Verdion has completed the final letting in its current round of speculative development at its iPort multimodal logistics hub in Doncaster. A luxury homeware retailer has taken the 119,060 sq ft (11,061 sq m) warehouse iP2g, which offers space for up to 12,194 pallets with 12.5 m clear headroom and
FirstPort has achieved a five-star grading in the British Safety Council’s Occupational Health and Safety Audit for the fifth year running. The organisation received a score of 95.88%, demonstrating its commitment towards the continual improvement of health and safety management systems and processes and recognising it as a best practice organisation.
Midlands contractor G F Tomlinson has commenced works at Barr’s Hill School in Coventry to expand and remodel existing buildings and create a new teaching block for year seven pupils. The school, which has some of the strongest academic results in the midlands and was rated ‘Good’ in its most
The Fire Safety Bill clarifies where responsibility for fire safety lies in multi-occupied buildings in England and Wales and is set to receive Royal Assent today, 29 April. The Bill has gone through many rounds of votes as the House of Lords and some MPs tabled amendments in attempts to
Corksol UK, the Yorkshire-based company that exclusively distributes Corksol SprayCork to approved applicators across the UK, has announced the launch of a new, innovative spray solution, Protesol Anitviral, which is scientifically proven to protect treated surfaces against 99.99% of harmful bacteria and viruses, including SARS and Coronavirus. With COVID-19 dominating
Nationwide Building Society will now be offering a cashback incentive for buyers purchasing a home with an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of A or a high B. Research by Online Estate Agents Emoov shows that 33,824 homes in England and Wales qualify for a grade A rating, with 2,177,807
Apprentices at the Southwark Construction Skills Centre have been supporting Surrey Docks Farm, a working community farm and education charity in South East London, in building a shelter for its animals. The Skills Centre, which has trained more than 10,000 local residents and helped create more than 3,000 jobs in
BDC 319 : Aug 2024
Verdion has completed the final letting in its current round of speculative development at its iPort multimodal logistics hub in Doncaster. A luxury homeware retailer has taken the 119,060 sq ft (11,061 sq m) warehouse iP2g, which offers space for up to 12,194 pallets with 12.5 m clear headroom and a 55 m deep yard. This deal is the third and final unit in Verdion’s most recent tranche of speculative development at iPort. iP2c was let to local printing specialists Kingsbury Press, while iP2e was let to one of the UK’s largest, privately owned logistics companies Woodland Group. Other occupiers that also call the logistics hub home include CEVA, Fellowes, Lidl, Maritime Group and Amazon. iPort is the UK’s most advanced multimodal facility, spanning 800 acres with 52 MVA power, close to junction 3 of the M18 in Doncaster. iPort Rail, its on-site rail freight terminal, takes daily services to/from Southampton, Felixstowe and Teesport, with more routes across the UK being planned. Alongside its programme of speculatively developed space at iPort, Verdion’s masterplan also includes development-ready sites for units of up to 800,000 sq ft that can be built to suit specific occupier requirements. John Clements, Executive Director at Verdion, said: “We’re pleased to welcome our newest tenant to iPort and mark the completion of our latest phase of speculative development. With demand for space continuing to increase, driven by our demographics as well as widespread demand for logistics, we’re also seeing much greater interest in build to suit opportunities too. Demand for our phase two development-ready sites is increasing which means we can offer speed to market as well as opportunities for specialist uses including ecommerce.” www.iportuk.com www.iportrail.com
FirstPort has achieved a five-star grading in the British Safety Council’s Occupational Health and Safety Audit for the fifth year running. The organisation received a score of 95.88%, demonstrating its commitment towards the continual improvement of health and safety management systems and processes and recognising it as a best practice organisation. The audit recognised FirstPort’s continued efforts to implement the highest standards of health and safety management, a clear commitment from senior management, and an enthusiastic health and safety team. It also highlighted that FirstPort has an extensive occupational health and safety management system, with good processes for stakeholder engagement, compliance monitoring and building management. Mark Varley, Director of Health and Safety at FirstPort, said: “To have achieved five stars in all five years that we have been audited is a tremendous achievement. We have developed a robust health and safety culture at FirstPort amongst our colleagues and contractors – one that we are very proud of. We work hard to make sure our customers see the benefits too, so that they feel safe in their homes.” Roni Kotecha, Managing Director of Audits, British Safety Council, said: “The award of a five-star grading following our occupational best practice Health and Safety Audit is an outstanding achievement and is reflective of a proactive organisation which is committed to continual improvement in its health and safety arrangements and managing risks to workers’ health, safety and welfare. FirstPort should be very proud of this achievement.” To achieve the grading, FirstPort underwent a comprehensive, quantified and robust evaluation of its occupational health and safety policies, processes and practices. The audit process included documentation review, interviews with senior management, employees and other key stakeholders, together with sampling of operational activities. The audit measured performance against key health and safety management best practice indicators and a detailed review of over sixty component elements. About the Five Star Occupational Health and Safety Audit The Five Star Audit is a comprehensive, contemporary and quantified process which benchmarks health and safety management performance against the latest best practice techniques. The audit process is carried out through documentation review, management and other stakeholder interviews, as well as operational sampling. Those organisations who achieve a five-star grading following the audit become eligible to enter the British Safety Council Sword of Honour Awards which recognise excellence in the management of health and safety. The award scheme is an independently adjudicated process which requires five star achievers to build upon the audit findings and provide a written submission on their continual improvement planning. About the British Safety Council The British Safety Council believes that no-one should be injured or made ill at work. Since its foundation in 1957, the British Safety Council has campaigned tirelessly to protect workers from accidents, hazards and unsafe conditions, and played a decisive role in the political process that has led to the adoption of landmark safety legislation in the UK. Its members in more than 60 countries are committed to protecting and improving the wellbeing of workers, believing that a healthy and safe work environment is also good for business.
