IM Properties Development will be handed over for Grainger plc’s Operations in Summer 2022 Winvic Construction Ltd, a leading main contractor that specialises in the design and delivery of multi-sector construction and civil engineering projects, has celebrated the topping out of a 23-storey, 307-home build-to-rent (BTR) scheme in Cardiff with
FoI request reveals only 33 per cent of UK local authorities have EV charging plans in place A freedom of information request (FoI) by leading electrical industry trade body ECA revealed that almost two thirds (66 per cent) of local authorities do not have any plans to roll out electric
Elliott UK surveyed 2,000 UK adults to find out their thoughts and feelings on construction and its impact on climate change. The results are in and it turns out Londoners are the least compassionate towards the safety of animals and their homes, instead choosing to adopt a ‘big city mentality.’
An estimated 9,500 people in London die each year due to poor air quality. The findings in a study carried out by researchers at King’s College London attribute the premature deaths to pollutants known as PM2.5s and the toxic gas nitrogen dioxide (NO2). Emissions from cars, planes and heavy industry
Impressive new 143-bedroom project situated in the castle gateway district with uninterrupted views of the famous Clifford’s Tower. GMI Construction Group has announced the completion of a new 143-bedroom Piccadilly hotel for leading UK hotel specialist Avantis Hotels at a site in the heart of York city centre. The new
Investing in improving customer service is a trend that has reached most of the world. The explanation for this can be found in how expensive it is to acquire a new customer, rather than keeping an existing one happy and satisfied. Customer satisfaction can be achieved relatively easy through having
The National Trust and leading architecture practice, GT3 Architects, have teamed up with Northumbria University to search for the next generation of talented architects as part of a project supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The Rising Stars creative partnership is a strand of the National Trust’s The Curtain
One of the amazing aspects of the green revolution is the wave of new technologies that it has inspired. From industrial facilities reabsorbing their carbon emissions to reengineering the infrastructure of entire cities to run on clean energy, our communities will start seeing major benefits from a much-needed shift towards
There are now only five homes available to buy at a new housing development in Rochford. Ashberry Homes is delivering 401 new homes at the Elizabeth Gardens development off Hall Road, to the west of the town. All homes at the Rochford development have been sold on the first phase
Three influential industry experts have joined rapidly expanding property developer Strawberry Star Group to help elevate the businesses residential sales and Build-to-Rent (BTR) arms. Yash Dave joins Strawberry Star as the new Chief Operating Officer (COO), having over two decades of experience in finance and operations, with his most recent
IM Properties Development will be handed over for Grainger plc’s Operations in Summer 2022 Winvic Construction Ltd, a leading main contractor that specialises in the design and delivery of multi-sector construction and civil engineering projects, has celebrated the topping out of a 23-storey, 307-home build-to-rent (BTR) scheme in Cardiff with its client, IM Properties (IMP) and Grainger plc, the residential landlord that will own and operate the building. The project – located in the heart of the city on Tyndall Street and close to Cardiff Central railway station within Cardiff’s Capital Quarter development – is being constructed on a compact site, with just 1500mm space between the façade and boundary. In addition to the 307 one-bed, two-bed and studio apartments, the scheme will also deliver a range of communal spaces for residents, including a double height rooftop sky-lounge and terrace, and comprise commercial units on the ground floor. To date, Winvic has undertaken the groundworks, piling operations, completed the reinforced concrete frame and are progressing with the two-tone grey and white Glass Reinforced Concrete Cladding panels, including windows to the eighteenth floor. The complementary copper façade – one of the features which makes the building aesthetically unusual and striking – will be one of the final programme elements to be completed. The mechanical and electrical installation and fit out works are also well underway, with the benchmark rooms completed. Winvic’s Director of Multi-room, Mark Jones, commented: “This RC frame project – as with any scheme being constructed on a very compact site – has presented a significant number of challenges for our team. But our years of experience combined with the drive and tenacity to succeed has illustrated anything can be achieved. Having worked with IM Properties and Grainger plc previously, we’re working in partnership to be a solution and goal focused team and we’re proud to have reached the topping out milestone in Cardiff’s Capital Quarter.” Majella Lynch, IM Properties’ project director for the building, said: “We are delighted to have reached this major new milestone. It is such a complex scheme to deliver, we have all had to apply a lot of thought and ingenuity to get it to this point, which really shows the strength of our in-house project delivery team working in partnership with Winvic.” Michael Keaveney, director of Land and Development at Grainger added: “It’s great to reach this milestone in our first Cardiff scheme. Upon completion this will be an excellent development, delivering professionally managed, high quality rental homes in a vibrant area of the city. We look forward to seeing the scheme progress and come to life in the coming months.” Furthermore, last week the site team welcomed a Considerate Constructors Scheme assessor, and the project was awarded an ‘Excellent’ score. Progress of the scheme can be followed on Winvic Live. For more information on Winvic, the company’s latest project news and job vacancies please visit www.winvic.co.uk. Join Winvic on social media – visit Twitter @WinvicLtd – and LinkedIn.
