Green Street in Glasgow, just a stone’s throw from COP26 will show that the only way to install 600,000 heat pumps a year and hit net zero is by replacing the UK’s current gas grid. The inner city street will be brought to life using pioneering augmented reality to show
HOT on the heels of the COP26 summit, national construction company Willmott Dixon is partnering with Building Brum to host “Net Zero Carbon: What’s Stopping Us?” on 16 November at The Grand Hotel, Birmingham. Britain’s ‘second city’ will welcome built environment sector leaders from across the country, as they outline the region’s
The latest research from Warwick Estates reveals where Britain’s most profitable new-build markets are and, therefore, where developers are best focussing their attention. Warwick Estates looked at the average cost of constructing a new-build home per square foot across seven major British cities, including the cost of materials, labour, first
Richard Blyth, Head of Policy at the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI), said: “This Select Committee report offers a comprehensive analysis of the role of local authorities in reaching net zero. “We are delighted to have given evidence for this report based on our ground breaking research on net zero
Recent recipient of the Housing Design Award ‘Building with Nature’ 2021 for its Knights Park development in Cambridge, Hill Group, has committed its support to tackle climate change ahead of the upcoming 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow. COP26 will focus on the global commitments
Bellway is close to completing work on a development of 243 homes on the site of a former hospital in Colchester. The developer built 96 homes as part of the first phase of regeneration at Kingswood Heath, on land off Boxted Road which previously sat within the grounds of Severalls
National equipment hire and services provider Speedy has been selected to light up the perimeter of the COP26 climate summit with a sustainable lighting system that will save an estimated 6,200 litres of diesel and 16 tonnes of CO2e. Speedy’s National Support Centre located in Glasgow is providing a total
A new survey from rental platform LettingaProperty.com has revealed how hugely important green issues have become to the UK’s renters who are willing to pay more for greener homes. A staggering 98% of respondents said that they would prefer a property that was optimised to increase energy efficiency, reduce energy costs
Hiring an attorney can be a complicated and confusing process. There are many different attorneys to choose from, and deciding who is right for you can be difficult. To help you make the best decision possible, we have compiled a list of five questions that any good personal injury lawyer
Green Street in Glasgow, just a stone’s throw from COP26 will show that the only way to install 600,000 heat pumps a year and hit net zero is by replacing the UK’s current gas grid. The inner city street will be brought to life using pioneering augmented reality to show how networked ground source heat pumps that mimic the current gas network are the cheapest way to decarbonise heat and could save the UK an estimated £1bn a year to 2050. The solution shifts responsibility from consumers getting rid of their gas boilers and installing individual infrastructure for ground source heat pumps on an ad-hoc house-by-house basis, to the pre-installation of utility-scale underground infrastructure that allows consumers to easily and cheaply change to ground source heat pumps when they’re ready. The infrastructure is funded, owned and maintained by an energy or water company, local authority or private investor removing the cost from consumers who pay a standing charge similar to gas. Simon Lomax, CEO of Kensa, the UK’s only manufacturer of ground source heat pumps, said: “It isn’t possible to reach critical mass or secure the cost reductions expected by government by adopting a house-by-house approach, placing responsibility to deliver our climate targets on individuals. “To really kick-start the transition to heat pumps, the government needs to work with the energy industry and suppliers to popularise a networked ground source heat pump where the cost of infrastructure is divorced from the heat pump in a split-ownership approach. “Running costs and carbon emissions will be far lower than any other heating choice. Pre-installation of the infrastructure means whole communities such as tower blocks can switch to individual networked heat pumps simultaneously, as well as enabling households to easily and affordably make the transition from their gas boiler to a heat pump when they’re ready to change, with minimal disruption.” Kensa’s ‘Welcome to Green Street’ launching on 1 November at COP26, created by Emmy award winners Alchemy Immersive, will prove how a whole systems approach to decarbonising how we heat our homes can unlock benefits across communities and compliment and balance the electric network as we come to reply more heavily on it with heating and electric vehicles. Simon added: “Green Street is our way of setting out a virtual street map that proves any street can be a Green Street, by showing how the ground beneath our feet can transform how we heat and power our homes and accelerate progress on climate change through the lowest carbon, cost and electrical grid compact solution. “By utilising waste heat and low-temperature ambient loop systems our solution connects homes and businesses to deliver sustainable heating and cooling that’s highly efficient, low carbon and low cost for all stakeholders and enables the balance of energy supply and demand.” Kensa has been engaging with energy suppliers, the UK and Scottish governments and other leading organisations and continues to make progress to making the ‘Green Street’ solution a national reality. Thousands of properties across the UK are already enjoying the benefits of networked heat