The Royal Town Planning Institute and the Town and Country Planning Association have today jointly launched vital new guidance on how the planning system can help communities face the climate crisis. With the climate science clearly warning of the catastrophic impacts of climate change, the new guidance seeks to place
TOO COOL FOR SCHOOL: SUSTAINABLE DESIGN FOR EDUCATION Construction within the education sector is set to face a number of challenges in the next decade as schools look to reach net zero and utilise renewable technology and techniques. Matt Wrate, director at international M&E consultancy CPW, looks at how to
Head of Commercial at Nested, Alice Bullard, commented: “We continue to find ourselves in a dramatically different place compared to just 12 months ago with property prices still showing phenomenal levels of growth, driven by high levels of buyer demand. While mortgage rates remain at such affordable levels we’re unlikely
Travis Perkins plc, which is the largest supplier of building materials and equipment, and a leading partner to the construction industry, has appointed Nick Pinney as the Group’s new Property Director from 1st November 2021. Nick will be replacing Martin Meech, who is retiring from the Group at the end
The World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) has published a new report, with the support of Dar Group and its member firms Integral Group, T.Y. Lin, Perkins&Will and Currie & Brown, to identify opportunities for how an integrated approach to the whole built environment is essential to deliver change commensurate with
Midlands based construction engineering consultancy, Howard Ward Associates (HWA), has been appointed by Ineco Energy to deliver a major solar PV project at 41 sites across Coventry. The scheme is part of a wider decarbonisation strategy in the city which will deliver carbon reductions and renewable energy generation improvements across
To ensure the safe and efficient handling of materials, the UK’s leading manufacturer of offsite, panelised ‘room in roof’ systems Smartroof has invested in four Combilift at its Derbyshire production facility With the previous 12 months being the busiest in the company’s history, there has been a marked increase in
There are now just eight homes still available to buy at a new development in Fenham, where construction work is due to end early next year. Bellway is building 39 homes at The Grange, a collection of four and five-bedroom detached properties situated off Grange Road. All 39 homes at
With its high-quality wellTEC®, colTEC® and planTEC® design sheets, MN Metall has always stood for individual facade design. Now the company has further expanded its portfolio with the wellTEC® vario product line. Under this name, MN Metall offers facade profiles that combine 2, 3 or even more different corrugated, trapezoidal,
Sirius, major buying group in the electrical appliance and kitchen retail sectors, is delighted to launch its PIM (Product Information Management) System and brand new website – specially designed to improve the online customer experience with a focus on driving more traffic to group members websites, so consumers support and
The Royal Town Planning Institute and the Town and Country Planning Association have today jointly launched vital new guidance on how the planning system can help communities face the climate crisis. With the climate science clearly warning of the catastrophic impacts of climate change, the new guidance seeks to place the Government’s ambitions for net zero, as well as building community resilience to severe weather, at the heart of the planning system. The guide, published in the run-up COP 26, makes clear the vital importance of the planning system in designing places which cut carbon through the promotion of energy efficiency, sustainable transport and renewable energy. Long term planning is also central in designing the measures vital to the survival of places affected by severe weather, from flooding to heat stress. Dr Wei Yang, President of the RTPI, said: ‘Every day we are reminded of the serious and direct impact climate change has on our communities. With the UK government and local authorities making a range of climate commitments in recent years, planning professionals are at the forefront to help achieve these targets. ‘We are concerned that the effects of climate change will disproportionately affect the most vulnerable individuals in the country, and we believe the planning system, utilised properly, can prevent this. Also, many of the actions necessary to tackle the climate crisis are also key in creating healthy, ecologically rich, prosperous, and beautiful places for us and for our future generations. ‘Together with the TCPA we have set out a range of ways in which the planning system can take the lead in preparing for and tackling climate change. The time to confront the climate crisis is now. We urge local authorities ensure this is heart of the vision for the future of our communities and make it their priority.’ Nick Raynsford, President of the TCPA said: ‘History tells us that good planning has been vital to our survival when our country has faced the greatest threats. That lesson is all the more powerful today when the future of our country and our planet face a massive threat from climate change. Every decision we take over the coming months and years will be crucial if we are to turn the tide, and good planning will be critical to this.’ The report can be found here: https://www.tcpa.org.uk/planning-for-climate-change
