The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) has agreed a new skills partnership with The Retrofit Academy with the aim of fast-tracking the careers of 230 local retrofitters as the region looks to ramp up the number of homes is it making more energy efficient. The new partnership follows the WMCA’s
The latest research from digital property pack provider, Moverly, has found that the vast majority of UK property professionals believe the provision of upfront information is positive for the property industry, with the biggest reasons being an improved level of transparency for homebuyers, a streamlined conveyancing process and the reduced
Global real estate investment management firm, Blue Noble LLP, has announced plans to refurbish Eleven Brindleyplace, a 110,000 sq ft Grade A office building in Birmingham city centre. The new design will reconfigure the building’s substantial double height reception and ground floor business lounge and deliver best-in-class amenities including an
Construction company I&G have been appointed to develop a new, purpose built, environmentally friendly visitor centre and café at Thrybergh Country Park, on the outskirts of Rotherham. The new facility will be built using modern methods of construction, with structurally insulated panels (SIPs) being manufactured offsite and erected in position,
GRAHAM has been awarded the contract for the redevelopment of Birmingham’s Children’s Hospital. The redevelopment plans include the creation of a new three storey elective care hub on the site, funded by the national COVID-10 recovery programme, that will be the home for a new state-of-the art intraoperative MRI (iMRI)
Climate change is driving extreme weather events across the globe. However, Australia faces unique challenges due to its diverse landscapes and the fact that it’s surrounded by several seas and oceans. In 2022, all but one Australian territory was affected by natural disasters. Here, bushfires and heatwaves are annual events,
The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) has agreed a new skills partnership with The Retrofit Academy with the aim of fast-tracking the careers of 230 local retrofitters as the region looks to ramp up the number of homes is it making more energy efficient. The new partnership follows the WMCA’s successful bid for new Government funding, which will see a total of £34 million allocated from the Homes Upgrade Grant (HUG) and Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF). The funding, which will be matched by a further £35 million from registered social housing providers across the region, will see around 3,000 homes retrofitted with better insulation, new doors and windows, and greener heating systems. The WMCA’s Skills for Life Bootcamp offers funded flexible courses taking up to 16 weeks, to provide prospective retrofitters with sector-specific training on how to sustainably upgrade buildings in the form of level 3, 4 and 5 qualifications in domestic retrofit. Funding is available for those that live or work in the West Midlands to complete the following: The courses aim to address the retrofit skills gap posed by a rise in demand for energy efficiency measures following the allocation of the SHDF and HUG funding. They are available for a range of individuals, including locals currently employed by social housing providers or contractors, self-employed professionals, people currently out of work and those looking for a career change. The Skills for Life Bootcamps are designed to upskill people from both an industry and non-industry background to increase the number of professionals qualified to conduct retrofitting in the West Midlands. For self-employed professionals or those currently out of work, the partnership with the West Midlands Combined Authority provides fully funded training and a resulting career change opportunity through The Skills for Life Bootcamps. David Pierpoint, Chief Executive at The Retrofit Academy commented: “It is great to be establishing a partnership with a forward-thinking region for training that directly supports with the decarbonisation of homes in the West Midlands. Working together with regions across the UK to train up a large workforce of qualified retrofitters is going to be key to fulfilling SHDF and HUG programmes and achieving the net zero goals. “In partnership with the WMCA, we can offer interested individuals across different regions in the UK with the opportunity to gain qualifications in retrofit, helping us reach those targets. This means the social housing providers, local authorities and contractors can have the best talent to support them delivering programmes across the region. For people in the West Midlands, it will also be providing people with skills to take up the new green job opportunities and equip them to improve homes for hundreds of residents in the region.” The news of the skills partnership comes following the announcement that The Retrofit Academy has enrolled its 5,000th learner to its training courses from across the country. Alongside this, those who complete the course will have access to the organisation’s new Careers Hub, designed to bring new talent and employers together. With its goal of training 200,000 retrofitters by the end of the decade well underway, the new additions to the workforce will lead the sustainable upgrade of UK homes. David continued: “The Skills for Life Bootcamps provide those taking part with the opportunity to gain vital industry knowledge from our trained professionals that they can apply to future retrofit projects throughout the West Midlands. As we continue to drive large-scale, high-quality retrofit, those who qualify will play a key role in leading the charge in the West Midlands.” For more information on the Skills Bootcamps, please click here. