GLP, a leading investor and developer of logistics warehouses and distribution parks has today announced that it is to develop a 136,000 SQ FT manufacturing facility and distribution centre for leading UK composite door manufacturer Solidor on the final plot at its G-Park Stoke development in Stoke-on-Trent. Solidor, part of
32-acre park, public square, school, café and shops as part of new ‘Springfield Village’ Hospital’s impressive array of listed buildings to be restored Prices start from £470,000 and will include Help-to-Buy Award-winning national developer Barratt London is set to launch Springfield Place to the market this April; an exciting new
The two professional planning Institutes in Ireland have signed an agreement to enable them to work together more closely in the future. The Memorandum of Understanding has been signed by the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) and the Irish Planning Institute (IPI) to provide a platform to enable planning and
Data release today in the New Homes Index reveals that new home buyer demand across Britain has reached an all-time peak as a record-breaking total of 153,472 buyer searches are recorded during May. A sign that, as we emerge from COVID restrictions and flexible working patterns are confirmed as here to stay, home buyers are looking to upgrade to meet their changing space and lifestyle requirements. National average price of new
LEADING construction consultancy Edmond Shipway has been appointed to provide project management, cost consultancy and mechanical and electrical engineering consultancy services for the proposed €85m expansion of Center Parcs’ Longford Forest resort. Building on the success of the resort since opening in July 2019, Center Parcs has recently announced its
Roger Bullivant South East has completed the installation of more than 3,000 Continuous Flight Auger Piles for a major residential scheme with the award-winning developer, Croudace Homes. Roger Bullivant was appointed in 2016 to install over 3,000 300mm diameter Continuous Flight Auger (CFA) piles across four phases to bring forward
A new landmark 95-home residential waterside scheme housing a £1 million penthouse is progressing well, with waterfront apartments now available to view, and plans to extend the development along the northern banks of the River Trent just announced. The first phase of Trent Bridge Quays, located on Meadow Lane by
UK-based environmental consultants TerraConsult is to officially rebrand to ByrneLooby from July 1st, more than two years after it was acquired by the international engineering firm. All 45 staff will continue to be based at the company’s headquarters in St Helens as well as its other offices in Chesterfield, Leeds
Not all home renovations are considered equal when it comes to the saleability of your property – picking the right improvements to increase the value of your home is vital. Some home improvements can be incredibly costly, but you might not necessarily see a return on your investment. These home
GLP, a leading investor and developer of logistics warehouses and distribution parks has today announced that it is to develop a 136,000 SQ FT manufacturing facility and distribution centre for leading UK composite door manufacturer Solidor on the final plot at its G-Park Stoke development in Stoke-on-Trent. Solidor, part of the Masonite group, have signed have signed a 15-year lease on the development which is expected to be available for occupation by the start of Q4 2021. The development is expected to create additional jobs from within the local community. Built to Solidor’s detailed specifications, the new factory will combine Solidor’s current production and storage facilities into a single world-class manufacturing hub plant. It features a best-in-class specification that includes 15 metres clear internal height, four dock doors and six level access doors. Adrienne Howells, Development Director, GLP, said: “We are very happy to welcome Solidor into our expanding customer community and onto the final plot at our successful G-Park Stoke development. Solidor is a leader in the UK composite door market and a company with firm roots in Stoke so we are pleased to be working in close partnership and to support the growth needs of such a successful homegrown brand. “Together, we are targeting Planet Mark certification for the new site, a mark of integrity when it comes to sustainability. The ambition is for the building to achieve up to 15% lower carbon emissions compared with the average UK factory.” Neil Bancroft, operations director and site lead, Solidor, said: “This move will allow us to scale up our production and improve lead-times for our customers. By combining five facilities under one roof we will be able to remove legacy parts of production that don’t add value and bring in new automated processes that are simply not achievable at our current locations. “It has given the operations team the opportunity to create a world class facility that will work both now and as we continue to grow in the future.” “The existing workforce was a key consideration when choosing the new facility. The success of the business has been built on the loyal and flexible team we have in place, and over the coming months everyone will play a key part in the transfer and design of our new production operation,” explained Neil. “Over 85% of our staff live within the local community and it was critical that the location of our new home reflected the importance of this to us as a business. It is also expected that a number of new roles will be created both in the short and long-term future.” Jason Hughes, Masonite’s UK facilities manager, added: “As a manufacturer, we know we can have a huge impact when it comes to sustainability. This project represents an important step as we make our UK production processes and buildings more efficient.” The company will use the final few months of 2021 to install new equipment and improve IT processes before commencing a phased transfer of all its employees in January 2022. Also commenting, Cllr Abi Brown, leader of Stoke-on-Trent City Council said: “This is fantastic news – our small but mighty city continues to go from strength-to-strength and to bounce back more swiftly than other major cities. It’s fantastic to see Stoke-on-Trent businesses such as Solidor growing and expanding here. It’s in part because of businesses like Solidor that we’re number three for jobs growth in Britain right now.” “Stoke-on-Trent is well and truly powering up, and I’m looking forward to the months and years ahead as we lift the city out of lockdown, focusing on transport, economic development, education and skills, and health and productivity.” G-Park Stoke is situated within an established and successful commercial area. It is home to the regional distribution operations of leading online electrical retailer AO and situated 7 miles to the west of junction 15 of the M6.
