Barings Real Estate, one of the world’s largest diversified real estate investment managers, has agreed a 15 year lease to global professional services firm Grant Thornton for 13,219 sq ft at its Landmark office development at St Peter’s Square in Manchester City Centre. Grant Thornton’s 350-strong Manchester team is relocating
Open Letter from Residential Property Industry urges the use of the UPRN across the Sector Leading residential property bodies have today published an open letter to Robert Jenrick, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and copied to Thalia Baldwin, Director of the Geospatial Commission highlighting the
Residents at a Salford tower block are starting the new year with a new-look home thanks to a multi-million-pound refurbishment by Salix Homes. The Salford-based housing association has recently completed a £7.5million improvement project at Fitzwarren Court in Pendleton, which has seen the high-rise building undergo a major facelift. The
Construction work on Colchester Borough Council’s multi-million pound Sports Park, located at Colchester Northern Gateway off junction 28 of the A12 in Colchester, has now completed. The brand-new 76-acre sports and leisure facility features a fully floodlit one-mile closed cycle track, a learn to ride facility and cycle pump track
GLP, a leading investor and developer of logistics warehouses and distribution parks, announced today that it is starting construction on 1 million SQ FT of warehouse space across seven units and four sites in Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire and Milton Keynes, following the grant of planning permission. It is the largest programme
HBD Barnfield has marked two major milestones for Beacon 62, an 11.5-acre strategic gateway development in Huyton, Merseyside, with the completion of an 18,000 sq ft Aldi supermarket and detailed planning consent secured for a Euro Garages service station. HBD Barnfield is a joint venture partnership between property developer HBD
Bradfords Building Supplies, the number one independent builders’ merchant in the South West, has kicked off the new year with the opening of a new branch in Glastonbury, which includes one of the first Sustainable Home Centre showrooms in the UK. The launch of the new branch is representative of
With a year to go until Glasgow hosts COP26 Climate Summit, engineering probably isn’t the first thing that springs to mind when considering how we tackle climate change. Yet the built environment where we all live, learn, work and play has been engineered. The question now, as we work towards
Sleep experts Dormeo believe everyone deserves a good night’s sleep and are passionate about finding ways to improve the UK’s sleeping habits. In response to UK Houseplant Week (10th-15th January 2021), Dormeo have gathered everything you need to know on houseplants and their effect on sleep. Search trends for natural
Addington Capital, the investment and asset management company has sold The Quadrant, Abingdon Science Park to Kadans Science Partner, a science park, investor, developer and operator at a price of around £13 million. The scheme comprises four terraces of offices and laboratory buildings totalling 75,316 sq. ft. along with a
Barings Real Estate, one of the world’s largest diversified real estate investment managers, has agreed a 15 year lease to global professional services firm Grant Thornton for 13,219 sq ft at its Landmark office development at St Peter’s Square in Manchester City Centre. Grant Thornton’s 350-strong Manchester team is relocating from Spinningfields into the eleventh floor of Landmark which benefits from a panoramic roof terrace overlooking St Peter’s Square. The firm will take occupation of the space later this year upon completion of its fit-out. Grant Thornton UK LLP is part of the Grant Thornton network of independent assurance, tax and advisory firms with a global network of some 50,000 people in over 135 countries. For more than 100 years it has helped dynamic organisations realise their strategic ambitions. The firm encourages collaboration and interaction in its workspaces, embracing agility and with sustainability at the heart of its business. The deal announcement follows the recent news that Barings has signed a management agreement with flexible workspace group, Hana, for 32,000 sq ft at Landmark. Hana will design, build and operate the flexible space, called Hana at St Peter’s Square, which isexpected to open in mid-2021. Grant Thornton and Hana will join global property consultancy JLL who moved its Manchester team into the 14,004 sq ft 10th floor last year, representing JLL’s largest commercial office outside of London. The 180,000 sq ft award-winning Landmark development, which completed in 2020, offers 14 floors of BREEAM Excellent and Wired Score Platinum certified, next generation office space in the world-renowned St Peter’s Square district of Manchester City Centre. The development’s sustainability and technological credentials continue to appeal to forward-thinking organisations seeking a well-connected and inspiring workspace. Ian Mayhew, Managing Director at Barings, said; “We are delighted to welcome Grant Thornton to Landmark. To have concluded two significant transactions with global businesses in quick succession during the pandemic is an excellent result. It is testament to Landmark’s appeal to companies seeking the highest quality offices, with keen attention to its exceptional environmental and well-being credentials along with the building’s excellent service levels and customer experience. We move into 2021 with strong interest in the remainder of the available space which demonstrates both the success of the building and the resilience of the Manchester office market.” Carl Williams, North West Managing Partner at Grant Thornton, said: “We are thrilled to be making this long-term commitment to Manchester and to this brilliant new workspace right at the heart of the city centre, on St Peter’s Square. “At Grant Thornton we recognise that post the COVID-19 pandemic the way people work will change, so the design of our new flagship office at Landmark will reflect our need for a best-in-class space to inspire collaboration, innovative thinking and knowledge sharing among our people, while also ensuring we deliver a great experience to our clients and intermediaries.” Leasing agents on Landmark are CBRE and Colliers International.
