A UNIQUE ‘cohesive use’ scheme featuring a 223-room hotel, extensive food and beverage space and a day spa which developers hope will bring international interest to Nottingham has been submitted for planning today (4 January). Proposals for the ground-breaking, multi-million scheme also include a 100m-long atrium, co-working space, apartments, green
LGIM Real Assets (Legal & General), on behalf of its Managed Property Fund, and development partner Wrenbridge, announce that they have secured planning permission to transform a 107,000 sq ft industrial development at Gateway Cambridge in Bar Hill. This latest planning permission is in line with the fund’s strategy to
Leeds Based Sigmat Look Forward To A Landmark Year For LGSF As Demand For Sustainable MMC Solutions Continues To Grow With one of the most extraordinary years the industry has ever faced almost behind us and yet more uncertainties to come, one sector has emerged triumphant from the challenges presented
Powys Grove will replace a chain of disused garages in a popular residential area Southern Grove believes infill sites like this have the power to deliver huge numbers of family homes across London It comes little more than a month after the company revealed it had permission to create a
The DD105 and DD105 OSC asphalt compactors from Volvo Construction Equipment now come equipped with Tier 3/Stage IIIA engines for emerging markets. Thanks to the integration of a Tier 3/Stage IIIA engine, the DD105 and oscillatory variant DD105 OSC double drum compactors are now available in emerging markets. These fuel-efficient
Customer relationship management is a business development tool designed to help organizations manage their interactions with customers easily. Its automation features send alerts when a customer completes a particular action, when it is time to perform an activity such as follow up a contract, download a white paper or even
A UNIQUE ‘cohesive use’ scheme featuring a 223-room hotel, extensive food and beverage space and a day spa which developers hope will bring international interest to Nottingham has been submitted for planning today (4 January). Proposals for the ground-breaking, multi-million scheme also include a 100m-long atrium, co-working space, apartments, green public realm and leisure facilities. The latest phase of The Island Quarter development is believed to be the UK’s first cohesive-use development, incorporating multiple uses within the same flowing space. The ambitious plans submitted to Nottingham City Council feature a stunning bar and busy forum for people to meet. It has been hailed as a ‘UK first’ which leads the way in terms of sustainability, innovation and engagement with nature and green space in a post-Covid world. The proposal – which will create more than 550 jobs when completed – is believed to be the UK’s first cohesive-use development, incorporating multiple uses within the same flowing space, similar to Roppongi Hills in Tokyo. Richard Watson, of developer Conygar, said: “The Island Quarter is the biggest city centre regeneration schemes in the UK, and we believe it is vital for the development to bring something outstanding to Nottingham, for which the city and the Midlands can be proud of. “We are fortunate to have a site in Nottingham with its great heritage and an international reputation – with developments such as this and, among other schemes, the renovation of Nottingham Castle, we want to ensure it retains its rightful place as the Queen of the Midlands and a core UK city. “It is an ambitious project – unmatched across the UK. The scheme will raise the profile of Nottingham, so we are working closely with our team of architects and designers to create a lasting legacy and community for Nottingham.” The first glimpse of the proposals highlights such features as large archways, wide open spaces within the hotel areas and an atrium to create a light and airy atmosphere for residents and visitors. Several aspects of the design have been created to meet changing needs anticipated in the aftermath of the pandemic, such as flexible spaces, relaxing community areas and green public realm. David Jones, director at Axis Planning, which has coordinated all planning-related inputs on the scheme since its inception, said: “This latest phase of the Island Quarter is groundbreaking in a number of ways. The innovative blending of hotel, office and residential space and the distinctive combination of high quality internal and external environments will, I’m sure, generate significant footfall in this soon to be revitalised part of the city”. “The ground floor provides an extensive, mixed-use food and beverage-led experience incorporating restaurant, bar, forum