TOO COOL FOR SCHOOL: SUSTAINABLE DESIGN FOR EDUCATION Construction within the education sector is set to face a number of challenges in the next decade as schools look to reach net zero and utilise renewable technology and techniques. Matt Wrate, director at international M&E consultancy CPW, looks at how to keep schools cool yet sustainable when developing heating solutions. One of the biggest issues we face when designing schools is overheating, due to increased occupancy density and equipment gains. Keeping schools cool, especially with the ever-looming threat of climate change, has been an issue since Tony Blair’s ‘education education education’ promise that pledged to put schools at the top of the agenda. It’s easy to draw parallels to Boris Johnson’s ‘build build build’ but this time the focus is on the property and construction industry with an emphasis on helping both new and existing buildings become carbon neutral. I recently took part in a Stride Treglown Climate Action Relay panel, which looked at the challenges of delivering a carbon net zero school and considered the implementation of modern methods of construction (MMC) in schools, the impact of changing regulations and behavioural changes in reaching net zero. The consensus was that there is no one answer for reaching net zero but rather that we need a wider solution that incorporates a transparent supply chain, renewable technology, MMC and a simple way to measure operational and embodied carbon on projects. In short, we need to work together to reach the government’s 2050 target. This is where clever solutions come in. In 2000, when renewable technology first gained popularity, the cost was astronomical. However, in the decades since then the price of materials has significantly reduced and so has the overall cost. Photovoltaic panels already cover the roofs of schools across the country and a number of passive solutions have been installed to keep spaces cool before resorting to energy-hungry air conditioning. But we need to take the next step. New technology is in the research and development pipeline, so we need to begin weighing up the benefits of implementing sustainable techniques while keeping inside the budget. Even with the best intentions, if the proposed solutions aren’t economically viable, the most financially suitable option will win out every time. I believe closing the ‘performance gap’ is essential if schools are to operate as zero carbon. Engaging the client’s facilities management team, who will actually operate the building, is ideal but not always feasible at design stage. We therefore need to design systems that are simple to use without training to ensure energy is not wasted. However, the biggest difference we can make when designing schools is allowing flexibility. School buildings are used in different ways, at different times, by different groups of people and the design must facilitate this as much as possible without adding significant cost. Technology is also constantly evolving so we must consider the entire lifespan of a school – typically 25 years – and allow space to incorporate different solutions as they become available. Yes, we need to consciously design with sustainability in mind, utilising the most up to date methods and technology, but flexibility is key when reaching for carbon net zero. For further information visit www.cpwp.com or follow @CPWengineering on Twitter.
Head of Commercial at Nested, Alice Bullard, commented: “We continue to find ourselves in a dramatically different place compared to just 12 months ago with property prices still showing phenomenal levels of growth, driven by high levels of buyer demand. While mortgage rates remain at such affordable levels we’re unlikely to see any let-up in this tidal wave of activity that has washed over the market since it reopened. However, it looks increasingly likely that we could see an increase in interest rates as early as the start of next year. So those considering a purchase may want to act sooner rather than later to lock in the very best rates.” Director of Benham and Reeves, Marc von Grundherr, commented: “Yet further proof that the drop in property prices following the initial stamp duty holiday deadline was merely a pause for breath in an otherwise marathon run of positive market momentum. There’s little sign of this letting up and should an increase in interest rates materialise, the likelihood is that it will be fairly palatable for the average homebuyer. Therefore, we don’t expect it to have any notable impact on the nation’s insatiable appetite for homeownership and the market should continue moving forward at pace well into next year.” Managing Director of Barrows and Forrester, James Forrester, commented: “The current state of the market is quite remarkable given what we’ve been through as a nation since the start of last year. Employment and wage growth have remained firm, mortgage affordability is still hovering around record lows and house prices continue to climb ever higher. As a result, buyers continue to mob the market and while an interest rate hike is on the horizon, we expect these factors to continue to stimulate positive house price growth for the remainder of the year. Forget about a shortage of HGV drivers, we need more estate agents to get us through until Christmas.” Founder and CEO of GetAgent.co.uk, Colby Short, commented: “A continued shortage of stock has seen the ball lie increasingly within the court of the home seller, as buyers fight it out to secure their ideal home. As a result, buyers entering the ring can expect some stiff competition that will see them pay close to asking price, if not more, in order to come away victorious. The best plan of attack is to be ready to act at a moment’s notice and if you are a cash buyer, ensure the seller is aware that you sit in a far more favourable position.” Please see info here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/uk-house-price-index-summary-august-2021/uk-house-price-index-summary-august-2021
