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July 14, 2021

MP visits new affordable homes in Stafford

Kenneth Booth July 14, 2021

Stafford MP Theo Clarke visited a new development of homes for affordable rent and shared ownership. The site of 23 houses and apartments off Sandon Road being built for Housing Plus Group, is revitalising an area on the edge of the town centre.  With progress well underway on the site, the

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The most valuable pockets of the pandemic property market

Kenneth Booth July 14, 2021

Research from national estate agent, Keller Williams UK, has revealed that Edinburgh is the UK’s most valuable pocket of the property market based on the average price and number of homes sold during the pandemic. Across the UK, 946,447 homes have been sold since January 2020 and with the current

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The Most Valuable Benefits Of Life Insurance

Kenneth Booth July 14, 2021

Life insurance is definitely one of the more underrated types of insurance cover; younger individuals assume they won’t be needing the policy any time soon. Even older individuals feel that they won’t be the ones to benefit from the insurance policy when the unfortunate time arrives to claim. However, this

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July 14, 2021

NHF-backed Building Better appoints three manufacturers to £600m offsite framework

Kenneth Booth July 14, 2021

Building Better, the National Housing Federation-supported alliance of 29 housing associations and local authorities working together to increase the use of modern methods of construction (MMC), has appointed three manufacturers to deliver its first offsite homes framework. Procurement for Housing and Building Better have signed up Ilke Homes, Impact Modular and TopHat to the volumetric framework which is worth up to £600m over five years. Social housing providers will be able to procure pre-manufactured 3D construction systems for both houses and apartments through the deal. Over 185,000 homes are managed by the 29 housing associations and local authorities that make up Building Better. Initially, they will build at least 800 new offsite homes via the framework with a further 4,500 properties to be produced using modern methods of construction before 2026. This pipeline will grow as more social housing providers join the alliance. Procurement for Housing and Building Better have appointed the three successful manufacturers to the framework on a direct award basis. This means that housing associations and local authorities won’t need to go through any additional tender process. It is estimated that this streamlined contracting approach will save each housing provider around £15,000 in procurement costs alone. All MMC homes procured under the Building Better framework will be able to meet the government’s ‘zero carbon ready’ Future Homes Standard, they will take a ‘fabric-first’ approach – prioritising insulation ahead of add-ons like solar panels, they will meet nationally described space standards and have the option to be wheelchair accessible. Offsite homes developed by Building Better members will also be certified by the Buildoffsite Property Assurance Scheme and be assessed and accepted by building warranty provider the National House Building Council (NHBC). Trina Chakravarti, Project Director of Building Better said: “In the past, housing associations, local authorities and manufacturers have often gone through the MMC process alone – there is no aggregation of knowledge or resources, and mistakes are repeated. We want to change this through early, honest partnership working between social housing providers, manufacturers and residents, sharing information and learning together to improve MMC and overcome traditional barriers.” Steve Malone, CEO at Procurement for Housing said: “By assessing the MMC market, narrowing the field and appointing just three manufacturers, our goal was to reduce much of the due diligence and procurement complexity that housing associations and local authorities often face around MMC. Ilke Homes, Impact Modular and TopHat all impressed us with their commitment to the collaborative ethos of this framework. For them, involving residents and working closely with housing providers is key to continually improving their MMC offer.” Last year, housing secretary Robert Jenrick said that he, chancellor Rishi Sunak and the chief secretary to the treasury Stephen Barclay were “hugely supportive” of using modern methods of construction to build homes. The government has made it a condition of their £11.5bn affordable homes programme that at least 25% of those homes should be manufactured through modern methods. For further information about Building Better’s MMC Category 1 Construction Systems framework visit: https://procurementforhousing.co.uk/mmc-category-1-framework/

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MP visits new affordable homes in Stafford

