Severe labour and skills shortages in the construction industry could seriously affect the delivery of the UK’s national infrastructure pipeline, according to a new report published today by leading consultant, Currie & Brown. The UK Construction market outlook report – which tracks construction activity from the start of 2023 to
Building materials supplier Aggregate Industries, a member of the Holcim Group, has further bolstered its operations with the acquisition of Besblock Ltd., a leading supplier of precast materials to the Midlands construction industry. The acquisition of Telford-based Besblock will see Aggregate Industries expand upon its existing products with the introduction
Caterpillar, in collaboration with Finning UK & Ireland, will exhibit its latest machines, engines and solutions on stand C-ND1/ND2 at Plantworx in Peterborough, 13-15th June 2023. Compact Equipment Four next generation of Cat® compact radius mini hydraulic excavators will be showcased, all delivering increased performance, higher breakout forces, longer service
Powerday has set out the company’s latest sustainability targets in our new ambitious Sustainability and Wellness Manifesto for 2023. The Manifesto sets out clear objectives under all five pillars – our employees, communities, carbon management, clients, and procurement. As well as these challenging targets, the Manifesto plots our roadmap to
Exeter’s £44m energy-efficient St Sidwell’s Point is the UK’s first Passivhaus leisure centre, designed to use up to 70 per cent less energy than a conventional pool and leisure centre. The centre features: a main swimming pool and learners pool with moveable floors; a confidence water pool; and a 100-seat
Rushlift GSE, the specialist airport ground support equipment and services provider, has celebrated its tenth anniversary with a grand open-day event held recently at its new state-of-the-art Maintenance & Service facility at Gatwick Airport. Attended by over one hundred special guests – including customers, suppliers, Rushlift staff and management –
McLaughlin & Harvey is delighted to announce trainee engineer Christy Dickson has picked up the coveted CECA Scotland’s Most Promising Apprentice 2023 award. Developing the engineering stars of tomorrow is part of the ethos at McLaughlin & Harvey, with the company committed to ensuring 5% of the workforce is made
Bowmer + Kirkland has been selected to develop a 500-home build to rent (BTR) residential scheme in Leeds city centre. The £140 million project at Whitehall Riverside is being delivered by Glenbrook and backed by Legal & General following last month’s announcement of what is Leeds’ largest BTR funding deal
Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) is reminding passengers travelling along the rail line between Manchester, Huddersfield, Leeds and York to plan their journeys ahead of time, as nine days of major upgrades are due to take place from 17-25 June 2023 at Morley station. Over nine days, engineers working on the
Housebuilder Crest Nicholson is launching a number of biodiversity initiatives, such as hedgehog highways and bird boxes, across a number of its developments in Milton Keynes, including Whitehouse Park and Manor View. To celebrate, Crest Nicholson recently welcomed the Shadow Climate Change Minister Kerry McCarthy to visit Manor View for
Severe labour and skills shortages in the construction industry could seriously affect the delivery of the UK’s national infrastructure pipeline, according to a new report published today by leading consultant, Currie & Brown. The UK Construction market outlook report – which tracks construction activity from the start of 2023 to date – indicates that 225,000 extra construction workers will be needed by 2027 to meet demand. This shortfall is likely to have severe repercussions for infrastructure projects across key sectors. Skills shortage pushes up costs Skills shortages have overtaken material costs as the primary challenge facing the construction sector. But while headline inflation is easing, an acute construction skills shortage is predicted to drive an 8.3% increase in labour costs over 2023. This could extend lead times by up to 50%, forcing contractors to re-scope projects. The report also highlights that the combination of labour-driven and material cost increases could add £900 million to the cost of the UK’s infrastructure pipeline in 2023. This is equivalent to the cost of a major new hospital. Timing is a key factor Typically, major infrastructure projects are talent intensive, which means that demand will quickly outstrip supply. The report identifies that this situation will be exacerbated over the medium term as construction activity intensifies with new projects set to come online between 2025 and 2030. To help address the issue, the report advises project teams to engage early with their contractors to ring-fence skilled labour and expand their pool of supply partners. It also suggests that part of the solution to the problem could be delivered through the use of advanced technologies, such as AI, which will provide benefits through design, cost and risk management, safety and off-site construction innovations. Nick Gray, Chief Operating Officer UK and Europe at Currie & Brown, said: “The national infrastructure pipeline is crucial to both the economic health of the UK, and improving the entire population’s quality of living through increased access to key services. Therefore, the predicted skills shortage revealed in this report should be seen as a wake-up call for the construction industry. Avoiding a cliff-edge that threatens the delivery of key projects such as the Transpennine Route Upgrade Programme, works at the Port of Liverpool, and the National Hospitals Programme will demand a collaborative effort on training from players across the industry. It will also need robust project management and continuous, close control of cost and risk.”
