Firethorn Trust’s 21-acre logistics scheme, Peterborough South, is rapidly taking shape, with structural steelwork now erected across the site. Located at Kingston Park in Hampton, the Grade-A industrial development comprises of three units spanning 94,225 sq ft, 130,015 sq ft and 240,830 sq ft, all of which will be delivered
Building new homes on brownfield land is not the solution to the national housing emergency even if significant government support is forthcoming, claims a report published today by the Land Promoters and Developers Federation (LPDF). According to the Banking on Brownfield report even if every site on council brownfield registers
An awards ceremony, hosted by HS2 Minister Andrew Stephenson MP, was held in Parliament today (Monday, 4 July) to recognise the outstanding achievements of individuals and businesses supporting the construction of Britain’s new railway. Members of Parliament joined Mr Stephenson for the ceremony, which shone a light on those who
When you purchased your fixer-upper, you must have had some inclination to fix it up. What you’re going to do with it afterwards can be decided at a later date, but for now you need to get it up to standard so that someone can live there, whether it’s you
Firethorn Trust’s 21-acre logistics scheme, Peterborough South, is rapidly taking shape, with structural steelwork now erected across the site. Located at Kingston Park in Hampton, the Grade-A industrial development comprises of three units spanning 94,225 sq ft, 130,015 sq ft and 240,830 sq ft, all of which will be delivered as net-zero carbon in construction. Work is well underway at the scheme, which is being delivered by Glencar Construction, and is on track for completion in Q4 2022. Chris Webb, Partner at Firethorn Trust, commented: “Having received the green light on planning earlier this year, we are delighted to have hit this structural milestone and we look forward to seeing the scheme continue to develop at pace over the coming months. “As with all Firethorn developments, we’re committed to creating spaces with a market-leading specification, and Peterborough South’s design will showcase innovative, best-in-class products and technologies that will promote productivity, sustainability and employee wellbeing, now and for years to come.” The development will be delivered to a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ specification and will feature more than 40,000 sq. ft. of photovoltaic arrays and 48 electric vehicle charging points, offering potential occupiers a smart and future-proof logistics space. Enquiries for Peterborough South should be directed to the scheme’s letting agents, Savills and Lambert Smith Hampton. For further information, visit www.peterboroughsouth.co.uk.
Building new homes on brownfield land is not the solution to the national housing emergency even if significant government support is forthcoming, claims a report published today by the Land Promoters and Developers Federation (LPDF). According to the Banking on Brownfield report even if every site on council brownfield registers was to be built out in full, brownfield land capacity only equates to just under a third (31%) of the 4.5 million new homes needed over the next 15 years. Undertaken on behalf of the LPDF by planning and development consultancy Lichfields, Banking on Brownfield asks if previously developed land can supply enough homes, of the right type, where they are needed. The answer is a resounding no. The analysis comes in response to the Levelling Up White Paper, 2021 Conservative Party Conference speeches and the £1.5 billion Brownfield housing fund which have all suggested brownfield land as the solution to meeting the country’s housing needs. The report shows: 1.4 million estimated net housing capacity on listed sites in Brownfield Registers (after 58,000 are deducted due to double counting). 23,500 individual site entries on Brownfield Registers (after 1,000 are deducted due to double counting). 31% net brownfield capacity as a proportion of the amount of housing needed over the next 15 years. 48% of potential homes on Brownfield Registers are estimated to be flats, compared with 17% of households likely to live in flats. 1 to 27 – the ratio of one new brownfield house (as opposed to flats) to every 27 households likely to live in houses. 57% of brownfield capacity outside the Greater South-East (GSE) is within the two least viable quintiles (20%) of LPA areas (compared with less than 3% of those in GSE). 68% of the Housing Market Areas (HMAs) with more brownfield capacity (relative to their housing need) are already more affordable than average. There were 132,000 net housing additions built in England in 2001 when ‘brownfield first’ was the dominant national housing supply policy objective (compared with 234,000 p.a. on average over the last three years). According to thereport, brownfield registers suggest that 81% of new homes that could be delivered in 19 urban authorities with uplifted housing requirements will be at apartment densities, rather than family houses. The research also highlights the viability challenges in these areas, assigning 15 out of 19 uplifted authorities to higher viability risk profiles which will also undoubtedly contribute towards their limited delivery of affordable homes. LPDF chairman Paul Brocklehurst said: “If the Government wants to meet its target of building 300,000 homes each year, no source of land can be ‘off the table’. Our analysis in this report shows that there is simply not enough brownfield land in any part of the country to meet housing needs alone. “The re-orientation of housing policy, and Homes England efforts towards brownfield regeneration, may help support the conditions where viable and developable land can come forward, but many of these sites will also require grants to unlock them, at greater expense to the taxpayer. Even with this policy support, greenfield land development will still be needed in every region, to meet current housing need.” He added: “The competition for urban land is ever present, markedly between economic and residential uses. Our research finds the opportunity cost of prioritising brownfield land for housing rather than employment is significant in pricing out industrial and office development to potentially sub-optimal locations.” Matthew Spry, senior director and head of Lichfield’s London office said: “Lichfields is delighted to partner again with the LPDF on this topical research. Our analysis shows that even if all identified brownfield land could be viably developed, we are a long way from being able to rely on it as the supply-side solution to the housing crisis. “And in reality, this theoretical capacity cannot all be delivered: much capacity is tied up in complex estate regeneration projects, or is best suited for continued industrial use, or includes contaminated land, or is in areas where development won’t be viable. Many brownfield sites are also earmarked for apartments, when the overwhelming demand is for houses with gardens. “While brownfield land will form an important part of the mix, the experience of the late 1990s tells us that banking on brownfield will lead to a sharp fall in new house building and undersupply in every region. Local planning authorities should plan positively for brownfield development but accompany this with a realistic supply of