A new border control facility has been completed at one of the UK’s major ports, Harwich International Port in Essex. Operated by Hutchison Port, the facility will enable the smooth and secure inspection of goods entering the UK under the latest post-Brexit regulations. Cambridge-based property and construction consultancy Ingleton Wood
Market analysis from Total Landlord Insurance has revealed that despite the Government’s best efforts, the number of landlords within the British rental market has climbed by 2.4 per cent since 2016/17. Total Landlord Insurance analysed the current estimated number of landlords with income generated via property and how this has changed over
LEADING independent property, construction, and infrastructure consultancy Pick Everard has doubled its ground investigation team in the space of just three months. The move follows its appointment as the only new supplier to be awarded a place on Severn Trent Water’s AMP 7 framework this year. The framework is expected
Post-industrial area revitalisation and post-factory vacancy adaptation aren’t just immensely beneficial to the environment and conducive to sustainable development. They also provide meaningful economic benefits which greatly affect the development of the local property market (both the revitalised area proper and its vicinity). Post-industrial wastefulness Post-factory and post-industrial vacancies are
The UK Government has announced it will allocate £161 million to renovate Oxford station. Out of that, the Department for Transport has awarded £78.6 million to Network Rail to participate in the redevelopment of Oxford station and railway. The funding follows the granting of a Transport Works Act Order (TWAO)
Bruce Kennedy, Architect Director at BDP, discusses the use of biophilic design for the Heriot Watt campus in Dubai. Every level of the campus benefits from a series of subtle features and carefully considered themes that provide relief from the extreme environment that can reach 50 degrees Celsius in summer.
Buying and installing an air conditioner can be costly, and sometimes you may want to cut some corners in installation to reduce the costs. Unfortunately, cutting corners may cost you more in the long run than it would have if you had done it right in the first place. So,
Real estate investors are often restricted by the hefty property costs, primarily for commercial and rental assets. As the industry continues to evolve, so are the investment schemes in the real estate sector. These days, capitalists who can’t afford to purchase commercial properties on their own can turn to real
BDC 319 : Aug 2024
A new border control facility has been completed at one of the UK’s major ports, Harwich International Port in Essex. Operated by Hutchison Port, the facility will enable the smooth and secure inspection of goods entering the UK under the latest post-Brexit regulations. Cambridge-based property and construction consultancy Ingleton Wood was appointed by RG Carter on this Design and Build contract to provide Civil and Structural Engineering design services. The project consisted of extensive roads, hardstandings and new buildings to provide a significate increase in customs facilities at the port. The project will facilitate latest Brexit changes which require new border control checks on plant and animal products entering the UK. Mike Miller, Director at Ingleton Wood, said: “We are proud to have provided Civil and Structural Engineering services for the new secure inspection facility at Harwich International Port which will provide the very highest standards of efficiency required at this important checkpoint. “Ingleton Wood has a long-standing relationship with Hutchison Port and R G Carter, and the success of this major project at one of the UK’s busiest ports is testament to our effective collaboration.” The inspection facility took 42 weeks to complete and features state-of-the-art, steel-framed buildings housing temperature-controlled conditions to maintain ambient, chilled or frozen temperatures, dependent on the goods being inspected by DEFRA agencies. Additionally, the facility incorporates a newly constructed port exit road which allows freight to exit directly onto the A120, reducing congestion and allowing for free-flowing traffic. High specification offices and welfare facilities for the Port and DEFRA staff are also located on site. Ingleton Wood is one of the largest property and construction consultancies covering Central England, East Anglia, London and the South East, with offices in Cambridge, Norwich, Colchester, Billericay, London and Oxford. Its services include architecture, building surveying, building services engineering, planning, interior design, civil and structural engineering, quantity surveying, project management and health and safety. For more information about Ingleton Wood, visit www.ingletonwood.co.uk.
