind? Some people say it’s because of the many natural resources. However, many African nations are undeveloped even when they have precious gems and other resources. Why can’t they enjoy economic success? The answer is obvious – a huge part of their population is uneducated. People have the potential but have almost no idea how to use it. As a result, they require the help of developed countries to show the right path. In the meanwhile, their own people are unemployed because workers from other countries can do that better. Accordingly, economic growth is heavily dependent on the level of education in the country. Cultural Progress and Evolution Education is the most efficient and important medium to pass the experiences of the previous generations. When children learn the history, customs, and traditions of their country, they preserve their own culture. If a country forgets about its cultural heritage, it is doomed to vanish. It is impossible to exist without knowing your own language, culture, history, traditions, etc. Every next generation creates something new and changes its culture. Nevertheless, authenticity survives because people do not forget their ancestors, history, and culture. Education helps to pass that knowledge and experience. Technological Progress Undoubtedly, a well-educated nation can follow the pace. We mean the creation of innovative technologies, which make our lives easier. Highly technological nations are the most successful ones. If a nation continuously creates new mechanisms, applications, medical equipment, industrial equipment, etc., it shows that it’s a wealthy nation. It has genius scientists, mechanics, engineers, physicians, etc. who have been educated in this community. The level of education is high to create technological marvels that improve the wellness of the entire country. It surely leads to economic growth and stability. What Are the Main Benefits? As we review the relationship between community education and development, we should summarize the main benefits of their collaboration. The government and other structures invest in education to achieve certain results. What are those results? Make allowances for the following essentials: Economic growth and stability; Technological progress; A reliable method to preserve cultural heritage; Intelligent and happy children; Bright perspectives for future development; Economic independence and prosperity; Development of social institutions; Progress of medical and scientific industries, etc. The benefits are almost immeasurable, but all of them are possible thanks to an educated nation. That’s why different governments, nonprofit organizations, and international development agencies invest in education. They know that a high level of education benefits the development of the community. They implement and improve the methods of teaching to ensure an intelligent nation. This investment will surely provide the desired results, which help to overcome an economic pit and improve the wellbeing of the country. As you can see, the development of any community is directly dependent on its compliance with the educational sector. If a separate group of people is not educated, that community falls behind and does not complete its functions. It negatively affects the country in general. Accordingly, educated communities are the foundations of economic development in every country.

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