The market for modular and prefabricated homes continues to boom, but are we storing up problems for the future that may ultimately cost millions of pounds in repairs and heartache for home owners? According to Global, the country’s fastest growing supplier of insurance backed latent defect warranties, it is a
National housebuilder, Keepmoat Homes, has completed on the purchase of Westwood Park, Glenrothes and will shortly embark upon an 8-year building programme to deliver 420 much needed residential homes to this new community. Keepmoat Homes will be bringing the vacant site at the north of Foxton Drive in the south
Businesses who have enlisted the help of Bhangals Construction Consultants managing director Parm Bhangal saw boosted profits during 2021 thanks to his coaching skills. The construction business coach revealed that his clients experienced an average of £500,000 profit increase after just one year of coaching. Parm’s extensive industry experience allows
Lighting technology upgrade across eight van and truck retail showrooms, using a variety of the latest LED solutions. Operational costs reduced by more than £95,000 over 12 months Carbon reduction of 980 tonnes over the term of the contract Significant positive impact on employee wellbeing Eight commercial retail sites operated
The market for modular and prefabricated homes continues to boom, but are we storing up problems for the future that may ultimately cost millions of pounds in repairs and heartache for home owners? According to Global, the country’s fastest growing supplier of insurance backed latent defect warranties, it is a real possibility. Manufacturers from every part of the globe are now producing and developing more components offsite than ever before with industry estimates suggesting that some 15,000 new modular homes are being built every year in the UK alone – a figure that is rising rapidly. Every new home requires a latent defects warranty to cover anything unforeseen that might happen between year two and year three. During the first 24 months the builder is responsible for correcting any issues. It is a system that has traditionally worked well, with more conventional homes seeking a latent defects warranty, being inspected at every stage of the build process. Companies such as Global have a multi stage inspection guide from the moment footings are dug and concrete poured, right up to final delivery, to ensure that each home is fit for purpose. “The problem is,” said Jim Edwards, commercial Director for Global Home Warranties, “how do you inspect modular components for latent defects? This would require sending our surveyors to every factory currently producing such systems, as far away as China in some cases.” “This means that while we can inspect the way they are installed, we equally have to accept that offsite components are fit for purpose and have reached the highest possible standard. In most cases this is very much the case, but there is no way of knowing 100% and this is where the real problem lies – without independent inspection at the factories then it is not possible to determine whether we will have to address latent defects issues in the future.” The market for modular buildings is expected to grow in excess of 6% year on year and there are estimates that the majority of contractors architects and engineers are now designing with or using modules built offsite. The move to offsite construction has been driven by the need to meet Government targets to build up to 300,000 new homes every year which means that modular and prefabricated components are increasingly being used. Companies in the UK specialising in offsite construction have an enviable track record in terms of quality and mostly produce components which have been ISO certified or meet all current building regulations and standards. This means, according to Global, that it will more likely to be imported systems that ultimately fail, possibly because overseas manufacturers are not as familiar with or as aware of building practice within the UK and European construction sector, or simply because standards have been set lower to save money. “As we know, price is very much a factor within all areas of construction and there is likely to be a temptation to import more and more low-cost building systems,” said Jim Edwards. “They may do exactly what it says on the tin but none of us yet know what is likely to happen two, five or even 10 years down the line and now is the time to ask ourselves – should we be more stringent by having independent inspection processes in every factory that produces such materials.” There is growing evidence and other industry experts agree that we could be storing up problems. Recent reports suggest that the lack of detailed data on the durability of modular homes in the UK could be a considerable barrier for construction professionals concerned about the long-term viability of offsite components. Financial service providers, including insurers, mortgage lenders and valuers need to have certainty that modular homes are safe and durable if they are to engage with them, which is why we are now seeing Global and other industry experts calling for the development of a digital database that records the design, processes and materials used in the construction of buildings. Digital technology would make it possible to create a database that would store and track information about the built environment and would record the materials and processes used. It could also track repairs and alterations in larger housing developments and make sure that this information would be available to relevant stakeholders, including insurers and fire services. “This will never be as good as a personal inspection process,” said Jim Edwards, “but it would certainly provide more confidence and peace of mind for the entire industry and ultimately for the insurance companies that have to back latent defects warranties – and the time to act is now.”