Market analysis from Total Landlord Insurance has revealed that despite the Government’s best efforts, the number of landlords within the British rental market has climbed by 2.4 per cent since 2016/17. Total Landlord Insurance analysed the current estimated number of landlords with income generated via property and how this has changed over time. The figures show that across Britain, almost 2.6 million of us make a living as a landlord, a 2.4 per cent increase over the last three years. London is not only home to the most landlords at 463,200, the region has also seen the largest increase since 2016/17 – up by 8.4 per cent. The East of England (4 per cent) and South East (3.4 per cent) have also seen some of the largest uplifts in landlord numbers, while the South East is also home to the second highest number at 459,410. But not every area has seen this figure increase. In Wales, the number of landlords has fallen by -3.9 per cent in the last three years. The South West has seen a decline of -1.5 per cent, with the North East (-0.6 per cent) and Scotland (-0.3 per cent) also seeing a decline, albeit it to a lesser degree. London has also seen some of the largest increases in landlord numbers at local authority level. The City of London has seen a 37 per cent increase in the number of landlords since 2016/17, with Barking and Dagenham home to the second highest increase at 20 per cent. Outside of London, Slough has seen the largest increase, also up 20 per cent. Newham (16 per cent) and Thurrock (16 per cent) also rank within the top five where the largest increase in landlord number is concerned. However, in Pembrokeshire, the number of operational landlords has declined by -13 per cent since 2016/17, along with Allerdare and Gwynedd. Ceredigion (-12 per cent) and Scarborough (-12 per cent) have also endured some of the largest declines in landlord numbers. Steve Barnes, Associate Director at Total Landlord Insurance, commented: “In recent years, the nation’s landlords have been served up an unsavoury cocktail with regard to restrictions to income tax relief, buy-to-let stamp duty increases and changes to capital gains tax. Despite this, the number of landlords has not only remained robust across Britain, but we’ve actually seen an increase which is proof, if it were ever needed, that property remains a very attractive investment. Of course, this hasn’t been the case completely across the board and some areas have seen a notable decline. Unfortunately for tenants in those areas, this decline in rental investment will only limit the options available to them, driving up the cost of renting in the process.” Data tables Data tables and sources can be viewed online, here.
LEADING independent property, construction, and infrastructure consultancy Pick Everard has doubled its ground investigation team in the space of just three months. The move follows its appointment as the only new supplier to be awarded a place on Severn Trent Water’s AMP 7 framework this year. The framework is expected to run over the next four years and will focus on the delivery of a range of capital projects across wastewater, water treatment and pipeline services in the Midlands and mid-Wales. Pick Everard was the most recent addition to the £2 billion programme from Severn Trent, which the firm’s associate for environmental engineering, Emelye Kenyon, described as a catalyst for change for her team and the business. Emelye said: “At Pick Everard we have provided a strong environmental offering for more than six years, while our relationship with Severn Trent has been present for over a decade, delivering valued structural survey services across its UK-wide network. “The decision to expand our team was a natural one in line with this newest framework, which will further establish our presence in the ground investigation sector over the next four years or more. We look forward to continuing recruit and strengthen our offering, whilst maintaining our close relationship with Severn Trent, which will help improve the services it offers to its customers across the country.” Pick Everard has already delivered four projects on the AMP 7 framework, including Litchfield Sewage Treatment Works, Bulkington surface water management infrastructure, Rampton Sewage Treatment Works and Stoney Houghton Delivery Service Reservoir. It currently has four further live projects, and three in planning stages. The growth of its site investigations team, which currently sits under Pick Everard’s environmental discipline, has seen it appoint graduate, engineer and technician roles, with ambitions to formulate the ground investigation team as its own department in the near future. Discussing the appointment of Pick Everard to the AMP 7 framework, Joseph Turner, category manager at Severn Trent said: “We’re pleased to be continuing our relationship with Pick Everard on this exciting new venture. At Severn Trent, we are always looking at more efficient ways to invest for the future and make our services even better. We value the expertise our partners can provide to make us the most efficient water operation in the UK.” The Severn Trent AMP 7 framework is set to conclude in 2025, with the option of an additional two years under its agreement plan. Pick Everard employs more than 650 staff across its 15 offices, providing a range of project, cost, and design consultancy services. For more information, please visit http://www.pickeverard.co.uk