32-acre park, public square, school, café and shops as part of new ‘Springfield Village’ Hospital’s impressive array of listed buildings to be restored Prices start from £470,000 and will include Help-to-Buy Award-winning national developer Barratt London is set to launch Springfield Place to the market this April; an exciting new development in Tooting Bec, Wandsworth. These are the first homes to become available at the new Springfield Village community, which will include a new residential village of 839 homes in total complete with an on-site café, retail space, public square, the provision of land for a new primary school, newly restored listed buildings, affordable housing, as well as 32 acres of public parkland. This parkland is the first of its kind since the 2012 London Olympics and will help respond to the community’s needs following the pandemic. The residential village is being built in the former grounds of Springfield University Hospital and will also see heritage developer City & Country restore and convert a majestic Grade II listed former hospital building into a collection of apartments. This mix of conversion and new build homes from Barratt London and City & Country will create an exciting architectural mix, juxtaposing old and new. Aiming to serve the area’s housing needs, boost the local economy and community, homebuyers will have a collection of nearly 300 homes and a diverse range of property types to choose from by Barratt London, with prices starting from £470,000. First time buyers will be pleased to know Help-to-Buy is available within Barratt London’s first release of homes, which includes one- and two- bedroom apartments overlooking landscaped gardens. Future releases of properties will include three-bedroom apartments and two- and three-bedroom houses set-back on attractive mews streets. All of the properties being built here will include a range of design features thoughtfully chosen to complement the wider Springfield Village and its historic past. Pam Reardon, Sales & Marketing Director for Barratt East London says the scheme had a distinct vision from the start. “We wanted any new building here to be designed sensitively to the local vernacular, whilst giving homebuyers the best quality living space and views. The contrast of modern and period architecture will certainly redefine this part of Wandsworth’s skyline, mediating between the scale of the new development and the existing Edwardian urban grain. Together with City & Country, we will be creating an exciting new hub for south west London.” Set in Zone 3, getting around couldn’t be easier for residents, set just a stone’s throw from Tooting Bec Underground and Wandsworth Common and Earlsfield National Rail stations. The regeneration of the area includes a proposed Crossrail route stopping at either Tooting Broadway or Balham. Tooting Broadway offers a lively entertainment scene, and the area has a thriving foodie culture with Tooting Market, Michelin-star and fine-dining restaurants, and gastro pubs on the doorstep. The Borough of Wandsworth boasts over 1,700 acres of green space with Tooting Common, the largest, also home to the famous Tooting Bec Lido – the UK’s biggest freshwater swimming pool – presenting an iconic setting for a swim. Pam continues, “The new park being created will be a particular benefit for families as buyers continue to look for locations beyond Zone 1 for affordability and connectivity. The desirability of south west London has been incredible to watch over the past decade, and Tooting is fast becoming one of London’s coolest neighbourhoods with markets, independent shops, exciting new restaurants and bars popping up all the time.” The masterplan of the site has been developed by South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust (SWLSTG) and includes the development of modern mental health facilities. Pam continues, “The extensive community healthcare being provided here with world-class facilities is something for the area to feel very proud about. Barratt London is honoured to be part of such an important project.” Prices are expected to start from £470,000 for a one-bedroom apartment in the first release of one and two-bedroom apartments at Bluebell House. For more information, please visit www.barrattlondon.com to register for updates.