National housebuilder, Keepmoat Homes, has completed on the purchase of Westwood Park, Glenrothes and will shortly embark upon an 8-year building programme to deliver 420 much needed residential homes to this new community. Keepmoat Homes will be bringing the vacant site at the north of Foxton Drive in the south of Glenrothes into positive use, providing a range of highly accessible new homes for sale, with 10% allocated for affordable housing. The range of two-, three- and four-bedroom houses will be contemporary in style and designed to cater for a range of needs and lifestyles. Along with access links for pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles within the development and to the wider area, the site will feature useable amenity space and children’s play areas, delivering a safe, pleasant and user-friendly public realm, encouraging active lifestyles and a community feel. Planning permission for the Glenrothes development was granted by Fife Council in February 2021, and the council will work in partnership with Keepmoat Homes, Scottish Enterprise and LandTeam to deliver the site and build a thriving new community. “We’re thrilled to have completed the purchase of the site at Westwood Park and be able to contribute to the area with plans for a thriving new community,” said Derek Wilson, Regional Managing Director at Keepmoat Homes. “Westwood Park is designed to respond to the local surroundings while also holding a strong character and sense of place. Using modern construction methods, the new homes will be designed to support a range of prospective homeowners, from first-time buyers to those looking to up-or-downsize in the community and we’re confident that the first phase will help a lot of people achieve their dream of owning a new home.” Work on the Glenrothes development is due to start on site in Q1 2022 and it should be complete in 2030.
Businesses who have enlisted the help of Bhangals Construction Consultants managing director Parm Bhangal saw boosted profits during 2021 thanks to his coaching skills. The construction business coach revealed that his clients experienced an average of £500,000 profit increase after just one year of coaching. Parm’s extensive industry experience allows him to advise his peers with developed proven methods and strategies that help construction professionals systemise their operations, offer a unique experience to their clients, and grow their business – as well as themselves. As an award-winning business coach, Parm’s mission is to inspire, encourage and motivate construction and property professionals to strive for better and achieve more. “Enlisting the help of a business coach can give great insight into your company and your leadership. You can glean invaluable nuggets of advice that can help you push your business and your career to the next level,” he said. “It has been a challenging time for businesses across the board but when it gets hard, you have to put more in. You need a relentless determination to succeed and sometimes some support from a business coach can help you keep that drive and determination.” Parm’s tailored coaching has supported many businesses to share knowledge and work towards sustainable business growth through strategic thinking. He has numerous approaches to sharing best practice and will take your lead on what you need. “Coaching is very specific to a person, it is hugely subjective. You might like to be told how to approach a situation but someone else might prefer to be guided through by someone asking the right questions. Do you want information drawn out of you, or do you want to be given the answers?,” he added. With all the recent challenges in the construction industry, including a worldwide pandemic, skills shortage and supply crisis, it is understandable for business owners to feel unsure in decision making processes and be seeking help. Many need advice on crisis management and how to motivate staff, or tips on how to achieve peak performance in unprecedented circumstances. Parm says, uncertainty and a knock in confidence is common, but can be rectified. Sharing best practice with other industry professionals can really help move a business forward. He said: “Despite the recent challenges in the construction industry, business is booming. Companies are struggling to keep up with the ever-increasing demand. If you are in the industry, you must have the right strategies, processes, and methods in place in order to take advantage of the opportunities currently available and have the best chance of growth and good profit margins. “Business coaching can help you refocus and confidently make changes to help achieve those outstanding results that you covet. The start of a new year is the perfect time for a brand-new approach.”