Post-industrial area revitalisation and post-factory vacancy adaptation aren’t just immensely beneficial to the environment and conducive to sustainable development. They also provide meaningful economic benefits which greatly affect the development of the local property market (both the revitalised area proper and its vicinity). Post-industrial wastefulness Post-factory and post-industrial vacancies are serious social and economic issues. Underdeveloped and unused areas and the ongoing decay of the buildings located therein constitute more than a construction hazard. These problems also decrease the area’s value to developers and undermine the value of the real estate in its vicinity. Vacancies’ low aesthetic value, no or insufficient infrastructure, the emergence of dreaded ‘dead zones’ in urban tissue – all of the above virtually assure that even the most exclusive housing estate built in the vicinity will lose much value. However, there is a way out of the woods – namely, revitalisation. In and of itself, this type of development makes economic, social and ecological sense. However, it also affects the entire property market in its immediate vicinity. How? 1. Heightened economic activity Industrial building revitalisation revives the extinct. As such, abandoned factories or depopulated shopping centres get a second lease of life. From a strictly ecological perspective, it’s a much better solution than razing the unused buildings outright. Rafael Altheim of Aluprof (a Europe-based international manufacturer of aluminium systems) has this to say: ‘Thanks to new construction solutions, we can conduct the revitalisation project in such a way that it preserves the building’s natural beauty and historical aesthetics.’ Our window/door system and profiles are intended for revitalised structures (e.g. MB-Slimline, MB-Ferroline, MB-60 Industrial or MB-70) allow us to replace the old windows with new ones. These are tight, resilient and, above all, warm. Likewise, they do not adversely affect the building’s aesthetic value. One of the best and most substantial examples of how revitalisation can increase economic activity is the Hamburg harbour and the related HafenCity project. The latter will expand the Hamburg city centre by 40%, thus creating a whole new seaside district filled with offices, shops, cultural institutions and apartments. Hamburg Port Authority, Hamburg, Germany. Applied systems: MB-70. The project: Kramer Biwer Mau Architekten 2. Increased value of real estate and surrounding areas Revitalising just one building can kick-start the reconstruction of the entire district. As the given area grows more attractive, the value of real estate situated therein increases as well. New projects attract developers and users and increase property values. Wojciech Brożyna (Aluprof UK Managing Director) has the following to say:’The revitalisation of Piccadilly East in Manchester is an excellent case study. Renovating the historical Crusader Mill built in 1830 and the creation of a high-class apartment building for district inhabitants inspired other projects in the immediate vicinity. As a result, The Times called Piccadilly East one of the best places to live, and real estate value in the district increased substantially. It’s a point of pride to us, since Aluprof has contributed meaningfully to the restoration project. Thanks to employing the slim-profile MB-Slimline window system boasting excellent thermal insulation, we are able to retain the original window shape in Crusader Mill. By the same token, we were able to increase the building’s ecological value and provide its users with excellent acoustic and thermal insulation as well as high structural resilience. Phoenix&Crusader Mills, Manchester, UK. Applied systems: MB-Slimline The project: ShedKM Architects. 3. Increased diversification of property development types Along with new developments, the revitalised property gives rise to new, diverse establishments and buildings. In order for the district to really come alive, it has to be filled with apartment buildings, commercial establishments, public utilities and workplaces. Increased diversity is important, since revitalised areas are frequently subject to gentrification, which constitutes a significant threat to the real estate market. Poorly-conducted revitalisation, the lack of social consultations, or insufficient municipal oversight can result in a deplorable situation wherein prospective new inhabitants either push the existing ones out, or (even worse from the perspective of the real estate market) fail to show up to begin with, as they are unwilling to bear the higher costs of living in an