pumps. Thenue Housing which has homes in Green Street, said it welcomed innovative and trailblazing solutions to the global climate emergency including those which relate to domestic energy consumption. Eleanor Derbyshire, Head of Property Services at Thenue Housing, said: “Thenue Housing is delighted that one of the streets where we have our housing stock should be showcased in this way as the way forward in terms of energy consumption and conservation. We recently invested in our on-site heating so while we are currently not planning to make energy-related changes to our homes in Green Street, we think there is no better-named street anywhere in the city to highlight this work. “As a housing provider which has strong historical links with Glasgow and its heritage, we readily acknowledge the need for action at this game-changing summit where so much can be gained by global co-operation on climate change.” Since 1999 Cornwall’s Kensa has saved over 1 million tonnes of carbon through ground source heat pump installations across social housing, new build and retrofit homes and businesses. It was the first company to prove a solution for flats and apartments through its small ‘Shoebox’ heat pump, used by many city councils and recognised by the Greater London Authority as the most efficient, lowest carbon, lowest cost solution for heating and cooling high-rise buildings. To experience Green Street please visit www.welcometogreenstreet.com
HOT on the heels of the COP26 summit, national construction company Willmott Dixon is partnering with Building Brum to host “Net Zero Carbon: What’s Stopping Us?” on 16 November at The Grand Hotel, Birmingham. Britain’s ‘second city’ will welcome built environment sector leaders from across the country, as they outline the region’s low carbon ambitions and debate its strategy in a live panel and Q&A session. Julia Barrett is Willmott Dixon’s chief sustainability officer and director of the Aldersgate Group, a business, politics and civil society leadership alliance that drives action for a sustainable economy. Julia will draw on the progress made at the COP26 summit, which runs until 12 November, during the panel debate. Providing unique insight and valuable experience, the guest panelists include Deborah Cadman OBE, chief executive of Birmingham City Council, Belinda Morgan, partner at Cundall, Tim Carey, chief product director at Collida, and Chris Clarke, director of performance and improvement at Scape. Nick Gibb, the deputy managing director of Willmott Dixon, who will be opening the event, said it will be a pleasure to be working alongside Building Brum, the city’s largest industry networking platform: “We are looking forward to hosting this event, which will make clear the region’s incredible efforts to support the Government’s ambition for net zero carbon by 2050. “The built environment sector plays a huge part in the country’s ability to reach this target, and the public and private sector must come together to make the changes we need to see. This event provides a valuable opportunity for growth – addressing topics such as technology, innovation, strategy, practical implications and changing mindsets.” The event will ask panelists to consider the challenges we face in meeting the ambitious targets as well as discuss the role their respective organisations are playing in delivering change. Conor Nolan, programme director of Building Brum, added: “Building Brum is committed to providing educational events and unique networking opportunities that connect industry specialists – sharing commercial approaches, learnings, challenges and solutions. “The event will deliver a strong environmental message. Birmingham is committed to playing its part in the national zero carbon agenda and welcomes fresh ideas and perspectives to accelerate change.” The event will take place in The Grand Hotel Ballroom between 5.30pm and 9pm. If you would like further details ahead of the event, please contact Conor Nolan – conor@curzon-consultants.co.uk or Louise Roden – louise.roden@willmottdixon.co.uk
The latest research from Warwick Estates reveals where Britain’s most profitable new-build markets are and, therefore, where developers are best focussing their attention. Warwick Estates looked at the average cost of constructing a new-build home per square foot across seven major British cities, including the cost of materials, labour, first and second fix costs, a contractor’s margin of 2.5% and preliminary costs of 15%. Warwick Estates then looked at the total cost of constructing a new home based on the average size in each city comparing it to the market value of a new-build in the current market. The research shows that on average across these major cities, it costs £139,238 to build a new home, while the average market value is currently £320,515. This is a positive difference of 130%, for developers. The most profitable market for new-build homes analysed by Warwick Estates is Edinburgh. It costs an estimated £126,400 to construct a new-build home in the Scottish capital while the average sale price is £375,870 – a 197% profit margin for developers. London ranks second, with an estimated construction cost of £181,700, while the average new-build home sells for £533,642. A 194% profit margin for developers. The third most profitable new-build market was Bristol (137%), followed by Leeds (133%), Birmingham (107%), Newcastle (101%) and Manchester (85%). Glasgow ranked bottom of the table, although, with an average construction cost of £139,238 and an average new-build value of £320,525, the city is still home to a 68% profit margin. Table shows most British cities that have the largest difference between average new-build construction costs and average new-build house price, listed from largest % difference to smalles Location Construction cost (sq ft) Property Size (sq ft) Construction cost New-build house price Profit margin (£) Profit margin (%) Edinburgh £160 790 £126,400 £375,870 £249,470 197% London £230 790 £181,700 £533,642 £351,942 194% Bristol £180 790 £142,200 £337,062 £194,862 137% Leeds £160 790 £126,400 £294,384 £167,984 133% Birmingham £170 790 £134,300 £278,074 £143,774 107% Newcastle £170 790 £134,300 £270,117 £135,817 101% Manchester £170 790 £134,300 £248,997 £114,697 85% Glasgow £170 790 £134,300 £225,973 £91,673 68% Average £176 790 £139,238 £320,515 £181,277 130% Sources – Est. Construction Cost – Propertydata, Average new-build house price: UK HPI
