Construction works have been completed on a new first school on the Bramshall Meadows estate on Ivinson Way in Uttoxeter, Staffordshire. Midlands-based main contractor G F Tomlinson has been leading the construction of the school since works started on the 12,000 sq. metre site last year. The school will offer
Benefiting from both a culturally rich London district and one of the most striking developments on the capital’s skyline, The Quarto Group, Inc. has agreed to a 12-year lease at the game changing Triptych Bankside development on London’s Southbank. The Quarto Group, an established publishing house, is taking all of
Devonshire Homes has increased its existing revolving credit facility (RCF) from Lloyds Bank to £20 million to facilitate the housebuilder’s future growth plans. The privately-owned housebuilder is currently active on five West Country sites, with a further four additional sites in the region acquired within the last three months.
Contractor Stepnell has completed construction of a new purpose-built £6 million residential care home for children, located in the heart of Warwickshire, Nuneaton. The care home called The Forge was designed by Miller Prestige Homes in collaboration with architects IDP Group. “The Forge therapeutic community home is a significant development
Buildings are generally known for being energy guzzlers when it comes to costs, with the main reasons being the lack of thermal insulation or outdated heating and cooling technology. In addition, residential and office buildings often still rely on fossil fuels. Appliances that consume too much energy are often found
Electric vans are increasing in popularity, but should you buy one for your business? Dan Powell from Desperate Seller reveals the top five things every electrician needs to check before going electric. With the 2030 ban on petrol and diesel vans looming large over the horizon, you may be wondering
Construction works have been completed on a new first school on the Bramshall Meadows estate on Ivinson Way in Uttoxeter, Staffordshire. Midlands-based main contractor G F Tomlinson has been leading the construction of the school since works started on the 12,000 sq. metre site last year. The school will offer places for pupils from four to nine-year-olds, as well as nursery placements and looks forward to welcoming the first cohort of pupils at the start of the academic year in September. An official opening ceremony will be held in October. The £4.3 million scheme has been completed through Staffordshire County Council’s Capital Framework and has been designed and project managed by Entrust. Now complete, the school will be led and managed by The Uttoxeter Learning Trust. The new, single storey 1 form entry (1FE) first school has been developed as part of a wider plan to expand first school provision in Uttoxeter in response to an increased demand for places generated from new housing in the local area, such as the Bramshall Meadows housing development. It represents the first school to be constructed in Uttoxeter in response to growth, comprising a nursery, classrooms, a multi-use hall, catering space, outdoor sports pitch, play areas and car parking. G F Tomlinson has been entrusted to deliver five schools to date for Staffordshire County Council with Bramshall Meadows First School being the latest, following the recently completed Fradley Park Primary School in Lichfield. Chris Flint, Managing Director at G F Tomlinson, said: “We feel very privileged to have been able to deliver this brand-new, high-quality school building for Staffordshire County Council which will create much-needed school places for children in the local area. The project is the first to be completed in response to the rise in demand for places within Uttoxeter and we feel very proud. “We very much look forward to seeing the school welcome pupils in September as the children take their first steps to embark on their academic journeys. The school has been designed with future growth and expansion very much in mind to provide an excellent learning environment for the growing community.” Jonathan Price, Staffordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Education said: “Bramshall Meadows has been built in response to increased housing in the area, which has meant there will be more demand for school places. Whenever there is new housing in an area, we always work with developers, local schools and the Department for Education to put plans in place to meet increased demand for school places. “It’s fantastic that local children will be able to learn in a brand-new school with lots of amazing facilities, and I am sure they are looking forward to starting school life in September.” Andrea Cairns, Executive Headteacher at Bramshall Meadows First School, commented: “We are absolutely delighted with the new school and the high quality of the build project with all of its amazing facilities. We are very excited to welcome the first children into school in September!” To find out more about the school and further information about student places, visit: https://www.bramshallmeadows.org.uk/