insufficiently-developed area. ‘The aforementioned Crusader Mill and Piccadilly East revitalisation projects are excellent examples of how local governments prevented gentrification. The current inhabitants had the right of first refusal and financial assistance. This simple solution prevented better-off incoming residents from expelling the original ones. Likewise, it allowed the area to retain its diversity and essential socioeconomic identity’, Wojciech Brożyna stated. Browary Wrocławskie, a former old stable. Wrocław, Poland. Applied systems: Let’s Build a Better Future The abovementioned case studies and arguments demonstrate that real estate revitalisation tremendously influences social, ecological or spatial objectives. By the same token, it greatly affects the real estate market as a whole, especially in its economic aspect. Even a single development like that can kick-start a veritable cycle of revitalising processes which can turn a dilapidated, abandoned district into a pride of the region. This, in turn, provides immense benefits to the inhabitants, environment and developers alike. Article sponsored by Aluprof
The UK Government has announced it will allocate £161 million to renovate Oxford station. Out of that, the Department for Transport has awarded £78.6 million to Network Rail to participate in the redevelopment of Oxford station and railway. The funding follows the granting of a Transport Works Act Order (TWAO) and will enable Network Rail to significantly transform Oxford station, the railway in Oxfordshire and nearby road network, boosting the number of passengers the station can serve, accommodating new services including freight and improving the accessibility of the station. “We are delighted to have been awarded this significant amount of funding from the Department for Transport, which will enable us make positive substantial improvements to Oxford station and railway for the benefit of our passengers and freight customers,” said Mike Gallop, Network Rail’s Western Route and Strategic Operations Director. The redevelopment plan includes the introduction of a new track and platform to be added alongside the existing platform 4, creating an island platform on the west side of the station. A new western station entrance will also be built next to Botley Road and will link up to the new platform via a subway, stairs and lift. The new entrance will make the station more accessible to people living to the west of the station, reducing walking time. Moreover, there will also be improvements to the nearby road network and replacement of Botley Road bridge, including the lowering of the road to enable standard double-decker buses to pass underneath for the first time. The new bridge design will include a four-metre-wide cycle/footpath on each side to encourage sustainable transport and improve safety. “This £161 million will truly transform the region, increasing the number of services for passengers, boosting economic growth by connecting people to new opportunities and increasing freight services between the South and Midlands,” added UK Rail Minister Wendy Morton. The latest funding announcement follows £69 million of investment from the government last May to support the development of the design and enabling work. The Oxford Local Enterprise Partnership (OxLEP) are also contributing an additional £10.5 million towards the project. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction and Property News
Bruce Kennedy, Architect Director at BDP, discusses the use of biophilic design for the Heriot Watt campus in Dubai. Every level of the campus benefits from a series of subtle features and carefully considered themes that provide relief from the extreme environment that can reach 50 degrees Celsius in summer. Using biophilic design principles, BDP has managed to transform a seven-storey office block overlooking the Arabian Gulf into a unified vertical campus for a Scottish university. The nature around has informed the orientation of learning spaces; the choice of materials for walls, floors and furniture; the flow of air, and even hanging felt screens that absorb sound and provide privacy in open-plan staff areas. Biophilic design has been shown to enhance wellbeing. Although plants, as shown in Heriot Watt’s Dubai Campus where interior green walls run through all levels, can form an important part of the design, it is about more than that. It is also about textural elements, a rich variety of patterns, the choice of natural over synthetic materials and the inclusion of ‘biomimicry,’ which in this case includes carpets that recall stone, moss and grass. BDP’s inspiration for the design of the Dubai campus was the designed landscape of Heriot Watt’s Riccarton Estate. Its lush green parkland has an exceptional tree collection and provided a compelling context for the application of biophilic principles; referencing Scottish standing stones and the pavements of Edinburgh in the slate-lined walls and monolithic reception desk that welcome visitors to Dubai. Biophilic design has succeeded