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The latest research from digital property pack provider, Moverly, has found that the vast majority of UK property professionals believe the provision of upfront information is positive for the property industry, with the biggest reasons being an improved level of transparency for homebuyers, a streamlined conveyancing process and the reduced chance of a fall through. The survey of UK property professionals, commissioned by Moverly, asked if the upfront provision of pertinent information related to a transaction was a positive when it came to the process of buying and selling property – with a huge 90% of those surveyed stating it was. Such information can be provided via Home Information Packs, which collect the essential details and documentation that homebuyers need access to when considering the purchase of property – such information includes EPC certificates, title documents, and Local Authority searches among many other things. HIPs are not a new idea. In fact, they were introduced to parliament by the last Labour government but then the David Cameron-led coalition government abandoned the idea in 2010. When asked why they thought the original introduction of HIPs failed, those surveyed by Moverly stated the reliability of the information provided was the biggest reason, while the upfront cost incurred by sellers also acted as a deterrent. However, last year, Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Michael Gove, committed to reintroducing the previously abandoned Home Information Pack as part of the government’s Levelling Up ambitions. But what’s changed? Well today, technology allows us to securely store our personal information while also providing us with the ability to easily share it with stakeholders across various processes, whether it be online shopping, electronic banking and much more. The landscape hasn’t just evolved, it’s a completely new world when compared to the old analogue processes of previous years and this makes it far easier for the consumer. This transformation has already benefited the property sector in many areas and Moverly found that 87% of property professionals think that HIPs could be better placed to succeed in today’s market, due to the further digital disruption of the industry and our ability to share data electronically. When asked what they believe the biggest advantage would be if HIPs were to return, a greater level of transparency for buyers ranked top, followed by a reduced conveyancing timeline, as well as a lower chance of transactions falling through – however, just 37% think their reintroduction should be mandatory. 56% think the cost of HIPs should be incurred by the seller, although some believe it should be the responsibility of the buyer (22%), the agent (14%) and the conveyancer (7%). The majority (59%) also believe that there should be multiple HIPs providers to help drive the standard of service through competition, although they should be regulated by one single authority. Moverly co-founder Ed Molyneux, commented: “We believe that HIPS are absolutely essential if the housing market is to solve the perpetual issues of inefficiency and snail-paced processes. Of course you’d expect us to say that, but it turns out the vast majority of property professionals also recognise the benefits the provision of upfront information can bring. While HIPs may have originally been designed to help buyers, everyone within the transaction timeline benefits from greater transparency, greater stability and a more certain outcome. They can also greatly reduce the risk of sales falling through due to broken chains, saving both buyer and seller money in the process, as well as reducing the chances of gazumping, issues that have been rife in the UK market in recent years. Those who oppose HIPs do so based on the fact that a cost traditionally incurred by the buyer is transferred to the seller. While this may be the case, the cost of HIPs is dramatically lower today and sellers are also far better placed to absorb a marginal additional cost that could save them thousands of pounds in costs incurred should their sale collapse. What’s more, the advancement of technology and how we share information today, means that the ability to provide reliable information has been hugely improved.” Data tables Data tables and sources can be viewed online, here. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Global real estate investment management firm, Blue Noble LLP, has announced plans to refurbish Eleven Brindleyplace, a 110,000 sq ft Grade A office building in Birmingham city centre. The new design will reconfigure the building’s substantial double height reception and ground floor business lounge and deliver best-in-class amenities including an on-site café and a client event space. With strong focus on ESG, the scheme also includes an upgrade to ‘end of journey’ facilities, comprising secure bicycle storage and repair station, fully equipped showers and lockers. Interior design consultancy Office Principles North, has been awarded the refurbishment contract and the project is due to complete in October 2023. Nicole Steed, director of asset management at Blue Noble, said: “We’re excited to progress our plans to further enhance the facilities at Eleven Brindleyplace. We are proud to be delivering this scheme to an already impressive building, creating outstanding and well configured on-site amenities that provide the space and experience modern occupiers want.” Eleven Brindleyplace boasts floor-to-ceiling glazing on all 12 floors, with 24-hour access and on-site parking. Carter Jonas and Fisher German are leasing agents marketing 38,000 sq ft of available office space at the building. Alex Tross, partner and head of office agency Midlands at Carter Jonas, said: “The high-quality, affordable office space and range of amenities make Eleven Brindleyplace an ideal base for businesses looking to establish a presence in Birmingham’s thriving business community. The building offers convenient access to the city centre and benefits from both secure parking and close proximity to local transportation links, including the West Midlands Metro.” Charles Warrack, partner at Fisher German, said: “Eleven Brindleyplace is an ideal opportunity for occupiers to secure some of the best office space in Birmingham, as the market bounces back and occupiers seek a flight to quality accommodation.” For more information on availability at Eleven Brindleyplace, please contact Alex Tross at Carter Jonas on 0121 306 0401 and Charles Warrack at Fisher German on 0121 561 7885, or visit https://www.elevenbrindleyplace.co.uk/. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Construction company I&G have been appointed to develop a new, purpose built, environmentally friendly visitor centre and café at Thrybergh Country Park, on the outskirts of Rotherham. The new facility will be built using modern methods of construction, with structurally insulated panels (SIPs) being manufactured offsite and erected in position, allowing a quicker, more efficient and more environmentally friendly process than a traditional build. The building will be in keeping with the natural environment of the country park, using timber from sustainable sources and natural materials which will blend into the greenery and water of its surroundings. The development, being delivered on behalf of Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council, will include a new café, visitor centre and educational facility for the local community to enjoy, alongside a new external teaching space and amphitheatre with stunning views across the reservoir. Christopher Carline, I&G Managing Director, said: “Creating the building in this way using modern methods of construction will have a positive impact on the long term performance of the building in terms of its energy efficiency and carbon impact. “Thrybergh Country Park is a beautiful spot, which attracts many visitors throughout the year, and we hope the new café and visitor centre will allow more people to enjoy the natural beauty of the area, as well as creating more opportunities for ecological education.” Detailed design work is currently being developed, with work likely to begin on site early next year, and the buildings are expected to be completed by early autumn 2024. Thrybergh Country Park is a reservoir and nature reserve in South Yorkshire, which opened in 1983. Popular with walkers and families, the country park provides an important habitat for birds and other wildlife, with over 155 species of bird having been recorded there, as well as 20 different mammals and 170 types of plants. The £2.5m visitor centre has been funded by the UK Government’s Levelling Up grant. I&G is a construction company that has been operating across the North of England since 1972. The company is known for being experts at complex construction works in difficult environments, such as hospital wards, food production facilities and educational laboratories. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
GRAHAM has been awarded the contract for the redevelopment of Birmingham’s Children’s Hospital. The redevelopment plans include the creation of a new three storey elective care hub on the site, funded by the national COVID-10 recovery programme, that will be the home for a new state-of-the art intraoperative MRI (iMRI) machine, providing seamless patient care during surgery and reduce the need for some children to travel to other parts of the UK for treatment. It will also provide additional clinical space for services. Ronan Hughes, Regional Director at GRAHAM commented: “Building on our expertise in providing state-of-the-art health facilities, we’re immensely proud to be delivering this project for the Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust. It will undoubtedly leave a lasting legacy in the Birmingham area and hugely benefit children and families, clinical staff and the wider community.” The proposals will see a radical transformation of the front of the hospital with the current entrance being demolished and replaced with a new striking glass façade creating more space to welcome patients and visitors. A key benefit of the scheme is improved thermal performance and energy efficiency by expanding the use of ground source heat pump technology. Windows at the front of the hospital will be replaced with modern glass and frames in keeping