Building materials supplier Aggregate Industries, a member of the Holcim Group, has further bolstered its operations with the acquisition of Besblock Ltd., a leading supplier of precast materials to the Midlands construction industry. The acquisition of Telford-based Besblock will see Aggregate Industries expand upon its existing products with the introduction of a range of technically niche and sustainable building blocks, and enable closer working relationships with large and medium sized housebuilders across the Midlands. The acquisition will also provide further growth opportunities outside of the region. Through its two manufacturing facilities in Telford, Besblock currently produces around 1.7 million m² building blocks per year, equating to approximately 250kT. Its products include the industry-leading Star Performer block, a sustainable and multi-purpose on-site solution, with recycled aggregates and 24 % less material than a solid block. The business has strong sustainability credentials, with its fleet of lorries one of the most efficient in the country and with the recent installation of a new 1.65MW biomass boiler and renewable energy system, which will see the business become carbon neutral when operational. Dragan Maksimovic, CEO of Aggregate Industries UK, said: “The acquisition of Besblock Ltd is an important milestone in our journey as we strive to become the UK’s leading supplier of sustainable construction materials and solutions. Besblock has invested heavily in sustainability in recent years and its market-leading product range has strong synergies with our own. We’re delighted to be able to enhance our products and capabilities with the acquisition of this progressive and market-leading business.” Andrew Huxley, Managing Director at Besblock Ltd., said: “We’re incredibly proud of what we have achieved as a business in the last 50 years; particularly of the investments we have made in sustainable solutions, both in terms of products and practices. We’re excited to continue to expand the business and continue our sustainability journey with the support of Aggregate Industries.”
Caterpillar, in collaboration with Finning UK & Ireland, will exhibit its latest machines, engines and solutions on stand C-ND1/ND2 at Plantworx in Peterborough, 13-15th June 2023. Compact Equipment Four next generation of Cat® compact radius mini hydraulic excavators will be showcased, all delivering increased performance, higher breakout forces, longer service intervals and lower owner and operating costs compared to prior models. These mini excavators offer common features and consistent control layout to simplify training and operator adaptation. The exhibited Cat 308 CR with Ease of Use technologies – Indicate and E-Fence – allows operators of all experience levels to work more efficiently and consistently. Qualified operators will be able to try out the technology throughout the show, and these features will be showcased in daily 20-minute demonstrations scheduled at 10:00, 12:00, 14:00, 16:00. The Cat 306 CR with TRS6 tiltrotator gives 360 degrees of rotation and 40 degrees of tilt to enable complex digging and grading without the need to reposition the machine. Daily 15-minute demonstrations will take place at 9:30, 11:30, 13:30, 15:00. The Cat 301.7 CR and Cat 302.7 CR on display offer big performance in a compact design. Both cab and canopy versions can be tilted back in minutes by using a couple of simple tools. The joysticks and travel levers tilt up with the cab, allowing unobstructed access to components for larger service and maintenance tasks. The tilt cab along with ground-level access to all the regular touchpoints for service helps reduce maintenance time and costs. Cabs are sealed and pressurised and offer a clean and quiet environment for the operator and can be equipped with heating and/or air conditioning for all-weather climate control. To support customers during the energy transition to a lower-carbon future, Caterpillar will display the battery electric Cat 906 compact wheel loader prototype powered by a Caterpillar battery prototype, which includes an onboard AC charger. Engines The Cat C3.6 industrial engine