Travis Perkins plc, which is the largest supplier of building materials and equipment, and a leading partner to the construction industry, has appointed Nick Pinney as the Group’s new Property Director from 1st November 2021. Nick will be replacing Martin Meech, who is retiring from the Group at the end of 2021 in a move that has been planned carefully for some time, and after 16 years of distinguished service. Martin’s retirement brings an end to a period of 35 years where he held the role of Property Director but will be continuing in his Non Executive and advisory roles. Nick first joined the Group as Divisional Property Director in 2014 before being promoted to Property Director for the Group’s Merchant businesses in 2019. As the new Group Property Director Nick will oversee the Group’s £1bn property business with a portfolio of more than 1300 buildings, and be responsible for the continued growth and development of the Group’s estate. He will be reporting to the Group’s CFO, Alan Williams. “I am really pleased to announce the promotion of Nick, who is a fantastic asset to our team and who has grown with us since he joined the business seven years ago. This appointment is a testament to his talent and skills, and also of our commitment to the development of our own colleague pipeline. “Nick has already played a key role in developing the property strategy that supports the ambitious growth we have for our businesses, and he will now be responsible for the long term plan to maintain and improve our estate, to make sure it is fit for the future in terms of driving the digital agenda, and that we lead the way on sustainable construction,” explained Alan Williams. Prior to joining Travis Perkins, Nick worked as a Retail Partner for Strutt & Parker and as an analyst at Morgan Stanley. He is a language graduate from Oxford and has an MA in Property Valuation & Law from Cass Business School at City University. Nick lives in the Banbury area with his wife and four young children, and when time allows, he’s a keen tennis player and enjoys golf.
The World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) has published a new report, with the support of Dar Group and its member firms Integral Group, T.Y. Lin, Perkins&Will and Currie & Brown, to identify opportunities for how an integrated approach to the whole built environment is essential to deliver change commensurate with the commitments of the Paris Agreement. The report ‘Beyond Buildings: Why an integrated approach to buildings and infrastructure is essential for climate action and sustainability’argues for systemic and integrated infrastructure solutions to improve sustainability outcomes. Business leaders recognise that the built environment – buildings and infrastructure – must be on a clear path to decarbonise at the latest by 2050 and have made significant progress by 2030. The WorldGBC network calls on the built environment industries for collaboration and alignment in ambition for all asset types, in all places to accelerate the transition of the infrastructure sector. The urban built environment alone is responsible for 75% of annual global GHG emissions, with buildings accounting on its own for 37%. Members of the media are welcome to join our #BuildingToCOP26, hosted by WorldGBC, GlobalABC & UKGBC, on 21 October 2021 at 4pm GMT for the launch and discussion forum of the Beyond Buildings report. Register free here. This new report is a call to action for the built environment industry and policy makers to respond to the climate crisis with both the building and infrastructure sectors acting together. In Beyond Buildings, the WorldGBC presents the interconnection between buildings and infrastructure, and argues that systemic and integrated solutions will unlock improved sustainability outcomes. They will also accelerate the change in trajectory of GHG emissions from the built environment. Through presenting the roles that both the private and public sectors must play in terms of investment, policy and procurement, WorldGBC’s work identifies that a global framework of principles is necessary to accelerate sustainability performance across infrastructure. If we are to succeed in this critical decade, united action across all sub-sectors of the built environment industry is essential as the purpose of much of our built infrastructure is to create and support places for people. WorldGBC calls for collaboration amongst all actors in the development of a framework of principles. These principles should be adapted and verified at a local level in order to align with the 1.5° emissions trajectory and