FoI request reveals only 33 per cent of UK local authorities have EV charging plans in place A freedom of information request (FoI) by leading electrical industry trade body ECA revealed that almost two thirds (66 per cent) of local authorities do not have any plans to roll out electric vehicle charge points (EVCPs). With government plans to end the sale of petrol and diesel cars by 2035, the lack of charging infrastructure could prove a significant setback. ECA produces exclusive guidance to help its Members deliver net zero carbon skills and technologies. Learn more here. Only one third (33 per cent) of local authorities could confirm they had an EVCP strategy in place. Nearly half (48 per cent) said they did not currently operate any EVCPs. Nearly two thirds (60 per cent) have no funds earmarked for EVCPs to be installed in future. Comments revealed a lack of ‘joined-up’ policy from central Government. One local authority representative said, “One of the barriers [to EVCP installation] is the uncoordinated approach – it’s not joined-up enough.” With the annual COP26 climate conference underway in Glasgow, these findings follow a disappointing Budget announcement and long-awaited Net Zero Strategy. Luke Osborne, ECA’s Energy & Emerging Technologies Solutions Advisor, said: “The electrical and building services industry has the potential to build and maintain the green infrastructure we need to deliver Net Zero Carbon by 2050 and make Government’s promises a reality. “But with public interest in electric vehicles reaching an all-time high, the worrying lack of plans to install charge points will seriously hold us back in our pursuit of Net Zero – and stunt the growth of a booming market.” “A key focus for local authorities should be enabling constituents without off-street parking to readily charge with ease.” A report produced by the Green Jobs Task Force earlier this year showed that the UK could produce up to 1.6 million Electric Vehicles (EV) by 2040 and 50,000 vehicle technicians will need retraining or upskilling by 2025 to meet predicted demand. ECA’s 2,700 Member businesses, with a combined turnover of over £4 billion, ranging from SMEs to large, nationwide contracting businesses, are at the forefront of grid decarbonisation and the electrification of heat and transport.
Elliott UK surveyed 2,000 UK adults to find out their thoughts and feelings on construction and its impact on climate change. The results are in and it turns out Londoners are the least compassionate towards the safety of animals and their homes, instead choosing to adopt a ‘big city mentality.’ 19% of Londoners admit to their main worry of construction being the destruction of animal habitats. Whereas 27.2% of Northerners and 28.67% of Southerners, excluding London, say it’s their biggest concern. Climate change remains a vital conversation, especially within the construction sector as globally, they’re one of the largest contributors. In 2019, buildings and building construction work emissions totaled 2.4 million metric tons, representing 17% of total construction industry emissions. Elliott is taking the necessary steps and is committed to becoming carbon net-zero by 2050. Londoner’s take on a ‘big city mindset’ and care less about saving wildlife, so long as the buildings are built London is home to hundreds of construction sites at any one time. With each new project comes building on green space, carbon emissions, water, noise and air pollution, all of which are harmful to the environment. Construction has a direct impact on wildlife, and it is therefore vital all projects are undertaken with care to help with wildlife and nature conservation. Each year, thousands of acres of natural, green land are uprooted to make way for the construction of new buildings. In England, public parks and garden – personal and public – count for the largest proportion of green space. West Yorkshire has 45.8% natural land cover – shrubbery, fields etc. Greater Manchester has 37.7%, whereas London has only 34.2% natural land cover. 39 of the top 100 construction projects in 2021 are set to take place in London, whereas only 5 are planned in Yorkshire and The Humber. However, the South exc. London, do care about conserving wildlife and nature The survey revealed 28.67% of people living in the south, excluding London, are concerned about the destruction of animal habitats and 40.76% are worried about the loss of green space. Compared to London, only 19% of the respondents said they’re worried about animal habitat destruction and 38% are worried about the loss of greenspace. The results suggest people living in London take on a ‘big city mindset’ whereby they rarely see green space and wildlife, and therefore become desensitised due to a lack of it. So they don’t prioritise the the environment as it doesn’t impact their daily lives. What can we take from this? London’s priority is to remain a business and culture capital, and that means continuously constructing and evolving the skyline. The London mindset is completely different to rest of the country who are more conscious about conserving nature and wildlife.
