Comment from Warwick estates… COO of Warwick Estates, Bethan Griffiths, commented: “Whilst we welcome the government’s about turn on deeming 800,000 affected flats now safe, one wonders why it took four years for this to be ascertained. Meantime over £190billion worth of UK property assets has been held in limbo,
UK PROPERTY MARKET BOOMS, BUT EXPERTS CONSIDER AFTERMATH OF GOVERNMENT STIMULUS ENDING… Property prices in the UK have soared to reach record breaking highs with the average house price standing at £261,743 and the annual house price growth rate hitting a seven year high of 9.5%, according to the latest
As part of Klober’s ongoing sales team investment, Ben Edge has been appointed as Divisional Sales Manager (North UK and Ireland). With 38% of architectural practices expecting workloads to grow in Q3 according to RIBA Future Trends Workload Index, this timely appointment bodes well amid construction industry growth. Joining the
St Modwen, an expert in housebuilding and residential development, is sponsoring the WorldSkills UK Bricklaying Competition for 2021, which sees young people compete to become the UK’s best bricklayer. The competition assesses an individual’s technical, personal and employability skills against set criteria in a competitive timed environment. Run in partnership
Developer Sellar and architecture and interiors practice Universal Design Studio have unveiled designs for a 15,000 sq ft concept space, The Exchange at Paddington Square – the new district in the heart of London’s Paddington, being delivered by the team behind The Shard. Envisioned as a members’ club for occupiers
Latest annual planning performance statistics for 2020/21 showing a 17 week increase in the average decision time for major housing development to 54 weeks are unacceptable, according to home building body Homes for Scotland (HFS). The figure represents a +40 per cent rise on the previous year and is more
Yesterday, during the second-reading of the Government’s Building Safety Bill, Conservative MP Paul Maynard called for an amendment in support of RoSPA’s safer stairs campaign, which will save countless lives if it is brought into law. RoSPA is campaigning for the most up to date British Safety Standard for stairs
Children from Howard Community Academy in Bury St. Edmunds have come up with the names of the roads on a new housing development, Lyle Place. As part of the Keepmoat Homes’ ongoing commitment to the local community, pupils from the school were invited to suggest street names for the new
In close proximity to nature, with water-based activities including kayaking and rowing and beauty spots such as Holme Pierrepont in walking distance – the banks of the River Trent offer a host of waterside living benefits for residents to enjoy. The developers behind one of the Nottingham’s latest riverside developments
There are thousands of online casinos out there competing for customers. As land-based casinos are less and less prevalent in Poland, their online counterparts quickly took over and offered their services to local punters. Most players who visit online casinos are computer-savvy and can easily tell a professional, reliable site
Comment from Warwick estates… COO of Warwick Estates, Bethan Griffiths, commented: “Whilst we welcome the government’s about turn on deeming 800,000 affected flats now safe, one wonders why it took four years for this to be ascertained. Meantime over £190billion worth of UK property assets has been held in limbo, trapping owners into a seemingly unnecessary and protracted state of anxiety. Notwithstanding the relief of hundreds of thousands of leaseholders, hundreds of freehold apartment owners including asset managers and property investment houses can also now restore these assets to full value on their balance sheets Wiping out one-fifth of a trillion pounds in property value is equal to around 9.7% of GDP and was likely to be somewhat missed economically.”
