Prologis, one of the UK’s leading developers of logistics property, has successfully preleased all of speculatively built Prologis Park Hams Hall with final unit, DC4, being let to West Midlands-based AMG Logistics on a 15 year lease. The full occupancy of the Park, ahead of practical completion later this summer,
Seddon has been appointed to deliver a 17-year building fit-out requirement at the Sellafield nuclear facility in Cumbria. The Northwest based, family-owned business celebrating 125 years in business will deliver the £175m contract, through a framework agreement, until March 2039. Currently establishing new offices in Cumbria to support this contract,
British Gypsum is reporting an overwhelmingly positive response and burgeoning sales of ThistlePro® FastSet Finish – its new rapid-setting plaster – in the first three months since its launch to the UK market. Introduced in April, ThistlePro FastSet Finish is a high-performance skim finish plaster, ideal for a wide range
The launch of Barratt David Wilson Homes’ new Ryebank Gate development on Drove Lane marks the beginning of a £4 million investment pledge from the housebuilder to the local community in Yapton. The development will contribute 300 homes to the local housing market, with 30% of these being affordable and
A North East real estate advisory firm has unveiled the next phase of growth plans, opening up access to billions of pounds of UK and foreign investment funds provided by national and international institutional investors, sovereign wealth and private equity. The move comes as Middlesbrough-based United Kingdom Development Corporation (UKDC)
Aart Koning has joined CHQ Architects as a Director. With over 30 years’ experience working in the UK for internationally and nationally award-winning practices, Aart will be heading up and growing the design side of CHQ across the Group. Aart has previously worked for Foster + Partners, Rock Townsend and
An independent, multi-disciplined construction consultancy has announced two new appointments to meet a growing national demand for its services. The Construction Consultants (TCC) has recruited Allan Davies as Director and Clint Howell as Senior Building Surveyor, as part of an expanded team at its headquarters in Cannon Street, Birmingham. The
Marble is a gorgeous material that can serve as a long-lasting and attractive feature in your bathroom or kitchen. However, once your dream of having marble countertops installed is fulfilled, you may be wondering how to clean them without damaging them. Because marble is a porous material, the products and
Prologis, one of the UK’s leading developers of logistics property, has successfully preleased all of speculatively built Prologis Park Hams Hall with final unit, DC4, being let to West Midlands-based AMG Logistics on a 15 year lease. The full occupancy of the Park, ahead of practical completion later this summer, demonstrates the site’s strength and broad appeal particularly to both automotive and logistics sectors. Spanning 85,000 sq ft, DC4, like all Prologis units, has sustainability built into the fabric of the building; Net zero carbon in construction, BREEAM-rated ‘Excellent’ and a projected EPC A rating. This transaction follows on from Britishvolt recently preleasing Hams Hall DC2, a customer leading the way in sustainable, low carbon battery innovation, and Hams Hall DC3 being snapped up by international multi-modal logistics operator, LTS Global Solutions. Located only 10 miles from Birmingham city centre and one mile from M42 Junction 9, Prologis Park Hams Hall is strategically located to offer its customers prime accessibility in and around the Midlands, and further afield. Andrew Griffiths, Managing Director, AMG Logistics“We are delighted to secure DC4 Hams Hall to help facilitate our growth plans and take our business to the next level. Operating from a highly sustainable unit was a key factor for our customers and Prologis Park Hams Hall ticked all the boxes in that regard. It has been great to work with the Prologis team to get the deal over the line.” Tom Price, Director, Capital Deployment and Leasing, Prologis UK “Letting DC4 prior to its completion is testament to appetite within the market for top quality, well-located logistics property in and around the Midlands. Reaching full occupancy is a landmark moment for Hams Hall and we’re all looking forward to welcoming AMG Logistics and our other new customers to the park once the buildings are complete.” Danny Nelson, Head of Industrial, Logistics and Distribution, Winvic Construction Ltd“Our team has been working hard on site to deliver a further three high quality industrial facilities at Hams Hall for our client, Prologis. We are delighted to see the last unit, DC4, has been let and we are looking forward to handing over this sustainable facility to AMG Logistics at the end of the summer.”