An estimated 9,500 people in London die each year due to poor air quality. The findings in a study carried out by researchers at King’s College London attribute the premature deaths to pollutants known as PM2.5s and the toxic gas nitrogen dioxide (NO2). Emissions from cars, planes and heavy industry are widely known to have a detrimental effect on the exterior air we breathe, but is our interior environment becoming equally as harmful to inhabit? We spend 90% of our lives indoors due to a combination of home, work or school commitments. As for the buildings we inhabit, they are being built to regulations designed to make them as airtight as possible in order to reduce emissions from fuel usage and increase our comfort and wellbeing. But in sealing the thermal envelope on our homes and offices, are we opening ourselves up to dangers previously unconsidered? It would appear so. According to the World Health Organisation, Indoor air quality is up to five times more polluted than typical outside conditions. Reduced air leakage – although key to attaining regulation U-values – could also be affecting the indoor air we breathe, as a lack of natural ventilation allows concentrations of indoor air pollutants to build-up rather than escape. Harmful sources Toxic gases within the home can be emitted from a number of sources including emission-generating air purifiers, water treatment systems in washing machines and appliances that use UV or unnatural light. Home cleaning and personal care products also release harmful airborne chemicals, whist some interior paints contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which can be released into the atmosphere many years post-application. Cooking appliances such as ovens and toasters, if not regularly cleaned, have also been found to produce particles that fill interior air. The aforementioned emissions are exacerbated in multi-occupancy buildings. Where ventilation is poor, this will intensify the trapping of appliance-based toxins, whilst vapour created from baths, showers and general washing duties increases the risk of condensation occurring. This in-turn runs the risk of introducing another harmful element to the indoor environment: damp. According to a public heath report by academic studies’ specialist MDPI, exposure to indoor mould contamination instigated by damp in social housing increases the risk of doctor-diagnosed asthma, particularly in older adults and women. Improving living standards for the health and wellbeing of residents in poorer UK communities is an issue Recticel is seeking to address through its membership of the National Home Improvement Council. The non-profit organisation was set up nearly 50 years ago to promote the benefits of safe and sustainable homes as a means of creating comfortable, affordable interiors. This is particularly aimed at occupants facing fuel poverty, a threat that’s been exacerbated for many households nationwide due to the current worldwide rise in energy prices. Importance of good ventilation Figures released by the Committee on Climate Change show emissions from buildings account for 34% of total UK greenhouse gas emissions. It is a statistic that is no doubt being unnecessarily fuelled by the poor thermal performance of the country’s housing stock. This is borne out by a 2017 Green Council Report which found that 25 million UK homes will need to be refurbished between now and 2050 in order to meet mid-century insulation standards. However, when looking to improve a building’s energy rating, there is a balance to be struck. Airtight buildings need to be properly ventilated in order to improve indoor air quality. This can be achieved effectively with a heat recovery ventilation system, which extracts moist and stale air from a property’s wet rooms and recovers the – usually – lost heat from the extracted air. Therefore, with modern building methods, tighter regulations and improved efficacy of a building’s fabric, it’s often the case that a correctly-specified mechanical ventilation system also needs to be considered when improving a property’s thermal envelope. An airtight house without adequate ventilation can suffer the same issues as one with too little ventilation, as both create uncontrolled airflow. This can result in condensation issues – and eventually damp or mould patches – due to air being moved from areas of high humidity within a building such as the kitchen and bathrooms, to bedrooms and main living room spaces where the air tends to be cooler and dryer. A mechanical ventilation system helps ensure the correct amount of air flows consistently through a building by extracting it from areas of high humidity and returning it to living areas. Our future built environment’s sustainability depends on improving the airtightness of the buildings we live, work and learn in. But we must safeguard against cocooning ourselves in spaces that are potentially harmful to our long-term health. Hence, a professionally-prescribed ventilation solution will be crucial to us leading happier, more comfortable lives on the inside and outside.
