May 23, 2022

PREDICTIONS & MARKET INFLUENCES FOR Q3/ Q4 2022

Andrea Fawell, Sales & Marketing Director of award-winning property developers Kebbell, reveals what is likely to affect house buyers and housebuilders in the second half of 2022, from market trends to the effects of the cost of living crisis, to sustainability. The Market Are you seeing any changes or trends

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Cyberhawk and Shamal Technologies deploy Visual Intelligence to transform major capital projects in Saudi Arabia

Cyberhawk has signed an agreement with Shamal Technologies to digitally transform the way major construction projects are managed in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Shamal Technologies is a leading geospatial company that delivers end-to-end data acquisition, visualization and analytics solutions that can reduce operational risk. The company is the first

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Should You Build Your Own Greenhouse?

There are many individuals who decide to build their own greenhouse – but this can often be quite a challenging endeavour, especially for those who don’t have much experience in this type of project. From the materials, to leveraging; there are typically several things that you’ll need to consider before

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Architectural Designer Resume

Do you enjoy envisioning spaces to make them functional and attractive? If yes, you should consider becoming an architectural designer. Some of the responsibilities of an architectural designer include coming up with ideas for homes and buildings. To get a job, you’ll have to write an architectural designer resume. In

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Solving the ecommerce storage challenge with a Mezzanine

As ecommerce sales continue to grow exponentially, online retailers, distributors and logistics firms are facing a storage challenge. With more orders to handle than ever, there is a need for cost-effective storage solutions that make the best use of existing space. With online sales forecast to increase another 14% in

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Latest Issue
Issue 323 : Dec 2024

May 23, 2022

COLE WATERHOUSE JV ACQUIRES SITE FOR 1000+ APARTMENTS IN EAST LEEDS CITY CENTRE

Cole Waterhouse and Tonia Investments have successfully purchased a 3.8 acre brownfield site in Leeds city centre having recently secured planning for 1012 apartments, over five separate blocks. Currently referred to as ‘Leeds City Village’, the triangular site sits opposite Leeds’ cultural district, Quarry Hill.  Bound by Marsh Lane to the west and Shannon Street to the north. It was formerly home to the Marsh Lane Goods Yard.  The joint venture sees Cole Waterhouse and Tonia Investments working in partnership for the first time. Speaking about plans for the development, Damian Flood, CEO at Cole Waterhouse, commented: “We seek to build developments where placemaking is central to the design to help deliver places that are desirable destinations as well as great places to live.” Commenting on the acquisition, JV partner Tonia Investment Principal Charlie Qian said: “Tonia is excited to work with Cole Waterhouse. We hope the delivery of this impressive scheme will add to the continued expansion of the City Eastwards. It will provide an acre of new public realm that we hope will complement the success of the neighbouring cultural quarter.” The JV partnership now aim to progress the scheme with Leeds City Council. They plan to make a series of design changes to enhance the residential offering and public realm space. The revisions to the submitted planning application will ensure that the development meets occupiers’ expectations now and in the future; proposed changes include adjusting the balance of studio apartments for larger 1-bed apartments as well as providing a sharper focus on the communal areas and the overall scheme design. Enhancements to the public realm will seek to address functional improvements that enable better use of outdoor spaces for entertainment, exercise and leisure. Damian Flood said: “Understanding the area’s culture and the community’s future ambitions is crucial and we will be appointing a local cultural lead to help us shape the scheme to ensure it meets the aspirations of local residents. This community-first approach has been hugely successful for us at other schemes, helping to really connect and engage with the local market from the earliest stage of the development. “We’re really excited to be working in Leeds at a time when it is undergoing a significant period of transformation and we will be appointing a primarily Yorkshire-based team to deliver the project over the next 6 years. We will be submitting the revised planning application by the end of 2022 with the intention to start on site as soon as planning is granted.” Cole Waterhouse has a strong track record in the residential and BTR sector and has a current pipeline to deliver over 2000 residential units across its sites in Leeds, Birmingham and Manchester. Building Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction & Property News

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PREDICTIONS & MARKET INFLUENCES FOR Q3/ Q4 2022