the United Nations´ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and be applicable to all asset types, to be co-created, agreed, and universally pursued. This report sets us on the path of that journey. Nigel Topping, UN High Level Climate Champion for COP26, said: “How our towns, cities and countries continue to grow really matters to the global climate crisis. We have to realise that what worked in the built environment and infrastructure sectors in the past will not work in the future. “The world faces crisis on multiple fronts, which is why we’re putting collaboration in infrastructure and built environment – a sector that contributes 75% of annual global GHG emissions – at the heart of everything we do. “Only by forging new partnerships and all-party agreements can we overcome the challenges facing our planet and society today.” Cristina Gamboa, CEO, World Green Building Council, said: “In the lead up to the Cities, Regions and Built Environment day at COP26, the importance of considering all aspects of the built environment – both the buildings we live in, and the infrastructure that supports them – is critical for taking a holistic and systemic approach to climate action and sustainable development. If we’re to build a better, brighter future, the infrastructure sector needs to de-link its growth from emissions by embracing a systemic approach which delivers sustainable built environments for everyone, everywhere. “The Beyond Buildings report sets out a path forward to support the rapid adoption of best practice sustainability outcomes across the building, construction and infrastructure space. It identifies critical next steps for the deep transformation needed to meet 2030 reduction goals. “Our green building network, its partners, members and other organisations advancing sustainable infrastructure and buildings are ready to accelerate this massive transition and ensure a zero carbon, resilient, healthy and sustainable future.” Richard Palmer, Director of Global Sustainability, Integral Group, said: “The built environment is such an important part of addressing both the causes and impacts of climate change. This report highlights the opportunities between buildings and infrastructure to accelerate climate action at the scale and speed demanded by science.” Ref 1: UN Environment. ‘2021 Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction’ [2021] Find out more at worldgbc.org
Midlands based construction engineering consultancy, Howard Ward Associates (HWA), has been appointed by Ineco Energy to deliver a major solar PV project at 41 sites across Coventry. The scheme is part of a wider decarbonisation strategy in the city which will deliver carbon reductions and renewable energy generation improvements across a number of council-owned sites; such as sports facilities, schools, office buildings, cemeteries and country park visitor centres. Civil and structural engineer HWA has specialist expertise in the solar PV sector and has advised on major schemes across the UK. For Ineco, the practice has been appointed to provide surveys and assessments, to determine the structural capacity for the installation of solar panels and inverters. The ambitious programme will generate 1,840 MWh of energy, with the potential to save Coventry City Council up to £276,000 annually. Over the lifetime of the projects, it will save the carbon equivalent of planting 9,766 trees. The first phase of works – which was funded by the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS) – saw the completion of six Coventry schools, ahead of the new 21/22 academic year. Giles Ward, director at HWA, said: “We are really pleased to be working on a number of solar PV installations across Coventry alongside Ineco Energy. The scheme is contributing to the city’s decarbonisation strategy, helping to deliver carbon reductions and renewable energy systems on a significant scale.” “This is a diverse industry in which we have gained extensive knowledge and experience in since the field was in its infancy. It is great to see that solar PV installations have developed significantly, and their demand and accessibility continue to grow as local authorities, businesses and organisations across the UK seek energy-efficient solutions.” Works have also begun on the Coventry Central Library, a Council office building and Windmill Road Cemetery in the city, due to be completed this month. Angus Rose, director of Ineco Energy said: “We’re extremely proud to be helping Coventry City Council to reduce its carbon footprint with the installation of solar PV across the region. There has never been a more important time to reduce the carbon footprint of our communities and secure a greener future for generations to come. “This part of the project, funded by PSDS, only scratches the surface of the ambitious project with Coventry City Council. The ongoing decarbonisation plans funded by ERDF will allow the Council to make buildings more energy efficient and help the region reach its net zero target.” Phase 2 will see solar PV being installed across 32 further Coventry City Council public buildings and is funded through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). Ineco Energy specialises in the development, installation, and ongoing management of renewable and energy-efficient solutions for local authorities, schools and businesses within England and Wales.