Impressive new 143-bedroom project situated in the castle gateway district with uninterrupted views of the famous Clifford’s Tower. GMI Construction Group has announced the completion of a new 143-bedroom Piccadilly hotel for leading UK hotel specialist Avantis Hotels at a site in the heart of York city centre. The new Hampton by Hilton building is situated in the Castle Gateway district of the city which has been identified by York City Council as an area of major regeneration and development. In addition to its 143 guest bedrooms, the hotel also features eight luxury private residences all enjoying uninterrupted views of Clifford’s Tower. The scheme has been designed to the latest BREEAM standards and boasts cycle parking bays and a number of electric vehicle charging points. A detailed and complimentary landscape design acknowledges the sensitive nature of its surroundings – something guests can enjoy from the hotel’s terrace that overlooks Clifford’s Tower. Talking about the project GMI Divisional Managing Director Lee Powell said: “This impressive new Hampton by Hilton hotel serves as the 11th hotel development GMI have completed to date and one of the most impressive developments completed so far We are very pleased to have been appointed by Avantis Hotels on this project and look forward to working together again on further ventures in the near future”. Also commenting Ravi Majithia, Director – Avantis Hotels said: “GMI have delivered a quality asset to Hilton standards during a very challenging time. Avantis, acting as both developer and owner operators were delighted with the finished product. We were eager to develop and test one of the first “new-prototype” Hampton by Hiltons’ – a refreshed, lifestyle product. We hope this development sparks further regeneration of Piccadilly. GMI also delivered the luxurious Piccadilly Riverside Apartments which look fantastic and are now on sale”.
Investing in improving customer service is a trend that has reached most of the world. The explanation for this can be found in how expensive it is to acquire a new customer, rather than keeping an existing one happy and satisfied. Customer satisfaction can be achieved relatively easy through having a great product or offering a great service. It does however also include following the client through their whole purchasing experience or customer journey, from the customer first becoming aware of your product to showing initial interest to buying your product or service to finally evaluating both the product and process. Being accessible and answering questions, reviews and other inquiries can go a long way in giving your customers a good experience with your brand. Missing out on new business A study was conducted which discovered that technology and marketing companies together with delivery services and home services such as plumber had the lowest response rate, out of 160 business sectors tested. For these businesses, only 5, 11 and 15% of businesses respectively answered incoming queries from new potential customers. Although this is only part of the customer journey, it is still fatal when businesses miss out on new clients that want to spend their money with them. Even though there can be many explanations for this, it is always bad to miss out on new business. One reason could be that the business finds its schedule filled up with current business. That would, presumably, be the optimal reason for many to not responding to new work. If this is the reality, you would ideally be looking to expand your business. Bringing in more qualified personnel to take in the extra work is the best solution if you consider this demand for your services or products to be lasting. Are you missing out on new business because you are ignoring your inbox, or not prioritizing new customers? Getting new clients is the culmination of all your marketing efforts and should therefore be prioritized just as much as you prioritize your email marketing, your social media efforts and the like. Otherwise, all that would be a waste of your time. What is the solution? You might not need to hire new personnel or prioritize your time differently to manage new incoming business. If you are a business with a busy inbox and a lot of different queries, you may be able to benefit from investing in your customer experience. Advanced AI workflow software can be used to categorize all your customer queries. Its AI is designed to recognize every individual request it gets by using keywords and customer information. The eTray workflow software from Nexcom saves data and learns every time it is put to work. This means that automating customer service becomes much less of a compromise between how much time you spend answering your inbox and how good the service you offer is. With this software, your company will be able to take full control over the customer journey.