with the site’s Victorian architecture. Matt Boazman, Chief Executive for Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We are grateful to Council colleagues for their support of these plans. This is excellent news, not just for the Children’s Hospital but the thousands of children and young people across Birmingham and the West Midlands who access our services every year and those across the UK who rely on the skills and expertise of our highly specialised services. “The developments will not only improve existing services but create opportunity for us to do more for the young people who rely on us for their care.” The plans are also being supported by the hospital’s Charity which is currently fundraising for the new iMRI machine and in discussions to support the dramatic transformation of the front of the hospital. Vicky Casey, Architect Director at BDP said: “Through a combination of redevelopment and refurbishment our project at Birmingham Children’s Hospital will create a modern healthcare facility that can sustain the world class provision of paediatric services in the heart of Birmingham city centre. The ambitious decarbonisation credentials alongside the theatre expansion and iMRI provide critically important facilities for the children of Birmingham and the wider region. “The sympathetic reimagining of the historic Victorian courtyard will provide the trust with a modern main entrance re-creating a sense of arrival that celebrates the building’s origins while meeting the needs of patients and families. We are incredibly proud to be designing these projects for such an important anchor institution in Birmingham, helping it shape the future of healthcare provision for its staff and children in the West Midlands.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Climate change is driving extreme weather events across the globe. However, Australia faces unique challenges due to its diverse landscapes and the fact that it’s surrounded by several seas and oceans. In 2022, all but one Australian territory was affected by natural disasters. Here, bushfires and heatwaves are annual events, although flooding is also on the rise. Now that extreme heat and flooding events are the rule rather than the exception, more Australians than ever are pushing for improved standards in resilient building design. The Damage That Flooding Causes In southeastern Australia, long-lasting periods of heavy rainfall have been known to cause rivers to burst their banks. In coastal areas, tropical cyclones and high tides can lead to devastating seawater surges. Sadly, flooding planning controls aren’t heavily enforced across Australia. In fact, only 3% of Australian homes are categorised as being in high-risk flood areas. This means that the vast majority of residential properties in the country aren’t subject to building controls. Nonetheless, recent weather events have proven that flooding poses a significant risk to millions of Australian homeowners. Structural damage is the worst-case scenario, but even low levels of floodwater can cause devastating damage to properties. When retrofitting a property with flood-resistant materials isn’t possible, flood response services are the only option for at-risk homeowners. Fortunately, there are specialised companies that offer solutions. In the immediate aftermath of a flood, water extraction is often the first port of call. Even if flood damage looks superficial, it’s important to seek out water damage restoration services as quickly as possible. In severe cases, thermal imaging and structural drying may be required. A flooded property also has implications for human health. Saturated carpets and building materials can quickly lead to mould growth, while overflows from sewage systems can introduce harmful bacteria into your home. How Architecture Can Mitigate Flood Risk Fortunately, there’s plenty that can be done to floodproof properties against rising waters. One of the most effective solutions for reducing risk is to elevate a structure above the flood level. However, this is rarely an option for pre-existing structures. When building in an area that’s at high risk of flooding, material choices need to be carefully considered. At an absolute minimum, flood-resistant materials should be able to withstand immersion for 72 hours. As well as being durable, resilient materials need to be able withstand high levels of humidity. Good examples of flood-resistant materials include glazed brick, concrete and ceramic tile. Even if foundation walls and key structural elements remain intact, the clean-up operation after a flooding event can be time-consuming and expensive. The good news is that there are many ways homeowners can flood-proof their home. Circuity can be protected by installing wall sockets and integrated appliances at a high level. Meanwhile, swapping out porous materials for marine-grade plywood will bolster the flood-resistant properties of your interiors. Even with commitments to net zero policies and a move to a greener economy, there’s no avoiding the fact that climate change is here to stay. Over the last 10 years, Australia has experienced more than 160,000 flooding events. What’s more, the previous decade was the hottest on record. Although global action is required to keep rising temperatures in check, architectural design at least offers some solutions for protecting Australia’s housing stock and infrastructure.