Open Letter from Residential Property Industry urges the use of the UPRN across the Sector Leading residential property bodies have today published an open letter to Robert Jenrick, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and copied to Thalia Baldwin, Director of the Geospatial Commission highlighting the potential benefits from a widely adopted Unique Property Reference Number (UPRN) and steps that Government needs to take to make this happen. The signatories of the letter, which includes leading bodies from across the residential property sector, believe that the wide market adoption of the UPRN will deliver substantial benefits to UK society, the residential property sector, and to Government. Andrew Bulmer, CEO of IRPM comments: “The UPRN is like attaching a number plate to a car, instead we attach a unique number (up to 12-digits) to all things related to properties (fittings, fixtures, paperwork, surveys etc), so that each property can be uniquely identified with unparalleled accuracy. If all the conditions outlined in the letter were to be met, we could proactively work towards the wholesale adoption of the UPRN. Implemented effectively, this could help position the UK as the world’s leading property market”. Dan Hughes, Founder of Alpha Property Insight and the Real Estate Data Foundation noted that; “The property sector is at the heart of the economy, people’s wellbeing and our impact on the environment. There are huge opportunities for technology to help with improving every aspect of this, but to do so requires the effective use of data. The wide adoption of the UPRN would be a big step towards providing the foundations to enable this.” Theresa Wallace, Founder of The Lettings Industry Council (TLIC), notes that “widespread adoption of UPRN’s could revolutionise the property market, this is a really exciting initiative which has industry support and we now need the Government to add theirs.” The letter details the benefits of widespread market adoption of the UPRN to society, the economy, and the property sector. These include: Improved building, consumer, and market safety More targeted and cost-effective enforcement of legislation Increased protection for tenants and a reduction of rogue landlords The ability to speed up conveyancing and transparency in home buying and selling The opportunity to reduce waste, save time and empower the consumer However, the letter also calls for steps by Government and for certain conditions to be met to really enable these benefits: All public sector data sets relating to properties and buildings should include the UPRN and a clear roadmap is needed to get to this point All future Government tenders and policy relating to residential properties and associated data should mandate the use of the UPRN There must be clear agreement about the ethical use of data in the housing market The UPRN must be in a clear and useable format that allows the UPRN to be widely identified, and freely used and shared This must include the tools, the support materials and the explanation needed by the whole sector for adoption, not just the solution providers Following the profound findings in the RoPA report, that outlines the phenomenal need for compliance within the property agents’ sector, Lord Best states that “the UPRN is an excellent concept and could be a game-changer.” The impact of the universal adoption of the UPRN can be immense, The National Trading Standards Estate and Letting Agents Team (NTSELAT) explain that, “the widespread use of a Unique Property Reference Number (UPRN) has the potential to deliver many benefits across the residential property market. Importantly, a UPRN can offer tenants a greater level of protection against rogue landlords and help to reduce consumer fraud when buying or renting a home. The NTS Estate and Letting Agency Team supports the work of The Letting Industry Council in driving the adoption of the URPN across the property sector”. A copy of the letter and a full list of signatories is available HERE
Residents at a Salford tower block are starting the new year with a new-look home thanks to a multi-million-pound refurbishment by Salix Homes. The Salford-based housing association has recently completed a £7.5million improvement project at Fitzwarren Court in Pendleton, which has seen the high-rise building undergo a major facelift. The 23-storey building had originally been earmarked for demolition as part of a wider regeneration of the area, but the plans were halted in 2016 when Salix Homes secured funding to modernise the block. The once-ageing 1970s building has been completely transformed inside and out, with the former blue and green façade replaced with modern tones of grey, green and orange render, as chosen by the residents, who have played an integral role in developing the proposals for the block. As part of the ambitious investment project, new kitchens, bathrooms, doors and windows have been fitted at all 135 apartments, along with a brand-new apartment conversion added to the ground floor. The communal areas, lobby and grounds have all been upgraded and a digital property intercom system has been installed enabling residents to contact Salix Homes via a portal