Refurb grants for people to make their homes more energy efficient should be available for an extra year rather than finish at the end of March next year, urges the Federation of Master Builders. The trade body is calling on the chancellor Rishi Sunak in his spending review on November 25th to
Construction work has commenced on a new multi-million-pound sports facility at Backwell School near Bristol, North Somerset. The 1,770-square-meter scheme will deliver a new state-of-the-art four-court sports hall – as well as a fitness suite and changing facilities – to create better sporting opportunities for the school’s secondary and Sixth
Edwin James Group has reported strong trading as the engineering and technical services company saw growth across all of its core market sectors. The annual results saw turnover rise 15% to £153m with an increase in earnings (EBITDA) of 28% from the previous year. The group continued to see organic
Construction works are progressing well on ‘The Yacht Club’ – an exclusive 81-home development on the Trent riverside, by Leeds-based developer KMRE Group Ltd. Situated in a prime waterside location to the south of Trent Lane, The Yacht Club will offer residents panoramic views of the river and The Hook nature
So you’re thinking about renovating your home, that’s great! In these times when everyone’s been pretty much homebound, it can be a good idea to invest in some quality renovations. But before you start, we suggest you run a thorough check of your home, just to avoid any future (unpleasant)
While considering installing/remodelling a kitchen, the most important question that arises is, “how much would it cost?” A new kitchen will indeed be the most expensive project task you’re going to perform. However, when choosing a traditional kitchen style, it won’t cost you a lot. Many things can help you
Refurb grants for people to make their homes more energy efficient should be available for an extra year rather than finish at the end of March next year, urges the Federation of Master Builders. The trade body is calling on the chancellor Rishi Sunak in his spending review on November 25th to bring forward a£9.2 bnmanifesto pledge to make existing homes greener. The Federation of Master Builders, FMB, said this would offer a clear pipeline of work. FMB chief executive Brian Berry said: “SMEs in the construction sector stand ready to build back greener, but they will only be able to do so if they are supported to train and recruit highly skilled tradespeople.” He said this would mean identifying skill gaps and investing in businesses that could do the training. “We should also be making the most of the current trend for homeowners to extend and convert their homes, by cutting VAT to 5 per cent on home improvements so consumers have more money to invest in retrofit at the same time,” he added. Extension of green grants gets widespread support Brokers Hank Zarihs Associates said development and refurbishment finance lenders supported an extension of the £3bn green retrofit scheme launched at the end of September. About £2bn is available to help private homeowners upgrade the energy performance of homes, using TrustMark-registered installers. “Our plan to upgrade the nation’s buildings and help build back better is good news for jobs, the environment and people’s back pockets, as we reduce emissions and help cut energy bills,”said business and energy secretary Alok Sharma at the launch of the scheme. The government has said it will fund two-thirds of the cost of energy efficiency work such as new insulation and double glazing up to a cost of £5,000. Only traders registered with TrustMark can do the work but few have signed up which the FMB said was due to the scheme’s short length and need to have the green retrofit PAS2030 qualification. The remaining £1bn is to be funnelled into boosting the energy efficiency of public buildings, including schools and hospitals.