Benefiting from both a culturally rich London district and one of the most striking developments on the capital’s skyline, The Quarto Group, Inc. has agreed to a 12-year lease at the game changing Triptych Bankside development on London’s Southbank. The Quarto Group, an established publishing house, is taking all of the 9,000 sq ft second floor. As a result, JTRE London, the developer of the architecturally-inspiring scheme, has let more than 50,000 sq ft of commercial space in the building since launch in March. Alison Goff, Group Chief Executive Officer of The Quarto Group, said: “Our new office will provide the opportunity to widen our creative horizons, foster the creativity of our talented teams, adopt a more meaningful, flexible and future-proof way of working and enhancing the collaboration of our partners worldwide.” The Triptych Bankside development is a short walk from London Bridge station. The new scheme is next to Tate Modern art gallery, Shakespeare’s Globe theatre, the renowned culinary hotspot at Borough Market and the Millennium Bridge. Designed by internationally acclaimed architects Squire & Partners, the 68,000 sq ft, prime grade A commercial building at One Triptych Place is part of a £450 million mixed-use development. The scheme is made up of three distinctive sweeping towers, with 169 luxury apartments in two blocks, offices in a third, plus 14,800 sq ft of retail and 14,000 sq ft of cultural space. Its close proximity to the City of London and the West End makes it ideally situated for both residential and commercial interests. Nigel Fleming, Sales & Marketing Director of JTRE London, said: “We’ve seen unprecedented demand for space at One Triptych Place reflecting its position as one of London’s premier and most sought after mixed-use developments. As a result, we’re ahead of schedule on leasing with an exciting mix of major international and growing organisations already signed up from different sectors and regions, emphasising the far-reaching appeal of the buildings. The combination of global appeal, exceptional architecture and design and a spectrum of imaginative leisure offerings makes the Triptych Bankside estate one of the foremost schemes currently available.” Additionally, Triptych Bankside is the first development in the UK to use Real Estate Digital from Grandpano. This virtual property viewing system for the residential sales is more detailed than alternatives with considerably greater functionality. Like a fully controllable flythrough of an architect’s perspective, but in significantly more detail, it features every flat and every room individually. This means, for example, a potential buyer can stand on the balcony of a specific apartment and enjoy that view. Since Triptych Bankside is still being built, this makes off-plan purchases more risk free for the buyer and developer. The BREEAM ‘Excellent’ commercial building is at the forefront of ‘smart building’ capabilities with a WiredScore Platinum certification achieved, one of the few buildings in Europe to reach that standard. Agents for the commercial space are Bh2 and Savills; Kinney Green acted for The Quarto Group. In addition, the retail leasing agents are Savills and BNP PRE; and residential agents are Savills and Strutt & Parker. www.triptychbankside.com
Devonshire Homes has increased its existing revolving credit facility (RCF) from Lloyds Bank to £20 million to facilitate the housebuilder’s future growth plans. The privately-owned housebuilder is currently active on five West Country sites, with a further four additional sites in the region acquired within the last three months. Devonshire Homes has enjoyed a long-standing relationship with Lloyds Bank since 2016 and this newly extended finance facility supersedes its previous arrangement with Lloyds Bank that was announced in February 2022. Devonshire Homes has been building homes across the West Country since 1992 and the new RCF will accelerate the housebuilder’s expansion plans to double turnover and deliver 400 homes per annum by 2026. Angus Cook, Managing Director at Devonshire Homes, commented: “This marks another important milestone for Devonshire Homes and we are delighted to have agreed this new £20million facility with our long-term and supportive banking partners at Lloyds Bank. “Devonshire Homes is on a significant growth trajectory and this new RCF helps cement our position as an established and ambitious developer in the South West. It provides us with the flexibility to continue to acquire and establish new sites to deliver high-quality homes to people who need them. “This new agreement comes at the perfect time. As a privately-owned housebuilder, our ability to make swift decisions with landowners has been the cornerstone of a string of recent land acquisitions in this last quarter. And now with this extended financing secured to support our business growth objectives, we are keen to build on the momentum; to build our land bank, further strengthen all areas of the business and are very much looking forward to the future.” Paul Collings, Relationship Director at Lloyds Banking Group, commented: “Sustainability has become more of a priority than ever for homeowners, so it’s great to see Devonshire Homes bring forward greener homes, provide energy solutions to help reduce household costs and ultimately help futureproof properties for generations to come. “We’re proud to back Devonshire Homes and its long-term commitment to providing sustainable housing for the West Country. We will continue to be by the side of local businesses as they accelerate their environmental ambitions and help the South West to reach its net zero goals.” Independent housebuilder Devonshire Homes has been creating new homes and communities in towns and rural areas across the South West for 30 years. The housebuilder specialises in providing homes which reflect the traditional characteristics and building styles of the region combined with high specification, contemporary interiors. Current developments include: Tarka View, Crediton; Applegate Park, Kingsbridge; Longston Cross, Bovey Tracey and Gwallon Keas, St. Austell with The Grange, Bideford, launching this autumn. For more information, visit www.devonshirehomes.co.uk.
