UK property developer Godwin Developments today announces the launch of a nationwide build-to-rent (BTR) platform. Working as an equity investor in partnership alongside a leading institutional real estate partner, Godwin has ambitious plans to build a portfolio valued in excess of £1 billion. The joint venture (JV) will target both
Nicola Sturgeon has marked the connection of the UK’s tallest and most efficient onshore wind turbines to the national grid. The 200-metre structures are part of Banks Renewables’ Kype Muir Extension Wind Farm in South Lanarkshire that will consist of 15 new ultra-efficient turbines. Lying just south of Strathaven, Kype
ASHE Group has been awarded two contracts totalling nearly £30 million to deliver net zero schools for Hertfordshire County Council. The builder has already commenced work on a new £14.5 million primary school, which will be operated by the Avanti Academy Trust. The new primary school, due to open in
The world’s first science and innovation park dedicated to space-related companies has won two prestigious building awards. Space Park Leicester was officially opened by UK astronaut Tim Peake earlier this year and has built an impressive reputation for itself working on ground-breaking projects such as NASA’s internationally acclaimed James Webb
Luxury retailer Nest appoints award winning contractors to carry out refit Refurbishment works at the former Scottish Queen public house are now underway, with new owner Nest appointing award-winning contractors from across Yorkshire to turn the site into a luxury furniture and lighting retail destination. A landmark building at the
Property industry heavyweight Paul Millington has become the new Non-Executive Chair of leading Yorkshire commercial developer Wykeland Group. Mr Millington, who has held senior Board positions with the Evans Property Group for 27 years, has been appointed to Chair the Wykeland Board as the business delivers a series of major
The next phase for Kirklees Dewsbury Riverside Development has been approved at Strategic Planning Committee on 3 November, paving the way for Kirklees Council to carry out the next steps of the Local Plan allocation for housing development. Strategic Planning Committee granted planning permission based on full details of the
Virtual data rooms are cloud-based storage platforms particularly designed for data organization and sharing. However, a virtual data room is not a simple document repository by any means. It is a combination of multiple features for data management, sharing, storage, online communication, and project management. Importantly, some data rooms offer
UK property developer Godwin Developments today announces the launch of a nationwide build-to-rent (BTR) platform. Working as an equity investor in partnership alongside a leading institutional real estate partner, Godwin has ambitious plans to build a portfolio valued in excess of £1 billion. The joint venture (JV) will target both the single-family and multifamily BTR sectors in recognition of the substantial growth potential of the asset class. The strategy enables Godwin Developments to leverage its strong track record across acquisition, planning and delivery whilst rapidly scaling its operations in the sector. The JV partner has significant experience in investing in the living sectors across multiple jurisdictions, including in the UK. In the near-term, the JV partnership is aiming to develop its BTR proposition through the acquisition of both standing and forward funded stock as well as by unlocking new land opportunities. The Oxford-Cambridge Arc and the Home Counties will be key to expanding the delivery of single-family units for rent, and London, Bristol and Birmingham will be important target cities for the multifamily offering. The JV will focus on creating high-quality, professionally managed homes with strong ESG credentials that will appeal to residents of all ages and life stages – from singles and sharers, to couples, families, and downsizers. Research by the British Property Federation and Savills published last month estimated the BTR sector to be worth £170 billion by 2032, with completed BTR homes projected to increase fivefold over the next decade. Stephen Pratt, Director and Co-Founder at Godwin Developments said: “We are thrilled to announce the next step in our growth ambitions in the BTR sector. BTR has proven itself to be a highly defensive asset class and is rapidly establishing itself as a real alternative to home ownership, delivering an opportunity to alleviate the shortage of housing across the country. This launch is truly transformational for our business, and we look forward to growing our portfolio nationwide, adding value for residents, housebuilders, landowners, local authorities and other stakeholders using our expertise and unique ability to deliver, market and manage schemes across the development lifecycle.” Godwin Developments was advised by Alantra (corporate finance), Gateley (legal) and KPMG (tax). Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Nicola Sturgeon has marked the connection of the UK’s tallest and most efficient onshore wind turbines to the national grid. The 200-metre structures are part of Banks Renewables’ Kype Muir Extension Wind Farm in South Lanarkshire that will consist of 15 new ultra-efficient turbines. Lying just south of Strathaven, Kype Muir Extension’s turbines will have an installed generation capacity of up to67.2MW of renewable electricity, providing around 53,700 households with green electricity annually[1] over its 30-year lifetime – the equivalent of taking 23,550 petrol cars off the road each year[2]. The First Minister marked the turbine connection at a key time for renewable energy in Scotland. Just a year on from Glasgow playing host to COP26, clean, green energy is high on the Scottish Government’s agenda, with onshore wind power a key player in the country’s drive towards its net zero ambitions. During her visit to Kype Muir Extension on the morning of the 16 November, the First Minister unveiled a plaque at the site, as well as having the opportunity to discuss the future of renewable energy with members of the Banks Renewables team. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “Onshore wind is the biggest source of renewable energy in Scotland, making it a vital part of our mission to become a net zero economy by 2045. “In addition to being a cheap and reliable source of electricity that harnesses one of our most abundant resources, onshore wind can also help us meet that target in a way that benefits communities – through the creation of high quality jobs, and investment in local businesses and supply chains – as part of a just transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy. “The damaging impacts of the climate emergency recently highlighted at COP27 and the spike in energy prices since the war in Ukraine demonstrate the importance of accelerating that transition. Kype Muir extension is a significant example of that in action, and the Scottish Government will shortly outline how we plan to boost the country’s onshore capacity by up to 12 gigawatts by 2030, which could produce enough electricity to power 10 million homes for a year, or every home in Scotland for more than four years.” The South Lanarkshire wind farm is an extension of Banks Renewables’ 26-turbine Kype Muir Wind Farm site. The extension will feature four 156m, three 176m and eight 200m-tall wind turbines. Scottish civil engineering firm RJ McLeod (Contractors) Ltd which was originally appointed by Banks to construct the first Kype Muir wind farm has also been appointed as the contractor for the extension site. The adjacent Kype Muir wind farm and the new extension will have a combined capacity 155.4MW which will generate enough electricity for around 124,000 households each year. Banks Renewables’ existing Kype Muir site was chosen as the location for the launch of the Scottish Government’s Onshore Wind Policy consultation just last year and was praised by the Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero, Energy and Transport, Michael Matheson MSP, for its positive impact on the surrounding South Lanarkshire community. Andrew Liddell, development director at Banks Renewables said:“To welcome the First Minister to the site and have her mark such a major milestone for Scotland’s renewable energy sector is an incredible privilege and proud moment for everyone involved in the project. “Kype Muir Extension and its impressive turbines are an excellent example of a project that can make a real and positive impact towards the Scottish Government’s ambitious net-zero targets. “Not only does the wind farm have the tallest and most efficient turbines on UK land, but it will also play a key role in providing the surrounding community with major benefits – something that is high on our agenda. Over its 30-year lifetime, there is no doubt that Kype Muir Extension will prove valuable in many different ways for South Lanarkshire and Scotland as a whole.” The Kype Muir project is a flagship development for Banks Renewables and its site is where the company’s first Scottish Community Partnership, the Kype Muir Community Partnership was launched, pledging to support local projects that are charitable, educational, philanthropic or benevolent in purpose through the distribution of funding. Funding is also available for Banks’ flagship Connect2Renewables Charter to maximise the benefits of its renewable electricity developments for local people and the local economy. With the introduction of Kype Muir Extension, the Hamilton-based firm will look to reinforce and enhance the principles of community partnership originally founded at Kype Muir. Kype Muir and Kype Muir Extension are set to deliver community benefits equating to more than £700,000 per annum, with funds available to surrounding communities each year. The impressive Kype Muir Extension is set to be fully complete and producing clean, renewable electricity to the national grid in early 2023. To find out more about Banks Renewables Kype Muir Extension Wind Farm, please visit; https://www.banksgroup.co.uk/KypeMuirExtension Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
ASHE Group has been awarded two contracts totalling nearly £30 million to deliver net zero schools for Hertfordshire County Council. The builder has already commenced work on a new £14.5 million primary school, which will be operated by the Avanti Academy Trust. The new primary school, due to open in September 2023, will provide school places for 420 children living locally. The school will offer up to 30 places at Reception as well as 26 places for nursery aged children each year from September 2023. The school size will increase year on year as the school’s first pupils progress through their school life. “We’re committed to developing sustainable communities in Hertfordshire, providing residents with the infrastructure needed to make new developments great places to live – this includes providing good local schools which children can walk to,” said Cllr Terry