The two professional planning Institutes in Ireland have signed an agreement to enable them to work together more closely in the future. The Memorandum of Understanding has been signed by the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) and the Irish Planning Institute (IPI) to provide a platform to enable planning and development professionals to share good practice and to promote the value of the planning profession and its ideals. It will mean that the Institutes will work together to promote the profession as a career, to develop and influence policy, to develop research and to support members to develop their skills. The agreement will lead to a stronger and united voice for the profession at time where planners will play a pivotal role in achieving zero carbon targets and creating sustainable and successful cities, towns, villages and neighbourhoods across the country. RTPI President Dr Wei Yang FRTPI said: “I am delighted to sign the Memorandum of Understanding and look forward to working more closely with the IPI in the future. I have no doubt that our collaboration will help ensure we provide all of our members with the support they need and give us a strong platform to promote the importance of planning.” IPI President Dr Conor Norton MIPI said: “As President of the Irish Planning Institute, I welcome this combined effort to address future challenges for planning and for planners at a critical time for society in the area of sustainable development and sustainable places. This agreement signifies an important opportunity to deepen the links between professional planners in Ireland with their colleagues in the UK and beyond.” Chair of RTPI Ireland Aidan Culhane MRTPI added: “This will make a real difference to planners across Ireland. It will allow us to build upon one another’s strengths such as the RTPI’s strong research programme and links to the UK and the rest of the world, and the IPI’s excellent engagement with national and local government.” The RTPI and IPI will hold a joint celebration of the signing of the MOU later in the year, as soon as practically possible.
Data release today in the New Homes Index reveals that new home buyer demand across Britain has reached an all-time peak as a record-breaking total of 153,472 buyer searches are recorded during May. A sign that, as we emerge from COVID restrictions and flexible working patterns are confirmed as here to stay, home buyers are looking to upgrade to meet their changing space and lifestyle requirements. National average price of new home property coming to market is £326,660 – a slight drop from £330,463 in April (-1%). May resulted in a record-breaking total of 153,472 national new home buyer searches. During the first two months of Q2 total new home buyer searches demonstrate an increase of 58,598 (+62.7%) on Q1, with June remaining. Top three new home demand areas during May: South East of England has demonstrated the most buyer demand during May 2021, achieving 28,920 new home buyer searches during May 2021. London maintains its place in the top three for new home buyer demand, dropping from first place in April. During May London received 19,340 new home buyer searches. West Midlands achieved 19,295 new home buyer searches during May 2021, placing it in the top three for the first time in 2021. Daniel Hill, Managing Director, WhatHouse? comments: “Q2 is on track to break new home demand records as we track 153,472 buyer demand searches during May, already up 62.7% on Q1 combined. When we consider that nearly all of Britain’s top firms have announced they’re planning a flexible work-from-home model following the Covid lockdown it’s no surprise that changing space requirements continue to drive momentum. The growth in demand for new homes, in particular luxury new homes, in the South East of England points to commuters stretching the ‘commute comfort zone’, now that a two or three day office week has become the norm. We are seeing a strong desire amongst new home buyers to move to bigger properties. Britain’s more northerly regions are also experiencing a surge as the West Midlands secures its place in the top three new home demand areas during May with 19,295 searches and a 7% increase in demand for luxury new homes”. Stewart Baseley, Executive Chairman, House Builders Federation said: “Demand for new build homes continues to remain extremely strong as it has done since the sales market reopened post lock down last Spring. Even with a lower proportion of homes being purchased with Help to Buy, builders in all price brackets are reporting very high levels of interest from consumers, demonstrating confidence in the product and the industry with consumers increasingly recognising the benefits of new homes over older properties. Many sites are forward sold with builders focussed on completing homes to meet the high demand levels. Decision makers in central and local government need to continue to work with the industry if supply is to meet demand and housing targets are to be met”.