Kenneth Booth July 14, 2021

Stafford MP Theo Clarke visited a new development of homes for affordable rent and shared ownership. The site of 23 houses and apartments off Sandon Road being built for Housing Plus Group, is revitalising an area on the edge of the town centre.  With progress well underway on the site, the MP met Housing Plus Group Chief executive Sarah Boden and members of the development team to see what will be available when the first residents move into their new homes later this year.  Housing Plus Group has partnered with Midlands construction firm Markden Homes on the development of three-bedroomed houses and one and two-bedroomed apartments. In a key project for the housing provider, Wheeldon Close will become the first new affordable housing site to be completed following the merger between Housing Plus Group and Stafford and Rural Homes.   It is an important step towards fulfilling a commitment made by the Group during that merger, to help address the local housing crisis by starting work on 2,000 new homes for rent, shared ownership and outright sale across Staffordshire and Shropshire by 2023.   The high specification homes have been built on the site of a former car showroom on one of the gateway roads into the town centre. It was named by pupils at John Wheeldon Primary Academy, who wanted to honour a former head teacher who went on to become mayor of Stafford.  Theo Clarke said: “I was delighted to visit the new development to see the regeneration of a brownfield site in Stafford – it is fantastic to see a positive example of local development, including homes for shared ownership, to help people get on the housing ladder.  One of my priorities as the local MP is to ensure that people have the opportunity to own their own homes.    “It was also an opportunity to discuss matters raised by constituents and to work together to find solutions.”  Sarah Boden said that she was delighted to welcome the MP to Wheeldon Close and to show her around some of the homes and apartments under construction:  “We are very proud of the homes that are taking shape on this development. These are high quality, attractive homes for local people to rent and to be able to step onto the first rung of an incredibly challenging housing market through shared ownership.   “I believe very strongly in the transformative power of housing not only to change lives but to revitalise locations like this, close to the town centre. The homes will help us to make a positive difference to homes, lives and communities; bringing people and families into the area, sustaining local facilities and helping shops and businesses to thrive.   “We are looking forward to welcoming the new residents of Wheeldon Close soon and in a key year for our Group, we are also nearing completion of the nearby Wren House, which will provide 80 one and two-bedroomed retirement apartments for affordable rent.” 

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Work Begins on Macmillan’s New Cancer Centre at Kettering General Hospital

Kenneth Booth July 14, 2021

National architects GSSArchitecture, whose head office is based in Kettering, are delighted to share that work has begun on the new Macmillan Cancer Support Centre at Kettering General Hospital, following a turf-cutting ceremony, which took place on 12th July. The centre – the first in North Northamptonshire – will bring a range of vital cancer support services together under one roof. As well as providing information on all aspects of cancer, emotional and psychological support, the centre will provide welfare benefits advice, wig fitting and signpost to other local services. Situated within the courtyard inside the hospitals main ward block, the centre will make best use of the available space, whilst providing an engaging and sympathetic environment for users of the centre. The unique curved nature of the plan enables the building to interact with several interesting external spaces that have been created, while maintaining the requirement for a less clinical, private, and calming setting. Andrew Vallis, Architect leading the project from GSSArchitecture, said, “I’m proud to be working on such an interesting and important project to benefit the people of Kettering, building upon GSSArchitecture’s long history with the hospital which dates back over 100 years. Our substantial experience in the Healthcare sector, in addition to a close collaboration with both Macmillan Cancer Support and Kettering General Hospital, has allowed us to progress these important plans to site, with works expected to complete early next year.” Rachel Atkinson, Macmillan Partnership Manager for Northamptonshire, said: “Cancer can affect every part of your life, not just your health, so it’s vital that we try and support patients with non-clinical needs as well. This brilliant new centre, funded by public donations, will offer a comfortable space where our highly-trained support staff and volunteers can offer people with cancer support for a variety of different needs that come with a cancer diagnosis. We want to help everyone with cancer live life as fully as they can and will do whatever it takes to ensure that happens.” GSSArchitecture are working as Architect, Principal Designer and Lead Consultant on the scheme, alongside Main Contractor, Marshdale Construction Ltd., and GSSllp who are providing Quantity Surveying services. If you would like any further information on GSSArchitecture, or the projects that they are currently working on, please visit www.gssarchitecture.com

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The most valuable pockets of the pandemic property market