offers the perfect balance of compact size, reliability and performance. Offered in ratings ranging up to 100 kW (134 hp) @ 2200 rpm, the C3.6 meets EU Stage V / U.S. EPA Tier 4 Final emissions standards and is designed to meet the needs of many industries and applications, including earthmoving and paving equipment, pumps, compactors/rollers and compressors, among other machines. Smaller in size than its predecessor and delivering 5% more power density and 12% more torque, the C3.6 is a powerful yet compact engine, with flexible aftertreatment mounting options. It is compatible with biodiesel up to B20 and hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) to EN15940, to help customers power a better, more sustainable world. Caterpillar is also promoting its remanufactured Cat engines, with a C6.6 that displays the engine both before and after the rigorous remanufacturing process. Reman engines are an efficient, cost-effective solution to optimise uptime as they come fully assembled and ready to run. Remanufactured to like-new standards, Cat Reman engines are backed with the same-as-new Caterpillar warranty. Used equipment Used equipment experts from Finning will support customers who seek an alternative to buying new or are looking to sell their Cat equipment. Cat Financial Team members from Cat Financial will be available to discuss the latest leasing and financing programs as well as extended protection packages to help secure customers’ investments. Whether looking for new or used Cat machines or for repair/rebuild options to keep current machines operational, Cat Financial experts will help customers make the right decision to support their business – no matter how large or small. Recruitment The Caterpillar Talent Acquisition team will be at Plantworx to showcase the diverse careers available within the company and will be available to answer questions. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Powerday has set out the company’s latest sustainability targets in our new ambitious Sustainability and Wellness Manifesto for 2023. The Manifesto sets out clear objectives under all five pillars – our employees, communities, carbon management, clients, and procurement. As well as these challenging targets, the Manifesto plots our roadmap to net zero in line with our recently announced net zero target for Scopes 1 and 2 and shares this and our other successes for 2022. We are particularly delighted with our progress against our carbon management pillar, not only in the setting of our net zero target but in the carbon reduction measures we have taken to date. We are also proud of our initial steps on the journey to improve gender equality at Powerday, and the big wins delivered through Powerday Foundation. With the support of our many partners, we delivered activities to over 3,000 young Londoners last year, exceeding our target by 20% in the second year of our five-year strategy. You can read more about all these achievements in the report. Michael Crossan, Chairman says: “I am hugely proud of what Powerday has achieved in 2022 in collaboration with our employees, clients, suppliers, communities and other partners. I am confident that together our continued efforts will enable us to deliver against our new sustainability commitments and have a positive impact on both people and the planet.” Edward Crossan, CEO says: “There remains much to do to meet our sustainability goals, so we are excited to continue our journey with challenging targets across all our five pillars for 2023. We have a particular focus on fairness in the workplace and community, training and development, net zero carbon, and the health and wellbeing of young Londoners, and look forward to updating you on all our progress in the year ahead.” Powerday published its first Manifesto in 2020 and we have continued to do so annually since then to help us achieve our ambitions and track our progress. The freely available report addresses our sustainability priorities under our five pillars, sharing our progress against the previous year’s plan and setting out new objectives for the coming year. Download Powerday’s Sustainability and Wellness Manifesto 2023 here.