Douris, Executive Member for Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning at Hertfordshire County Council. “The children joining the school in September will have the unique distinction in that they’ll be able to look at the school in 50 years’ time and say that was my school from day one. The school is being built with the future in mind; by prioritising environmental sustainability in construction and operation, we’re taking a big step towards building a cleaner, greener and healthier Hertfordshire.” The school is planning to generate its own power and be ‘net zero in operation’ using air source heating, photovoltaics and will be gas free, relying on electricity. The project aims to increase the local biodiversity by around 20% with bird and bat boxes, and green roofs included in the scheme. Once completed, the school will be Net Carbon Zero in operation, using only electricity for power and heating, aided by photovoltaic (solar) panels which will help to generate the electricity needed to run the school. “We are delighted to be breaking ground on yet another Net Zero Carbon School for Hertfordshire County Council. This significant investment in sustainable infrastructure demonstrates Hertfordshire County Council’s intention to address the climate emergency head on, and we are proud to be able to assist in delivering a building that is part of the solution in ensuring that there is a brighter future for the students of Avanti Brook School,” added Andrew Morris, Business Development Director at ASHE Construction. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The world’s first science and innovation park dedicated to space-related companies has won two prestigious building awards. Space Park Leicester was officially opened by UK astronaut Tim Peake earlier this year and has built an impressive reputation for itself working on ground-breaking projects such as NASA’s internationally acclaimed James Webb Space Telescope. The £46.4 million facility designed by Shepheard Epstein Hunter architects and constructed by Bowmer + Kirkland, is home to a community of leading organisations, academics from the University of Leicester and students who are undertaking world-leading research and driving growth in the space and space-enabled sectors. Now it has added two more accolades to its growing list of achievements having won both the Large Non-Residential Scheme of the Year Award and the Regeneration Project of the Year Award at the ProCon Leicestershire Awards which celebrate the best of the county’s built environment. Neil Loxton, Head of Project Delivery at the University of Leicester said: “The creation of Space Park Leicester took a long disused, contaminated brownfield site in a flood risk zone and transformed it into a major generator of social, economic and environmental improvement. “The facility is set to contribute £750 million a year to the UK space sector over the next decade and to support more than 2,500 direct and indirect jobs in the East Midlands. “The scheme was delivered within budget and on time, despite the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic. It is an incredible success story for Leicester and the East Midlands and we’re thrilled that this world-leading development has been recognised by the judges at the ProCon Leicestershire Awards.” Space Park Leicester is a project led by the University of Leicester in partnership with Leicester City Council and the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP). The 9,700 m2 facility provides state-of-the-art facilities for research, development and manufacturing, with offices, shared laboratories, teaching facilities and co-working spaces, focussing primarily on research, development and applications of space. Firms have the opportunity to locate their business on a short- or long-term basis at Space Park Leicester. Dr Patricia Martin del Guayo, who led Shepheard Epstein Hunter’s team of architects for the project since 2017, said: “This is great recognition for a huge team effort providing something unique in the world which enables industry and university to work closely together on key issues like climate change. “It has brought a contaminated overgrown site in a flood risk area safely back into use, it welcomes schoolchildren as much as leading researchers and is designed as a low-energy, sustainable project which will last 100 years or more and can change and adapt to support the pioneering research in the building.” Space Park Leicester’s latest success comes on the back of it winning the Sustainable Project of the Year Award at the East Midlands Property Awards in September. To find out more information about Space Park Leicester, visit: https://www.space-park.co.uk/. To learn more ProCon Leicestershire, visit https://www.procon-leicestershire.co.uk/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Luxury retailer Nest appoints award winning contractors to carry out refit Refurbishment works at the former Scottish Queen public house are now underway, with new owner Nest appointing award-winning contractors from across Yorkshire to turn the site into a luxury furniture and lighting retail destination. A landmark building at the heart of Phase 1 of the award-winning Park Hill redevelopment which once housed one of the four original onsite pubs, the Scottish Queen spans an impressive 3,500 sq. ft and includes a basement and terraces to both sides. Nest’s CEO and founder, Christian Hawley, is overseeing the project, with contractors including Sheffield’s Maquina Architects, Pontefract-based