LEADING construction consultancy Edmond Shipway has been appointed to provide project management, cost consultancy and mechanical and electrical engineering consultancy services for the proposed €85m expansion of Center Parcs’ Longford Forest resort. Building on the success of the resort since opening in July 2019, Center Parcs has recently announced its intention to submit a planning application for a significant investment to further develop its Longford Forest resort, which is set in around 400 acres of woodland located five kilometres from Ballymahon. The plans include the addition of 200 new lodges, including four of Center Parcs’ most luxurious accommodation – Treehouses. Hidden within the forest, each Treehouse sleeps up to eight people and comes complete with a games den, outdoor hot tub, private parking, and a dedicated Treehouse Host for the duration of the break. Alongside increasing the number of lodges, the development also proposes to extend existing facilities, including leisure facilities, restaurants, and cafes, back of house facilities, the Subtropical Swimming Paradise and Aqua Sana Spa. The development will remain within the existing site boundary. David Stevenson, managing director at Edmond Shipway, said: “We have a relationship with Center Parcs that spans decades, so we are really pleased to be continuing to support its latest ventures. We provided services for the delivery of the initial Longford Forest scheme, which is one of the biggest tourism investments Ireland has ever seen and brought the high-quality resort facilities that Center Parcs is renowned for to the country. “We look forward to working closely with the team, supporting the planning application for these expansion plans and to hopefully leading on the delivery of more exceptional facilities for the Irish resort.” Martin Dalby, CEO at Center Parcs, said: “We are thrilled to be developing the next chapter for Longford Forest, reaffirming our confidence in our product and the Irish market. We are delighted to be working once more with Edmond Shipway, who I’m sure will deliver for us once again.” The development, which will remain within the existing site boundary, is driven by a great confidence in the business and the Irish domestic tourism market and will create 250 permanent jobs, along with a further 300 jobs during construction. Edmond Shipway’s four core services – cost consultancy, project management, M&E and sustainability consultancy – allow the practice to add value to all of its projects, and its specialist teams focus on individual markets to deliver industry-leading expertise and maximise efficiencies and results for clients. For more information about Edmond Shipway, please visit https://www.edmondshipway.com/
Roger Bullivant South East has completed the installation of more than 3,000 Continuous Flight Auger Piles for a major residential scheme with the award-winning developer, Croudace Homes. Roger Bullivant was appointed in 2016 to install over 3,000 300mm diameter Continuous Flight Auger (CFA) piles across four phases to bring forward a development of 475 homes, a community centre, green open space, and a retail unit. Over the last six years and twelve visits, Roger Bullivant has worked in partnership with Croudace Homes to offer a sustainable and virtually vibration-free solution, allowing construction works to continue with minimal disturbances to adjacent buildings and new homeowners. Piles were installed using their in-house designed, 7000 series rigs to pile depths between 9.0 and 18.5m in made ground and weald clay ground conditions. The rigs are equipped with sensitive state-of-the-art instrumentation that monitors the installation of CFA piles, including pile depth, auger rotation, penetration rate, concreting pressure, extraction rate and over-break. CFA piling is drilled and concreted in one continuous operation enabling much faster installation time than bored piles and is one of the quickest forms of piling. This method can be used in ground conditions such as gravel, sand, silts, clay and low strength rock. “It has been very rewarding seeing this major regeneration scheme taking shape. Our collaborative approach has ensured that the project was completed to an award-winning standard despite the disruption of the global pandemic. Ensuring that we worked safely, efficiently and to the high standards we set ourselves is always our number one priority and look forward to working with Croudace Homes again soon,” commented Matt Walpole Area Manager at Roger Bullivant. As construction has developed, the site has been recognised by leading industry awards. In 2019, Croudace Homes was awarded the pride in the job award recognising site managers who achieve the highest standard in housebuilding. In 2020, the ongoing development was Highly Commended in the Best High-Volume New Housing Development category for the South East LABC Building Excellence Awards 2020.