Andrea Fawell, Sales & Marketing Director of award-winning property developers Kebbell, reveals what is likely to affect house buyers and housebuilders in the second half of 2022, from market trends to the effects of the cost of living crisis, to sustainability. The Market Are you seeing any changes or trends in the new build market at the moment or is it still all about unprecedented demand and a lack of supply? “There still continues to be a ‘race for space’ and chronic shortage in supply of materials and labour and the reasons remain the same ie the effects of Brexit, the pandemic and world shortages. Where it has become even more challenging is that there is now a chronic lack of properties on the second hand market because sellers don’t believe they will have anywhere to move to, so they are holding back on putting their homes on the market. This means potential buyers have far less choice and so the cycle continues. “New builds are still being snapped up before construction even starts at many developments. All of our sites that are selling two to five bedroom houses are sold out or forward sold for up to 12 months, and at Cornelian Fields in Scarborough the waiting list is 18 months. New home property prices are also rising because of energy prices and shortages so the cost to build a house is much greater now. This incredibly hot market is unhealthy for everyone involved. We need more properties on the secondhand market for stabilisation.” So are developers running out of stock? “We are completely led by opportunities that our amazing land buyers can find but there is less available land compared to other countries, especially in the South East. Success is made on how much you pay for a new site adding on the cost implications of building and the managing of a site.  Land-buyers have an incredibly difficult job and have to have their ears constantly to the ground. Kebbell largely chooses to stick to markets that we know extremely well but yes it is more of a tousle for new sites than before.” What is the effect of the cost of living crisis and energy prices rises on the new build market? “We are all aware that energy prices have risen for everyone and are set to rise further, from electricity, gas and water, to fuel at the pump, and they have to be absorbed to some extent. However buyers of new homes are taking into account that those running costs are much less per sq ft in a new build than in a second hand home. Buyers are telling us “Your underfloor heating is going to save me money and I’d much rather invest in that than pay the utility companies even more money.” Are new home buyers having to bear the brunt of increased material costs? “Not on our current sites. We have done some very savvy buying and have secured material costs on existing sites, so we have been able to absorb increases on the whole. On newer up and coming sites it is more challenging, but reputable developers are trying to future proof our build costs but also have to be very realistic about increased materials and labour.  The import duty now added to materials that come out of the EU, the increased time it takes for things to be delivered and come through customs, plus general shortages are all additional factors to be considered. We ask contractors all the time about how likely their prices are to rise during the duration of the development of a particular site, which could be say three years, and can they guarantee having enough labour? They need to have thought it through too. We need to keep costs sustainable for the whole duration.”   Are more new build homes being sold off plan? “Yes houses definitely. We can sell houses all day and all night at the moment especially in the middle price point. We like to be cautious though because as we build we often slightly tweak our designs and specifications to make sure they are perfect in ways that you can’t plan for. Serious early buyers are usually okay with the fact that final details may change as long as they are kept in the loop because they want the best plots on site and are happy to wait for their new home. “It is currently a slightly flatter market for apartments for downsizers and lock-up-and-leavers because the market isn’t as buoyant at that end. These sellers generally haven’t put their houses on the market yet and are even more particular than ever about what they want in their future home. It took us a little longer to sell our luxury apartments at Wintersbrooke in Berkshire than we expected as the market was slower to move during the pandemic, but all of our buyers are delighted to be in their new homes now.” How is sustainability influencing the value of properties?  “Whilst this is increasingly on the property industry’s radar, we have really only scratched the surface. We are seeing future changes such as the scrapping of gas boilers and buyers want developers to be more eco-friendly especially in light of increased living costs. ESG (Environmental and Social Governance) is more important but there is also a lot of greenwashing as an industry. Half-hearted attempts just aren’t going to be enough. “There are so many ways we need to make a difference from the materials we use, future-proofing homes, water-saving, sustainability, to our skips and recycling, urban sustainability and less being influenced by geopolitics. I certainly don’t have all the answers, but we are looking in earnest about how we can make a difference. I recently went to Svalbard as part of a global research group to study the effects of microplastics in the ocean water, as well as be part of a survival psychology study. This trip was organised after our expedition to

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Network Space strengthens industrial development pipeline with acquisition of former Manchester College site