and atrium space in a way that hasn’t been done before in the UK. “The mix of linked buildings together with integral and adjacent open spaces provides a fluidity within the development which will be essential in a post-Covid world. We’re convinced this will create a truly unique experience for people to visit and to stay, live, work and play. “The scheme will complement future plans for the city, such as the highly anticipated redevelopment of the Broadmarsh. Together, these developments will lead the way for the ambitious Southside regeneration.” The Island Quarter masterplan, which received outline planning approval in April 2019, has been designed with a full lifecycle of uses, ranging from student housing, office space and community living. The development will introduce a network of public realm and access routes for pedestrians and cyclists, with green spaces at the heart of the plans. Operating in tandem with Canal Turn, the opening phase of the scheme, the architecture of this phase mirrors the heritage buildings opposite, as well as taking inspiration from the nearby Victorian railway buildings. James Dilley, director at architect Jestico+Whiles, said: “This design truly blends with Canal Turn and its surroundings. It is about place making, focused on a spirit of community, conviviality and collaboration. The design we have brought forward really reflects the synergy of uses that the wider scheme will create, and we hope will create a ripple effect across the entire site and across Nottingham itself. “This building is inspired by the rich and layered context of The Island Quarter, respecting and referencing its centuries of heritage while creating something entirely new. This isn’t helicopter architecture – we aren’t just dropping something in and hoping it works with its surroundings, it is born of its special context.” Alongside the hotel – which will provide short and long-stay accommodation with city views from a landmark 17-storey building – the latest phase will feature 3,000 sqm of serviced flexible office space. The latest phase will also see the creation of significant amounts of landscaped green space in the form of a linear park, creating a clear link through the site from the city centre to the suburbs to the east of the city. For more information on The Island Quarter, visit theislandquarter.com.
LGIM Real Assets (Legal & General), on behalf of its Managed Property Fund, and development partner Wrenbridge, announce that they have secured planning permission to transform a 107,000 sq ft industrial development at Gateway Cambridge in Bar Hill. This latest planning permission is in line with the fund’s strategy to evolve its asset holdings and deploy capital into key growth areas, such as the industrial sector, which have retained strong fundamentals. Despite the economic downturn, the fund has continued to drive forward this mandate and recently also announced the acquisition of a significant urban logistics scheme in Basildon for £23.2 million. Once complete, Gateway Cambridge will comprise eight Grade A units, ranging in size from 3,046 sq ft to 45,694 sq ft. Bar Hill is strategically located on the newly improved A14 with excellent connectivity to Cambridge and the M11. The area represents a popular location for industrial occupiers, with excellent amenity on the doorstep and a large workforce available. In line with Legal & General’s wider ESG commitments, Bar Hill has been designed from its inception to be a best in class, environmentally sustainable industrial development which focuses on staff wellbeing. As redevelopment gets underway, Legal & General will look to further bolster the ESG credentials of the new Gateway Cambridge scheme. Rob Codling, Senior Fund Manager, Managed Property Fund said:“Gateway Cambridge, Bar Hill was acquired by the Managed Property Fund in 2006 and is now well placed for modernisation. In line with its strategy, the fund is continuing to maximise holdings where we can be confident that location, occupier demand and sector fundamentals will sustain resilient income streams for the long term. At Bar Hill, we look forward to delivering a high-quality, sustainable development which can provide both economic value and employment opportunities to the local area.” James Feltham, Director at Wrenbridge, added:“The industrial sector continues to thrive, with demand for quality new space outstripping supply. Gateway Cambridge will deliver new units in a size range to cater for a range of occupiers and our focus is to provide a new sustainable development in an environment that will help companies attract and retain staff.” Bidwells and Savills are appointed as the leasing agents for the new development.