in giving the Dubai campus a sense of identity, orientating staff who travel between the Gulf and Edinburgh, and offering its students a unique connection to the heritage of this ancient Scottish university. Arabic culture is referenced in elements that include an interpretation of traditional mashrabiya screens – a laser-cut, gold anodised aluminium veil encircling the welcome space. Its pattern is lifted from the Heriot Watt coat of arms and filters the sun, recalling the dappled light passing through Riccarton’s tree canopy – while the choice of wood for furniture provides another grounding element within the borrowed landscape. An important aspect of biophilic design is its ability to unite interior and exterior environments, and BDP has located social learning spaces where to provide views through palm trees toward the Gulf. To visitors, staff and students, not all of these features will be immediately evident, but they combine on a subliminal level to instill a sense of belonging. And the client, Heriot Watt University, was open to the philosophy. They understood that biophilic design would enrich the learning environment, infusing the Dubai campus with an identity that links it to its Edinburgh roots. In Dubai, this approach has provided a way of uniting nature, culture and heritage in a contemporary setting, creating a sense of belonging and making students and staff feel comfortable in their surroundings. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction and Property News
Buying and installing an air conditioner can be costly, and sometimes you may want to cut some corners in installation to reduce the costs. Unfortunately, cutting corners may cost you more in the long run than it would have if you had done it right in the first place. So, if you want to install an AC unit in a new home or replace an old one, you have to ensure you get it right the first time for safety and efficiency reasons. Below are some dangerous air conditioning installation mistakes and how to avoid them. Choosing the Wrong Size AC Installation mistakes start right from choosing the size of your AC. This is often a problem associated with not consulting an expert when buying a unit or using the price as the determining factor of what unit you buy. The size of AC has nothing to do with the dimensions of a unit but everything to do with its output measured in British Thermal Units (BTU). The right size AC depends on the size of the area in your home to be heated or cooled and the region. When the size of your unit is too small, it will result in overworking the unit, which could significantly affect its service life. DIY Installation You probably have studied your old AC unit for years and thought, “I could do this.” DIY AC installation is not a good idea unless you have technical HVAC knowledge. Installing a unit on your own can mean making mistakes that could be hazardous to you and your family. Also, it could mean wasting a lot of material which can mean spending more on materials than you would have had your air conditioning installation done by an HVAC expert. Many more things could go wrong with a DIY installation or having a sloppy technician install your unit. Luckily, air conditioning installation by ARS, a leading HVAC company in the US, can help ensure that you get everything right the first time. Failing to Check For Leakages after Installation The best rule of thumb is checking refrigerant leaks immediately after installation and running a newly installed AC for the first time. The most efficient way of checking leaks is using an electronic leak detector. Leaks in your AC cause two main problems. First, it reduces the efficiency of your system, thus increasing your utility bills. Secondly, coolants can be poisonous when inhaled and lead to health complications in your homestead. Improper Drainage An AC unit produces water as it cools the home. Every unit comes with a condensate pan where this water is collected. With proper installation of the condensate pan, it is highly unlikely that the condensate will leak. Poor installation can mean having the condensate leaking and causing structural damage to your home. While one condensate pan is enough, you could ask the installation technician to install a backup plan if the first one overflows. Improper Electrical Connection Improper electrical connections are common with using inexperienced technicians to install your AC. However, it can also happen even when an experienced technician installs your unit but fails to do a safety check before powering it. At best, sloppy connections can result in spoiled units and electrocutions or fires in worst cases scenarios. To avoid problems with poor electrical connections, ensure you counter check all connections before powering the unit for the first time. Final Words Air conditioning is critical for ensuring that a home feels like a place it is meant to be. Therefore, it is important to get the installation right by avoiding the mistakes that can pose a risk to your homestead or result in hefty utility bills.