UK PROPERTY MARKET BOOMS, BUT EXPERTS CONSIDER AFTERMATH OF GOVERNMENT STIMULUS ENDING… Property prices in the UK have soared to reach record breaking highs with the average house price standing at £261,743 and the annual house price growth rate hitting a seven year high of 9.5%, according to the latest Halifax House Price Index figures. As the property market continues to boom, economists and property experts consider the long-term implications of the measures implemented by the government to help stimulate the UK housing market. ‘Indubitably, the extended stamp duty holiday and the mortgage guarantee scheme have greatly contributed to the creation of this emergent house price bubble’, says Simon Das, founder of specialist property finance brokerage 978 Finance, ‘it will be most interesting to see how the UK property market responds in the aftermath of such measures ultimately being rescinded’. Martin Lewis, a long-standing critic and opponent of the government’s measures has argued that the measures have prioritised a short-term benefit to the housing market over the future longer-term needs of the nation’s homeowners. Similarly, other industry real estate experts have voiced their concerns that the government measures have artificially propped up the housing market which will inevitably contribute to an eventual market crash. Matthew Cooper, Managing Director of Yes Homebuyers has reportedly stated, ‘the government’s insistence on artificially fuelling house prices, not only with a stamp duty holiday extension but now in the form of 95% mortgages and a rehash of the Help to Buy scheme, is irresponsible, to say the least. Enjoy the boom while it lasts because if history has taught us anything, a bust is likely to follow’, Equally supporting the proposition that the UK housing market is facing a near future crash is visionary economist and author Fred Harrison. Harrison successfully predicted the housing market crashes of 2008 and 1990, and again predicts that UK house prices will crash in 2026, followed by an even worse economic depression than the financial crisis of 2008. Harrison’s woeful prediction is based on his own economic model and does not factor in the government’s stimulus measures, nevertheless, Harrison’s warning of a UK property crash being only five years away should perhaps serve as a warning against market complacency for homeowners and industry professional alike. Contrasting Harrisons predictions of impending doom are those industry experts who view the current property boom as a necessary boost to the nation’s economic recovery. Russell Galley, Managing Director of Halifax has stated, ‘As lockdown restrictions continue to ease and confidence in a rapid economic recovery continues, house prices will likely continue to be supported for some time to come, particularly given the shortage of properties for sale’. In agreement, Simon Das, Managing Director of 978 Finance added, ‘we must remain vigilant of course, yet current indications suggest the UK property market remains strong, versatile and able to offer excellent property opportunities at affordable levels of investment’.
As part of Klober’s ongoing sales team investment, Ben Edge has been appointed as Divisional Sales Manager (North UK and Ireland). With 38% of architectural practices expecting workloads to grow in Q3 according to RIBA Future Trends Workload Index, this timely appointment bodes well amid construction industry growth. Joining the Klober team from Unilever, Ben will draw on his sales and account management experience to help merchants access a wealth of industry knowledge and support with sales enquiries across the region. Alongside this, Ben has over three years’ experience in the property development market as a private investor, which has helped him to establish relationships with contractors and other building professionals. Ben commented: “As a market leader in roofing components and accessories, the Klober brand is well respected and renowned for offering quality. My role in the sales team will be to work with others across the business to carry on this legacy of raising the roofing standard, and to support merchant customers fulfil orders on time and to specification. I hope to bring a fresh perspective and will use my experience in the FMCG sector to this end. I also look forward to applying my experience as a self-employed property developer and investor to add further value and customer understanding when dealing with sales enquiries.” This appointment comes at a time of expansion and change for the Klober sales team, following on from the hiring of Chris Nicholl as Commercial Director in early 2021. Over the last six months, Chris has reshaped the team improve Klober’s sales proposition, including the promotion of Richard Pitman to Divisional Sales Manager for the South. Chris added: “We’ve taken a new approach to the structure of the Klober team so we can provide more support for our customers right across the UK and Ireland. As part of this, Ben will become an important contact for our key account customers, helping to maximise opportunities for new Klober products while keeping our existing portfolio front of mind. I am confident that Ben will offer new ideas and a different perspective that will be invaluable to ensuring the continued success of Klober. As a team we are excited to see what Ben can do and wish him all the best as he settles into his new role.” For more information about Klober, please visit www.klober.co.uk. Also follow Klober on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook
St Modwen, an expert in housebuilding and residential development, is sponsoring the WorldSkills UK Bricklaying Competition for 2021, which sees young people compete to become the UK’s best bricklayer. The competition assesses an individual’s technical, personal and employability skills against set criteria in a competitive timed environment. Run in partnership with SkillBuild, part of CITB, WorldSkills UK Competition-based training programmes are designed by industry experts to raise standards in apprenticeships and technical education. Apprentices and students who excel in the WorldSkills UK National Qualifiers in Bricklaying will be invited to take part in the National Finals, which will take place in November. The winner of the National Final will be crowned the UK’s best Bricklayer at a national celebration event. WorldSkills UK’s Head of National Competitions and Careers, Dee Aylett-Smith, said: “St. Modwen’s commitment to helping young people starting in the construction industry to develop the skills needed for today’s rapidly changing workplace requirements is a perfect match with our Bricklaying competition. We believe that by working together we can help more young people in the construction industry achieve excellence at work.” Dee added: “It’s not just the technical skills the training programme and competition addresses, it’s also about developing the employability skills such as reliability, teamwork, time management and communications that employers value so highly.” Individuals who excel at the WorldSkills UK National Finals can be selected to join the WorldSkills UK International Training and Development programme with the possibility of being selected for Team UK and the chance to represent their country on the global stage at WorldSkills also known as the ‘skills olympics’, where they will compete with rivals from over 80 countries. Speaking for St. Modwen, Dave Smith, Managing Director of St. Modwen Homes, commented: “As a business we strive for excellence in everything we do and have a strong track record of promoting skills during people’s early careers. That’s why we are proud to be supporting this important competition, getting the message out there to apprenticeships and students across the UK that our industry celebrates brilliance and offers great opportunities.” About WorldSkills UK: WorldSkills UK is an independent charity and a partnership between employers, education and governments. Together, we are using international best practice to raise standards in apprenticeships and technical education so more young people and employers succeed. www.worldskillsuk.org
Developer Sellar and architecture and interiors practice Universal Design Studio have unveiled designs for a 15,000 sq ft concept space, The Exchange at Paddington Square – the new district in the heart of London’s Paddington, being delivered by the team behind The Shard. Envisioned as a members’ club for occupiers and set within the entrance of an 18-storey, light-filled building designed by Renzo Piano Building Workshop, The Exchange addresses how the culture of work has radically shifted, offering a blend of productive office environment and work-from-home comfort and convenience. It will provide occupiers with a dedicated concierge, all-day and evening bar, event spaces, a yoga suite, meeting rooms, multimedia suites and an outdoor terrace which overlooks a new 1.35-acre public piazza, a new entrance to the London Underground and a series of specially commissioned public artworks. Paddington Square is set to open in spring 2022. The concept behind The Exchange reflects its name; inverting the traditional use of the lobby or foyer, and its denotation as a transient thoroughfare, to instead become a highly social and inclusive communal space for the exchange of ideas and sparking of collaboration. The space will be an example of what the office can be – not just a place to meet deadlines and attend meetings, but somewhere to inspire ideas, new connections and boost physical and mental wellbeing. Occupiers will have access to an app that will serve as a digital concierge for the building, enabling the booking of shared amenities, meeting rooms, services and events within the space. A curated programme of group and individual classes, workshops and events will be rolled out for occupiers to enjoy as part of their work life that facilitates knowledge sharing, personal development and networking opportunities between fellow occupiers of the building. The building app will also act as a security key for frictionless entry and exit to the building and provide occupiers with a curated stream of news, hyperlocal travel updates and stories from the community. Working to Sellar’s vision for the space and taking cues from the world of hospitality, Universal Design Studio’s design marries functionality with craft and warm materiality, whilst prioritising the wellbeing of occupiers. Bright, light-filled spaces are to be set with beautifully crafted furniture and natural materials like oak timber and terrazzo selected in contrast to softer materials in the seating areas. The collaboration with Renzo Piano Building Workshop on the building’s architecture carries through to a number of the interior design choices, including the incorporation of planting as biophilic ‘material’ to enhance both mental wellbeing and air quality. Through carefully planned zoning and the placement of design elements that are suggestive but never didactic, open working areas and breakaway spaces are integrated throughout with quiet corners for reflection. To ensure the space remains active at all times of the day, a series of meeting rooms, working and flexible spaces adapt to event and entertainment uses in the evening, alongside an all-day bar and terrace, adding theatre and encouraging regular transitions between working, meeting and socialising. An acknowledgement of different working styles, timings, the role of individuality and requirement for flexibility has driven the concept approach for The Exchange, providing occupiers with choice and ultimately promoting social interaction, productivity and collaboration. Paddington Square is the centrepiece development to Paddington’s regeneration, due to complete in spring 2022. Featuring a crystalline building designed by Renzo Piano Building Workshop, Paddington Square will present 14 floors of bright, beautifully designed and flexible workspace, four floors of shopping, bars, and cafes, a new Bakerloo line station entrance, west London’s highest rooftop dining experience and a 1.35-acre public piazza.