Leeds Based Sigmat Look Forward To A Landmark Year For LGSF As Demand For Sustainable MMC Solutions Continues To Grow With one of the most extraordinary years the industry has ever faced almost behind us and yet more uncertainties to come, one sector has emerged triumphant from the challenges presented by Covid-19. Yorkshire based LGSF specialists Sigmat say they have seen ‘encouraging’ levels of growth in the MMC sector and anticipate this trajectory is set to continue into 2021 and beyond. Sigmat, the leading European manufacturer of Light Gauge Steel Framing Solutions, have completed over 300 major projects across a variety of sectors and are widely recognised as one of the industry’s early innovators of LGSF technology. The Sigmat engineered system offers a world-leading product solution with a wide range of unique and patented structural profiles. As building sites all over the world gradually re-open after lockdown, it’s becoming increasingly clear that construction will look very different post-pandemic. Our global public health crisis has confirmed the urgent need for a new way of building homes, offices and public buildings, using smart construction to tackle design problems, inefficiency, outdated techniques and environmental challenges. Covid accentuated concerns surrounding close working demands for traditional construction methods and LGSF’s impressive environmental credentials, have all helped to catapult MMC to the top of the construction agenda and Sigmat predict this continued growth will be ones of the top trends throughout the new year. Sigmat CEO Mark Eburne commented: “We have remained incredibly busy throughout the Covid-19 crisis. Our manufacturing hub in Leeds has remained open and although some projects were rescheduled, we have still managed to see significant growth over the year.” “With sustainability right at the top of the building agenda, we know LGSF out performs traditional methods on every level. As more developers familiarise themselves with the huge benefits of LGSF construction, we anticipate our market share will continue to strengthen throughout 2021 and beyond.” With the manufacture of concrete accounting for around 9% of the world’s total carbon emissions, (3 times more than the aviation industry) steel frame structures, are, by their very nature, immediately more environmentally friendly. Sigmat produces its steel frames using at least 42% recycled content and a staggering 97% of its manufacturing waste is also recycled enabling them to maintain their 100% ‘no-landfill’ policy. Reduced transportation requirements, minimal site waste and over 90% end of life recyclability all contribute to making LGSF one of the most sustainable construction methods on the market today. And as the industry heads into another year of uncertainty, with more potential lockdowns on the horizon and increasingly exacerbated labour issues, LGSF can also help shape new working practices on-site. Where sites have re-started, the consensus is that at best, a maximum of 60% of workers can safely return under social distancing rules. Tighter immigration controls to help stop the spread of coronavirus will also continue to impact on the current labour shortage in the building sector. With fewer operatives on-site, MMC promotes greater social distancing and in turn offers a much safer environment on-site. This, added to the overall speed of LGSF construction (around 30% faster than traditional methods) could help satisfy the demand for high-quality housing and offer urban populations more space, and reduce overcrowding. “Sigmat has been involved in the development of LGSF technology for over 20 years,” commented Mark. “As one of the early innovators in MMC we have unparalleled levels of expertise and our commitment to R&D over the past five years in particular means we are well placed to service the increase in demand. 2020 has been a year most of us will want to forget but for Sigmat it’s been a year of industry recognition for the sector, and growth for us as a company. We are looking forward to 2021 and all the new challenges and opportunities that it presents.”
Powys Grove will replace a chain of disused garages in a popular residential area Southern Grove believes infill sites like this have the power to deliver huge numbers of family homes across London It comes little more than a month after the company revealed it had permission to create a similar scheme on another infill site in Finchley Developer Southern Grove has today unveiled a £7million project to create a series of mews houses in a popular residential area of north London. The scheme, called Powys Grove, will create nine family homes in the heart of Enfield. The announcement comes just a month after the company revealed it had succeeded in winning planning approval for another development of mews houses on a similar infill site in Finchley. Powys Grove will be a continuation of Southern Grove’s determination to take full advantage of the huge stock of infill sites across London, which it believes have the power to provide a large proportion of the family housing that the capital needs. As the company enters 2021, it will be redoubling efforts to identify a large pipeline of suitable sites that fit this description. Its latest terrace-style scheme will provide a single 2-bed house, seven 3-bed houses and one 4-bed property over three storeys, on a site currently occupied by a row of disused garages. The development, designed by Dowen Farmer Architects, is located on Powys Lane. It is minutes away from Broomfield Park and has fantastic transport connections, with Arnos Grove Tube station and Bounds Green Tube station just 10 minutes away. James Burke at Colliers International is advising Southern Grove on this asset and others in the pipeline. In late November, Southern Grove won permission to create another £5.5m scheme of five mews houses, called Granville Mews, on another infill site in Finchley. The company began assessing the feasibility of developing infill sites across the capital last year, because they are so numerous and have the power to dramatically increase the stock of family housing in sought-after residential areas. They have historically been under-utilised by developers because of an industry bias towards projects that possess greater economies of scale, but that disadvantage can be more than offset by the speed at which infill sites can traverse the planning process. Southern Grove will continue to expand the use of infill sites alongside its other large-scale residential developments of apartments, featuring hundreds of affordable homes. Tom Slingsby, CEO of developer Southern Grove, commented: “There is high demand for family housing here. The infill site we have selected is a classic example of land that has sat poorly used for many years, ignored by developers who too often prefer larger, more generic sites. “However, London needs housebuilders to be a bit more imaginative. If our approach is replicated at scale across London, thousands more family homes will spring up, dramatically increasing the pace of building. As an industry, we must make better use of infill sites, the transformation of which are usually very well received by planning departments and residents. “We have another two infill sites in the pipeline and our eyes on many other opportunities that show similar potential. We’ll be making a number of further announcements this year.”