Midlands contractor G F Tomlinson has commenced works at Barr’s Hill School in Coventry to expand and remodel existing buildings and create a new teaching block for year seven pupils. The school, which has some of the strongest academic results in the midlands and was rated ‘Good’ in its most recent Ofsted report, currently offers 655 places for children aged 11-16, plus sixth form students, and has an expansion plan to ensure it provides a total of 900 places in five years’ time. G F Tomlinson is delivering the £6.5million scheme on behalf of Coventry City Council, which comprises the construction of a new two-storey, seven classroom teaching block known as ‘The Bridge’ for January 2022 – a dedicated space for year seven pupils, which will be designed to help 11 and 12-year-olds benefit from a smooth transition into secondary education. Expected for completion in September, works will also see the school’s science department extended and refurbished, new classroom spaces created in existing blocks, improved facilities added to the sports changing/multi gym and external play spaces and additional dining space to accommodate the school’s expansion over the coming years. Procured through Pagabo’s National Framework for Medium Works, this is the second scheme G F Tomlinson has been awarded through Pagabo in the West Midlands region – the first being the £3.7million development of Cardinal Newman Catholic School in Coventry, also for Coventry City Council, which is due for completion this summer. Andy Sewards, managing director of G F Tomlinson, said: “We are pleased to be working on a second project through Pagabo’s National Framework for Medium Works, and with Coventry City Council once again, to provide Barr’s Hill School with the expansion and improvement works necessary to meet growth plans to offer 245 additional places. “The school is dedicating space to year seven pupils to help them prepare for and adjust to secondary education and the new teaching block complete with seven classrooms and high-quality facilities will enable them to do just that. Other important extensions and renovations, including works to the ICT suite, science department, dining facilities and gym – will provide new and improved learning and activity spaces for all pupils and staff members, and will accommodate a significant increase in the number of places available to children in the future. We look forward to seeing works progress on site this year.” Emma Hesbrook, Midlands regional relationship manager at Pagabo, said: “We’re really pleased to see work in motion for Barr’s Hill School to provide all-important additional pupil places for the area and a dedicated space for students to comfortably transition into the secondary education environment. Creating environments that benefit all users – in this case pupils and staff – is central to what we do at Pagabo, so we’re exceptionally happy to be playing a part in delivering excellent facilities for the education of the professionals of tomorrow. “We are delighted that we have been able to appoint the right delivery partner for the scheme. Procuring services from G F Tomlinson ensures that the client is in a safe pair of hands, something that is incredibly important given the constraints and complexities of the existing site. “This is the second appointment in the West Midlands for G F Tomlinson via our frameworks, with the first also being a school for the same client in Coventry. We look forward to seeing work progress on both of these sites, ultimately adding to the education provision for the City.” Headteacher Chris Jupp said: “We are delighted and excited to be embarking on this project with GF Tomlinson. Coventry Local Authority have asked the school to expand slightly our pupil numbers due to our recent successes and popularity with parents, alongside the need for more pupil places locally in the coming years. “The investment will give our students some fantastic new facilities including a brand-new bespoke building for ‘The Bridge’ – our mini school just for Year 7 pupils which ensures a smooth transition to secondary school.” G F Tomlinson is delivering the project alongside Seymour Harris Architects, BWB Consulting Ltd and ABA Consulting.