Richard Blyth, Head of Policy at the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI), said: “This Select Committee report offers a comprehensive analysis of the role of local authorities in reaching net zero. “We are delighted to have given evidence for this report based on our ground breaking research on net zero and that the committee has taken this on board. The Select Committee notes our call for a dedicated fund of £67m so that each planning authority can have a full-time planner dedicated to climate change. “The planning system is well-placed to lead the way to net zero as it can be the platform from which low emission, placed-based communities are formed. Our latest report Urban Planning After Covid-19 explains the ways in which planning is crucial to a low carbon future.”
Recent recipient of the Housing Design Award ‘Building with Nature’ 2021 for its Knights Park development in Cambridge, Hill Group, has committed its support to tackle climate change ahead of the upcoming 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow. COP26 will focus on the global commitments of nations to reducing carbon emissions and reversing ecological and biodiversity decline. As a leading privately-owned housebuilder, Hill recognises that it has a part to play in helping the UK meet its commitments by building low carbon, resilient and safe homes constructed sustainably and designed to ensure buyers consume fewer resources and enjoy a closeness to nature that helps to create sustainable communities and promote the wellbeing of residents. Hill has committed to achieving net-zero carbon in its Scope 1 and 2 business operations by 2030 and net-zero operational carbon in the homes they build by 2030, twenty years ahead of the UK’s broad 2050 net-zero carbon target. Additionally, Hill has committed to achieving Biodiversity Net Gain on all its future land-led developments. Hill has already modelled a range of house types and apartment layouts to interrogate CO2 reduction performance standards required for delivering future homes, proving its worth for the Housing Design Award. This will see the phasing out of fossil fuels, with electricity becoming the primary low-carbon energy source powering air source heat pumps. Photovoltaics and battery storage are likely to be part of the optimal solution too. Hill’s solutions will include improved building fabric performance, reduced embodied carbon of materials, increased off-site manufacture, increased air-tightness, better thermal bridging and supply chain deliverability. In addition, increased reliance on electricity as the primary energy source, and increased need for electricity for car charging points, is already causing Hill to look at grid capacity and planning additional sub-stations into development layouts. “At Hill, we are always keen to be at the forefront of any industry changes, and we already have live projects at design and early construction stage featuring a range of house and apartment types which will meet the expected Future Homes Standard and deliver ‘net-zero ready’ homes several years ahead of the anticipated regulatory timescale,” said Brendan Ritchie, Head of Sustainability at Hill Group. “But our solutions must ensure that homes remain affordable to run. We must avoid fuel poverty as an unintended consequence of the drive towards zero carbon homes. We have lots to do to be ‘Future Homes’ and zero-carbon ‘ready’ as a sector. However, at Hill, we are confident that our pioneering approach alongside the national background of continual de-carbonisation of the electricity grid will help us find optimal solutions.” Awarded the 2021 Housing Design Award in September 2021 for ‘Building with Nature’, Knights Park in Cambridge has set the standard for sustainable living. Located in the newly created urban extension of Eddington, Knight’s Park places resident wellbeing, sustainability and ecology at the forefront of the design. It uses innovative, seamlessly integrated construction methods to minimise environmental impact and is based around a neighbourhood principle for ‘living lightly’. The new houses include a wide range of sustainable features from high performing robust insulation and triple glazing to photovoltaic panels and mechanical ventilation in addition to heat recovery systems. Overall, it has been designed and constructed to Level 5 of the Code for Sustainable Homes. The energy centre in Eddington delivers heat and hot water to residents, with significant system efficiencies reducing C02 and energy wastage. In addition, the development-wide rainwater harvesting and sustainable urban drainage system is currently the largest in the UK and recycles rainwater through natural drainage features before filtering it and returning it to Hill’s new homes for use in washing machines and flushing toilets. An underground refuse storage system negates the need for unsightly wheelie bins and promotes recycling, and the development was designed to prioritise pedestrians and cyclists, with interconnecting foot and cycle paths linking to the nearby City centre. Car parking is tucked away from sight in underground areas, creating a largely car-free environment at street level. Swales and verges create havens for wildlife and insects to flourish. Ecology, biodiversity, and enjoyment of plentiful open green spaces deliver a proximity to nature, a key characteristic of the development.