The National Trust and leading architecture practice, GT3 Architects, have teamed up with Northumbria University to search for the next generation of talented architects as part of a project supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The Rising Stars creative partnership is a strand of the National Trust’s The Curtain Rises project, centred on conservation and improvement work at the historic Seaton Delaval Hall, which was acquired by the trust in 2009. A live project inspired by the building was set up to give students an opportunity to flex their creative skills and offer invaluable industry experience. With more than 20 students from Northumbria’s BA Interior Architecture programme taking part in the project, Hattie Keel was crowned the winner with her striking structure centred around visual trickery. Hattie’s installation was unveiled with a celebration at Seaton Delaval Hall, where it has now been constructed for visitors to enjoy. After recently graduating from Northumbria, Hattie has secured a job with GT3 and is now working as a designer for the company, which has studios in Newcastle and Nottingham. She explained: “My time at Northumbria gave me great insight into the industry through numerous live projects, including this partnership with the National Trust. Throughout the process I also worked alongside GT3 Architects, giving me valuable career experience in the industry. “The Rising Stars competition put my foot in the door to life after graduation; the knowledge it gave me boosted my confidence in my creativity and design capabilities. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity provided by Northumbria, as this enhanced my portfolio and assisted in securing my role as a Graduate Interior Architectural Designer at GT3.” Thanks to a donation from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, since 2018 Seaton Delaval Hall has been the focus of The Curtain Rises project, where as well as improvements to visitor facilities and extensive conservation work, the stories of Seaton Delaval Hall’s colourful past are now being brought to life through initiatives like the Rising Stars creative partnership. Speaking about her winning entry to the project, Hattie added: “My design was inspired by the playfulness and trickery of the Delaval family, who lived in Seaton Delaval Hall in the 18th century. I wanted to provide a space for visitors to sit and dwell within the structure. The seats therefore follow the natural folds of origami, enabling visitors to interact and engage with the structure. “I’ve really enjoyed the entire process and seeing my initial concept brought to life.” Paul Ring, Associate Professor and Head of Architecture at Northumbria, said: “In creative partnership with the National Trust, Rising Stars provides a folio of live project experiences for our students across many creative disciplines, and we are delighted that Hattie’s design was chosen and then built for the National Trust’s visitors at Seaton Delaval Hall. “GT3 worked with students to guide them through client meetings, design detailing, budget, and fabrication decisions. Hattie is without doubt a more informed and accomplished designer thanks to this experience and we are exceptionally grateful to GT3 and the National Trust for the opportunity, their expertise, and their support to our students.” Taylor Grindley, project architect at GT3, was the day-to-day lead on the work. He said: “We really enjoyed taking part in the Rising Stars project and working closely with the National Trust and Northumbria University. All the designs were fantastic and incredibly creative, but Hattie’s really blew us all away. “We worked really closely with Hattie to ensure all aspects of the design were viable and that we could bring it to life, with the construction handled by Raskl. We love educating and inspiring the next generation of architects and designers, so the Rising Stars project has been a brilliant experience.” Emma Thomas, the National Trust’s general manager of Seaton Delaval Hall, said: “Hattie’s excellent design helped us achieve our ambition of telling the stories of the Hall and our National Lottery Heritage Fund-supported project more creatively to members and visitors. The Rising Stars project has supported the employment and soft skills development of Northumbria University’s students and at the same time helped the National Trust realise several creative and conservation-based ambitions.” The installations are available to visit in the Saloon at Seaton Delaval Hall. There are a range of study options available within the department of Architecture and the Built Environment at Northumbria. Find out more here about the courses and facilities on offer.