Network Space Developments has acquired a 2.8-acre site on Welcomb Street, Openshaw, from the LTE Group for an undisclosed sum. The former Manchester College site, accessed from the Ashton Old Road (A635), currently comprises of eight buildings of varying ages and sizes which were previously used as classrooms and workshops by the Manchester School of Building. Initial development plans are for the delivery of up to 70,000 sq ft of multi-let industrial accommodation with work due to start on site in the first half of 2023, subject to securing planning permission later this year. Joe Burnett, Development Director for Network Space Development commented: “We are delighted to have acquired this site which provides the opportunity to build on the success of our adjacent City Works scheme. “The site is very well located within Openshaw and in a sought-after area of Greater Manchester. It is ideal for both industrial and last-mile logistics uses with its excellent accessibility to a skilled local workforce as well as close proximity to Manchester City Centre. He added: “This latest acquisition aligns perfectly with our strategy for growing our industrial and logistics portfolio by targeting sites located in key urban areas with significant future growth potential.”  LTE Group were represented by Cushman & Wakefield. Building Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction & Property News

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Cyberhawk and Shamal Technologies deploy Visual Intelligence to transform major capital projects in Saudi Arabia

Cyberhawk has signed an agreement with Shamal Technologies to digitally transform the way major construction projects are managed in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Shamal Technologies is a leading geospatial company that delivers end-to-end data acquisition, visualization and analytics solutions that can reduce operational risk. The company is the first in Saudi Arabia to develop solutions that integrate artificial intelligence technology with unmanned systems.  Cyberhawk is a world leader in visual data solutions for energy infrastructure and capital projects. The UK firm captures images of critical infrastructure using drone technology, which is analyzed using Cyberhawk’s cloud-based visualization software, iHawk. As part of the agreement, both parties will combine data acquisition and analytics expertise to launch a powerful Visual Intelligence solution for major capital projects in Saudi Arabia. Shamal Online, the name given to the new data management and visualization platform, will be powered by iHawk. Cyberhawk will also provide technical knowledge transfer support and scale up drone surveying operations for planned construction projects within the region. The construction monitoring solution will support project managers to track milestones, coordinate vendor activities, and schedule future onsite work. The fully enabled IoT solution will empower project managers to make evidence-based decisions by integrating seamlessly with third-party sensors and APIs. Geospatial information, including imagery acquired from ground cameras, CCTV, drones, and autonomous technologies will form data layers for analysis on an unprecedented scale. The agreement was signed during a ceremony held at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) which is an institute focused on driving innovation, economic development, and social prosperity in Saudi Arabia. The partnership is aligned with the Saudi 2030 vision to form strong international alliances and invest in a highly trained Saudi workforce to develop progressive industries and futureproof the economy. Chris Fleming, Chief Executive Officer at Cyberhawk commented: “Countries within the Gulf Cooperation Council are successfully growing and diversifying their economies through digital transformation strategies. Shamal Technologies is a great example of this, and we’re excited about working together to accelerate innovation within the Kingdom.” Haitham Aljahdali, CEO at Shamal Technologies added: “The world is in a data revolution. That leads us to use great visualization tools to empower thousands of asset owners, project, and inspection managers to harness the power of data. Cyberhawk has one of the best-in-class data management and visualization platforms in the world. We are glad to have this partnership with the market leader in the field.”

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Should You Build Your Own Greenhouse?