Real estate investors are often restricted by the hefty property costs, primarily for commercial and rental assets. As the industry continues to evolve, so are the investment schemes in the real estate sector. These days, capitalists who can’t afford to purchase commercial properties on their own can turn to real estate syndication. As an investor, it pays to do your homework and find out the what, hows, and whys of real estate syndication before diving in. With that being said, we’ve created this article to answer your burning questions. What Is Real Estate Syndication? Real estate syndication is a model where investors pool their resources together to purchase large-scale properties. In essence, it works like crowdfunding, but for real estate projects. If you want to know more about this model, click here for in-depth discussions about real estate syndication. Additionally, this investment scheme has two significant players: the syndicator or sponsor and the investor. A syndicator will perform the heavy lifting, from selecting a potentially lucrative project to identifying potential investors and ensuring that the property stays profitable. Usually, the sponsor likewise hires property managers and establishes smooth investor relations. On the other hand, investors provide the equity and receive specific and predetermined return rates. There’s no one-size-fits-all distribution rate for revenue sharing, but it’s common for investors to receive 75% of the share and syndicators to earn 25% for doing most of the work. Why Invest In Real Estate Syndication By being one of the syndication partners, you can start investing in profitable assets at affordable costs, even if you’re a newbie. These are the most compelling reasons to invest in syndication. Less Capital for Large-Scale Projects In the past, investors couldn’t purchase a commercial asset without owning several million for capital money. However, syndication investors don’t need to shell out this insane amount of cash to start earning. That’s because they can pool their resources alongside other partners. For instance, a five-million-dollar property may accommodate several syndication partners willing to invest USD$50,000 at the minimum. That said, syndication makes it easier for prospects to set aside investment costs for lucrative properties such as malls, hotels, condominiums, and other commercial assets. Enjoy Robust Returns While investments by nature carry certain risks, commercial and rental properties have shown consistently robust performance for many years, driven by huge demand. According to the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (NAREIT), current rent growth rates for apartments, industrial and retail spaces are at their highest since the pandemic. Conversely, office rental growth rates have yet to recover from their pre-pandemic levels. While returns from these types of assets vary widely depending on the market movements, property type, and location, industry estimates place investment returns at around 6 to 12% yearly. Nevertheless, it’s safe to say that putting your money on commercial real estate properties, whether through syndication or traditional methods, is a wise move. Diversifying Your Portfolio Beginners and seasoned investors must ensure they’re not ‘putting all the eggs in one basket.’ This means investors ought to diversify their portfolios to minimize the risks involved in investing. For instance, if you’ve placed all your money on the stock market and it crashed, there’s nothing to cushion you from the losses. Because you don’t need millions to start investing in syndication, you have other investment opportunities elsewhere. For instance, if you managed to set aside USD$200,000 as capital, you can invest in one commercial asset and look for other similarly profitable opportunities. Additionally, you may consider taking on multiple real estate syndication offers to spread your revenues. It’s A Great Inflation Hedge Commercial real estate investments or CRE is a good hedge against inflation. To the uninitiated, an inflation hedge is an investment that safeguards against a currency’s decreased purchasing power due to inflation. Research done by real estate services company Cushman & Wakefield has revealed that real estate investors’ returns increase by 1.1% for every one percent hike in inflation. Since these property assets are meant to increase or maintain their value over time and typically increase during economic downturns, your syndication investment is protected from losses. According to the National Association of Realtors, the average annual growth rate of the real estate sector has steadied at six percent since 1968, despite several economic disruptions. A Perfect Way To Earn Passive Income Because the sponsor or syndicator does the heavy work, investors don’t have to do anything after signing the syndication agreement. Unlike stock investing, you don’t have to monitor and be updated on the latest market movements and fluctuations in asset values. Of course, this doesn’t relieve potential equity finders of exercising due diligence, such as inspecting the asset, checking the sponsor’s background, and ensuring that the papers are in order before injecting capital. Conclusion Real estate investments are generally considered profitable investments, especially commercial assets. With the current housing and accommodation deficiencies worldwide, rental properties offer the best solution to having a roof on one’s head, resulting in a steady and high demand. As an investor, you can turn to real estate syndication to minimize investment risks while enjoying robust benefits, as discussed above.