To ensure the safe and efficient handling of materials, the UK’s leading manufacturer of offsite, panelised ‘room in roof’ systems Smartroof has invested in four Combilift at its Derbyshire production facility With the previous 12 months being the busiest in the company’s history, there has been a marked increase in the volume of materials that need to be offloaded and moved around both inside and outside the factory. To increase production efficiencies and to meet the growth in demand for ‘room in roof’ systems, Smartroof has acquired four new multidirectional forklifts from Combilift for its Swadlincote facility. Handling specialist Forkway provided Smartroof with two Combilift C8000E and two Combilift CBE 3000 models which were supplied with Smartroof’s corporate livery. Commenting on the additions, Lukasz Semen, Production Director at Smartroof said: “Space utilisation and speed were crucial factors and the Combilifts have been integral to keeping up with fast paced operations and gaining more workspace inside.” The largest electric model available, the C8000E has enabled the safe handling of 10-12m long x 2.7m deep bundles of roof panels. Fitted with a 5.5m mast, a 6m wide hydraulic spreader beam with 2.5m long forks, the Combilift can reach across the truck bed to lift a complete load in one single procedure. With the previous trucks this necessitated multiple lifts and what used to take 40 minutes is now complete in 15 minutes. The CBE 3000s have a 3t capacity and will enable the Smartroof operatives to offload lighter products and components, as well as transport materials to the assembly lines. Compact and manoeuvrable, they can move between machinery without hindering the production facility. “We are in the process of changing the layout of the production area to accommodate the larger models, and without their multidirectional ability we’d have at least 20% less capacity overall. We weren’t expecting them to be quite as big as they are, but when we see them at work we realise why. They do exactly what we need and we’re very happy with the outcome,” added Lukasz. The investment in these handling solutions will ensure a high level of operational flexibility at the Smartroof facility and will ensure the company will be able to meet the housing sector’s growing demand for offsite ‘room in roof’ solutions.
There are now just eight homes still available to buy at a new development in Fenham, where construction work is due to end early next year. Bellway is building 39 homes at The Grange, a collection of four and five-bedroom detached properties situated off Grange Road. All 39 homes at the Fenham development are from Bellway’s Artisan Collection, the housebuilder’s flagship range of house types which were developed from decades of customer input and combine traditional craftsmanship with modern construction techniques. Located on the site of the former Grange Road School, the development is being overseen by award-winning site manager Neal Hutcheon, who received a prestigious Pride in the Job Quality Award from the National House Building Council (NHBC) earlier this year in recognition of the high standard of construction work at The Grange. Emma Chesterton, Sales Director for Bellway North East, said: “The Grange was the first development in Bellway’s home city of Newcastle to feature house types from our Artisan Collection, and the response from buyers to these new designs has exceeded our expectations. “Interest in the development was extremely high from the beginning and we have been consistently selling homes off plan well in advance of their construction. With almost three-quarters of the site sold already, we fully expect the final eight properties to be reserved before building work comes to an end early next year. “The final homes for sale at The Grange are all spacious four-bedroom detached houses with large gardens. All the properties have been thoughtfully designed with open-plan kitchen and living spaces, ideal for growing families or those looking for a home with extra space just three miles from Newcastle city centre. “There continues to be high demand for the homes at The Grange, so I would encourage anyone interested in moving to this award-winning, exclusive development to get in touch with our sales team at the site as soon as possible.” Prices for the final homes available for sale at The Grange currently start from £359,995.