Exeter’s £44m energy-efficient St Sidwell’s Point is the UK’s first Passivhaus leisure centre, designed to use up to 70 per cent less energy than a conventional pool and leisure centre. The centre features: a main swimming pool and learners pool with moveable floors; a confidence water pool; and a 100-seat spectator seated area. In addition, there is: a 150-station fitness gym and two fitness studios; a health suite and spa facility; a children’s soft play area; and a 50-seater café. “St Sidwell’s Point officially opened one year ago, and I worked with the contractors to ensure we got everything right from an operational point of view,” says Jonathan Brown, Centre Manager. “Since opening, footfall through the centre has exceeded all expectations, so keeping the premises clean, particularly as it is so busy, is an ongoing challenge. “Due to the mixed nature of the site, with so many wet areas, we have the highest anti-slip tiles throughout. The flooring needs to be kept scrupulously clean for the safety of centre users, while also needing to be maintained to look good. “From day one, we needed the best possible equipment, but the first-floor cleaning machines we tried simply were not reliable or robust enough. We were therefore delighted when our janitorial supplies contractor H.D.Adcock Nelson Ltd recommended floorcare machinery from Truvox International. “At the in-house demonstration we were extremely impressed with the ease-of-use and efficiency of both the Orbital 1500 and the Multiwash™ PRO 340.” Efficiency and reliability “It’s quite unusual for a service business based in South Wales to be a preferred supplier for a site in Devon, but maybe that says a lot about us,” says H.D.Adcock Nelson Ltd Business Development Manager Kirsty Wallis. “I already knew the Partnership Manager at Exeter Council Leisure Services, so had the opportunity to offer some advice on the particular janitorial requirement for their new St Sidwell’s Point Leisure Centre. “One advantage we offer is that Adcock is part of the Jangro buying group, which means that all our customers receive free access to an online learning portal, and that certainly appealed to Exeter Council’s health and safety team. “As far as our relationship with Truvox International is concerned, it’s all about efficiency and reliability. One area that people always forget is the floor, and that’s where savings can be made. It’s also where all the hidden problems often are. St Sidwell’s Point Leisure Centre is an incredible looking facility with numerous different flooring types which creates huge challenges. “After reviewing a number of suppliers and equipment, it became clear that these were the only machines that could solve the wide range of problems at the site. The demonstration was so convincing that the order was placed only a couple of hours later! “Truvox International is a very hands-on business, and they are very supportive of us and our customers. When we recommend, specify or deliver cleaning equipment, such as Truvox’s Multiwash™ PRO, or Orbital machines, we also provide training for management and operatives. Both machines are so easy to use and maintain that the training is actually fun.” Two machines solve all the complex floorcare issues The Orbital 1500 combines orbital and rotary motions into one, providing a constant vibration that increases cleaning efficiency. The roto-orbital movement gives the machine great stability, which enhances the performance compared with a regular single disc machine. It is easy to use and manoeuvre and the low vibration levels provide excellent operator comfort. Meanwhile, the Multiwash™ PRO 340 is a scrubber-dryer, which gives excellent scrubbing power and pick up, leaving the floor clean and dry as well as adding a finishing touch to the floors. “Both the machines look good and highly professional, which is extremely important as since Covid, regular cleaning has become a front of house and highly visible activity, providing reassurance for centre visitors,” says Jonathan Brown. “To continue in the spirit of the Passivhaus philosophy, for floorcare we use only environmentally friendly BioHygiene solutions. They are highly concentrated biotechnology based all-purpose cleaning products offering superior cleaning and odour control using renewable and sustainable ingredients. “With the two machines from Truvox International we can guarantee perfect cleanliness and hygiene across the flooring throughout the site as they solve all of our complex floorcare issues.” https://www.truvox.com/our-products/scrubber-dryers