One of the amazing aspects of the green revolution is the wave of new technologies that it has inspired. From industrial facilities reabsorbing their carbon emissions to reengineering the infrastructure of entire cities to run on clean energy, our communities will start seeing major benefits from a much-needed shift towards a renewable future. Frontier technologies in green construction, green building, and smart buildings are at the forefront of this innovation trend. Green Development LLC, a leading provider of large-scale solar and wind projects in Rhode Island, introduces us to how these technologies are shaping our future. Green Building Green building is the process of using environmentally responsible and resource-efficient materials and methods throughout a building’s entire lifecycle. All phases of a building—including siting, design, construction, operation, maintenance, renovation, and deconstruction—are taken into account to reduce the impacts of the built environment on human health and the natural environment and to be consistent with the principles of a circular economy. Green Construction According to Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment (GRIHA), traditional construction contributes an estimated 50% of the world’s air pollution, 42% of its greenhouse gases, 50% of all water pollution, 48% of all solid wastes, and 50% of all Chlorofluorocarbon CFCs to the environment. Green construction utilizes sustainable, low-impact materials that take into account resource efficiency, indoor air quality, energy efficiency, water conservation, and affordability. Materials typically have one or more of the following attributes: recycled, natural or renewable, locally available, reusable or recyclable, salvaged, refurbished, remanufactured, locally available, or durable. Developers select these products after thorough research, evaluation, and selection. Smart Buildings Green buildings are all about resource efficiency and building performance. Smart buildings are also built with efficiency as a central guiding principle, but in this case, the focus is on construction and operational efficiency—minimizing energy use and demand on the grid. In recent years, the term “GEB” (grid-interactive efficient building) has become synonymous with the term “smart building.” GEBs achieve operational efficiency by connecting the various operational components of buildings—lighting, security, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning—with the grid, distributed energy resources, and the occupants in an integrated, dynamic, and functional way. The U.S. Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy recently awarded $61 million, via the Grid-interactive Efficient Building (GEB) Initiative, to ten projects focused on developing smart buildings and accelerating renewable energy adoption. Some key characteristics of GEBs include: Efficiency: Maintaining a low level of energy usage in order to minimize demand on the grid is a primary goal of a GEB. Connectivity: Ongoing two-way communication is facilitated between the building and its occupants and the building and the grid. Intelligence: Smart, AI-enabled software collects information via sensors and other controls, generates ongoing analytics, and adjusts energy use to match occupancy patterns and preferences. Flexibility: Energy loads for the building can be shifted across energy sources or stored, as needed throughout the day, to reduce energy costs. Energy sources could include behind-the-meter renewable energy sources, stored energy, or EVs, in addition to the grid. The recent attention on GEBs has the potential to help countries reduce their carbon footprints and electricity costs, thanks to their ability to interact with the grid, adjust energy loads dynamically, and tap into distributed energy resources, as needed. Certifications Two important certifications are available for green buildings: the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Green Building Standards and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. The latter is the most widely used green building rating system in the world. In addition, Smart Building Certification also exists for certifying smart buildings. On the consumer’s end, certifications from reliable sources ensure a high degree of standard and, therefore, trust. The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) claims that LEED-certified buildings have lease-up rates up to 20% above average and vacancy rates about 4% lower than non-green properties. USGBC also emphasizes that 61% of corporate leaders believe that sustainability leads to better financial performance and market differentiation. EPA Green Building Standards The EPA provides a table of Green Building Standards, two mandatory and four voluntary standards. International Green Construction Code (IgCC) and Standard for the Design of High-Performance Green Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings (ASHRAE 189.1) are the mandatory standards for all residential multi-family buildings with more than three stories, in addition to buildings designated for commercial, industrial, or mixed-use purposes. The standards include subject areas such as energy efficiency, water efficiency, materials, and resource use, indoor environmental quality, emissions, and sustainable sites. LEED Certification LEED offers different certifications for building design and construction, interior design and construction, building operations and maintenance, neighborhood development, homes, cities and communities, and more. The LEED v4 for BD+C: New Construction and Major Renovation Project Checklist, for example, can be used to evaluate criteria such as location and transportation, sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality, innovation, and regional priority. Smart Building Certification Smart Building Certification offers several levels of certifications: Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze. The certification process reviews how well the system integrates with the building and its components, how the building affects user behavior and collaboration, health and safety standards, the physical environment of the building, the building’s performance, and how people use the building. Each smart building project is assessed with three independent reviewers in a peer review model to ensure the maximum integrity of the evaluation. About Green Development LLC Green Development LLC is the leading developer of large-scale renewable energy projects in Rhode Island, specializing in wind, solar, and battery storage. The company delivers significant energy savings to municipalities, quasi-public entities, nonprofits, and other qualified entities through the virtual net metering program while providing long-term lease payments to landowners and farmers. Since 2009, Green Development has been instrumental in transforming the energy mix in Rhode Island to clean, reliable energy. The company has developed more than 70 MW in solar and wind capacity, with plans to add 75 MW in 2021. Green Development is devoted to preserving farmland, reducing water and air pollution, increasing energy security, and creating