to book repairs – the first of Salix Homes’ tower blocks to use such intelligent technology. The exterior has been completely rendered and a sprinkler system and state-of-the-art fire alarm system have also been installed as part of the landlord’s Safety Enhancement Programme across all its high-rise blocks in Salford. Sue Sutton, chief executive at Salix Homes, said: “For many years, residents at Fitzwarren Court have been in limbo about the future of their homes, so we’re delighted that our ambitious improvement and modernisation scheme is now complete, and residents can start the new year, and look forward to the future, in their new-look homes. “Our significant investment has given the building a new lease of life, complimenting the wider regeneration taking place in the Pendleton area, and ensuring this iconic building can stand proud on the Salford skyline for many years to come. “Salix Homes is committed to raising the bar of building safety in all our homes, having been instrumental in the development of the national Building Safety Charter and the Government’s draft Building Safety Bill. The additional safety measures incorporated into this refurbishment project cements our commitment to delivering the safe, modern and energy efficient homes that everyone deserves.” A geo-thermal heating system has also been installed under the carpark, which has improved the thermal efficiency of the building and reduced residents’ fuel bills. The ground-source heating system works by harnessing heat from underground, rather than burning fuel to generate heat. Salix Homes has been working alongside partner contractor Casey to complete the refurbishment programme, which has also included improvements to 10 terraced homes on the neighbouring Rosehill Close. Alan Taylor, director at Casey, added: “The Fitzwarren Court scheme has been fantastic to be part of and we have been so pleased to assist with improving the lives of those living in the Salford community by undertaking these works. “The project has transformed the appearance, practicality and sustainability of the block for many years to come. Whilst working on the scheme we have also been able to deliver new apprenticeships, work placements, job creation and assist with community projects, all of which will leave a lasting legacy within the Salford area.”
Construction work on Colchester Borough Council’s multi-million pound Sports Park, located at Colchester Northern Gateway off junction 28 of the A12 in Colchester, has now completed. The brand-new 76-acre sports and leisure facility features a fully floodlit one-mile closed cycle track, a learn to ride facility and cycle pump track alongside two latest generation 4G pitches and seven traditional grass rugby pitches. The sports centre building provides a five-court sports hall with facilities for a variety of sports including badminton, futsal and indoor cricket. The building also houses a fully equipped fitness suite, exercise and dance studios, an interactive velo studio, meeting rooms and a café. A stunning new state-of-the-art clubhouse has also been built overlooking the 4G and grass pitches which will become the new home of Colchester Rugby Football Club, whilst an archery range and clubhouse has been constructed to the south of the site which will become home to the Colchester and District Archery Club The whole facility is set within acres of green open spaces where to date over 500 trees and almost 120,000 hedgerow plants, shrubs, perennials and grasses have been planted for people’s future enjoyment, with further extensive planting planned. Colchester Borough Council funded the £28.8 million development which was project managed by Colchester Amphora Trading Ltd. It has been supported by significant funding from groups including British Cycling, Sport England, and from England and Wales Cricket Club. Work was carried out by East Anglia’s leading construction firm, R G Carter, who have now handed over the development to Colchester Borough Council. James Wilson, Director at R G Carter, said: “It has been a pleasure to work with Colchester Amphora on a forward-thinking and unique project. Supporting the borough’s vision for providing the local community with a first-class sports hub, this new facility will encourage sport participation for many years to come.” Cllr Mark Cory, Leader of Colchester Borough Council said: “The completion of this inspiring facility marks a huge milestone towards our vision to give all of our residents new and wide-ranging opportunities to play sport, be healthy and enjoy our outdoor spaces. Importantly for me, the Sports Park will be accessible for all, offering activities for all abilities and those with disabilities. “My thanks to R G Carter for their expertise and commitment to deliver this project in what has been a challenging year. The result is an exceptional Sports Park that will enable people both locally and from across the wider region to get involved, get active and make the most of the remarkable facilities Colchester can offer. When things return to normal after Covid, this will be a facility Colchester can be proud of.” Property, construction and infrastructure consultancy Perfect Circle was appointed by