Bellway is close to completing work on a development of 243 homes on the site of a former hospital in Colchester. The developer built 96 homes as part of the first phase of regeneration at Kingswood Heath, on land off Boxted Road which previously sat within the grounds of Severalls Hospital. A further 128 homes being built by Bellway at Forest View, off Whitmore Drive, have been sold and construction work is nearing completion. “Kingswood Heath is an important development for Colchester. Bellway has played a part in planning and delivering high-quality homes in a setting which has been sensitively designed. After starting work in 2016 and following consistently strong sales, we are now nearing the end of the development,” said Jenny Walker, Sales Director for Bellway Essex. “The homes we have built range from apartments and coach houses through to townhouses and larger detached houses. There are 209 homes already occupied and the remaining residents will move into this new community over the coming months. “Bellway remains committed to building homes, creating jobs and encouraging the local economy to thrive in Colchester. We have recently started work on a new development, Hollytree Walk, off Bromley Way and the first homes are available to purchase.” Hollytree Walk will be a development of 145 homes that will provide two, three and four-bedroom houses. Prices currently start from £289,995.
National equipment hire and services provider Speedy has been selected to light up the perimeter of the COP26 climate summit with a sustainable lighting system that will save an estimated 6,200 litres of diesel and 16 tonnes of CO2e. Speedy’s National Support Centre located in Glasgow is providing a total of 400 linear lights which will run for two miles around the security perimeter of the venue. The bespoke solution developed by Speedy specifically for the event is made up of LED lighting towers and low energy beam control lighting heads. They are highly efficient, offering up to 200 lumens, or light energy, for each watt of power consumed. The lighting system, which will be in place for five weeks, will prevent noise pollution and fumes that would be produced if the lighting was powered by diesel. Speedy’s low carbon lighting system is also used on a number of other major infrastructure projects where sustainability is central including HS2 and national core renewal rail projects. “As such a historic and significant climate event, COP26 needed a supplier with the technology to deliver a low carbon solution to lighting, minimising the impact on the environment. COP26 will set out the gold standard for green events, so everything that goes into its infrastructure and management needs to be sustainable,” said Daryl Doherty, rail director at Speedy. “Speedy is a leading supplier of low and zero emission lighting, which is helping contractors in the events, construction and rail sectors to slash emissions. Being selected as the delivery partner to light up COP26 recognises our track record in delivering sustainable solutions across major UK projects, and offers us a fantastic opportunity to demonstrate how our innovative low carbon lighting technology can play an important role in delivering a carbon-zero project.” The contract win follows Speedy’s £6.3m investment in low-carbon lighting to help construction, infrastructure engineering and events contractors to reduce carbon emissions through electric-only operation. The business also recently partnered with Generac to develop and bring the industry’s first plug-in hybrid outdoor lighting tower, the Speedy V20 ECO Hybrid to the market. The Glasgow-based event is the most significant climate change conference since 2017, bringing together world leaders, government representatives, negotiators and businesses to tackle the climate crisis. COP26 will be a carbon-neutral conference, certified by the International Standard for Sustainable Events (ISO20121). It has a comprehensive Carbon Management Plan and will demonstrate leadership within the field of sustainable event management. For more information, visit: https://www.speedyservices.com/
A new survey from rental platform LettingaProperty.com has revealed how hugely important green issues have become to the UK’s renters who are willing to pay more for greener homes. A staggering 98% of respondents said that they would prefer a property that was optimised to increase energy efficiency, reduce energy costs and minimise environmental impact. Not only that, but tenants are prepared to pay more to rent in line with their principles. Over half of those surveyed (53%) were prepared to pay more for a greener property. Of those who were happy to stump up for sustainability, 52% would willingly pay 10% more rent, while 33% would accept a 5% rent increase. 