Construction work has commenced on a new multi-million-pound sports facility at Backwell School near Bristol, North Somerset. The 1,770-square-meter scheme will deliver a new state-of-the-art four-court sports hall – as well as a fitness suite and changing facilities – to create better sporting opportunities for the school’s secondary and Sixth Form students. Lancashire-based Collinson Construction is acting as main contractor for the project, which will also provide much-needed additional teaching space for the school with the inclusion of a new block of science classrooms and a staff office. Funded through the Lighthouse Schools Partnership and a Priority School Building Programme grant, the facility was approved by North Somerset Council planners in June, with contractors now bringing the scheme to life on the former site of tennis courts. It is just one of several projects Collinson Construction has started on site this year. The education construction specialist commenced works on a new sports facility at Durrington High School in Worthing, West Sussex, while the firm also completed a £2.6m multi-use sports hall at Thorpe House School, in addition to a new £2.1m arts and music centre for Morecambe Bay Academy. Rob Duxbury, managing director at Collinson Construction, said: “We’ve had an extremely busy year creating inspiring new sports spaces for education providers, but we’ve seen a sharp rise in demand for additional teaching space in response to the current pandemic too. “We’re proud to be working closely with Backwell School to deliver this innovative new facility that will not only help shape the sporting skills of students, but also benefit the wider community by encouraging them to take part in more physical exercise.” Mr Jon Nunes, Headteacher at Backwell School, added: “We are very excited to see the construction beginning on our new building. It is currently a very challenging time for schools and to see the structure come together and the building take shape is providing us all with a positive focus for the future of our school. A project of such scale on a large busy school site like ours can be logistically challenging, however Collinson Construction has managed this incredibly well. “Our new building will provide state of the art facilities for our students and the local community. We will have a new fully sized sports hall and a new teaching block with five classrooms, included three science laboratories. We look forward with great anticipation to using our new curriculum spaces in 2021.” The new sports facility at Backwell School is expected to be completed May 2021.
Edwin James Group has reported strong trading as the engineering and technical services company saw growth across all of its core market sectors. The annual results saw turnover rise 15% to £153m with an increase in earnings (EBITDA) of 28% from the previous year. The group continued to see organic growth across all operations and the recent acquisitions of Jex Process Services and Peak Technology Solutions, which support the expansion of its process services business. Commenting on the results, Derek Smith, CEO of Edwin James Group said: “We are harnessing the expertise of our people and the benefits of our technology solutions to provide our customers with unparalleled service to help them manage assets through the full lifecycle. It’s an approach that is driving revenue growth across the business. “We continue to be open to acquisitions that can add value to our customer offering by enhancing our capabilities in key sectors. This year’s results are a robust platform for continued growth.” The group is a leading national engineering services business, employing 1,100 people with its head offices in both Glasgow and Burton-on-Trent. The group has increased investment in its own Academy, which supports lifelong learning at every stage of an employee’s career. It has over 100 apprentices working across the group, and they form a key part of its workforce strategy. It plans to expand its apprenticeship and graduate programme further in 2021. Mr Smith concluded: “While the last seven months have proved a challenging environment for all businesses to operate in we have continued to trade robustly and we are well placed to return to growth in 2021. The synergies between our businesses continue to enhance value for clients, which is supporting organic revenue growth.” Edwin James Group was founded by investment firm Aliter Capital, which initially acquired Ingen Technical Services then Korrie, both Scottish-based businesses. It was followed by the acquisition of Burton-based WT Parker Group, in April 2017 and then Peterborough business, PEME, also in 2017. The acquisitions of Jex and Peak took place in 2019.