Kenneth Booth July 14, 2021

Research from national estate agent, Keller Williams UK, has revealed that Edinburgh is the UK’s most valuable pocket of the property market based on the average price and number of homes sold during the pandemic. Across the UK, 946,447 homes have been sold since January 2020 and with the current average UK house price at £250,772, this equates to a bricks and mortar value of £237.4bn. Richest Property Regions The South East is the richest property region of the UK at present, with 140,571 transactions completing during the pandemic at an average of £329,849, totalling £46.4bn in property sold property values. Despite much being made of the decline of the London market, 85,411 transactions have still taken place across London since the start of the pandemic. With an average house price of £485,956, this equates to a staggering £41.5bn in sold property values – the second highest of all areas of the UK. Northern Ireland has seen just 25,103 homes sold since the start of 2020 at an average of just £144,059. Despite being home to the lowest total sum of property sold, the nation has still seen £3.6bn of homes change hands. Richest Local Authorities However, when analysing the market at local authority level, it’s Edinburgh that ranks as the UK’s richest property market. 10,740 homes have been sold across the city since January 2020 at an average of £280,287, totalling an estimated £3bn in value. Edinburgh is closely followed by Wandsworth with a total of £2.8bn in sold property during the pandemic. Cornwall also ranks high at £32.4bn in homes sold, with Bromley (£2.2bn) and Leeds (£2.175m) also making the top five. CEO of Keller Williams UK, Ben Taylor, commented: “The UK property market has been booming and it’s interesting to see the regional variations of this performance in terms of current values, transaction volumes and house price growth. However, it’s Edinburgh that has seen the strongest pandemic property market performance when considering both transaction levels and property values and the total sold value of properties that have changed hands.  That said, the wider health of the current market is more than evident when analysed on this basis with cities and towns from all over the UK featuring in the top performers. While the tapered end of the stamp duty holiday may have some impact, there’s no doubting that we’re on course for a seriously impressive year from a property standpoint.” Table shows the total value of property sold based on transaction volumes and the average house price Location Pandemic Transactions Average house price Total estimated value of homes sold South East 140,571 £329,849 £46,367,213,864 London 85,411 £485,956 £41,505,981,288 East of England 93,962 £296,965 £27,903,459,409 South West 92,212 £266,486 £24,573,162,845 North West 104,575 £172,935 £18,084,650,336 Scotland 103,354 £157,265 £16,253,927,363 West Midlands Region 75,248 £205,891 £15,492,875,817 East Midlands 70,883 £202,137 £14,328,101,582 Yorkshire and The Humber 78,258 £171,488 £13,420,295,497 Wales 39,903 £171,490 £6,842,970,223 North East 36,967 £132,515 £4,898,674,312 Northern Ireland 25,103 £144,059 £3,616,306,591 England 778,087 £265,490 £206,574,414,951 United Kingdom 946,447 £250,772 £237,342,407,084 Sources UK House Price Index (Jan 2020 to Feb 2021 – latest available data) Average value x transaction volume         Table shows the areas of the UK market to see the highest value of transactions during the pandemic Location Pandemic Transactions Average house price Total estimated value of homes sold City of Edinburgh 10,740 £280,287 £3,010,280,674 Wandsworth 4,574 £609,392 £2,787,360,997 Cornwall 9,791 £245,468 £2,403,380,298 Bromley 5,046 £438,111 £2,210,708,952 Leeds 11,123 £195,461 £2,174,114,541 Birmingham 11,156 £192,971 £2,152,780,840 Wiltshire 7,655 £279,742 £2,141,428,705 Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole 7,285 £287,647 £2,095,511,521 Dorset 6,841 £295,890 £2,024,183,950 Kensington and Chelsea 1,517 £1,323,585 £2,007,878,999 Belfast 14,381 £137,784 £1,981,469,854 Richmond upon Thames 2,857 £683,839 £1,953,726,787 City of Westminster 1,961 £960,840 £1,884,206,381 Barnet 3,535 £528,189 £1,867,147,536 City of Bristol 6,318 £295,315 £1,865,800,647 Sources UK House Price Index (Jan 2020 to Feb 2021 – latest available data) Average value x transaction volume        

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The Most Valuable Benefits Of Life Insurance

Kenneth Booth July 14, 2021

Life insurance is definitely one of the more underrated types of insurance cover; younger individuals assume they won’t be needing the policy any time soon. Even older individuals feel that they won’t be the ones to benefit from the insurance policy when the unfortunate time arrives to claim. However, this type of insurance is just as beneficial and essential as auto insurance, disability insurance, and various other insurance policies. So, if you are a bit divided about whether or not you should purchase relevant life insurance, here are the most valuable benefits this type of cover has to offer. Protect The Best Interest Of Loved Ones Left Behind Whether you are an income contributor or the sole breadwinner in your household, if anyone depends on your income, life insurance will protect them from poverty when you are no longer there to provide. The payout can be assigned to the most trusted dependant that relies on your income, and you can specify its intended use in your last will. An Inheritance For Your Children If you’re a parent, there’s no doubt that you want to leave something behind for your children. Because a life insurance payout can be used as an inheritance, your children will have a substantial amount of money to give them a bit of a helping hand in life. Suppose your time arrives before you can see your children enroll in a university. In this case, the policy can be used to pay for their education or even assist with housing when you are no longer there to provide. Leave No Debt Burden Behind If you have any debts, there’s a possibility that your descendants will inherit your debts if you pass on before you can settle any loans and financing plans you have. This can be a significant burden to any family; even if they can survive without your income support, having to cover debts can set a family back substantially. A life insurance payout can cover your debts for you, leaving no debt burden behind for your loved ones to carry. Peace Of Mind Even though you won’t be the one to cash in on your life insurance policy, having one will ultimately bring your genuine peace of mind. Your family will be cared for, your debts will be covered, and your funeral costs will likely be included in your policy benefits. So, you won’t have to stress and worry about the well-being of your loved ones if your time arrives before you can create substantial savings to hand over. Not everyone has the means to build wealth in their bank accounts due to various reasons. Life insurance offers the perfect solution for professionals and income providers that want to protect the best interests of their loved ones. The small monthly premium will amount to a massive payout that can keep our loved ones in financial comfort for quite some time in the event of your unexpected death.

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