Contractor Stepnell has completed construction of a new purpose-built £6 million residential care home for children, located in the heart of Warwickshire, Nuneaton. The care home called The Forge was designed by Miller Prestige Homes in collaboration with architects IDP Group. “The Forge therapeutic community home is a significant development for the area and through applying our extensive care sector expertise and collaborative ethos, the team were able to deliver the best value and quality over the course of the scheme,” said Adrian Barnes, Regional Director at Stepnell. “This not only extended to the quality of the construction, but also in the way we collaborated with both the community and environment through careful planning and communication with Forge Care and local suppliers.” Stepnell, which acted as the principal contractor, completed construction week in 52-weeks. The sustainability-focused development, which utilised carefully selected materials including timber cladding and zinc, included a total of four standalone residential care buildings, community facilities and external landscaping works. The external spaces feature 21 car parking spaces, as well as sensory and nature areas for residents to grow plants and encourage wildlife. Moreover, each of the buildings at the care home in Nuneaton include a welcome space, main lounge and kitchen, as well as quiet and activity spaces, with five ensuite bedrooms on the first floor. “We would like to thank the team at Stepnell, IDP and all the local suppliers involved in the project for going above and beyond to deliver this outstanding residential care facility that is conscious of the specialist needs of the end users,” commented Gavin Miller, Director at Forge Care. “The Forge facility will provide a safe and secure environment for children who are experiencing emotional and behavioural disorders or recovering from trauma, providing them with opportunities to develop greater self-awareness, social responsibility and leadership. Thanks to the outstanding project delivery from Stepnell, the facility meets the Sanctuary Model where the design facilitates learning, develops personal, social health and wellbeing in vulnerable children,” Gavin concluded. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction and Property News
Buildings are generally known for being energy guzzlers when it comes to costs, with the main reasons being the lack of thermal insulation or outdated heating and cooling technology. In addition, residential and office buildings often still rely on fossil fuels. Appliances that consume too much energy are often found in these buildings and the high costs from the factors mentioned above burden many different parties involved in the construction of the property. This includes investors. Since 2019, the European Green Deal has tightened the previously set climate protection targets. The associated measures also include the EU taxonomy and this is linked to assessment criteria for the real estate industry. Further measures of the EU taxonomy result from the ESG requirements. They are considered standard criteria for sustainable investments and decisions by investors, real estate owners, as well as municipalities and companies. In order to meet the ESG criteria, climate-protecting individual measures, such as the installation of photovoltaic systems or the improvement of thermal insulation, must be implemented. Residential and office buildings that meet these criteria have a positive public image as they are considered to be as sustainable and energy-efficient as possible. Investors benefit from the sustainability and low operating costs of the buildings in which they have invested. Compliance with ESG criteria is becoming increasingly important, as the construction industry accounts for a high proportion of global energy consumption and is responsible for a large proportion of energy and process related CO2 emissions. For all those involved in a construction project, such as architects, planners, and investors, energy-saving and sustainable measures for real estate are becoming increasingly important. In order to reduce the costs for energy, there are a wide variety of concepts and construction methods. For example, the HUF City Living complex in Montabaur (Germany). It not only contains 44 residential units, unusual architecture and state-of-the-art technology also come together here. The exclusive residential project was built in accordance with the KfW 55 energy standard. In HUF City Living, aquatherm black system was installed within the ceiling. This surface heating and cooling system from aquatherm made an important contribution to meeting this standard and was a significant component of the project. Ice energy storage, photovoltaics, hot water collectors, and heat pumps were combined as energy sources in the sophisticated energy concept for these residential buildings. The aquatherm black system formed part of this concept as the system is self-sufficient and invisibly installed within the ceiling or floor in all flats. The central element is the ice energy storage tank as this feeds several heat pumps in the individual technical rooms of the buildings and is coupled with many solar double modules on the shed roofs of the houses. If the measures and energy concepts presented in this paper are implemented, residential and office buildings can not only cover their own electricity needs, but also feed surplus electricity into the existing grid. Sustainable and energy-efficient buildings reduce their own operating costs, fulfil the ESG criteria set by the European Union, and make an important contribution to climate and environmental protection. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction and Property News