flooring specialist, Milestone Group and South Yorkshire heating and ventilation firm Airmaster Air Conditioning amongst the companies delivering on the works. Commenting on the ‘carefully collated team of contractors’, Christian said he was confident that they would be able to replicate Nest’s ethos and aesthetic within the new space, delivering a ‘unique design destination’ that will attract residential and commercial clients from across the country. The interior concept for the new showroom, visualised by the internationally acclaimed interior designer Harriet Paterson, explores the concept of Urban Spaces, with the layout consisting of ‘intimate room vignettes’. When asked about the visual inspiration behind the concept, this being “Verdant Brutalism”, Harriet explains: “The drama of the Barbican conservatory meets the elegance of the Ricardo Bofill’s Spanish cement factory conversion, La Fabrica, combined with bold monochrome statement signage”. Green living and plant life will also be a strong feature within the aesthetic, bringing the outdoors in. The design incorporates a purpose-built staircase, sympathetic to the space with an industrial style, perforated folded steel softened with natural oak treads, supplied by Stoke-on-Trent’s Metal Staircase Company. For staff and customers, a sleek and compact open-plan kitchen area, supplied courtesy of fellow Sheffield Business, Concept Interiors Ltd, also features. Other Sheffield suppliers and contractors working to deliver the project includes electrician New Phase LED, IDAQ Networks, Steven Slack Joinery Services, and Croft Security. Blackburn-based commercial lighting supplier Tyson Lighting are contracted to supply the track lighting throughout the space with spot lights and a linear fitting for the office area. Tom Crookes, Commercial Manager at Tyson Lighting commented on the project: “TYSON were delighted to be invited to assist Nest in finding a dynamic lighting solution for their new Park Hill showroom. “The brief was to provide a system that would allow for all the lighting needs of a retail show-room with a simple, clean aesthetic that allowed for adaptation as the needs of the space evolve. We love a technical challenge, and we cannot wait to see the finished showroom beautifully lit.” Wakefield-based Quadrant Inspections and Pontefract’s Milestone Group are also supporting with the build, with the flooring expected to be fitted in October. Nest is partnering with Sheffield business, Concept Interiors Ltd, to design and fit the design destination’s kitchen space. The chosen spec accentuates the urban style of Park Hill, consisting of stylish units from both the Zerox light and dark Concreto range and Cosentino Dekton worktops. The partnership, based on a referral agreement between both party showrooms, aligns with Nest’s commitment/belief to support fellow businesses in the North. Commenting on the project Nest’s CEO and Founder, Christian Hawley, said: “The Park Hill development is Europe’s largest Grade II listed building. The industrial interior of the Scottish Queen perfectly encapsulates Sheffield’s history, while the breath-taking’ views over the city centre provides the business with excellent display and photoshoot opportunities. “It is very important to us that we make the most of the space, and complement it with the design of the interior, and so we have invested a lot of time into perfecting the group of contractors that will help us to deliver on this project. “Now that work is underway, we anticipate it will take around two-three months to complete, opening at the end of November. We are very much looking forward to seeing the space transformed, and to welcoming clients from across the country to our new design destination.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Property industry heavyweight Paul Millington has become the new Non-Executive Chair of leading Yorkshire commercial developer Wykeland Group. Mr Millington, who has held senior Board positions with the Evans Property Group for 27 years, has been appointed to Chair the Wykeland Board as the business delivers a series of major developments vital to regeneration and economic growth across Yorkshire and the Humber. He is joined on the Wykeland Board by a new Non-Executive Director, Richard Dawson, who brings to the business more than 30 years’ experience in senior financial, commercial and strategic roles. The new appointments bring further experience and expertise to the Wykeland Board as the business delivers some of the biggest and most ambitious developments in its history of more than 50 years. They include a £150m retail logistics fulfilment centre, for which Wykeland secured planning approval, and a £100m research and development and manufacturing facility for global medical technology business Smith+Nephew, which is going through the planning process. Both of these developments are at Wykeland’s Melton West business park, west of Hull, which is one of Yorkshire’s premier locations for large-scale investments. As well as Melton West, Wykeland’s flagship developments include the Bridgehead business park close to the Humber Bridge; the £100m-plus Fruit Market urban village in Hull, in partnership with Beal Homes; the £20m Treadmills mixed-use scheme on the site of the former Northallerton Prison in North Yorkshire; Hull’s @TheDock tech campus; the Flemingate retail and leisure destination in Beverley, East Yorkshire; and Europarc, the premier business location on the south bank of the Humber. Wykeland Managing Director