land of all types, capable of delivering the right type of homes, and where and when they are most needed.” The report says the current Brownfield Registers have significant shortcomings when evaluating the quantum of developable land overall. This makes them an unreliable basis for policy makers to decide on the number of homes that can be built in different areas. It states: “Significant work is needed on improving data quality if it is to withstand the evidential burden that will be placed upon it if the Government chooses to make brownfield land availability a key part of its new planning reform agenda. A modest assessment of the Brownfield Register finds significant numbers of duplicate records. Our simple test for duplicates removed around 1,000 sites accounting for 58,000 homes.” The research complements another recently published report by the LPDF – An affordable housing emergency: the national failure to provide the homes we need (read full report here). It found that the Government must urgently introduce new policies to end the scandalous shortage of new affordable homes being developed if it wants to tackle the national housing emergency. Both the Affordable Housing Emergency and the Banking on Brownfield Land reports by the LPDF highlight the serious lack of supply of new social homes and how focusing development on brownfield sites in less viable locations across the country is likely to lead to reduced levels of affordable housing provision, further exacerbating the affordable housing emergency. Paul Brocklehurst added: “The Government’s proposals to widen Right to Buy to housing association properties will make
An awards ceremony, hosted by HS2 Minister Andrew Stephenson MP, was held in Parliament today (Monday, 4 July) to recognise the outstanding achievements of individuals and businesses supporting the construction of Britain’s new railway. Members of Parliament joined Mr Stephenson for the ceremony, which shone a light on those who are going the extra mile to ensure that the project raises the bar for equality, diversity and inclusion and leaves a lasting skills legacy. HS2 Minister, Andrew Stephenson MP said: “With almost 25,000 people across 340 sites now supporting HS2’s construction, today is a chance to reflect on the personal achievements of those who are working hard to ensure that HS2 transforms communities and changes lives. I feel privileged to have held the role of HS2 Minister for the last two and half years, and what inspires me most is seeing the work you are all doing on this landmark project. You inspire me and I know you are inspiring others too.” Shortlisted finalists, in eight award categories, were invited to attend the event and the winners were announced as follows: Community Impact award Three projects, designed to improve outcomes for those who live near to HS2’s construction sites, were shortlisted for the community impact award, with the public voting for the overall winner – Costain Skanska joint venture (CSjv). CSjv saw first-hand the devastating effect of rough sleeping in Euston and eager to help, they formed partnerships to help rehouse, reskill and create pathways to support people into employment. The team worked with local charity St Mungo’s to provide temporary accommodation and established the first ever floating homeless hub, based on a construction site, by transforming an empty building into a shelter with beds, wrap around care, food, toiletries and 24 hour security. A new partnership with Buses 4 Homeless (B4H) who refurbish decommissioned London buses and turn them into spaces for eating, sleeping, cooking and learning, led to a three-month pilot at a HS2 site in Acton, where people were housed and supported. Seven of the guests went on to secure full time employment, including four who secured jobs working on HS2. The team’s support for the local homeless community continues today. Apprentice of the Year award (level 3 and below) 25-year-old Divine Makondele, a tunnelling operative apprentice with TG Tunnelling, was announced as the winner. The judges hailed Divine as an inspiration to other young women and credited her determination to follow her dream and play a part in major infrastructure projects. Divine was inspired by the transformational impact of the London 2012 Olympics and sought to follow a career path which would allow her to transform communities and change lives. Apprentice of the Year award (level 4 and above) 21-year-old Sam Arrowsmith, an associate project management apprentice, impressed the judges with his drive to make a fundamental change to the industry. Sam completed his apprenticeship six months early and scored the highest grade amongst his cohort in his final exams. Sam plays an active role in HS2’s volunteer education programmes, inspiring other young people to consider a career in the sector. He was also recognised for his role in HS2’s Back to Better programme, which sought to ensure the safety of staff working across construction sites during the pandemic. Skills Legacy award HS2’s construction partner, Balfour Beatty VINCI (BBV) scooped the award for the establishment of their Birmingham Skills Academy, which upskills local people ready for employment on HS2 in just 4-6 weeks. BBV’s Skills and Employment team were applauded for the role they have played in bringing together local partners, securing funding and changing the lives of those who have been out of work for an extended period by supporting them into meaningful careers on HS2. STEM Contribution award HS2’s construction partner, Align, received the award for the innovative and original nature of its schools programme, which enables pupils with special educational needs to gain real life experience of working in construction. Align places a strong focus on supporting pupils with disabilities and has developed a close working relationship with the Meadow School in Hillingdon. The judges praised the team behind the project for pushing boundaries and striving to encourage more people with a disability into the sector. Inclusive Leaders award Katherine Grigg, a Construction Manager with HS2’s construction partner Skanska Constrain STRABAG was awarded for her outstanding contribution to inspiring inclusivity. Nominated by her fellow colleagues, Katherine was recognised for the steps she has taken to build a diverse pipeline of talent, ensuring that the unique needs of women and BAME employees are accommodated on site. She was recognised as a person who is striving to inspire change and take the industry forward. Minority-owned Business Champion award SCS Railways was recognised for the role it is playing to build a supply chain that reflects the communities in which they operate. To date, the company has awarded contracts totalling £135m to minority owned businesses in their local area and has placed a strong focus on ensuring small firms have every opportunity to thrive by providing access to free training and business development opportunities. Modern Slavery Prevention award The judges praised VGC Group for their comprehensive and robust approach to addressing the dangers of modern slavery. Chief Operating Officer, Ciara Pryce, has been named one of the top 100 Modern Slavery influencers and the judges felt it was clear from the practices put in place that she is leading the way on this important agenda to tackle hidden labour exploitation.