Electric vans are increasing in popularity, but should you buy one for your business? Dan Powell from Desperate Seller reveals the top five things every electrician needs to check before going electric. With the 2030 ban on petrol and diesel vans looming large over the horizon, you may be wondering if now is the right time to make the switch to electric. Electric vans are more expensive to buy than their diesel counterparts but they offer significant long-term savings when it comes to fuel, tax, and maintenance costs. Electric vans are easier to drive and more refined than their diesel rivals too, which means they tend to be more comfortable over a long journey. The latest crop of electric cargo carriers from Ford, Vauxhall and Peugeot will also deliver heavy-duty load carrying capacity that will easily match the latest diesel panel vans. However, before you ditch your diesel, there are some important things you should be aware of. Dan Powell, editor at the online van marketplace Desperate Seller, reveals the top five things you need to know before joining the electric revolution. Work out your mileage How many miles do you drive a week? Does your daily commute involve long motorway trips or are you a local electrican who covers lots of short journeys? Before you set foot in a van showroom, you’ll need to work out what your daily and weekly mileage is (then add 20% to cover those unexpected site visits and trips to the local wholesaler). Once you have an idea of your mileage, you can start shortlisting vans. The Ford E-Transit will cover between 166 and 196 miles on a full charge, while the Vauxhall Vivaro-E is advertised with a maximum range of 205 miles. It’s important to note the real world range may be slightly lower than the advised figure as things like air conditioning and heating will require power from the van’s EV battery. Do the maths An electric van could save your business thousands every year. Charging the 75kWh version of the Vivaro-E will cost around 28p/kwh and give you around 200 miles of range. A diesel van that returns 47mpg will cost at least £37 to fill (at 191p-per-litre) and you could save even more if you charge your van at home on an overnight tariff. Electric vans are more expensive to buy than their diesel rivals, however. The Vivaro-E, for example, is around £5000 dearer than the standard diesel model. But road tax is free and electric vans also have fewer moving parts than diesel vehicles, which means maintenance and servicing costs tend to be lower. Many supermarkets and public car parks will also let you charge your van for free while electric vans are exempt from clean air zone charges, like the London ULEZ. Take charge Obviously, if you buy an electric van then you’ll need somewhere to charge it. And a home charger is the cheapest and most convenient way for your business to operate an electric van. Charging your van via a three-pint plug will take all day, so invest in a home wallbox if you have a driveway as this will cut the charging time to six or seven hours. There are more than 33,000 public EV charging points in the UK. And more are being added to this figure every day. Some public charging stations are free to use. Rapid charging is the most expensive way to charge your van but is useful if you get caught short, boosting your battery from 10% to 80% in around 30 minutes. Check your weight Electric vans tend to have lower towing capacities than their diesel counterparts. The Vivaro-E, for example, will tow a braked trailer up to 1,000kg – so always check the spec if you need your electric vehicle to tow tools or equipment. Payload capacity and loadspace is generally the same as diesel and petrol vans. In 2018, the Government changed licensing laws to make it easier for people to drive electric vans. This means you can operate an electric van weighing up to 4,250kg with a standard driving licence (instead of the 3,500kg you’d normally be limited to with a petrol or diesel vehicle). Take a test drive Have you ever driven an electric van before? If you haven’t, you’ll probably find the experience a little strange at first because electric vans are silent and don’t have a manual gearbox. Electric vans also use regenerative braking, which recovers energy to top up the battery when you slow down. This means the van will lose speed when you lift your foot off of the accelerator much quicker than a standard diesel vehicle. As a result, we’d recommend taking an electric van for a lengthy test drive so you can see if it is something you feel comfortable with.
