The latest research from Warwick Estates has revealed which regions of the property market in England and Wales are currently the leasehold homebuyer hotspots. Warwick Estates analysed price paid data from the Land Registry over the last 12 months to see where the most leasehold homes are selling. The figures
Leading ceiling systems manufacturer Zentia announces brand relaunch. Zentia, the UK’s market leader in complete ceiling solutions, is putting customers at the heart of its brand and marketing strategy. Following Zentia’s rebrand, which evolved from Armstrong Ceiling Solutions last year, the ‘Above all, you’ campaign will communicate what that means
Regeneration of the former British Celanese site set to create thousands of jobs Initial occupation of the innovative food production hub – SmartParc SEGRO Spondon – early 2022 The final step has been achieved to enable the 1.85m sqft, high-tech food manufacturing and distribution campus on the 112-acre former Celanese
The high-pressure water mist fire suppression system designed and manufactured by Yorkshire-based iMist has been awarded LABSS Registered Details certification, making it the only water mist system for domestic and residential projects to hold this prestigious certification. The LABSS Registered Details certification covers all of the components in iMist’s STX12
Airthings, the global leader in indoor air quality solutions for consumers, businesses, and today professionals, has announced a new product addition to its portfolio: View CO₂ for Business. The new battery-operated, wireless sensor will empower schools and offices everywhere to take charge of its air quality by warning when carbon
The latest research from Warwick Estates has revealed which regions of the property market in England and Wales are currently the leasehold homebuyer hotspots. Warwick Estates analysed price paid data from the Land Registry over the last 12 months to see where the most leasehold homes are selling. The figures show that across England and Wales, 651,488 homes have sold in the last 12 months, 117,892 of which have been leaseholds, accounting for 18% of all market activity. London continues to lead where leasehold property popularity is concerned. 44% of all homes sold across the capital in the last year have been leasehold, by far the highest proportion of all regions. However, the North West ranks second, where the 25,858 leasehold sales equate to 32% of all market activity. The South East completes the top three regions with the most leasehold homes sold, with 15% of all transactions in the last year being for leasehold properties. In contrast, just 6% of homes sold across the East Midlands in the last year have been leasehold, while Wales (8%) and the West Midlands (11%) are also home to some of the lowest leasehold homebuyers. COO of Warwick Estates, Bethan Griffiths, commented: “The leasehold lifestyle appeals to a certain type of homebuyer and so there will always be a large regional disparity where the proportion of market activity attributable to leasehold sales is concerned. They remain a popular choice in many larger cities where apartment living, in particular, is the lifestyle of choice for many. They also provide a more affordable option for those purchasing in inflated pockets of the market. However, we’re now seeing an increase in popularity due to the social and communal aspects that many leasehold developments offer. This has become an important feature for many since the nation was plunged into lockdown and will remain a prominent aspect of life after the pandemic.” Location All transactions Leasehold transactions Leasehold % London 69,265 30,683 44% North West 79,685 25,858 32% South East 118,696 18,234 15% South West 75,991 10,877 14% North East 27,305 3,791 14% Yorkshire and the Humber 60,108 7,493 12% East of England 77,030 8,932 12% West Midlands region 57,560 6,307 11% Wales 31,437 2,501 8% East Midlands 54,411 3,216 6% England 620,051 115,391 19% England and Wales 651,488 117,892 18% Data sourced from the Land Registry Price Paid data records for residential property sales, excluding properties listed by type as ‘other’, between August 2020 and July 2021.
Leading ceiling systems manufacturer Zentia announces brand relaunch. Zentia, the UK’s market leader in complete ceiling solutions, is putting customers at the heart of its brand and marketing strategy. Following Zentia’s rebrand, which evolved from Armstrong Ceiling Solutions last year, the ‘Above all, you’ campaign will communicate what that means to customers. Driven by extensive stakeholder research, it focuses on Zentia’s specifier, contractor and distributor partners and their key future challenges and opportunities. The ‘Above all, you’ message derives from the brand’s ethos to work collaboratively with customers and create real value in every project delivered. This, teamed with the company’s reputation for anticipating customer needs, highlights their innovative mentality, and has become one of the four brand pillars underpinning the strategy. The rebrand is only the start for Zentia, with exciting plans for the future including innovative NPD, and investments in both training and customer support, as well as a multi-million-pound investment in manufacturing capabilities. Graham Taylor, director, sales and marketing at Zentia, explained: “Quality, control and endless predictability were just some of the key themes identified – any one of which may be our partners’ key concern at any one time. Our campaign recognises this reality of multiple priorities, but at the same time signs off with a constant – that for Zentia, it’s ‘above all, you’, our partners, who are our priority.” He added: “In this uncertain and ever-changing world, having everything from manufacture to customer support right here in the UK means we are more agile and in control. Together with our forward-thinking culture, this allows us to successfully solve problems for our end user clients.” The multi-channel campaign launches this month (September) across web, trade media, social channels, and direct communications. Visit www.zentia.com for more.