Latest annual planning performance statistics for 2020/21 showing a 17 week increase in the average decision time for major housing development to 54 weeks are unacceptable, according to home building body Homes for Scotland (HFS). The figure represents a +40 per cent rise on the previous year and is more than three times the statutory requirement of 16 weeks. Decision times were quickest for “business and industry” at 22.4 weeks. HFS Director of Planning Tammy Swift-Adams said: “It was to be expected that the processing of planning applications would be affected by Covid-19 but the scale of change in relation to major housing applications is difficult to understand, particularly given the +40 per cent drop in the actual number of applications in the corresponding period and the fact that figures for business and industry have improved. “In light of the economic lifeline that has been delivered by construction over the last year or so, and with demand for new homes of all tenures remaining high, why should this crucial sector take more than double the length of time to determine when compared to applications for business and industry? Such delays only exacerbate existing supply problems and do not bode well for new affordable housing targets. “Regardless, it is unacceptable that any applications take more than a year. Only last week, the Directorate of Planning and Environmental Appeals reported that it had avoided accumulating any backlog in case work despite the pandemic. It is disappointing local authorities were not able to adjust business practices as quickly or effectively and highlights the need for planning services to be better resourced.”
Yesterday, during the second-reading of the Government’s Building Safety Bill, Conservative MP Paul Maynard called for an amendment in support of RoSPA’s safer stairs campaign, which will save countless lives if it is brought into law. RoSPA is campaigning for the most up to date British Safety Standard for stairs (BS 5395-1) to be mandated for new build homes. The campaign is being backed by private and social builders, as well as housing industry organisations, a cross party coalition of MPs and members of the House of Lords. The momentum behind this campaign reflects the seriousness of the issue. Every year, 700 people die from falling on the stairs, and for every one hospital admission caused by a burn there are 235 caused by a fall. Stairs built to the British Standard reduce falls by an incredible 60%, meaning the majority of these falls could be avoided. With the safety of stairs clearly a priority, RoSPA is asking for an amendment to the Building Safety Bill which would enshrine BS 5395-1 in law from 2024. The British Standard 5395-1 considers the dimensions of the stairs; their slip resistance and the provision of handrails, and has been a recommended building regulation since 2010. It is based on 15 years of research conducted by the Building Research Establishment. The standard looks at the key safety factors that should be taken into account during the structural design of stairs, including the step dimensions. Speaking in the House of Commons, Paul Maynard MP, (Blackpool North and Cleveleys), said: “For every one hospital admission due to a burn, there are 235 caused by falls. The impact of these falls is felt disproportionately by older people, and even when a fall is not fatal, it is often the first stage of a persistent decline. “Falls create fear, they impact on confidence and wellbeing, and lead to people being moved out of their homes and into care homes, in many cases never to return. “There is an existing industry standard – British Standard 5395-1 – regarding how stairs should be constructed, including rules on the dimensions of stairs and handrails. I have written to the Building Safety Minister asking for the Building Safety Bill to include a mandate for the British Standard to be applied in all new-build homes.” RoSPA’s campaign to enshrine BS 5395-1 into law as a prerequisite for any homes built after 2024, has attracted support from across the political spectrum with representatives of the Liberal Democrat, Conservative and Labour Parties backing the move. The campaign has also received support from house builders in the private and social sectors. The law would only apply to new build properties and therefore would not require costly retrofitting in existing homes. The BS 5395-1 standard could be ‘baked in’ at the design stage at no extra cost to the developer but would help reduce falls in the home. Errol Taylor, Chief Executive of RoSPA said: “Falling on the stairs is a hidden killer, but improving the safety standards for stair design will significantly reduce the number of people needlessly dying and getting hurt. Compliance to BS 5395-1 by 2024 is commercially viable, evidence-based, and straightforward to implement. “It is estimated that stairs built to the British Standard in new build homes result in 60% fewer falls and would therefore help reduce the £4.4billion annual cost to the NHS of falls in the home. “RoSPA welcomes the growing support from the housing industry and politicians of all stripes for this low-cost, high-impact measure to make the homes of the future safer”.