Lighting technology upgrade across eight van and truck retail showrooms, using a variety of the latest LED solutions. Operational costs reduced by more than £95,000 over 12 months Carbon reduction of 980 tonnes over the term of the contract Significant positive impact on employee wellbeing Eight commercial retail sites operated by UK Mercedes-Benz dealership Rygor have been equipped with the latest LED lighting systems courtesy of a comprehensive upgrade initiative implemented by Journey Energy Solutions (Journey). Established to help organisations get closer to Net Zero emissions without the burden of up-front capital outlay, Journey designs, installs and maintains carefully tailored, energy-efficient LED lighting systems. The starting point for the recent project was the realisation by the auto dealership that the existing lighting needed to be upgraded in order to reduce operational costs and carbon emissions. The lighting at three sites in particular – Heathrow, Swindon and Westbury – was also increasingly unfit for purpose and subject to frequent costly replacements. But during the course of conversations with the specialist energy solutions company that provided the upgrade, the scope of the scheme was expanded to include eight van and truck retail showrooms: the three aforementioned sites as well as Chilcompton, Kidderminster, Newbury, Nuneaton and Oxford. In terms of choosing a partner to implement the lighting upgrade and provide support post-installation, there were multiple key factors that worked in the favour of Journey. These included the ability to start work immediately, maintain a seamless transition between each site, and work in such a way that any operational disruption was kept to a minimum. For example, to avoid negative impact during installation in the active workshop service areas, advanced notice was given to each service manager so they could schedule work on particular days – ensuring that any possible conflicts were avoided. The outcomes The upgrade programme took three months with each of Rygor’s sites now featuring a complementary blend of the latest LED lighting products. As well as carrying out all the design and installation work, Journey has also been contracted for six years to provide ongoing service and maintenance support – giving further reassurance to the Rygor team and allowing the dealer’s internal technical resources to be directed elsewhere. Whilst the figure could rise further due to a greatly reduced need for replacements and associated maintenance, it is already predicted that Rygor will benefit from an impressive reduction in its carbon emissions of 980 tonnes and an energy cost saving of £648,514 over the term of the contract. This would be a huge step forward for any business at any time, but in the midst of an unpredictable economic cycle and with climate change concerns escalating, it has a truly transformative potential. In addition to the energy savings, the improved quality of the lighting – especially in the most badly affected areas at the sites deemed most urgently in need of an upgrade – has been widely commented upon by employees and visitors. In particular, feedback from personnel who have been employed in the company’s workshops for many years has been very strong, with many pinpointing the much more sympathetic and consistent nature of the lighting. The testimonials In reflecting on the project, Rygor praises the “excellent” nature of the Journey installation teams and the entire experience of collaborating with the company before, during and after the upgrade. Stuart Gemmell, Rygor Group Facilities and Health & Safety Manager, commented: “Our ageing lighting systems didn’t provide the quality of lighting that we required, in particular our workshops were quite gloomy,” he says. “The upgrades have transformed our working environments, making it easier for staff to operate efficiently. The staff are certainly benefiting and the feedback they have provided us with has been extremely positive.” The operational and carbon savings being achieved by the project have impressed the Rygor team on their journey to Net Zero. He added: “It almost goes without saying that we are also delighted with the massive contribution that the new lighting will make to our carbon emissions reduction strategy. In fact, it’s going to be a major milestone on our way to becoming a Net Zero business.” The on-going support offered by Journey will also be beneficial to the business. He finished: “The other really positive aspect is that the partnership is very much ongoing because Journey will be providing long-term support and maintenance. And of course, that means valuable extra peace of mind as we move forward.” To help motor dealers on the path to energy savings and carbon reduction, Journey has launched a free, downloadable guide – ‘The Journey to Net Zero – How to cut costs, save energy and deliver decarbonisation: a guide for motor dealers’. To download the free guide, click here.