A new landmark 95-home residential waterside scheme housing a £1 million penthouse is progressing well, with waterfront apartments now available to view, and plans to extend the development along the northern banks of the River Trent just announced. The first phase of Trent Bridge Quays, located on Meadow Lane by developer Elevate Property Group, has recently finished, and 80% have already sold to buyers who have moved into their new homes by the river. The scheme will grow from the current spot by Trent Bridge along the north side of the River Trent banks, as part of the city’s Waterside Regeneration master plan to redevelop the area all the way to the racecourse. Situated within Nottingham’s Regeneration Area, Trent Bridge Quays is one of a number of new riverside developments taking shape, offering families and first-time buyers, commuters and retirees quality living space that is designed around the benefits of residing close to the water, with the conveniences of the city within easy reach. Plans are also in the pipeline for the potential expansion of Nottingham’s tram network to West Bridgford which will benefit the area, linking the Trent Bridge location with the city centre. With frequent bus services to all areas of Nottinghamshire, and in close proximity to major employers such as E.ON, Boots HQ, Experian and Speedo, Trent Bridge Quays is situated close to Nottingham city centre, the train station and West Bridgford amenities including local shops, bars and restaurants all within easy walking distance. Trent Bridge Cricket Ground is also on its doorstep and beauty spots such as Holme Pierrepont Country Park and The Hook nature reserve in Lady Bay, are just a short walk away. One, two and three-bed apartments, many with south-facing waterfront views, outside space and parking are available to buy – and prices range from £192,500 for a one-bed apartment, to £1million for a luxury penthouse apartment, with panoramic views across the River Trent. Three storey three and four-bed townhouses with ‘morning and afternoon’ balconies to enjoy sunrise and sunset vistas range in price from £345,000 to £500,000, and all properties feature floor to ceiling windows, stylish bathroom and kitchen décor and high spec appliances, fixtures and fittings throughout. Viewings of the waterfront apartments are now available for prospective buyers to get a taste of waterside living, and visitors are now welcome to view the finished show townhouse by booking an appointment with selling agent FHP Waterside Living, on a bespoke appointment basis.
UK-based environmental consultants TerraConsult is to officially rebrand to ByrneLooby from July 1st, more than two years after it was acquired by the international engineering firm. All 45 staff will continue to be based at the company’s headquarters in St Helens as well as its other offices in Chesterfield, Leeds and Colchester. However, TerraConsult says the full transition to ByrneLooby will bring much-enhanced expertise and services across 10 key sectors, including waste management, environment, geoscience, energy, water, flooding, buildings, conservation, transportation and marine & coastal. Established in 1998, ByrneLooby is an award-winning practice of 250 consulting engineers and project managers with 16 interconnected offices throughout the UK, Ireland and the Middle East. It is ranked as one of the top 15 UK ground engineering consultants, according to Ground Engineering magazine. The company sits on significant utility frameworks including Translink (UK) and Irish Water and consults on significant infrastructure projects – most recently, HS2 Crossrail and Lowestoft Port redevelopment for Associated British Ports (ABP). Over the next five years, the company is pursuing a growth strategy, expanding engineering expertise, with ambitious plans to double resources and revenue. John Martin, Managing Director of TerraConsult, said: “We look forward to working as ByrneLooby, to provide enhanced expertise and services for our clients, building upon our national and international reputation in waste management and the development of land for commercial, waste, industrial, residential, renewable energy and infrastructure projects.” The TerraConsult team has delivered significant landfill design projects in the UK, Africa and the Middle East, including one of the largest waste management facilities in the world, the Sohar Industrial Waste Handling and Treatment Facility (IWHTF) in Oman. The super-sized waste facility is a 50-hectare, 18-million cubic metre, three landfill complex – catering for both hazardous and non-hazardous wastes. It is a cornerstone of the integrated waste management system in Oman, servicing the entire country. John Byrne, Group Managing Director of ByrneLooby, added: “Waste management, geoscience and environment are vital sectors, particularly as the circular economy grows in importance, waste is re-categorised as a resource and land regeneration grows in importance. “At ByrneLooby, we work together across all 16 offices, combining our skills and resources to best serve clients in the UK, Ireland, the Middle East. John Martin and his team are a crucial part of our global service offering. For clients with infrastructure projects, they can benefit by having ByrneLooby appointed throughout all stages of the asset cycle: from brownfield feasibility, land quality and remediation, concept design, project management, construction to operation and maintenance.” Notes to editors About ByrneLooby Established in 1998, ByrneLooby is an international, award-winning engineering consultancy that provides a spectrum of services to government, semi-state, and private companies across ten sectors: buildings, conservation, geoscience, environment, transportation, waste