Seddon has been appointed to deliver a 17-year building fit-out requirement at the Sellafield nuclear facility in Cumbria. The Northwest based, family-owned business celebrating 125 years in business will deliver the £175m contract, through a framework agreement, until March 2039. Currently establishing new offices in Cumbria to support this contract, Seddon become the fourth supplier organisation appointment made by Programme and Project Partners (PPP). The contractor will work to ensure the transformation of the site for future generations. This long-standing relationship will bring a wealth of employment opportunities to the area as Seddon seeks to bolster its supply chain in Cumbria, supporting the local economy and providing job security for many. John Shannon, Divisional Director of Seddon says: “This an excellent appointment for Seddon as a supply chain partner for the Sellafield Site. We pride ourselves on our expertise and have complete faith in our experience to deliver best-of-kind service over the next 17 years. This opportunity will ensure that we, along with other stakeholders, contribute to both the community and regional economy positively over this period.” The scope of the contract includes construction works including internal walls, ceilings and screeding, painting, joinery and fit-out. Through its involvement with Sellafield, Seddon joins a wider network of delivery partners committed to investing in Cumbria through the creation of new jobs, apprentice roles and the expansion and creation of new facilities in the region. The contractor will work alongside all project stakeholders to ensure Sellafield’s mission is successful as it works to decommission the site and create a clean and safe environment for the future. PPP Head of Supply Chain Peter Hogg added: “We are very pleased to announce our fifth long-term work partnership for PPP. This company has never worked ‘inside the fence’ at Sellafield before and that is why the PPP model is different. It is providing opportunities to organisations that we have not worked with before, which can provide innovative solutions to meet our long-term needs. This collaboration, together with Seddon’s supply chain will ensure enhanced project delivery and increased social impact and economic benefits for our communities.”
British Gypsum is reporting an overwhelmingly positive response and burgeoning sales of ThistlePro® FastSet Finish – its new rapid-setting plaster – in the first three months since its launch to the UK market. Introduced in April, ThistlePro FastSet Finish is a high-performance skim finish plaster, ideal for a wide range of repairs and use on smaller internal walls and ceilings due to its fast-setting attributes. It has proved a major hit with tradespeople across the UK, with dozens of plasterers taking to social media to sing its praises. Comments include: “A brilliant solution to a real problem”; “I’ve definitely found my Friday plaster. A walk-in wardrobe smashed out in no time thanks to FastSet Finish”; and “It sets in half the time of normal plaster. It’s absolutely brilliant, it’s fantastic for the little jobs on the way home so you’re not sat around waiting.” The sentiments were echoed by merchants themselves, with feedback such as: “Branches that have taken stock are (saying) their customers love the product… it’s an easy sell to customers” and reports that stocks of ThistlePro FastSet Finish have sold out within just two hours of arriving in store. While in many instances the product is being used for patching and repairs, merchants have also reported numerous examples of ThistlePro FastSet Finish being employed on other jobs where there is a tight schedule. ThistlePro FastSet Finish typically sets in half the time of standard skim finish plaster, with no compromise on performance. This enables more rapid completion of projects, maximising customer satisfaction and allowing plasterers to move on to their next project sooner too. A complete all-in-one bagged product, it also negates the need for plasterers to use additives or other methods to speed up setting times, a practice which can impact on overall plaster performance and potentially void the product guarantee. Paul Cassidy, Product Portfolio Development Director at British Gypsum, explained: “We’re absolutely delighted with the response from the sector to ThistlePro FastSet Finish since its launch. “So often, speed is of the essence in building projects – other tasks must be completed after plastering, so a product which dries quickly while still delivering optimal performance is vital. “ThistlePro FastSet Finish typically sets in just one hour, while still offering the performance attributes associated with the wider ThistlePro range which has become the ‘go-to’ choice for thousands of plasterers across the UK.” British Gypsum’s ThistlePro range also features ThistlePro PureFinish, ThistlePro DuraFinish and ThistlePro Magnetic, which are designed to provide better indoor air quality, a more durable finish and the option of creating interactive spaces. For more information on British Gypsum’s ThistlePro range, visit british-gypsum.com/specification/our-products/thistle-plasters.