Construction works are progressing well on ‘The Yacht Club’ – an exclusive 81-home development on the Trent riverside, by Leeds-based developer KMRE Group Ltd. Situated in a prime waterside location to the south of Trent Lane, The Yacht Club will offer residents panoramic views of the river and The Hook nature reserve in Lady Bay. Within easy reach of Nottingham city centre and West Bridgford, The Yacht Club sits adjacent to the River Crescent, Pelham Waterside and Trent Basin residential schemes, in the rapidly changing Colwick area known as Riverside. One, two and three-bedroom apartments are available, including penthouses, and prices start from £310,000 to £550,000. FHP Living has been appointed as the selling agent and interested parties can contact Steve Parker or Joe Hargreaves for information and viewings. Just over a mile from the city centre, the contemporary development – which boasts all apartments with balcony’s looking on to the river – is already at 40% sold, and is on the site of the former Park Yacht Inn, located in one of the most peaceful riverside settings in the city. In close proximity to Nottingham Forest F. C’s City Ground, Notts County Football Club on Meadow Lane and Trent Bridge Cricket Ground – the development sits in a great location for sports fans, whilst being closely situated to the amenities of the city and West Bridgford. Speculative plans have been put forward for a pedestrian footbridge to be built over the River Trent in the next couple of years, to cater to the burgeoning waterside residential communities, linking the riverside area to Lady Bay. Construction works involve a phased completion, with the first practical completion in March 2021, and a full handover of the site expected by summer 2021. The development comprises three stand-alone buildings, with each of the 81 apartments benefitting from large panoramic windows and its own balcony or terrace, with stunning views up and down the river. Penthouses have distinctively larger living spaces with underfloor heating, superior tiled floors and sweeping terraces boasting optimal views of the River Trent and Nottingham skyline. There will also be attractive outdoor spaces and footpaths along the river to the front of the buildings for residents to enjoy. A show suite will be available for private viewings from the end of November, enabling interested buyers to get a glimpse into the exclusive waterside lifestyle that The Yacht Club has to offer. It will also provide the first opportunity for confirmed buyers to personalise and upgrade apartments – with bespoke options to choose from for interior décor, fixtures and fittings. As well as sweeping riverside views, onsite parking for every apartment and vibrant outdoor communal spaces, all apartments will be finished to the finest quality, using high spec fixtures and fittings. Kam Mogul, managing director at KMRE Group Ltd, said: “We are extremely proud to be delivering this flagship residential scheme, providing the finest quality spacious homes, many with panoramic views of the River Trent, in an idyllic waterside location. “These homes boast unrivalled picturesque views of the water and the tranquil Hook nature reserve in Lady Bay, and are a pivotal part of the ongoing waterfront regeneration on the banks of the River Trent, offering a premium waterside living experience with a community feel, that really connects you with nature. “During these challenging times, we remain completely committed to the Nottingham market and construction works at The Yacht Club are progressing on track, with the show home due to open in the next few weeks for appointments with interested buyers.” “This is the first of our landmark ‘Southern Gateway’ developments in Nottingham, which also includes the 62-apartment Hindle House residential scheme.” Steve Parker, director at the selling agent, FHP Living, said: “With stunning waterside views, in a serene yet central location, The Yacht Club will provide the ultimate waterside lifestyle. “The development is in a great location on the banks of the river Trent and is within walking distance of local amenities, including East Point Retail Park – which includes an Aldi and Costa Coffee – and the beautiful Colwick Country Park. Within just five minutes’ drive is Victoria Retail Park, which boasts an M&S Foodhall, Next, Boots and many other popular retailers.” Fellow director at FHP Living, David Hargreaves, said: “We are pleased to see how quickly the building works are now progressing, particularly through these difficult times of lockdown. Now more than ever people are looking for homes close to nature, with outside space and scope to work from home, and being on the banks of the river, there is an abundance of nature on your doorstep at The Yacht Club. “The development is a welcome addition to the Riverside area and the team at FHP Living are looking forward to showing potential owner occupiers and investors around the new show suite shortly.”