The Fire Safety Bill clarifies where responsibility for fire safety lies in multi-occupied buildings in England and Wales and is set to receive Royal Assent today, 29 April. The Bill has gone through many rounds of votes as the House of Lords and some MPs tabled amendments in attempts to try and ensure leaseholders would not have to pay for required safety works. As the Bill becomes law it is important that agents understand the implications for building owners and residents with regards to any additional checks and costs. What it means The Fire Safety Bill amends the Fire Safety Order 2005, and along with the draft Building Safety Bill, is part of a collection of new legislation that aims to tackle the recommendations within the Grenfell Tower Inquiry. The Fire Safety Order 2005 brings together different pieces of fire legislation and designates those in control of premises as the responsible person for fire safety and managing risks. The Bill clarifies that for any building containing two or more sets of domestic premises the Order applies to the building’s structure and external walls and any common parts, including the front doors of residential areas. It also clarifies that references to external walls in the Order include “doors or windows in those walls” and “anything attached to the exterior of those walls (including balconies).” This now means that building owners or managers in multi-occupied residential buildings must include an assessment of risk related to fire and take precautions to reduce the risk of fire spreading in respect of these parts of the relevant premises. As a result, Fire and Rescue Authorities have the relevant enforcement powers to hold owners or managers to account. Following the disaster of the 2017 Grenfell fire, it is promising news that the Fire Safety Bill will finally receive Royal Assent today. It’s a significant step to ensuring that everyone feels safe in their own homes. The Bill will clarify who is responsible for fire safety in multi-occupied buildings. There will now likely be a more joined-up approach between owners and authorities, providing greater enforcement to prevent any further tragedy. Agents must now ensure they understand the implications put onto owners and residents with regards to any additional checks and costs. Mark Hayward – Propertymark Chief Policy Advisor Propertymark campaigning In September last year, Propertymark provided written evidence to the Housing Committee’s pre-legislative scrutiny of the Draft Building Safety Bill highlighting a number of concerns. These include the recruitment, training, and the role of Accountable Persons and Building Safety Managers as well as gaps between the new Building Safety regime and legacy stock. We also highlighted the impact on material information and the remediation of any unsafe cladding because there is a huge lack of awareness amongst letting agents and estate agents who buy, sell, and rent property that falls within the scope of the new regulatory regime. To this end, we are working with other professional bodies in the sector and the National Trading Standards Estate and Letting Agency Team to update guidance relating to the Consumer Protection Regulations and ensure agents provide the correct information to consumers.
Corksol UK, the Yorkshire-based company that exclusively distributes Corksol SprayCork to approved applicators across the UK, has announced the launch of a new, innovative spray solution, Protesol Anitviral, which is scientifically proven to protect treated surfaces against 99.99% of harmful bacteria and viruses, including SARS and Coronavirus. With COVID-19 dominating the health agenda, Corksol took matters into its own hands sourcing an antiviral solution that seeks to reduce transmission of Coronavirus between individuals by protecting surfaces. The ground-breaking new spray solution, developed and certified in Spain, can be retro applied to surfaces in a wide range of settings from healthcare facilities and public transport, through to educational establishments and leisure spaces in a bid to provide extra protection when it comes to hygiene and sanitation measures. Not only does this coating help to eliminate 99.99% of harmful bacteria and viruses from surfaces, including COVID-19, applying Protesol Antiviral Spray will also cut down on time spent cleaning as well as provide a more eco-friendly solution as it eliminates the need for single use wipes and bleach-based products. Effective for use on a variety of materials including plastic, ceramic, metal, laminate and some painted surfaces, Protesol Antiviral Spray can be applied to most nonporous surfaces and is suitable for both commercial and domestic use. The coating works to destroys any harmful bacteria and viruses currently cultivating on the surface, before creating a barrier-effect which eliminates any opportunity for bacteria or viruses to grow. Most viruses, including Coronavirus, have a fatty surround and in order to kill the virus effectively, a cleaning agent must get through this robust fatty layer to get to the virus itself. This is what sets Protesol Antiviral apart from other shop-bought cleaning products. Joff Ward, director of Corksol UK comments: “Last Autumn when we realised the extent of this pandemic and how long we would be facing this invisible battle, we searched for a solution that could protect surfaces and individuals against harmful viruses. Our Spanish manufacturer has developed a validated, accredited solution that can be retro sprayed on to a huge range of surfaces to help cut down transmission. We have worked with them to develop ways of applying it using our skillset, and have launched an easy to use solution that be used in a wide variety of settings. “We have trialled it on numerous surfaces from desks to rugby balls and have seen for ourselves that the solution remains after cleaning and everyday use.” When it comes to rolling this product out, places with high traffic footfall and urgency will take priority. Hospitals and doctors surgeries, schools, colleges, universities, supermarkets will be protected