Rushlift GSE, the specialist airport ground support equipment and services provider, has celebrated its tenth anniversary with a grand open-day event held recently at its new state-of-the-art Maintenance & Service facility at Gatwick Airport. Attended by over one hundred special guests – including customers, suppliers, Rushlift staff and management – the newly opened service centre provided the perfect venue to celebrate the company’s great success story, to date. Welcoming guests, Tim Willett, General Manager and Director of Rushlift GSE, said: “After ten years of continued growth, it seems highly appropriate to hold this celebratory open-day party with our team and partners at our very latest 36,000 sq ft Service facility at Gatwick. The fact that this is now our fifth such facility here at the UK’s second busiest airport helps demonstrate the growth that we have achieved over the last ten years and our steadfast commitment to supporting our clients well into the future.” Illustrating Rushlift GSE’s recent successes, the company has just secured a 56-month extension to its successful, long-running GSE contract with Europe’s leading short-haul airline, easyJet. The new multi-million pound deal continues a pre-existing five-year agreement with Rushlift GSE to supply, manage and maintain easyJet’s ground-handling fleet at London’s Gatwick Airport. In total over 600+ ground support assets are managed by Rushlift GSE under a progressive program of innovation and equipment enhancement, which includes an on-going transition from diesel to electric vehicles. Further success came less than two years ago with Rushlift GSE’s entry into a six-year global framework agreement with airport ground services company, Menzies Aviation, to supply GSE equipment. Under the arrangement, Rushlift GSE initially leased 650 brand-new vehicles to Menzies Aviation’s ground handling operations at Heathrow and Gatwick airports. At the open-day event, Daniel Chapman, easyJet’s Regional Operations and Contracts Manager, said of the new service centre: “The value-add of a facility such as this is being able to strip down pieces of GSE equipment that have been running for several years and then refurbish them to a standard that is going to support us over the next five years – and to do it at some scale.” Ian Baker, GSE Asset and Lease Manager at Menzies Aviation, said: “It’s a great facility, and with this 10-year anniversary it’s good to see Rushlift thriving and investing for the future. We have been working with Rushlift for almost two years, mostly at Heathrow, but our involvement with them is growing at Gatwick and elsewhere in the UK. Some of the new equipment we are bringing in is now electric, replacing old diesel units, which is better for the environment and, importantly, they’re intrinsically safer – as with the new belt loaders and stairs.” The new Maintenance & Service Centre is a long-term investment by Rushlift GSE involving a £250,000 comprehensive upgrade of the facility: including the installation of LED lighting, an uprating of the electrics with a move to three-phase power, the provision of vehicle charging points, a pumped waste-oil tank, and a vehicle exhaust extraction system. To further increase operational resilience, the number of on-site service engineers working across the three Rushlift GSE sites will be increased to 41. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
McLaughlin & Harvey is delighted to announce trainee engineer Christy Dickson has picked up the coveted CECA Scotland’s Most Promising Apprentice 2023 award. Developing the engineering stars of tomorrow is part of the ethos at McLaughlin & Harvey, with the company committed to ensuring 5% of the workforce is made up of apprentices, students and graduates on formalised training schemes. Christy Dickson is clearly making his mark in that 5% having joined McLaughlin & Harvey in 2019. Initially gaining experience with the team at the Bushmills Distillery Offsite Maturation Facility site followed by a brief spell with the estimating department, he then joined the Hawick Flood Protection Scheme which has been a focal point of his work since September 2020. Despite balancing working away from home on challenging projects and the impacts of Covid, Christy sailed through his Higher Level Apprenticeship (HLA) Foundation course and moved straight onto the HLA in Civil Engineering. He is currently in his second year and attends university every Thursday during term time. Always willing to help encourage more people into the industry, Christy has frequently put himself forward to take on the additional responsibilities of mentoring and supervising young people or work-returners brought on-site for work experience, site visits or work placements. In 2022, Christy helped guide eight S3 girl pupils from Hawick High School on-site as part of the CECA Scotland endorsed What-IF programme. Upon completion, the S3 girls were keen to explore opportunities in construction, with each offering compliments to and of Christy. Robin Erskine, Senior Contracts Manager at McLaughlin & Harvey, said: “I have had the opportunity to work with Christy at the Hawick FPS for the past two and a half years and I’m very proud of how he has developed into a very competent young engineer. From day one, he has shown a real willingness and eagerness to learn and advance his knowledge in civil