So you’re thinking about renovating your home, that’s great! In these times when everyone’s been pretty much homebound, it can be a good idea to invest in some quality renovations. But before you start, we suggest you run a thorough check of your home, just to avoid any future (unpleasant) surprises. Hire a pest control company before redoing your home – here’s why! You might be thinking that you don’t need pest control services because there are no pests in your home. Or at least… none that you know of. In actuality, there might be bats living in your attic even now, or perhaps a snake nest underneath your home – who knows? To put it simply, it’s not unusual for a home to have pests, without the owners even knowing it. Pests could really mess up your renovation plans. Even the nicest of contractors probably won’t take kindly to finding a family of opossums living on your property mid-job. Such an occurrence will no doubt halt the work for at least a couple of days while you get rid of the unwanted pests. In the meantime, of course, you still have to keep paying your work crew, and might even have to pay something for the inconvenience. And if you don’t find the pests during renovation, that’s even worse! Not all pests will pop up during a home redo. Let’s face it, these creatures aren’t stupid. They’re not going to just pop out when everyone’s focused on the house so that they can get killed! Quite the contrary. The pest in question will stay carefully hidden until things go back to normal, and then it’ll come back… to your freshly redone home! Whether it’s termites, bats, or raccoons, these pests will do considerable damage to your home, by chewing on the wood structures, electrical wires, messing up insulation, or who knows, maybe even endangering the home’s stability. And aside from the obvious health and safety danger this poses, we’re also looking at some serious money you’ve just thrown down the drain. Pests won’t care if you’ve just renovated your home, they’ll mess it up just the same. And then you’ll be back at square one, not only having to pay for pest control, but also for a work crew to come back and renovate your house… again! To avoid all these headaches, look through this informational source for help dealing with wildlife pests. Preventive pest control could also help you fix things before they become a problem! If you hire a pest control company to come in and do a quick and thorough assessment of your property beforehand, they will be able to highlight any potential weak points on your property. Pros like Orlando Rats offer many different services. They’ll look for holes in the wall or crawl spaces under your property, or any such things that could become a pest entry point. And you’ll be able to fix these things before they become a problem, during the renovation. In the end, hiring a pest control company to run a check on your home is the smart and budget-friendly thing to do!
While considering installing/remodelling a kitchen, the most important question that arises is, “how much would it cost?” A new kitchen will indeed be the most expensive project task you’re going to perform. However, when choosing a traditional kitchen style, it won’t cost you a lot. Many things can help you keep the cost down while achieving your desired kitchen look. Modern kitchens are dependent on the range of materials and finishes; however, shaker kitchens are designed for those who have a tight budget. You will be surprised to look at the prices that come with Shaker style kitchens. Though Shaker doors and cabinets are clean and simple in design with a traditional centre panel, costs are much lower than what you think. And, of course, that does not mean you have to compromise on quality. How Choices Affect the Price of Traditional Shaker Kitchens There are so many choices available that may affect the total cost of a new traditional kitchen. Here are some of the variations that typically affect it: Size and layout Handles Finish choices Appliances Worktop (which includes laminate’s cost) Tap Additional work such as electrical, tiling, polishing, etc.) Cost of Shaker Cabinets The cost of shaker cabinets in Europe may range between £76 and £900 per linear foot. This is as similar to any other style available. The cost includes style choice for doors and drawer faces and does not cover material expenses. Whether you choose a custom or stock type of material will dictate the actual estimation. Pricing Cabinets by Size 10×10 Kitchen Cabinets A 10×10 kitchen ranges between £1,500-£18,000 depending upon the materials and type you determine. Furthermore, this sort of size typically has 20 to 25 linear feet of cabinets. 12×12 Kitchen Cabinets A standard 12 by 12-foot kitchen cabinet costs around £1,900 to £22,000. It is considered as the average kitchen size in European homes. This size of traditional kitchens is beneficial as it accommodates open concepts, larger and more numerous appliances, and increases storage needs. Cupboards for Small Kitchens You will require nearly £1,300 to £15,000 for cupboards. A kitchen is considered to be small when it has typically 70 square feet or less space. However, you will not need to sacrifice style when choosing a shaker style for your small kitchen. You can find a wide range of materials and styles available for all kitchen sizes, and it gives plenty of options for storage solutions. What to Do Next Choosing a shaker style for your kitchen is ideally the best option to go for. It is undoubtedly a timeless classic style. The style is clean and simple and offers you a range of choices, designs, and styles in your budget without compromising the quality. Furthermore, a real style never goes out of trend. From luxury shaker to smooth, traditional, and classic shaker, you can give any direction to your kitchen and make it stand out with the affordable range. You can’t go wrong with Shaker-style even when choosing a traditional country kitchen or ultra-modern, contemporary design. If you’ve already set your heart for a shaker style kitchen, however, do not want to go for a new kitchen completely, you can still have options. Reface your existing kitchen cabinets with Shaker door replacements, and you have your new kitchen ready! Start planning your budget to get a clean, minimalist kitchen style at an affordable price using Shaker style!