Colchester Borough Council to provide a full suite of consultancy services for the complex, including project management and cost management. The delivery partners were procured through SCAPE consultancy which facilitated a direct award framework designed to drive collaboration, efficiency, time and cost savings. Galvin Tarling, regional partner for the East of England at Perfect Circle, said: “We are delighted to have been involved in Colchester’s Northern Gateway Sports Park, a project that will enrich the community it serves, provide a focal point for the local area, and offer a sustainable first-class social and leisure facility for all to enjoy for decades to come. “We provided more than 20 service elements under a single delivery agreement – speeding up the procurement process and offering an efficient and cost-effective route to market for Colchester Borough Council’s complex, community-focused new facility. Engaging Perfect Circle via SCAPE also gave the council access to our extensive supply chain. “Due to the council utilising Perfect Circle’s unique delivery model via SCAPE, together with the whole delivery team showing a true belief in collaboration, the project exceeded all expectations in providing a lasting legacy for the local community and Colchester Rugby Club.” Mark Robinson, group chief executive of SCAPE, added: “Delivering impactful and lasting social value is central to the government’s plans to build back better, faster and greener, and projects like this new state-of-the-art sports park typifies what needs to be delivered to achieve those plans. “Together, R G Carter, Perfect Circle and Colchester Borough Council have delivered a facility that will continue to enrich the community now and long into the future, creating lasting value for future generations.” The new sports and leisure park, part of the wider Colchester Northern Gateway development, is due to open in Spring 2021 under the operation of Leisure World Colchester. Anyone interested in finding out more about hiring the new sport facilities, can complete an expression of interest form by visiting colchesterleisureworld.co.uk/northerngatewaysportspark.
GLP, a leading investor and developer of logistics warehouses and distribution parks, announced today that it is starting construction on 1 million SQ FT of warehouse space across seven units and four sites in Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire and Milton Keynes, following the grant of planning permission. It is the largest programme of speculative logistics real estate development currently underway in the UK. The development programme has been launched to satisfy the significant demand in an increasingly supply-constrained logistics real estate market in the UK. It follows GLP’s completion of 1.25 million SQ FT of speculative development at Magna Park South, Lutterworth in December 2020. Demand for larger warehouses has significantly expanded in recent years, particularly among e-commerce occupiers in need of more storage space. According to Savills, online sales in December 2020 were 51% higher year-on-year, with this growth trajectory expected to continue. As a result, warehouse take-up was 50.1 million SQ FT in 2020 – by far the strongest year on record. As part of the programme, GLP is developing the following units: Three distribution units of 126,000 SQ FT, 161,000 SQ FT and 249,000 SQ FT at G-Park Bedford Wixams A 133,000 SQ FT unit at G-Park Northampton, within the Moulton Park Estate Two units comprising 117,000 and 140,000 SQ FT at its new G-Park Milton Keynes development A 88,000 SQ FT unit, Magnitude 88, at GLP’s flagship logistics park Magna Park Milton Keynes The developments are expected to be available for occupancy in Summer 2021, while Magnitude 88 will be available at the end of Q1 2021. As part GLP’s ongoing commitment to sustainability, the sites will all benefit from a range of leading sustainability features including rainwater harvesting, energy monitoring, LED lighting technology and reduced embodied carbon in the construction process. Bruce Topley, Managing Director, GLP UK, said: “The growth of ecommerce in the UK has been accelerated by the Covid-19 pandemic given the increased importance of home deliveries. As a result, we have seen a surge in demand for logistics real estate in the right locations. Customers are also seeking to reinforce their supply chains and increasingly require higher specification buildings and cutting-edge sustainability credentials. In response to this, we are excited to be bringing 1 million SQ FT of high-quality logistics space to the market which reaffirms our confidence in the continued strength of the UK and follows the completion of over 1.5 million SQ FT of speculative development last year. “All developments are in carefully selected locations with excellent transport links to key areas of the UK. Each unit will be developed with flexibility at the forefront of both the design and construction processes, enabling customers to tailor the space to individual requirements. We look forward to discussions with new and existing customers, working alongside them to meet their specific operational requirements and helping them grow their business.”