Dominic Gibbons said: “We’re delighted that two such highly-respected property industry leaders have joined our Board. “Paul and Richard are well-known figures on the North of England property scene and bring to the Board decades of high-level experience which will support our next phase of growth. “Their expertise will reinforce our excellent executive team and will be important as we deliver existing developments and capitalise upon the many exciting new opportunities we have identified.” Mr Millington has held a series of senior Board level positions with Leeds-based Evans Property Group, one of the UK’s leading privately-owned property investment and development companies, with net assets of over £600m. His roles have included Group Finance Director, Overseas Investment Director and Executive Director responsible for overseeing the growth of the Dakota Hotels business. Mr Dawson became Finance Director of Highstone Group in 2001 and then became Head of Family Office for the Moore Family in 2007. This position included a key role in the growth of Wilton Developments, the Leeds-based property development business within the Moore Group. Mr Millington succeeds former William Jackson Food Group Chairman Christopher Oughtred as Chair of Wykeland Group, while Mr Dawson replaces Neil Stothard, Chief Executive of construction products and services specialist Vp PLC, as Non-Executive Director. Mr Millington said: “I’m delighted to be joining one of the region’s leading property developers. Wykeland is a fantastic business, underpinned by strong core values, and its engagement with community stakeholders has enabled it to consistently deliver first-class developments. “I’m really looking forward to working with Dominic and the executive team and to the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.” Mr Dawson said: “Wykeland Group has an outstanding reputation for delivering high-quality projects and combining excellent financial results with a strong ethical code and values. With a healthy balance sheet and an enviable development pipeline, Wykeland is in a great position to build for the future.’’ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The next phase for Kirklees Dewsbury Riverside Development has been approved at Strategic Planning Committee on 3 November, paving the way for Kirklees Council to carry out the next steps of the Local Plan allocation for housing development. Strategic Planning Committee granted planning permission based on full details of the first phase of access road into the site, and outline details for the provision of new community facilities and up to 350 new homes. The application also supports the delivery of high-quality pedestrian and cycle facilities connecting to the new signalised site access junction at the existing Forge Lane / Lees Hall Road junction, as well as the ability to connect to the new Ravensthorpe Railway Station which is part of the Transpennine Route Upgrade. The next steps include the council working with local people to progress an Inclusive Communities Framework for the area which will feed the community’s future needs into the next stages of developing the site alongside external partners. Councillor Graham Turner, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, said: “This is an exciting step towards the creation of a vibrant and welcoming new community which has been made possible by collaborative working with local people, the council, Homes England, West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Network Rail. We are committed to ensuring that the new Riverside development works for new and existing residents, many of whom have had their say about the proposals during the consultation phase, helping us better understand the aspirations and needs of the local community.” The first phase of construction has recently been completed by local company, The Casey Group Ltd with the creation of a new allotment site that will replace the original site of 25 plots with 43 plots. The transition of the existing allotment holders will start in the coming months. The planning application can be viewed on the council’s planning portal. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Virtual data rooms are cloud-based storage platforms particularly designed for data organization and sharing. However, a virtual data room is not a simple document repository by any means. It is a combination of multiple features for data management, sharing, storage, online communication, and project management. Importantly, some data rooms offer advanced bank-grade security, document management, and collaboration features that are necessary for any intended usage. That said, no matter what you use data room software for — be it M&A, real estate deals or a fundraising campaign — these features will be similarly important. Below is a detailed guide on some of the best and most necessary electronic data room features. Best features to look for in virtual data room services 1. Security features and certificates 2. Document management features 3. Communication tools Apart from these features, it is important if the data room software: Final words Virtual data rooms are like investments; the more you invest, the better the results. However, no matter how you intend to use it, make sure your VDR has all the must-have features in terms of security, document management, and collaboration. Be sure to compare virtual data rooms against these three criteria to make an optimal choice! Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