The DD105 and DD105 OSC asphalt compactors from Volvo Construction Equipment now come equipped with Tier 3/Stage IIIA engines for emerging markets. Thanks to the integration of a Tier 3/Stage IIIA engine, the DD105 and oscillatory variant DD105 OSC double drum compactors are now available in emerging markets. These fuel-efficient and productive machines are equipped with an 86.3kW Tier 3/Stage IIIA engine that automatically adjusts output according to jobsite requirements, delivering power only when needed. Other smart features include Eco mode – which cuts fuel consumption by up to 30% without affecting performance – and an auto-idle function that reduces engine speed when the roller is stopped. Comfortably productive These robust machines are built to work hard but that doesn’t mean they can’t be comfortable. Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) prides itself on designing machines with the operator in mind. The company makes some of the most comfortable – and therefore productive – machines in the industry and the DD105/DD105 OSC is no exception. The ergonomically positioned controls and joystick guarantee effortless maneuverability, while the efficient climate system also helps keep the operator comfortable. The rear-mounted engine combined with a curved front glass panel and padded floor contributes to low levels of noise and vibrations within the cab – for a smooth and quiet ride. Safety and ease of operation are enhanced by the expansive front windshield which maximizes the view down to the drum and spray bars. The structural pillar supporting the roof is located at the rear of the cab, meaning the three front glass panels provide operators with an entirely unobstructed view of the road. When working close to obstacles, the fully adjustable operator station can rotate and slide to the side of the cab to easily provide a view down the edge of the asphalt – increasing safety and rolling precision. Smart technology, efficient compaction The 10-tonne compactors come fitted with a 1,680 mm wide drum whose unique design halves the power needed to start the vibration system with no compromise on productivity. This reduces the operator’s exposure to machine vibration while also ensuring a smoother finished mat. Fitted with the flexibility of the Volvo oscillation technology – which eliminates vertical vibrations – the DD105 OSC offers high compaction performance while producing a non-damaging oscillation movement. This transfers less stress to the surrounding surface, enabling compaction in more delicate application areas, such as bridges, over pipes and close to residential areas. Additionally, when compacting against a cold joint, the risk of damaging the cold surface is reduced, and the material can be more effectively compressed to seal and protect the surface. The oscillatory movement of the drum can also improve surface smoothness, by re-aligning the material. To account for the increased wear on the drum surface, the Volvo DD105 OSC roller has a hardened, abrasion-resistant alloy steel drum shell, which increases longevity. Also helping operators to achieve a high mat quality in less time is the Compact Assist function. Powered by the Volvo Co-Pilot display, Compact Assist provides access to a set of work-enhancing apps – including pass mapping and temperature mapping – which provide real-time insight into the work being undertaken. With easy access to clear and detailed data, the operator can eliminate any damaging over-compaction and ensure complete coverage of the working area. Unrivaled uptime The Volvo DD105 and DD105 OSC both feature an automatic water spraying system with triple filtration that provides uniform coverage and variable flow, as well as helping prevent material pick-up. Furthermore, the two water pumps alternate during normal operation. In the rare event of a pump malfunctioning, a constant flow of water to the drum surface is automatically retained. The large 740-liter water tank allows for increased refill intervals, also helping to keep downtime to a minimum. Moreover, the tank’s low positioning affords the machine a low center of gravity for excellent stability and can be quickly and easily refilled at ground level. The double drum compactors are designed for simple servicing and maintenance. The swing-up hood provides complete access to the engine and hydraulic components for efficient service inspections. Using a single key, technicians can access exterior service hatches, while fuses and relays are safely stored in the cab. With ground-level access to the engine, radiator, battery, and filters, daily checkpoints are unobstructed. And when it’s time to leave the jobsite and load into the truck, operators can rely on the Anti-Slip Control to avoid damaging the pavement. To further