engineering. His attitude, dedication and work ethic are exemplary. He works every other weekend on-site in Hawick due to his mid-week college day commitments back in Belfast. He has an excellent relationship with his peers, colleagues, subcontractors and client team, and I am delighted that he has picked up CECA Scotland’s Most Promising Apprentice award – thoroughly deserved.” Commenting on his award win, Christy Dickson said: “I am very honoured to have won this year’s CECA Scotland award for Most Promising Apprentice. I cannot thank Seamus Devlin and the team at McLaughlin & Harvey Ltd enough for all the training, support and opportunities they have given me. As well as my family and friends who have helped guide me throughout these early stages in my career as a Civil Engineer.” Christy received the award at the annual CECA Awards Dinner, held at the Doubletree by Hilton in Glasgow at the end of March. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Bowmer + Kirkland has been selected to develop a 500-home build to rent (BTR) residential scheme in Leeds city centre. The £140 million project at Whitehall Riverside is being delivered by Glenbrook and backed by Legal & General following last month’s announcement of what is Leeds’ largest BTR funding deal and the pair’s first venture together. Over the last decade, Glenbrook has established itself as one of the UK’s most active BTR developers, delivering over 1,500 homes to date. Whitehall Riverside represents the company’s first residential scheme in Leeds with a further 618-home development to come forward at Kirkstall Road later this year. In February 2023, Bowmer + Kirkland announced the practical completion of High Definition, a 280-apartment build for sale scheme at MediaCityUK, which the contractor delivered for Glenbrook on behalf of Latimer, Clarion Housing Group’s development arm. Danny Roberts, development director at Glenbrook, said: “With planning permission secured and the funding agreement with L&G now in place, we’ve immediately moved forward with the delivery of Whitehall Riverside and are working towards a completion date of April 2026. “Given the scheme’s extensive sustainable credentials, it was vital that we had a best-in-class contractor in place with similar values. We have a well-established relationship with Bowmer + Kirkland and this appointment provides certainty to the market that we will be delivering a high-quality product and provide an even broader range of choice for people in the city.” The project team includes Sheppard Robson, Curtins, Abacus, Re-form, Crookes Walker Consulting. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) is reminding passengers travelling along the rail line between Manchester, Huddersfield, Leeds and York to plan their journeys ahead of time, as nine days of major upgrades are due to take place from 17-25 June 2023 at Morley station. Over nine days, engineers working on the multi-billion-pound Transpennine Route Upgrade will start to demolish the old platforms, construct new ones, realign tracks and activate a track turn-back (which allows trains to turn around) and re-control signals to Network Rail’s rail operating centre in York. For the majority of the nine days, railway diversionary routes as well as rail replacement buses will keep passengers moving, however, there will be significant impact over the first two days of the upgrades (17-18) as engineers complete additional work in Huddersfield, affecting the main diversionary route. During this time, no trains will run between Huddersfield and Leeds and all services will be replaced by buses. Sarah Thompson, Sponsor on TRU said: ” We’re really excited to start the next phase of upgrades at Morley which take us one step closer to a fully accessible station”. “However, for us to safely complete these upgrades, we do need to stop trains from running via their usual route, so I’d urge anybody travelling between 17-25 June to check ahead and plan their journey”. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank customers for their patience and understanding while the work takes place”. Chris Nutton, Major Projects Director for TransPennine Express said: “As major upgrade work takes place for Morley station, there will some service alterations for TransPennine Express services. Customers are advised to allow for additional time to travel and to check carefully for the latest service alterations before they travel on our website (www.tpexpress.co.uk/travel-updates/changes-to-train-times). “Updates will also be available on our social media channels. In addition, extra support will be available for customers from Customer Delivery Managers who will be on hand to assist customers with their journeys.” The Transpennine Route Upgrade is set to revolutionise rail across the north of England by delivering a fully electrified railway between Manchester and York, improving stations along the route and upgrading a number of bridges and level crossings.