With its high-quality wellTEC®, colTEC® and planTEC® design sheets, MN Metall has always stood for individual facade design. Now the company has further expanded its portfolio with the wellTEC® vario product line. Under this name, MN Metall offers facade profiles that combine 2, 3 or even more different corrugated, trapezoidal, square or zigzag profiles. The fact that very different shapes can thus be combined with each other means that deliberate contrasts can be set within the facade sheet. There are hardly any limits to the design ideas of architects and facade planners, and the question to MN should not be “What products do you have to offer?” but rather “What vision can you make come true for us?”. Wave, zigzag, square, trapezoid…in this order or completely different? With an individual hole pattern or an offset round perforation? With a regular or irregular grid? Made of aluminum, stainless steel or copper? No matter how the more than 60 different profile types from MN Metall are combined with each other, whether perforations or grids are applied or which material is chosen – a facade clad with wellTEC® vario will be unique in this form, because it is manufactured individually for the customer. The company manufactures the wellTEC® vario facade sheets in a process-safe manner from pre-material up to 2,000 mm wide in various thicknesses and construction widths. How the profiles look in practice is already shown by some projects that MN Metall has executed. These include the IPF-Treff Bopfingen and the Fächerbad Karlsruhe. The facade of the IPF-Treff shopping center, which covers a total of 1,635 m², was clad with wellTEC® vario SQ-40/20-20/20, made of gold-colored coated 55HX® aluminum in 1 mm. Part of the facade has offset round perforations. The special highlight: the facade cladding contains a Morse code – so for the insiders, the name of the shopping center can be read in it. The wellTEC® vario facade profile used for the Fächerbad Karlsruhe is a combination of the W-45/60 and W-45/150 profiles. Coated in the color Onyx White Blue, it gives the building an exclusive outer skin that appears in two shades depending on the angle of view and is reminiscent of reflective, moving waves.
Sirius, major buying group in the electrical appliance and kitchen retail sectors, is delighted to launch its PIM (Product Information Management) System and brand new website – specially designed to improve the online customer experience with a focus on driving more traffic to group members websites, so consumers support and buy from the independent retailer. Steve Jones, Managing Director at Sirius, says, “These newly created and ultra-beneficial resources are both exciting and important developments for Sirius Buying Group, ensuring we continue to do all we can to help our Members position themselves in the digital world and thrive. The PIM System feeds our Sirius website with over 5.5K products, complete with technical specifications and visual assets from our market leading Approved Suppliers, which is also available to all 185+ Sirius members to utilise across their own websites. As a direct consequence of this digital group investment, our Members are able to have the most current product content on their websites, without the difficulty and time constraints of keeping it up-to-date themselves. It also greatly benefits our Approved Suppliers as product information can be added and updated in one place, rather than sending to each and every Member in different required formats. We are proud to lead by example, as we encourage our members and the KBB industry to use the latest digital resources to their advantage. At a time when supply chain issues are proving challenging to the economy, while raising awareness to the end user on finding their nearest reputable, local independent.” The latest consumer research from Google indicates that UK shopping patterns have changed across all sectors so that a seamless Omni-channel experience is only going to become more vital. Recognising this, the new Sirius website is designed with clarity and ease in mind so that visitors can find what they need with minimum effort, whether they are consumers looking for a local retailer or retailers keen to see what the group has to offer. General Manager and Project Lead for the new Sirius website, Mark Veysey says, “We really wanted to optimise the flexibility of search on the website and make it mobile friendly so that all users can navigate with ease: which is why there’s a dedicated function to search for product type, name and number and an intuitive filter section for the consumer to find exactly what they require. In doing so, we’re able to provide end users the option to search however they wish in order to provide the best possible products for their needs” “We know that every business is unique and constantly-evolving and nowadays, consumers are extremely discerning when it comes to choosing suppliers of integrity. Trust, mutual respect and likability need to be conveyed through a positive and highly visible online presence, as we must recognise that retail now takes many forms from traditional bricks and mortar store to the Internet. With this in mind, by treating the web as a natural extension of your retail space and your digital offering will remain sustainable and actively drive new foot traffic to your business – be it online or in person. In my opinion, a website needs clarity and structure so your visitors always know where they currently are and where they need to go. Amongst the numerous services our members benefit from the PIM is designed to support them in achieving an online presence allowing them more time to spend on their business and it also removes the countless hours manually adding products to their website” adds Mark.