HBD Barnfield has marked two major milestones for Beacon 62, an 11.5-acre strategic gateway development in Huyton, Merseyside, with the completion of an 18,000 sq ft Aldi supermarket and detailed planning consent secured for a Euro Garages service station. HBD Barnfield is a joint venture partnership between property developer HBD and Barnfield Group. Barnfield Construction, the construction arm of the wider Barnfield Group, has undertaken all building works on the site, which is adjacent to both the M62 and M57 motorways. With construction works completed, the Aldi store opened to the public in September following a full internal fit out, creating 30 new jobs. This is the fifth contract with supermarket giant Aldi completed by Barnfield Group, with others in Clitheroe, St Helens, Burscough and Rhyl. Bryn Richards, Regional Property Director for Aldi Stores Ltd, commented: “The HBD Barnfield team has worked safely to remain on track and get the project to the completion stage throughout a difficult time for the industry over the last few months. We’ve received really positive comments from the local community who have visited the brand-new store.” Having now secured planning approval for phase two of the development, work will begin on a 2.5-acre plot to be occupied by a Petrol Filling Station (PFS), McDonalds and Starbucks for Blackburn-based Euro Garages. Phase 3 of the scheme comprises a 6-acre plot which has outline planning permission for business and industrial uses (or warehouse and storage subject to planning permission) and full planning permission for a car dealership. Plots are available for design and build opportunities or to buy/lease. When completed, it is expected that the Beacon 62 scheme will create up to 357 new jobs; a huge boost for the local area. Barnfield has extensive experience of leading joint venture companies, having successfully formed and operated several with both private sector and local authority partners, and is looking to grow the development arm of the business over the coming months. The Nelson-headquartered family-run business, which has been operating for more than 40 years, is currently on site delivering a range of mixed-use schemes nationwide across retail, commercial, industrial, residential and healthcare sectors. Tracy Clavell-Bate, Head of Development for Barnfield Group commented: “In a difficult climate, we’re pleased to have successfully delivered the first phase of what will be a popular, vibrant mixed-use scheme, and are looking forward to starting phase two. The final plot also offers another fantastic opportunity to be part of this thriving new business and retail destination.” Dan Lawrenson, Development Surveyor at HBD, said: “Beacon 62 is an important gateway site, which will bring significant investment into the area and create a notable number of new jobs. We have 6-acres now remaining across plots 3 and 4 and look forward to making further occupier announcements in the near future.” HBD is one of the UK’s leading property developers, working across the breadth of the country from seven regional offices. Its diverse portfolio includes big-brand retail, office space and logistics, through to residential innovation and award-winning heritage projects.Savills and Mason Owen have been appointed as joint agents for the scheme.