first, with sports stadiums, clubs and gyms and pools following suit. Protesol Antiviral has already seen successful trials in Spain, most recently with furniture giant IKEA. The coating was applied to serving trays in restaurants and trialled over a four week period, with the solution remaining intact and active even when put through the dishwasher repeatedly. Protesol is also running a trail period with Aldi for use on their basket handles, and a number of other large companies in Spain, including a train and furniture manufacturer. The first company to trial the use of Protesol Antiviral was Ofita, manufacturers of designer furniture. CEO of the Spanish company, Camilo Agromayor added: “The virus-safe desks are a unique milestone in the challenge of achieving safer offices, particularly against Coronavirus. This protection is a guarantee of greater safety to our customers, both in individual workstations and in common spaces shared by multiple people.” Application of the coating is simple and straightforward, making it a viable option for any maintenance team who can easily apply it. The solution is sprayed onto a non-porous surface using a spray gun for large scale coverage, or simply add drops of the solution onto the surface and apply by hand with a microfibre cloth for smaller areas. To set the coating, using a paint stripping heat gun will help seal the resin in place, but it can be left to cure naturally in some circumstances, like in a school over the summer holidays. Protesol Antiviral will be available to purchase through Hardgear Healthcare, specialist provider of protective equipment. For further information about Protesol Antiviral, please visit www.protesol.co.uk
Nationwide Building Society will now be offering a cashback incentive for buyers purchasing a home with an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of A or a high B. Research by Online Estate Agents Emoov shows that 33,824 homes in England and Wales qualify for a grade A rating, with 2,177,807 homes currently on a B ratings – qualifying for the cashback incentive with a few changes. The Green Reward incentive comes as the government has set a target to get all social homes in the UK to a grade C or higher by 2030, in a combat to tackle climate change concerns to our housing. The Environment Agency has warned that rising sea levels and increased rainfall are already threatening coastal cities in the UK, while the UN has said that extremes of coastal flooding are to become far more frequent. “Climate change largely affects home insurance and mortgage lending. With the increased likelihood of flooding or high winds, insurance companies have to increase their premiums on properties within high risk flood areas. In turn, these higher premiums will decrease the likelihood of getting a mortgage on these properties,” said Naveen Jaspal, COO of Emoov. “Properties that are likely to become damaged will cause major uncertainty for mortgage lenders. The knock on effect will be much higher deposits and lower loan-to-value ratios in these areas, this is a problem, as due to climate change, we are seeing these high risk areas expanding.” Research by Emoov has revealed that cities such as Belfast, Bristol and Cardiff are already at risk, with Brighton being revealed as the city most at risk of climate change. The research used a mixture of National Trust, BBC and Climate Central data to compare factors such as rising sea levels, rainy days and storm damage.
Apprentices at the Southwark Construction Skills Centre have been supporting Surrey Docks Farm, a working community farm and education charity in South East London, in building a shelter for its animals. The Skills Centre, which has trained more than 10,000 local residents and helped create more than 3,000 jobs in the construction sector, has previously worked with Surrey Docks Farm to improve disabled access and was keen to support the charity further, as well as build a commitment to social responsibility among its apprentices. “We would like to give a huge thank you to the Southwark Construction Skills Centre for their continued support of the Farm. We’re delighted to get the donkey’s hard standing area completed so quickly and look forward to further projects with the apprentices,” said about the project Manager at Surrey Docks Farm Gemma Hooper. “The field shelter was funded through a memorial donation on behalf of someone who regularly visited and enjoyed the Farm. It’s wonderful that we can complete all the work in a community-focused way and get on with this, rather than wait on the groundwork. The donkeys (and all of our team) are delighted by this improvement to their living quarters!” Surrey Docks Farm was first established in 1975 and is located on a 2.2-acre site on the river Thames in Rotherhithe. The Farm provides a range of farming and educational experiences for the whole community, including giving adults with learning disabilities opportunities to gain confidence and independence through the development of animal care, horticulture and retail skills. With the support of construction specialists, Keltbray, who provided a range of building materials, five apprentices from Southwark Construction Skills Centre built a shelter base for Surrey Docks Farm’s donkeys. Donkeys do not have a natural build-up of grease to make their coat waterproof and need somewhere to shelter from the British weather. “The apprentices worked extremely hard, and I am delighted that we were able to support such a great cause. We know apprenticeships work and it was great to see both them and the farm benefiting from their efforts. Our apprentices not only gained skills valuable on large construction sites, but they also saw how they can use their skills to enrich their local communities,” added John White, Director of the Skills Centre. “Now that the Southwark Construction Skills Centre is moving from its original base at Elephant Park to a new home at Canada Water, we will be closer than ever to the Farm. We thoroughly enjoyed working with them and look forward to having our apprentices helping out again very soon.”