Regeneration of the former British Celanese site set to create thousands of jobs Initial occupation of the innovative food production hub – SmartParc SEGRO Spondon – early 2022 The final step has been achieved to enable the 1.85m sqft, high-tech food manufacturing and distribution campus on the 112-acre former Celanese site near Spondon to proceed. SmartParc has announced SEGRO as its development partner. SEGRO will work with SmartParc to create a new asset class dedicated to ‘state of the art’ food manufacturing and distribution. SmartParc SEGRO Spondon paves the way for the food industry to collaborate to meet the challenges of sustainable production whilst addressing the need for efficient direct routes to consumers. As development partner, SEGRO will provide a multi-million-pound investment to regenerate the brownfield site.. SmartParc will provide the onsite managed services, supporting the food community to increase production efficiency and drive reduced operational costs through collaborative working. SmartParc’s revolutionary energy sharing infrastructure will utilise wind and solar combined with central services, to deliver the most sustainable food production community in the country. The announcement of the partnership follows Derby City Council granting planning permission in June and the agreement of grant funding contributions from D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership and Derby City Council. D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership has allocated £12 million towards the project from the Government’s Getting Building Fund – the largest single allocation from D2N2’s £44 million allocation. SmartParc was founded to address the challenges facing the food sector. The 1.85m sqft collaborative hub at Spondon represents a pioneering technical breakthrough. It will provide food manufacturing facilities ranging from start-up incubation units through to large-scale manufacturing facilities ranging from 50,000 – 400,000 sqft. The site will also be home to a Food Manufacturing Technology Centre of Excellence to future-proof the food industry, offering education and career opportunities to secure both the local and global food supply chains. SmartParc will provide a new sustainable blueprint for the food industry. Climate change has highlighted the need for far-reaching industry change and, in response, SmartParc will re-engineer current food manufacturing and distribution processes. It will create a new, forward-thinking ecosystem of food production, looking towards new technologies such as vertical farming to disconnect weather from our ability to produce sustainable food. This mission begins with SmartParc SEGRO Spondon as the flagship site. Building on Spondon’s heritage as a site of cutting-edge engineering, SmartParc will create 5,000 direct jobs and enable a new collaborative, flexible work model to accommodate people’s evolving lifestyles with the ambition of reconnecting the local community to food production. SmartParc SEGRO Spondon will be home to the first low-carbon food manufacturing community. A central distribution hub to consolidate goods in deliveries will streamline the distribution chain, providing a reduction in cost for occupiers whilst improving sustainability by eliminating food miles. From design and material selection to support for eventual occupiers, SmartParc and SEGRO will help to ensure excellent environmental performance and bold efficiency gains at the ground-breaking site. Jackie Wild, SmartParc CEO said: “We are delighted to announce SEGRO as our development partner as we work towards our goal of building the first world-leading, sustainable, high-tech food manufacturing and distribution campus at SmartParc SEGRO Spondon.” “Our partnership with SEGRO and the continued support of D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership and Derby City Council will enable us to bring jobs to the region and address the increasingly critical challenges facing food manufacturing supply chains.” “We want to thank everyone involved in realising this vision in record time. From the first walk around site in May 2020 to starting on site in September 2021- it shows what can be achieved when everyone pushes in the same direction with a shared agenda.” “The creation of this dedicated asset class is pivotal in achieving a more sustainable future for food production and giving a framework for the food industry to build upon. We want to embrace Derby’s engineering heritage to ensure that SmartParc is the home of the next food revolution. We already have a significant level of interest from manufacturers and retailers both from the UK and overseas and we are starting work immediately so we can welcome our first ‘collaborators’ to SmartParc early next year.” Andrew Pilsworth, Managing Director, National Logistics at SEGRO, added: “SmartParc’s bold new concept for food manufacturing and distribution has the potential to be a true game-changer. Over the last 18 months we’ve seen the importance of having robust supply chains closer to home and being able to quickly and efficiently distribute goods. SmartParc enables both of these within the vital food and drink sector and does so while keeping sustainability at its heart. We look forward to working together to make the concept a success.” “By backing innovative projects like this one, we are levelling up areas across the country by building stronger and more resilient local economies, which can support jobs and prosperity in our communities.” Councillor Chris Poulter, Leader of Derby City Council commented: “We are delighted with the progress so far in the SmartParc scheme”. “The project is hugely welcome in Derby, fitting perfectly into our aims to boost our economy and job market and to further diversify the city.” “The thousands of new jobs that will be created is a fantastic prospect and we look forward to seeing the partnership between SmartParc and SEGRO develop to achieve this.” Chris Radlett, Vice President of Manufacturing for Celanese also said: “Celanese is pleased to have worked closely with local and regional authorities and the developers, to provide our site to help create jobs and enable more sustainable food production. This is a fitting next step for the site and we look forward to welcoming our new neighbours.” With further comment from D2N2 LEP Chair, Elizabeth Fagan CBE: “Food and drink manufacturing is a key investment priority for our region. The LEP’s £12 million investment will support the creation of a world-leading sustainable food-manufacturing facility that will deliver pioneering innovation, create thousands of jobs and transform the local economy.”