There are now only five homes available to buy at a new housing development in Rochford. Ashberry Homes is delivering 401 new homes at the Elizabeth Gardens development off Hall Road, to the west of the town. All homes at the Rochford development have been sold on the first phase where 183 new homes were built and there are now just a handful of properties available on the second phase where 218 homes are being delivered. Elizabeth Gardens forms part of a wider 620-home scheme being delivered in partnership with Bellway, whose neighbouring 219-home Eastbury Park development is now complete. The remaining properties for sale at Elizabeth Gardens include a mix of four and five-bedroom houses. “Elizabeth Gardens has proved to be an extremely popular development from the outset. One of the major factors that has attracted buyers is that it is a well-designed development with a wide mix of homes built to a very high standard,” said Kate Jones, Sales Manager for Ashberry Homes. “The quality of the development is demonstrated by the fact that Phil Taylor, the site manager at Elizabeth Gardens, has received a top industry award in recognition of his work at the development for two years running. Phil won his second NHBC (National House Building Council) Pride in the Job Quality Award for Elizabeth Gardens this year, reflecting his commitment to producing homes of outstanding quality.” As part of the planning agreement for the 620-home scheme, Ashberry Homes and Bellway are providing significant funding for local services and infrastructure. More than £225,000 has been allocated for local healthcare, £15,000 for air quality measures, £60,000 to aid conservation in the area and £50,000 for road improvements. At least £3.5million will also be invested in local education. “Building work is progressing well and we are on schedule to finish construction on the site by July 2022. A brand-new community is being formed at Elizabeth Gardens and we are looking forward to welcoming more and more residents to this sought-after neighbourhood. With only a few homes still available, I would encourage anyone considering living in this charming little town which has its own railway station and peaceful countryside on its doorstep, to get in touch,” Kate added. There is currently a range of four and five-bedroom homes available at Elizabeth Gardens, with prices starting at £534,995.
Three influential industry experts have joined rapidly expanding property developer Strawberry Star Group to help elevate the businesses residential sales and Build-to-Rent (BTR) arms. Yash Dave joins Strawberry Star as the new Chief Operating Officer (COO), having over two decades of experience in finance and operations, with his most recent position as Group Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for Henley Homes. Mark Parker, who was the former regional Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and National Executive Board Member at Redrow, joins Strawberry Star as a Senior Advisor, alongside another ex-CEO heavyweight, Steve Walker, who previously led L&Q’s low-cost home ownership subsidiary, Tower Homes. The appointments are set to help expand Strawberry Star’s reach in the UK residential sector, whilst strengthening its ambitious housing vision to deliver 2,000 new homes by 2025. “The added expertise that these appointments bring is exactly what Strawberry Star needs to reach its next step after a challenging year for the housebuilding industry. We joined the UK market in 2007 and have already acquired over 1.5 million sq. ft to date, but we have even bigger plans for the future. Mark and Steve’s extensive experience and past successes will help us in our mission to rebalance the under supply of housing in the South East, whilst Yash’s operational understanding will ensure we continue to nurture the business as an end-to-end developer,” said Chief Executive Officer of Strawberry Star, Steven Beveridge. With 2,000 units already planned or under construction, Strawberry Star will continue to concentrate on the needs of first-time buyers who are priced out of central London, as well as providing investors with a fully managed buy-to-let experience. Current developments include LU2ON in Luton, and Harlow Quarter in Essex, with two further sites in the pipeline. Strawberry Star’s BTR arm is set to expand the developers offering in addition to residential sales, lettings, asset management and acquisitions. Successful schemes to date include Hoola at the Royal Docks, Bronze in Wandsworth, Sky Gardens in Nine Elms, and Greenview Court in Southall. As Senior Advisor to the Chairman, CEO and Directors of Strawberry Star, Mark Parker brings with him decades of experience at top tier housing providers. As well as leading three London divisions at Redrow, during his time as Managing Director of Telford Homes, he became the driving force behind its successful BTR expansion. In Mark’s newest role, he will act as a critical guide in helping to form the strategic direction of the company on its growth journey. Steve Walker will also help Strawberry Star deliver sector leading customer satisfaction and operational performance. Walker’s track record includes facilitating L&Q’s exponential growth over 20 years as Director of Regeneration, managing some of the largest development programmes in the UK. During this time period, he oversaw a turnover that reached nearly £300m with asset values of over £4bn. He is the only Housing Association CEO to receive HR magazines Most People Focused CEO Award as well as the National Housing Federation’s Lifetime Achievement Award for services to low-cost home ownership.