Children from Howard Community Academy in Bury St. Edmunds have come up with the names of the roads on a new housing development, Lyle Place. As part of the Keepmoat Homes’ ongoing commitment to the local community, pupils from the school were invited to suggest street names for the new development’s roads, which when completed, will comprise of 79 new homes. The local history of the area has been recognised by the naming of four roads at the new housing development and to acknowledge the school’s former site, along with Howard Park which is adjacent to the development, Howard Road, submitted by Aly (aged 11) was chosen as one of the new street names. In honour of Mary Tudor, sister of Henry VIII, who’s final resting place is at Bury St. Edmunds, Westhorpe Avenue was put forward by Mackenzie (aged 11), which pays homage to Westhorpe Hall, the residence of Mary Tudor and the Duke of Suffolk, Charles Brandon. Other road names at Lyle Place include Charles Place which has been named after Charles Brandon, the second husband of Mary Tudor, and Frances Street which has been named after the daughter of Mary Tudor. All the street names are now present at the development, and the pupils of the winning road names each received £40 national book token as appreciation for their suggestions. “We’re delighted to have worked with Howard Community Academy to name the new roads at Lyle Place. The children came up with some exciting new road names which recognises the important history of the area,” said Mick O’Farrell, Regional Managing Director at Keepmoat Homes. “The site is located on the former Howard Community Primary School and it’s important to us to get the community involved in the redevelopment of their local area. The street naming was a perfect example of how we not only look to the future by bringing much-needed new homes to the area, but also harness the rich history in the area.” In partnership with The Newbury Community Association (NCA), Suffolk Council and St Edmundsbury Borough Council, Lyle Place will comprise of 56 properties for the open market along with 23 homes which will be available as affordable housing via Havebury Housing. This is the homebuilder’s first development in Bury St. Edmunds and the company will deliver a mix of two- three- and four-bedroom homes, with a range of house types and styles to suit a diverse market. The development will also include a number of amenities for both new and existing residents including a brand-new community centre, a large parkland area and additional outdoor spaces. Work on the development is due to take two years, with the last home completion due Autumn 2022.
In close proximity to nature, with water-based activities including kayaking and rowing and beauty spots such as Holme Pierrepont in walking distance – the banks of the River Trent offer a host of waterside living benefits for residents to enjoy. The developers behind one of the Nottingham’s latest riverside developments – The Waterside Apartments – have revealed why the River Trent is unrivalled when it comes to residents getting out and about and making the most of the city. Developed by Monk Estates and Harmony Bridge and marketed by FHP Living, The Waterside Apartments is a waterfront development along the banks of the River Trent, standing tall at the foot of Nottingham’s historic Trent Bridge, nestled in between Trent Bridge Cricket Ground and Nottingham Forest FC’s City Ground. Featuring 121 apartments and penthouses, the new homes boast panoramic views of the tranquil river and Nottingham city centre’s skyline beyond. For residents living in these apartments – proximity to nature, water activities including kayaking and rowing, and running, walking and cycling trails are right on the doorstep – with access to natural open green spaces just a short distance away. To the east of the development is Holme Pierrepont Country Park – home of the National Water Sports Centre, 270 acres of parkland and adrenaline-filled activities including white water rafting, canoeing and obstacle courses. To the west, lies Victoria Embankment and The Meadows Recreation Ground – two open green spaces along the banks of the river, ideal for a morning run, dog walking or evening stroll. Walking or cycling slightly further in either direction along the river’s edge leads to numerous quiet, picturesque areas of Nottingham, including Colwick Country Park, Attenborough Nature Reserve, Clifton village and Stoke Bardolph. As well as encouraging physical activity, waterside living can have other benefits for overall health and wellbeing too. Research suggests that living in close proximity to water has many mental health benefits – even just the sight of water can cause neurochemicals to rush through the human body, stimulating blood flow to the heart and brain*. It is also believed that, thanks to the changing form and constant movement of water, and its importance to our lives from an instinctual and evolutionary level, humans maintain a fascination with it*. “Living by the water’s edge has clear and obvious benefits – from the stunning views to the peaceful sound of a river flowing by your property. We are so proud of our latest development, The Waterside Apartments, that captures this enviable and picturesque waterside lifestyle in a great location,” said Sam Monk, director at Monk Estates. “Residents can enjoy walking, cycling and running trails right outside their door, plus access to different local parks and areas of greenery, all within a short distance from their homes. With the affluent area of West Bridgford approximately ten minutes’ walk away, and Nottingham city centre around 30 minutes’ walk away, the new apartments at The Waterside strike the perfect balance between modern city living and serene surroundings, with access to plenty of outdoor activities, pathways, trails and nearby open spaces.” For those who reserve apartments before the end of July and complete before the end of September, The Waterside developers are offering apartment buyers the chance to have their stamp duty tax paid (terms and conditions apply). 13 two-bed apartments remain available to purchase, priced from £285,000 to £395,000 and visitors are welcome to view the three-bed show penthouse – complete with a panoramic roof terrace overlooking the river, open plan island kitchen and bathroom with floor to ceiling windows. All homes have been finished to the finest quality using high specification fixtures and fittings, with onsite parking and vibrant communal spaces including a reception concierge.