The high-pressure water mist fire suppression system designed and manufactured by Yorkshire-based iMist has been awarded LABSS Registered Details certification, making it the only water mist system for domestic and residential projects to hold this prestigious certification. The LABSS Registered Details certification covers all of the components in iMist’s STX12 proprietary high pressure water mist system which includes its STN12 nozzle type. This means that individual projects in Scotland that use the iMist system will not require a project specific in-depth review by Building Standards as the LABSS certificate attests that it has already been assessed and approved for suitability. The certification followed a near year-long comprehensive review of the iMist system with thorough examination of its system design, installation, operation and maintenance manual, including assessing safety in case of fire; safety in use and durability serviceability and identification. Going forward, an annual review process will be carried out before the LABSS certificate is renewed. “With the tightening of regulations post-Grenfell, every fire suppression system should, rightly, undergo a robust review. As water mist systems are a relatively new alternative to traditional sprinkler systems, the authorities in Scotland wanted to understand exactly how the iMist system works and undertook a detailed assessment covering all aspects of the system,” explains Timothy Andrews, iMist business development director. “We have been able to evidence the efficacy of our system which is designed to suppress a fire by automatically discharging very small droplets into the air at high pressure. This fine mist remains in the air, displaces oxygen from the seat of the fire, has a cooling effect and provides surface wetting to limit the fire spread. “LABSS Registered Detail certification means that anyone choosing an iMist system for domestic or most residential projects should be able to fast-track their scheme as the Scottish Government’s Building Standards Divisions (BSD) now has the confidence that the iMist system has passed a thorough assessment.” Use of the LABSS registration negates the need to consult with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) under Section 11 of The Building (Procedure) (Scotland) Regulations 2004 (as amended). A verifier may still wish to consult with SFRS under Section 10 of the legislation. Alex Pollard, operations director of the fast-growing Hull headquartered business, adds: “Having had an office near Sterling for a number of years, we already have a presence in Scotland and expect the award of the LABSS certificate to turbocharge our business here, creating new jobs for engineers as we expand our operation. “As a business at the forefront of developing new fire suppressant solutions, we are proud to be awarded the LABSS accreditation, alongside our existing LABC certification in England, both of which give people the peace of mind of knowing that the iMist system has been thoroughly tried, tested and approved by the relevant regulatory bodies.”
Airthings, the global leader in indoor air quality solutions for consumers, businesses, and today professionals, has announced a new product addition to its portfolio: View CO₂ for Business. The new battery-operated, wireless sensor will empower schools and offices everywhere to take charge of its air quality by warning when carbon dioxide (CO₂) exceeds recommended levels and indoor air quality deteriorates. View CO₂ for Business combines easily with the rest of the products in the Airthings for Business solution, which lets schools and workplaces monitor, visualise and control its indoor air quality remotely to ensure a safe and healthy environment. The launch of View CO₂ is particularly timely following a recent announcement from Gavin Williamson who has pledged all education settings will be provided with carbon dioxide monitors from September, backed by £25 million in government funding, allowing staff to quickly identify where ventilation needs to be improved. Letting fresh air into indoor spaces can help remove air that contains virus particles and is important in preventing the spread of Covid-19. The new monitors will enable staff to act quickly where ventilation is poor and provide reassurance that existing ventilation measures are working. The government has also launched a trial of air purifiers in 30 schools in Bradford, which is designed to assess the technology in education settings and whether it could reduce the risk of transmission. High CO₂ levels can increase the risk of airborne virus transmission and cause lower productivity, drowsiness, headaches, and loss of concentration. Since our bodies expel CO₂ when we breathe out, the levels can rise quickly in enclosed spaces with poor ventilation. For that reason, measuring CO₂ levels serves as a good indicator of indoor air quality and how well a ventilation system is working. Monitoring humidity and temperature indoors is also important as both conditions correlate with virus transmission. In addition to carbon dioxide, the new View CO₂ for Business also measures temperature, humidity, virus risk, noise, and light. The Virus Risk Indicator fuses data from Airthings core sensors into an algorithm to calculate the risk of airborne virus spread in an indoor space. The capability helps schools and offices understand their indoor air quality and how it contributes to spreading airborne viruses, providing personalised insights to minimise the risk. The optional CO2 Alert feature lets anyone know when a room needs a breather by visually alerting them through a red LED light on the product when CO2 levels get too high. View CO2 for Business makes monitoring CO2 accessible for any school, office, or commercial building. Quick and easy installation, totally wireless sensors, user-friendly dashboard, and easy reporting ensure that anyone can take control of the indoor air quality.