8% of renters even said they would be willing to weather a rent increase of 20% if it meant they could rent a greener home. “We’ve heard a lot recently about the cost to landlords of making their properties greener, from replacing gas boilers with heat pumps to installing insulation. This survey has revealed that tenants are prepared to play their part too, with over half of renters happy to pay more for greener homes. It is overwhelmingly clear that tenants are demanding greener choices than the rental sector currently offers,” said Jonathan Daines, Founder and CEO, LettingaProperty.com. The vast majority of renters (85%) were happy to consider a ‘green lease’ as part of the solution to level up the rental sector’s sustainability credentials. Green leases include clauses designed to ensure the tenant and landlord work together to improve the home’s energy efficiency, while reducing costs and environmental impact. Tenants already expect their rental homes to deliver on a number of fronts when it comes to sustainability. 95% of renters expect their property to have double glazing and 92% expect it to have loft or wall insulation. 92% expect recycling bins as standard, while 73% expect LED lightbulbs. In terms of technology, 56% of renters expect smart meters and 38% expect smart thermostats. 50% of renters, meanwhile, expect dual flush toilets, while 26% expect solar panels and ground source heating.
Hiring an attorney can be a complicated and confusing process. There are many different attorneys to choose from, and deciding who is right for you can be difficult. To help you make the best decision possible, we have compiled a list of five questions that any good personal injury lawyer should be able to answer: 1. What is your experience with this type of case (injuries, damages)? Professional personal injury lawyers will have a detailed list of cases that they have successfully handled in the past. You can also ask for their professional background and then research this information further on your own if you are unsure about it. Tips: – Make sure to look at any case results before deciding which attorney is best for you. 2. How much will it cost me to hire you for my injury case? Make sure that your attorney is upfront about these potential fees, and decide if you are comfortable with them before hiring an attorney. Be cautious of attorneys who say they do not charge any upfront fees or require a retainer fee. Tips: – Sometimes, attorneys will have certain payment options that you can choose from, but they are harder to find. You might want to ask an attorney about their preferred payment method due to the high costs of retaining a lawyer for personal injury claims. 3. Are there any other attorneys I should talk to about my potential claim? Even if you do not hire another attorney, it is still good to talk with as many attorneys as possible. Each lawyer will have their unique advice and suggestions about your case, so the more information you can gather, the better prepared you’ll be for any future decisions or events in your injury lawsuit. Tips: – When talking to multiple lawyers about an incident like this, try to avoid legal jargon and speak plainly and honestly. You want all of these professionals to give you detailed answers without confusing words or phrases – the plainer they are, the better! 4. How long do these cases usually take from start to finish? You should ask your potential lawyers about the average amount of time they spend on cases like yours. It’s important to know how long you will need to wait before resolving a personal injury claim, as well as what steps are involved in reaching an acceptable settlement with the defendant or their insurance company. Tips: – You can also discuss which parts of your case (i.e., liability and damages) might take longer than others and who is currently doing those tasks for you now – this way, there won’t be any surprises later! 5. What are the chances of winning my injury lawsuit if I choose not to settle out of court? You should always ask a potential lawyer how likely you are to win your case if it goes to trial. Suppose the answer is that they cannot provide an accurate estimate. In that case, this might be a sign that the attorney does not have extensive experience with personal injury lawsuits or trials – and thus, their knowledge of your specific incident could also be limited! Tips: – If possible, find out what types of cases this type of professional has won in the past by asking for references from previous clients who had similar injuries/damages as yours. You can also read reviews about them online to see how other people feel about hiring these professionals before spending any money on legal advice/services! Bonus: Will you be able to provide all legal representation necessary during trial proceedings? Sometimes lawsuits can go to trial, and if this is the case with your injury claim, you must choose an attorney who has extensive experience in courtrooms. Tips: – This type of professional will usually have a very detailed list of past trials they’ve been involved in – so always ask about these specific cases! You should also look up which lawyers won or lost those cases online by checking out court records, news articles, etc. Having an attorney is the best thing you can do for your injury. What questions should you ask? Find out what to look for when hiring injury accident attorneys and read about how we believe in fighting for our clients! Thanks so much, and we hope that you’ve found the information useful.