There are many individuals who decide to build their own greenhouse – but this can often be quite a challenging endeavour, especially for those who don’t have much experience in this type of project. From the materials, to leveraging; there are typically several things that you’ll need to consider before putting one up in your garden. For those who want an easier experience, buying a kit will often be the best solution. It’s simple and often cost-effective too, which only helps to make it an even better choice. Even so, you may still be unsure of what to do. Let’s take a closer look at some of the important things to consider when choosing between a DIY project and purchasing a pre-made greenhouse kit.  Want to buy? Make sure you buy from a reputable manufacturer First things first, if you do plan on purchasing a greenhouse, you should make sure that you’re getting a product that’s good quality and meets your requirements. If you decide to purchase a greenhouse from Hall, you’re likely to find that there are a variety of good kits to choose from, with plenty of variety too. This is perfect for those who already have an idea of what style and size they’re in need of – but even if you’re unsure, you could always take a look at their range and decide which one you like the most. What are the pros and cons of building your own? There are typically a few things that DIY enthusiasts will find beneficial about building their own greenhouse – but also a few factors that may be less than ideal. The costs For example, you could save quite a bit of money when using recycled materials, but this doesn’t mean that the project will be more cost-effective overall. You may find that modifying an existing structure into a leveraged greenhouse may work out to be a little more expensive despite half of the work already being done, and getting building permits could come at a price. This could end up balancing out the cost a little more. Options for customisation One positive aspect of customisation is that you can choose what materials you use. While it may not always be easy to find everything you need in one trip, it could be a bonus to be able to pick and choose all the individual aspects as you go along. With more options to customise your greenhouse, you can also custom-fit it to your garden’s unique needs.  Time and effort Of course, you will need to be considerate of all the work that will go into installing a greenhouse. From sourcing the materials, to preparing your garden; there’s often a lot that you’ll need to do yourself, even when hiring somebody to undertake the build. What are the pros and cons of buying a kit? In general, buying a good quality greenhouse kit will solve a lot of the issues that many people have when going the do-it-yourself route. You may want to keep the following points in mind: Taking the easy option If you do decide to build your own greenhouse, it may be far better to opt for a kit, as you’ll generally find that the building process will be so much simpler and will take far less time to complete. This generally comes at the cost of being less customisable, which means that it may not be ideal for those who have very specific and unusual requirements. However, with a variety of kits in many shapes, sizes and styles, it usually won’t be too hard to find something that works for you. Quality guaranteed While you won’t necessarily have as many options when it comes to materials, it is worth noting that you won’t have to worry about them either. From a good manufacturer, you can generally enjoy quality throughout, with everything being cut to the right measurements. You may even find some parts pre-assembled and instructions to ensure that the building process goes as smoothly as possible. Save money and avoid risks All in all, considering all the different costs of a DIY greenhouse, you’ll usually be able to save money with a kit. While those on a tight budget could cut corners building their own, it isn’t usually going to be worth the risk. Alongside all this, you should also get a warranty when you purchase a good greenhouse. Typically, a manufactured greenhouse will come with at least some form of protection if something should go wrong (often relating to factory defects or similar issues), which at least gives you the opportunity to get a refund or a new one if anything goes awry. When constructing your own, you won’t get this luxury and will have to pay out for any damages yourself. Which one is best? With all the facts laid out, we can see that there are both positive and negative aspects to both. The best thing you can do is consider which one will be the most beneficial to you. If you’re looking to minimise risks, reduce the amount of work needed and potentially save some cash in the process, buying a kit might be the right way to go. Unless you really want to get involved with a project or need to tailor your greenhouse to your garden, it’ll generally be best to go for a kit. While DIY greenhouses do have their benefits, most will find that it’s simply not worth it in the long run. Building Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction & Property News

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Architectural Designer Resume

Do you enjoy envisioning spaces to make them functional and attractive? If yes, you should consider becoming an architectural designer. Some of the responsibilities of an architectural designer include coming up with ideas for homes and buildings. To get a job, you’ll have to write an architectural designer resume. In this post, we are going to share with you a few important tips that you should use when writing an architectural designer resume and an example to help you land your dream job and achieve your career goals. If you’ve been wondering what an architectural designer’s resume is, you are in the right place. It is a document that describes and summarizes your experience, qualifications, and history in designing structures. It describes the projects that you’ve worked on and the skills that you possess. This includes internships, training, work history, classroom projects, and coursework that focuses on building design, architecture, landscaping, and interior design. Is there a difference between a designer and an architect? Architectural designers and architects play an important role in designing buildings. Architects are professionals who have passed a thorough exam and have registered with a board to validate that they possess the required skills. They design and oversee the construction of projects. On the other hand, an architectural designer comes up with plans that are focused on the appearance of a building. Their titles aren’t protected. Therefore, they don’t have strict qualifications. You can work as an architectural designer before you apply for an architect license. Architects and architectural designers usually work together on projects. Here are a few simple rules to follow when writing an architectural designer resume. If you can’t do the work, you should consider hiring professional resume writers. 1.      Have a clear header Your resume should have a clear header that includes your details such as name, phone number, and email. Including a header in your resume is important because it helps to hire managers to contact you in case you match what they are looking for. You’ll find some templates with these fields to ensure that everything is organized. 2.      Objective After filling the header section, you need to include the resume objective section where you’ll describe the type of job that you are looking for and why you are the best person for the job. This is one of the sections that should distinguish you from other candidates. You should consider including details of your experience in the industry, the skills that you possess, and the outcomes of your work. 3.      Focus on your experience Your resume should have the experience section. This is where you describe your experience in designing structures. Start with the recent job or title that you had, your employer’s name, and the number of months or years that you worked. List the positions that relate to the job that you are applying for. Think of the goals that you managed to achieve. Seeking help from resume writing services will help you focus on your creativity in construction. 4.      List your skills You need to make a list of the skills that are relevant to the job that you are applying for. If you are experienced in various types of design programs, write them down by name for your employer to know whether you’ll need training or not if they choose to hire you. Write down your experience with designing various types of structures and how you adapt in the field. 5.      Education Your resume needs to have a section where you discuss your education qualifications. The education section can be placed at the beginning or end of your document depending on how it’s linked to your career path. For instance, if you studied architecture in college, you should place this section after your objective. On the other hand, if you want your employer to focus on work experience, place it at the end. Working with professional cv writing service will greatly increase your chances of getting hired. 6.      Include extra qualifications If other qualifications will help you stand out and get hired, you should consider creating additional sections and highlighting them. The best professional resume writers will help you with this. For instance, if you are a member of a professional body, you should include a section in your document to highlight this. Template Resume Name Email Phone Number Home Address Career Objective Work experience Job title Name of employer and date of employment Duties Skills Education Certificate School name and date of graduation Licenses (List the licenses that you have) Conclusion Writing a resume that stands out is not easy. However, using the tips that we’ve discussed here will help you land your dream job and achieve your career goals. Always keep things simple because no recruiter wants to spend extra time reading a single document.