The launch of Barratt David Wilson Homes’ new Ryebank Gate development on Drove Lane marks the beginning of a £4 million investment pledge from the housebuilder to the local community in Yapton. The development will contribute 300 homes to the local housing market, with 30% of these being affordable and consisting of a variety of two and three-bedroom properties. As part of the development’s S106 Agreement, the funds will be distributed across local services as agreed with the local council, including £2 million towards the expansion of the Yapton Church of England Primary School, over £1.5 million towards Phase Two of a new secondary school for Arun and over £300,000 to NHS Yapton healthcare facilities. The housebuilder will also contribute nearly £1 million towards local infrastructure, including provision of the Yapton to Barnham cycle route cycleway. Kimberley Benson, Sales and Marketing Director for Barratt Southern Counites comments, “Ryebank Gate offers our buyers the best of both worlds, being ideal for commuters with easy access to key road links, but still feeling like a village escape away from urban hubs. Our pledge of over £4million will be put towards healthcare, education and transport, supporting both the existing and incoming communities and boosting the local economy. “We are also committed to building smarter and more efficient housing that will be a sustainable investment for our buyers – our homes have the potential to be up to 57% cheaper to run, compared to an updated Victorian equivalent.[1] We are aware that our buyers are also looking at our green credentials, and as a responsible housebuilder we are implementing long-term pledges to support our energy-efficient properties in the market including achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040.”[2] Located under four miles from the beach and two miles from the South Downs, Ryebank Gate is ideally positioned to keep the family entertained with outdoor activities. For those looking to escape to more urban hubs, Chichester, Littlehampton and Bognor Regis are also only a few miles away providing plenty of retail therapy and a varied selection of food outlets. A selection of four-bedroom homes are now available, with appointments to view the show homes currently held at Ecclesden Park development, only a twenty-minute drive away, due to the remote nature of the launch. Prices for a four-bedroom detached property at Ryebank Gate start from £624,995. For further details about Barratt David Wilson Southern Counties or the new homes at Ryebank Gate call 0333 3558 499 or visit www.barratthomes.co.uk / www.dwh.co.uk. [1] https://www.barratthomes.co.uk/new-homes/dev-001107-ryebank-gate—barratt-homes/ [2] https://www.barrattdevelopments.co.uk/media/media-releases/pr-2020/pr-29-06-20
A North East real estate advisory firm has unveiled the next phase of growth plans, opening up access to billions of pounds of UK and foreign investment funds provided by national and international institutional investors, sovereign wealth and private equity. The move comes as Middlesbrough-based United Kingdom Development Corporation (UKDC) gears up to meet strong demand for its services from the modular housing sector. The firm, which is advising clients on the development of new homes manufactured offsite to meet the rising demand for affordable housing, is set to provide advice and funding, working with land owners and developers who have secured planning permission for sites. With more than 300,000 new homes required annually over the next decade to meet current housing demand, offsite modular construction cuts the time taken to deliver residential properties by up to 65%. It also reduces carbon emissions as the government encourages more effective ways to tackle the climate emergency. The delivery of carbon neutral affordable housing is a priority, according to UKDC, which continues to work with investors keen to support quality, carbon neutral housing developments. Ummar Hanif, managing director of UKDC, said they look to expand operations, and added: “We are seeing major technical developments in the quality, scope and scale of UK modular housing coupled with strong demand for new homes. We are delighted to be working closely with Ecotek Homes in a move that will accelerate the delivery of new sustainable and affordable housing projects, both in the North of England and across the wider UK. “This will create hundreds of jobs as developments come on stream and economic prosperity as investment in property pays dividends for local people, communities and supporting services.” The initiative follows UKDC’s link up with developer Ecotek Homes, which is adopting smart technology to construct homes that consume 50% less energy – helping to tackle climate challenges in the process. Stephen Haigh, founder and chief executive at Ecotek Homes, said: “Our relationship with UKDC will support the delivery of new, greener homes each year, providing a welcome boom as we look to tackle the housing shortfall over the next few years. “Off-site manufactured housing is changing the face of construction and creating superb homes that are not only sustainable but affordable, contributing significantly to transforming the way we build houses in this country.” UKDC has already attracted interest from investors following its launch this year and is keen to be involved in projects aimed at levelling up the economy and tackling the climate emergency. This includes instructions to advise and work with local authorities and developers throughout the UK and is keen to continue to grow.
Aart Koning has joined CHQ Architects as a Director. With over 30 years’ experience working in the UK for internationally and nationally award-winning practices, Aart will be heading up and growing the design side of CHQ across the Group. Aart has previously worked for Foster + Partners, Rock Townsend and astudio working across the residential, education, leisure, community and commercial sectors. Over the past 15 years he has played a leading role finding new opportunities, introducing new skills, mentoring staff and managing the practice to ensure a continuous high quality of work combined with an efficient performance. Barry Harper-Smith, Managing Director of CHQ Architects comments, “Aart is a fantastic new addition to our senior team within CHQ and I look forward to working closely with him to continue to build the strength and depth of our design expertise across a range of sectors.” Aart Koning comments, “The increasing demands of the built environment require innovative solutions, achieved through collaboration and sharing intelligence. I am acutely aware that it is key for an architectural practice to remain relevant, and I am delighted to be joining the team at CHQ who have a rich history and are actively working at the forefront of new developments, leading the process of change in the construction industry.” Celebrating its 40th anniversary, CHQ Architects has grown into a substantial practice with a talented team of over 50 architects, interior designers and 3D visualisers operating out of Central London and Baldock, Hertfordshire. CHQ offers clients a wide field of expertise at all RIBA work stages from feasibility to completion and beyond. Its sister company, DMWR Architects is also based in Manchester and London. With a wealth of experience in both designing and delivering prestigious projects, CHQ Architects and DMWR are using intelligent software that supports an outcome-based design approach which is fundamental for an interdisciplinary process that optimises the environmental performance of a development and meets the aims of the recently published new parts O, F and L of the Building Regulations.