There are thousands of online casinos out there competing for customers. As land-based casinos are less and less prevalent in Poland, their online counterparts quickly took over and offered their services to local punters. Most players who visit online casinos are computer-savvy and can easily tell a professional, reliable site from an unprofessional and possibly dodgy one. So, what are the key points we need to keep in mind when we create an online casino website design? Klara Czerwinska, a Polish iGaming expert gave her insights on this topic. Read more about Klara here. Easy to use interface When we open a webpage, we want it to load instantly and we want to find information on it easily. We don’t want to get lost on the site or having to click ten times to find the game we want to play or find the information we are after. The most crucial segments of the website should be visible right away and these are the games, the button for registration, and the button for making deposits. Most online casinos have a bar at the top of their landing page for the different game categories. Here you should find the buttons for slots, poker, video poker, bingo, sports betting, and live dealer games that Polish players also enjoy. Once under the certain games tab, players should be able to search for games by name. It is also a good idea to list the newest games and the most popular games separately as people often check out these categories first. Attractive design Land-based casino players are usually happy with the glitz and glamour and the opulence a cool casino offers. However, when it comes to online casinos things are a bit more complicated. Online casino websites should suit the taste of the demographics they are trying to reach — be it for men, women, younger players, or mature ones. Different colors convey a different message. While blue tends to build trust, orange conveys energy and fun. Black and gold are traditional and bring players a land-based casino feel. Create an attractive design and your players will surely keep coming back. If you want to read more about the psychology of why Gamblers return to casinos for more, check out this article. Localization Online casinos tend to be run from just a handful of countries. However, it raises trust if their website is properly localized. When a casino accepts players from Poland, they should localize their website and that doesn’t mean translating the main text to Polish using Google translate. Texts should appear as if they were originally written in Polish and the casinos should accept deposits in PLN. If the live chat is also available in Polish, it is the icing on the cake. Displaying certification More and more gamblers are aware of the legal framework online casinos should have in place. It should be easy to find the licensing information on the landing page. It is also a good idea to display any certification the casino has. For example, displaying an eCOGRA (third-party auditors for game fairness) logo or any casino award the casino has earned, is a big plus. Here, any participation in responsible gaming measures can be mentioned too – for example, adhering to the requirements of problem gambling organizations such as GamStop. Selection of payment methods A good online casino will always accept debit and credit cards and bank transfers but a great one will have more options on offer. Modern punters often prefer to deposit through e-wallets that are safe, straightforward, and separate from their day-to-day bank account. Payment security is equally important. It is fairly obvious, but online casinos should all have SSL certification to ensure the safety of funds. The deposits should be straightforward, and transparent. Many players are not aware of KYC (know your customer) and AML (anti-money laundering) procedures and therefore these should be displayed clearly to them so that when they are asked for more documents, they don’t start suspecting the casino of foul play. Conclusion Creating a great website is a lot of work and it requires expertise. An online casino must create trust in order to entice players to deposit money and spend time on the site. Creating clear design, well-localized texts, a display of certification, and offering transparent information on payments are all part of the work. 먹튀앱