Bradfords Building Supplies, the number one independent builders’ merchant in the South West, has kicked off the new year with the opening of a new branch in Glastonbury, which includes one of the first Sustainable Home Centre showrooms in the UK. The launch of the new branch is representative of the builders’ merchants’ commitment to sustainability for 2021 and beyond. Bradfords’ in-branch Sustainable Home Centre has been created in collaboration with Renewable Equipment Solutions (RES), a local Somerset provider of sustainable energy efficient heating and ventilation solutions. From live heat pumps and underfloor heating, to solar panels and vehicle charging points, the centre will showcase sustainable solutions for domestic dwellings available on the market. David Young, CEO of Bradfords Building Supplies, said, “The Glastonbury branch is centrally located across our sites on the M5 corridor. Not only is it an ideal building to effectively accommodate everything you’d expect from a builder’s merchants, it also provides us the opportunity to launch this new offering. “This new Sustainable Home Centre is Bradfords putting a stake in the ground for the industry. We want to reach out to local builders, installers and architects in the community to encourage them to come and talk to us about sustainable construction solutions and the benefits they offer in creating a more sustainable future for everyone.” The centre will also provide product training for installers across the region and host CPD courses for architects to keep up to date with the latest and greatest in ultra-efficient technologies. Shane Oxberry, Manager Director of RES Distribution Limited, added, “Bradfords are very much our preferred partners; they are unique in the South West and very well established. In what will be our first showroom, customers will be able to get a real feel for what’s possible in their homes with sustainable solutions that are designed to a high standard. “Surprisingly, an inefficient gas boiler is a family household’s single biggest contributor of CO2 emissions – far more than running a petrol car, food consumption or going on holiday. We anticipate a growing surge of interest, as renewable strategy from Government continues to gather pace, with incentives such as the Green Homes Grant and Renewable Heat Incentive.”
With a year to go until Glasgow hosts COP26 Climate Summit, engineering probably isn’t the first thing that springs to mind when considering how we tackle climate change. Yet the built environment where we all live, learn, work and play has been engineered. The question now, as we work towards meeting ambitious net-zero carbon targets, is how do we build, protect, preserve and enhance our landscapes in a sustainable way. This is not a new question for Will Rudd as we have been considering this challenge for some time now, and in fact we made blue-green engineering a core principle of the Will Rudd approach to design five years ago. When I started at the firm’s Glasgow office twelve years ago, there were six of us, and today we are a team of 41. We have completely diversified our portfolio of services and the design and engineering solutions have continued to evolve. This is evident in our range of in-house specialisms which empower us to adapt and create responsible environmental solutions which has been key to our continued success and growth of the business. The energy market is a very strong sector for us, whether that’s the £500m energy from waste facilities we are working on or the numerous wind farm projects we are currently delivering. Like every organisation, we have weathered storms but it has been our progressive, pioneering spirit, coupled with our drive and commitment to do the right thing, that led us to push the boundaries and throw away the traditional rulebooks. Like moving away from the assumption that drainage must be hidden and underground. Instead we are working with the landscape to determine how we can develop above ground solutions that naturally interact with it to take care of the drainage and flood risk, assessing the geology, energy and hydrology of the area and create a living habitat for us and wildlife alike. Like a recent project we worked on where the drainage solution works with the woodland around it, or in planted swales and communal ponds. Delivering sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS) serve to capture carbon as well as reduce flood risk. How we improve urban areas too can hugely benefit society and this is a key focus for cities across the UK and Ireland. With demand for housing increasing and a shortage of suitable land, developers are increasingly looking to mixed-use developments where residents can enjoy high-quality living spaces. This is particularly prominent in London where we have worked on tall buildings, up to 36 storeys. Instead of exploiting every square metre of space for building, we are working collaboratively with architects, landscape architects, planners, developers and contractors to create environments that maximise opportunities for green spaces, both through the preservation of the surrounding areas, and in the creation of new spaces integrated in the fabric of the building, like community roof gardens. These enhanced spaces for social and recreation activities have been proven to deliver health benefits as well as reducing the impact on the environment and are engineered to be resilient to changing climates. Our blue-green approach to engineering and infrastructure delivers sustainable solutions across a variety of sectors; hospitality, residential, renewable energy, education, marine, public and private sectors. Working on projects big and small, an enormous amount of collaboration ensures we support clients as they too consider their role and contribution to reducing their carbon footprint. The collective mission of the 80-strong team of experts working across the Will Rudd Glasgow and Edinburgh offices is to fulfil our duty to support the creation of positive sustainable environments that we and future generations can benefit from. We think about our children when we’re working on projects, and the legacy we will leave behind for them. It is important to us that we play our part in delivering a built environment where people can thrive, and knowing we make a positive contribution to protecting our planet.