optimize machine availability, customers can use CareTrack, the Volvo telematics system, to access a wide range of machine monitoring information designed to save time and money. When additional support is needed, the extensive Volvo dealer network is on hand to provide advice and solutions, which can help customers towards achieving their business goals and objectives. Key specifications DD105 DD105 OSC Operating weight (Cab) kg 10 400 10 178 Weight @ front drum kg 5 149 5 161 Weight rear drum kg 5 252 5 017 Drum width mm 1 680 Nominal amplitude (low/high) mm 0.45/0.86 Tangential Amplitude (OSC) mm 1.37 Vibration frequency (low/high) Hz 40/50 Oscillation frequency Hz 39 Engine Volvo d3.8, Stage IIIA/Tier 3 Rated power at installed speed 86.3 kW at 2,600 rpm Overall length mm 4 650 Overall height mm 3 000 Overall width mm 1 838
Customer relationship management is a business development tool designed to help organizations manage their interactions with customers easily. Its automation features send alerts when a customer completes a particular action, when it is time to perform an activity such as follow up a contract, download a white paper or even sign up for a free trial. This therefore shows that CRM system is right for every business process and the CRM features can be utilized at any stage of the business. It is therefore never too late to use a CRM Creatio in business but the timing of actions must be correctly calculated. However, a good number of companies wait too long to start implementing CRM. as a result, they deal with many issues for long before they finally settle on a suitable system. During this time, they lose leads, overwork employees and provide inferior customer service. In this article, we look at the sections of business that use CRM and the essence of using the software at that particular stage of business. It is however important to have this information handy before acquiring a CRM software at any stage of a business. Acceptance: make sure workers and other key stakeholders have clear understanding of the benefits this application brings to the business and that they fully embrace the installation. Understand the problem: stakeholders should have clear understanding of the kinds of problems the software is coming to solve. Training and implementation: how will the management encourage adoption? Who will need to access the system? How will the teams learn about the system? Features: what features of the system are needed by your business? There Is No Insight Into The Performance Of Sales Teams An effectively progressing business needs a clear insight into how each team is performing or contributing to the success. If your organization is lacking, unable or even unsure on how best to track sales activities and business processes, then it could be the right time to acquire a CRM system. You may be asking for instance; how much time do your ales reps spend closing deals? Or how fast do they respond to leads? It won’t be very easy or even possible to improve sales if in the first place they are not being tracked. Important Data Is Missing Or Getting Lost Building lasting relationships with customers is more than just remembering their names. It is about memorizing what they purchased last, offering integrated customer service, following up on previous interactions and tracking additional opportunities. CRM gives you a centralized customer data storage and access portal making it easier to follow up on past interactions with them. If your business is struggling with missing customer information, this is the right time to start using the system and improve the company’s relationships. Your Employees Are Overworked Research shows that employees spend only about 36% of their time selling. This shows that a big volume of workhours is wasted by sales people and customer service teams handling and managing customer data. This could be in the form of time wasted checking email campaigns, logging phone calls or updating contact data. This is the right time to acquire a good CRM system in order to centralize contents and automate processes. This reduces time spent checking the statuses of campaigns or updating contact information. As a result, employees spend more time doing other tasks that help them increase productivity. Lack Of Personalized Customer Service Many people say they prefer personalized treatment as opposed to robotic business interactions. This is why one will not care about waiting too long in a queue at a shop where he gets more personalized services at a higher price instead of acquiring similar services at the next shop with poor customer relationship management. If your business is suffering the wrath of poor customer service, this maybe the right time for you to start using CRM in your business.