management, marine and coastal, water, flooding and energy. ByrneLooby employs approximately 250 engineering consultants and professionals in 16 offices across the UK, Ireland and the Middle East. For more than 22 years, our professional engineers and environmental experts have provided world-leading advisory, environmental and engineering consulting services to our clients in the waste management industry and for developers of land for commercial, waste, industrial, residential, renewable energy and infrastructure projects. Our integrated, multi-disciplinary teams from the UK, Ireland and the Middle East help our clients develop and operate their waste management facilities, providing global landfill expertise whilst protecting communities and the environment. We support our clients through every stage of the development, operation and closure of their waste management facilities. Our teams have designed some of the largest landfill sites in the world, incorporating best practice and master planning for future development. ByrneLooby has eight offices throughout the UK, including London, Belfast, St. Helens, Colchester, Leeds, Guildford, Manchester and Chesterfield. Visit byrnelooby.com and connect with ByrneLooby on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter. Media contact Siobhan Warfield-Beattie SWarfield@ByrneLooby.com Tel: +353 (0) 86 837 2328 / T: +353 (0) 1 456 4470 Published on PRFIRE
Not all home renovations are considered equal when it comes to the saleability of your property – picking the right improvements to increase the value of your home is vital. Some home improvements can be incredibly costly, but you might not necessarily see a return on your investment. These home renovations can help to improve the value and saleability of your property. Bathroom suites Bathrooms are one of the most-used areas of the home, and it’s common for them to look worse for wear over time as a result. But it’s also an area of the property that buyers pay close attention to, so making improvements before you put your home on the market can help you during the selling process. Depending on how much you want to invest and the time you want to put into it, bathroom upgrades can be anything from minor refreshing through hardware and changing out the shower curtain, to a full suite renovation that can add anywhere up to over 60% in returns. Aim to create a spa-like experience in the bathroom, as this will appeal to potential buyers. Garage Garages are desirable for buyers as they offer a secure place to store vehicles and can be used as additional storage for belongings too, which can be scarce in some homes. Your garage door is important for adding kerb appeal to your home, but it is also crucial in ensuring that the garage is safe and secure, so an upgrade can help to improve the look of your home for buyers and guarantees security. Once you’ve checked your garage door is free from faults and damage, refinishing it can help to improve the aesthetic appeal it provides for a great first impression. Kitchen A popular home upgrade, kitchen renovations are often the first port of call for people looking to increase the value of their home. But how much can you really make from this home improvement project? Kitchen renovations typically do pay off in the long-run, especially if your kitchen is very dated. Even just changing the cabinetry and updating the taps can add between 2 and 3% in returns, while a full overhaul could increase your home’s value by as much as 10%. Since the average kitchen upgrade costs in the region of £10,000, this can be a significant profit overall. Loft conversion A study by Halifax found that a loft conversion offers excellent value for money in terms of saleability, adding 15% in value. What’s more, it can significantly increase the floor space of your home by up to 30%, which can be a real selling point for potential buyers. The average for a loft conversion is between £16,000 and £20,000, so it’s more of an upfront investment than some other home improvement projects, but it can offer great returns long-term. Landscaping Landscaping the outdoor spaces isn’t something that you immediately think of when it comes to renovating your home, but it can make a big difference. Gardens are sought-after, so having a beautiful lawn or pretty container plants can really boost your home’s appeal. In fact, just a bit of work could increase the value of your property by as much as 15% on average, topping out at over 40% in profit if you spend in the region of £4,000. The return you’ll see depends on how much you invest in your landscaping, but even minor upgrades and tidying can really do wonders for saleability. Flooring Flooring can do wonders for the overall feel and look of a property, and it can boost the value too. If the carpet is stained and worn, or the laminate is starting to lift, it can make your property look drab, even if other areas of the home have been refreshed. It’s one of the simplest upgrades you can make but it has an instant impact and can completely transform the look of your home. Go for something that’s easy to maintain and neutral to appeal to a broader range of buyers. Final thoughts You might be planning to move in the near future or you could be looking to make upgrades that your family can enjoy but that will pay off in the future. Whatever your situation, being thoughtful and considered in your approach to home renovations can really pay off further down the line when you put your home on the market. From the minor improvements that can work brilliantly in improving the aesthetic appeal of your home to the bigger renovation projects that can add thousands to the overall market price, think about the needs of a future buyer when you’re making changes to the property.