When you purchased your fixer-upper, you must have had some inclination to fix it up. What you’re going to do with it afterwards can be decided at a later date, but for now you need to get it up to standard so that someone can live there, whether it’s you or someone else. But, how do you go about this? If you’re not sure, then it’s a good thing that we have some knowledge in the area. In this article, we’re going to be taking a look at some of the things that you should do now that you have purchased a fixer-upper. Keep reading down below if you would like to find out more about this. Have A Vision The first thing that you are going to need to do is have a vision. We’re sure that you have already got one based on the fact that you deigned to purchase the property in the first place. Fixer-uppers aren’t exactly the best looking houses on the market, but you’ve got to have vision so that you can see it for what it could be, rather than what it is right now. Having a vision will help you to create a stunning property by the time that you are finished. It’s important to understand here that it is okay to not have the full vision laid out in front of you right now. You are still in the very early stages of owning this property, and there is no rush to get things done right away. If you want to take some time, go into the property and check that it is what you thought it would be like, what you want to do with it and so on, then take the time to do this. Call In The Experts Location Link – CC0 License Once you have some kind of idea in mind as to what you want to do, that’s when it’s time to call in the experts. You are going to need a range of people coming to see the house before you can even hire contractors to begin on any work. For example, one of the most important services that you are going to need is that of building surveyors. They are going to need to check the property for damage, issues with the foundations and other things like this to be sure that the property is safe to work on to start with. If it’s not, then you’re going to have to spend time and money working out how to get it safe. Calling in the experts will give you a good idea as to where you stand in the grand scheme of things. It will either confirm what you thought you knew, or it would give you a new dose of reality. Either way, you have got to know so that you are able to move forward. Sort Out A Budget Now that you know what you’re working with foundation wise, and now that you have some kind of vision when it comes to what you want to do, you can start sorting out a budget. Think about how much money that you have available, and think about how much of it you are willing to spend on this renovation of the property. It tends to be the case that if you’re going to live in it yourself that you are more willing to invest in it, but you also want to see a nice return if you decide to sell or rent it. Sit down with some of the experts and work out how much you are looking at realistically. This will help you make decisions down the line, guide some of the trickier choices as the budget may not even allow for certain things. Just make sure that you have your budget sorted, and then have another number a little higher that is the absolute maximum that you are willing to spend. Start Getting A Plan Together CC0 License – Pexels Credit As soon as the budget is sorted, you can start getting some kind of plan together. Think about where you want walls knocked out, what you want each room to be, what needs updating and so on. All of this is going to take quite a while to sort, so we recommend blocking out a good amount of time to dedicate to this. If you have been doing this kind of thing for a while now, then you might be able to come up with some kind of guiding timeline as well, but this is not necessary so don’t panic if you are unable to do so. Everything will feel better once the plan starts forming. Consult experts on certain areas and see what they have to say, and then look at what materials you want and so on through the house. Ensure that this matches up with your budget, and then you’re good to go. Hire Contractors There’s a plan and a budget, which means that you can start hiring people to make your vision into a reality. Look into people for the plumbing, the electrics, any foundation work that needs to be done, design experts, structural engineers and so on. You will know what you need based on all of the information that you have gotten up to this point, and you have your budget which shows what you can and cannot afford. Before you hire anyone, make sure that you have spoken to a member of the team and looked at reviews from previous clients. It’s easy to lie online, but past customers will have no reason to do so. Hopefully, you have found this article helpful, and now see some of the things that you have got to do now that you have purchased a fixer-upper. This project can turn into one of the best things that you have ever chosen to do, or it can turn into your worst nightmare, but it’s all about