Sleep experts Dormeo believe everyone deserves a good night’s sleep and are passionate about finding ways to improve the UK’s sleeping habits. In response to UK Houseplant Week (10th-15th January 2021), Dormeo have gathered everything you need to know on houseplants and their effect on sleep. Search trends for natural remedies, plants and sleep have risen: SEOMonitor shows that searches for ‘home remedies for sleep’ has shot up 85% from this time last year, ‘natural sleep remedies UK’ has seen a 436% rise and ‘plant for good health’ has seen an increase of 133% ‘Bedroom indoor plants’ has risen 84%, and ‘bedside plants’ has shot up 250% Please find below Dormeo’s top five houseplants you should include in bedroom interior design to help achieve a peaceful night’s sleep: Lavender- Best houseplants for a deep sleep With a long history of medicinal use, studies found it not only improves sleep but energy, vibrancy and general wellbeing. Researchers also found that lavender increases ‘slow-wave sleep,’ often referred to as ‘deep sleep’ which plays an important part in memory consolidation and brain restoration. Perfect for helping you achieve a deep sleep, Lavender is proven to lower heart rate, blood pressure and stress levels. Lavender plants like to be kept warm and in sunlight, so make sure your plant is in a sunny location and don’t overwater! Aloe Vera- Best houseplants to purify the air Aloe Vera releases oxygen at night, helping improve air quality which means we get a better night’s sleep as a result. Aloe Vera is a succulent, which requires minimal watering as it retains moisture in it’s leaves – perfect for those who are less green-fingered. An additional benefit of Aloe Vera is that the gel from inside the leaves can be used to soothe skin irritations such as insect bites and burns. Peace Lilly- Best houseplants for increasing air humidity Peace Lilies are known for purifying our air and removing harmful toxins by clearing chemicals such as Benzene and Trichloroethylene from the air. Alongside this, peace lilies also add moisture to the air and can increase air humidity by up to 5%. This provides a better sleeping environment, as air that is too dry can irritate airways and even increase suffering from colds and other viruses. Peace Lilies grow luscious green leaves and beautiful white flowers, making them an aesthetic and useful addition to your bedroom décor. English Ivy- Best houseplants for allergy sufferers English Ivy is perfect for sufferers of allergies and those with breathing difficulties such as Asthma as the plant has been proven to remove indoor airborne mould, making breathing easier. Placing an English Ivy plant in your bedroom will surely improve the air quality for allergy sufferers but be careful, the plant is poisonous if eaten so keep away from kids and pets. Spider Plant- Best houseplants for a clear head NASA found the Spider Plant is excellent at purifying your air with tests showing that the plant is capable of removing 95% of harmful chemicals such as Formaldehyde, Benzene, Carbon Monoxide and Xylen from the air. Removal of such chemicals from the air can help reduce headaches and help you feel well rested and clearer headed when you wake. Spider Plants are also low maintenance and don’t require a lot of attention.
Addington Capital, the investment and asset management company has sold The Quadrant, Abingdon Science Park to Kadans Science Partner, a science park, investor, developer and operator at a price of around £13 million. The scheme comprises four terraces of offices and laboratory buildings totalling 75,316 sq. ft. along with a 1.59-acre parcel of land, with planning consent for a further 20,000 sq. ft. of office and laboratory buildings. The Quadrant was acquired in January 2016 in a joint venture. Since then, Addington has successfully improved the occupancy from 30% to 85%, increased headline rents by 20% and secured planning permission on the development land. Existing tenants include PsiOxus Therapeutics, Tessella and Fishawack. Philip Symonds, partner at Addington Capital said, “By investing in the fabric of the highly adaptable buildings at the Quadrant, we were able to attract new tenants whilst meeting existing occupiers’ requirements. We were also able to design and secure consent for the next phase of development at the property. South Oxfordshire benefits from favourable occupational dynamics largely due to its burgeoning technology and life sciences sectors, which have proven resilient during the Covid-19 pandemic. We experienced this first hand in the number of new lettings, renewals and expansions completed at the property during the business plan. There continues to be strong demand for excellent quality, flexible accommodation in the region.” “I have no doubt the property under Kadans’ ownership, as well as the wider Abingdon Science Park, will continue to flourish in the coming years.” Doherty Baines acted for Addington Capital. Bidwells advised Kadans Science Partner.