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Solving the ecommerce storage challenge with a Mezzanine

As ecommerce sales continue to grow exponentially, online retailers, distributors and logistics firms are facing a storage challenge. With more orders to handle than ever, there is a need for cost-effective storage solutions that make the best use of existing space. With online sales forecast to increase another 14% in 2022, mezzanine floors offer an ideal storage solution for ecommerce businesses. By installing a mezzanine, businesses can make the most of the space they already have, rather than incurring the expense and time of searching for new premises. A mezzanine floor can be adapted to store whatever you need, whether it’s stock, equipment or even office space. And because mezzanines are constructed from steel, they’re incredibly strong and durable, so you can be confident that they are safe. Mezzanines are also highly versatile and can be easily reconfigured to meet changing storage needs. The alternatives to a mezzanine floor are either to move to larger premises, which can be costly and time-consuming, or to make do with the space you have and hope that it’s enough. Neither of these options is ideal, but a mezzanine floor offers a practical and cost-effective solution to the storage challenge faced by businesses in the ecommerce sector. Specialist mezzanine floor engineers can build a bespoke solution to provide pallet storage on top and shelving/racking storage beneath, or they can create office space on a mezzanine with access by stairs, lift or mezzanine decking. How mezzanines solve the ecommerce storage challenge: Mezzanines make the best use of existing space, rather than requiring new premises. Mezzanines can be adapted to store whatever is needed, whether it’s inventory, packaging materials or office space. Mezzanines are quick and easy to install, with minimal disruption to your business. Building a mezzanine floor is also a great way to make use of otherwise underutilised space in your warehouse or factory. By utilising the height of your building, you can double or even triple your available storage space without having to expand your footprint. Structural engineers are able to design solutions for even the most challenging spaces. They work closely with their clients to ensure that their mezzanine storage solution meets their specific needs and requirements. With extra storage you can be sure to meet customers’ deadlines and have the peace of mind that comes with knowing you have the space to cope with future growth. We asked Western Industrial who are a UK based mezzanine construction specialist how they approach designing and building a mezzanine floor. They commented, “We offer a free consultation to assess our clients’ needs and recommend the best options for their space. We then work closely with them, discussing their mezzanine application, deciding on materials, column grid and site conditions for installation. Our aim is to provide clients with the best solution that will also comply with all fire, safety and building regulations legislation.” As you can see internal expansion is most often the rational answer to space shortage if you are scaling up your ecommerce business. It then becomes unnecessary to move to larger premises with the inherent costs and relocation. You can seriously consider expanding any part of your business upwards and in-house. A mezzanine floor can provide any of the following storage solutions: Extra Office Accommodation Production Facilities Extra Storage Warehouse Space Specialised Areas Showrooms Archive storage Personal Storage Cleanrooms

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