Housebuilder Crest Nicholson is launching a number of biodiversity initiatives, such as hedgehog highways and bird boxes, across a number of its developments in Milton Keynes, including Whitehouse Park and Manor View. To celebrate, Crest Nicholson recently welcomed the Shadow Climate Change Minister Kerry McCarthy to visit Manor View for a tour of the planned initiatives. The tour included showcasing the installation of ecological enhancements on the site, along with eco-friendly timber frames currently being used in construction, and the kitchen units made from recycled materials. The planned initiatives at Whitehouse Park and Manor View include specially designed hedgehog highways, which enable wildlife to roam freely and safely away from traffic, and bird boxes located in the bricks of the homes to provide a haven for house sparrows, blue tits, great tits, and other birds to nest, and bat boxes. Sparrow terraces, wide boxes split into a few chambers, provide nesting space for multiple pairs, enabling them to socialise within a colony. These features are supported by a number of other initiatives at the developments to increase biodiversity, including hedgerow and tree planting and the provision of wildlife loving plants such as lavender. The initiatives are some of many being rolled out across Crest Nicholson developments as part of the housebuilder’s sustainability strategy and commitment to protect the environment, delivering biodiversity net gains and transitioning towards net zero by 2045. Kerry McCarthy, MP and Shadow Minister for Climate Change, comments: “With the swift population having declined by over 50% over the past 20 years, it is essential to protect sites for the migratory birds who return to UK skies annually from Africa every May to nest. We are delighted that Crest Nicholson are committed to including bird boxes, swift bricks, and other biodiversity enhancements, in their development plans for the Milton Keynes and greater Chiltern region. As the RSPB’s Parliamentary Species Champion for the Swift, I was particularly pleased to see what they’re doing to provide habitats for this iconic bird. Little steps like this can make a huge difference in our battle to reverse biodiversity loss.” Charlie Joseph, Sales and Marketing Director at Crest Nicholson Chiltern, adds: “At Crest Nicholson, we strive to look after the wildlife in and around our developments and the biodiversity initiatives, such as bird boxes and hedgehog highways, will help us to make a positive impact on the Milton Keynes environment. “We were pleased to welcome Kerry McCarthy, MP and Shadow Minister for Climate Change to our Manor View development in Wavendon for a tour of the site and to discuss the biodiversity enhancements we have planned. For anyone interested in learning more about these initiatives, we’d recommend coming along to our newly launched Marlborough show home at Whitehouse Park where you’ll be able to see them up close.” Having a balance between town and countryside living has become an increasingly important priority for homebuyers in the past few years. Whitehouse Park is set to be a semi-rural haven with plenty of greenspace, enabling residents to enjoy the best of country living without having to compromise on amenities or travel connections. Comprising three to five bedroom homes, Manor View is ideally suited to a range of buyers, including first time buyers, growing families looking to upsize and downsizers. Prices for three bedroom homes start from £430,000, whilst prices for four and five bedroom homes start from £515,000 and £645,000 respectively. SmoothMove and Part Exchange are available on select properties to help take the hassle out of the home moving process. At Whitehouse Park, prices for three, four and five bedroom homes start from £415,000, £440,000 and £645,000 respectively, with Part Exchange, Deposit Unlock and SmoothMove available on selected plots. For more information on either development, visit their sales suites which are open 10am until 5pm, Friday to Wednesday. Alternatively, call 01908 036 035 or visit www.crestnicholson.com/manor-view for Manor View, or call 01908 891 720 or visit www.crestnicholson.com/whitehouse-park for Whitehouse Park.