An independent, multi-disciplined construction consultancy has announced two new appointments to meet a growing national demand for its services. The Construction Consultants (TCC) has recruited Allan Davies as Director and Clint Howell as Senior Building Surveyor, as part of an expanded team at its headquarters in Cannon Street, Birmingham. The appointments bolster the consultancy’s capability and will support its strategy of unlocking new business opportunities by developing long-term relationships with new and existing clients. Allan Davies is a construction industry professional with more than 20 years’ experience, including senior roles with international property and construction consultancy, McBains. He has established a track record of securing new business from a diverse range of clients and will be responsible for driving TCC’s new business growth. He is joined by Clint Howell, an RICS award-winning chartered building surveyor, who has previously worked for AECOM, RPS and Six Property Consulting. Recent experience includes the delivery of a national fit out programme on behalf of 24/7 leisure operator, The Gym Group. Established in 2017, TCC has expanded into a team of 18 employees, specialising in a wide range of disciplines including project management, employer’s agent, quantity surveying, fund monitoring and CDM consultancy. The consultancy operates across a range of sectors including residential, commercial, industrial, student accommodation, leisure and retail and has developed a growing portfolio of clients such as The Gym Group, Zone Developments, Ocado, Equation Properties, Apsley House Capital, Godwin Developments, Wolverhampton Council and St Francis Group. Notable projects include the delivery of a 203-unit build to rent apartment scheme in Birmingham, a 200-bed student accommodation scheme in Northampton and a 113,000 sq ft industrial development on behalf of St Francis Group. Co-founder and Director of TCC, Sandeep Singh Sunner, said: “We are delighted to welcome Allan and Clint who further boost our existing team. Allan has been appointed to drive the business into the next phase of growth and brings with him a wealth of industry experience. We have been searching for a suitable candidate to join our building surveying department for nearly eight months and have finally found the right person in Clint. “Since launching the business just over five years ago, we have developed into a specialist company with a team of industry professionals who share a desire to deliver successful projects and establish long-term relationships with our clients”.
Marble is a gorgeous material that can serve as a long-lasting and attractive feature in your bathroom or kitchen. However, once your dream of having marble countertops installed is fulfilled, you may be wondering how to clean them without damaging them. Because marble is a porous material, the products and techniques you use to clean the other hard surfaces in your home may actually end up ruining it. Of course, you could hire a professional marble cleaning service to do it for you. But, if you prefer a more hands-on approach, read on for the dos and don’ts when cleaning your new marble countertops. Supplies You’ll Need You’ll need a few supplies to clean and maintain your marble countertops. Soap, water, hydrogen peroxide, ammonia, and a liquid cleaner are essential for daily cleaning. For maintenance, purchase a food-safe sealant for your marble kitchen countertops and #0000 steel wool. Following the guide below will help keep your marble sparkling clean and beautiful. Cleaning and Maintaining Marble Surfaces As we’ve mentioned, marble is more porous than other materials used to create countertops – such as quartz, granite, or soapstone. This means it is more prone to stains, scratches, and changes in the structure of the stone. To keep your marble countertops looking pristine, you’ll want to keep them clean and seal them regularly – more on this below. Preventing Damage Whether you have marble countertops in your bathroom or kitchen, sealing them every three months is the best way to maintain them. While sealants won’t make them completely stain-proof, they will make them more resistant to staining. Regular sealing will give you extra time to clean up spills as they won’t get absorbed by the stone right away. Contact the supplier of your marble countertops and ask for recommendations for the best marble sealants. If your marble is in your kitchen, it’s very important to make sure the sealant you use is food-safe. You should also invest in some coasters to prevent spills and watermarks from forming in the first place – prevention is always better than cure. Daily Cleaning For daily cleaning and spills you can clean immediately, use warm soapy water – just be sure to rinse the surface well so no soap residue remains and dry it thoroughly. Another thing to note is that acidic substances can damage marble – so keep acidic beverages like lemon juice and wine away from your countertops whenever possible. Acidic cleaning products that contain vinegar should also be avoided at all costs. If you do have spills on your marble, tend to them immediately. Abrasive substances can also ruin your marble, so always wipe it down with a soft cloth – trying not to drag dust and debris along the surface. Removing Stains If you can’t tend to a spill immediately, it might not be the end of the world. Most organic substances (like red wine, food, and fruit juice) can be cleaned with a solution of 12% hydrogen peroxide and a couple of drops of ammonia. For oily stains (like olive oil or butter), clean the surface gently with a liquid cleaning product that contains mineral spirits, acetone, or household detergents. Correcting Scuffs, Scratches, and Watermarks For scuffs, light scratches, watermarks, and nicks, dry-buff your marble countertops with #0000 steel wool. If you have deeper scratches that penetrate below surface level or stubborn acidic stains, you’ll need to call on a professional marble cleaning service.
