Southwark Council has selected Higgins Partnerships as its development partner for the two phase, £176 million estate regeneration of Ledbury Estate in Peckham. Four existing blocks, which were identified as ‘having serious structural and fire safety issues’ by the council, will be replaced with a new development of 340 mixed
SIX students gave up time in their summer holidays to take part in an engineering sustainability challenge which has inspired them to pursue future employment opportunities. The aspiring engineers, all from West Cumbria and either at college or having just sat GCSEs, spent eight days on a project looking at
Regional housebuilder Beal Homes has secured full planning permission to complete a £210m development in one of Yorkshire’s fastest-growing towns. The planning approval from East Riding of Yorkshire Council is for 600 homes, giving the green light for Beal to continue to deliver The Greenways in Goole. The Greenways is
The latest market analysis from property purchasing specialist, House Buyer Bureau, reveals that despite a supposedly cooling market, UK house prices would have to drop by a huge -19.3% just to return to pre-pandemic norms, let alone crash, which is more than the -12.9% decline seen during the global financial
FOLLOWING its expansion into the north of England in late 2022, engineering consultancy Hexa has continued to solidify its presence in the region through the appointment of three new team members. In line with an increased project portfolio and capabilities, a milestone for the consultancy came with the appointment of director Richard
The major redevelopment of the lido at Northcroft Leisure Centre, Newbury has completed following a £5.7 million investment. Commissioned by West Berkshire Council and developed by Alliance Leisure working in partnership with Myrtha Pools and Universal Civils & Build through the UK Leisure Framework, the new outdoor facilities include a 50 metre, Olympic length outdoor swimming
3t Energy Group, the global training powerhouse that provides the highest-impact learning solutions for safety-critical industries, has secured a contract with gas distribution firm, Wales & West Utilities. The seven-figure contract will run for three years and provide a complete workforce management solution for Wales & West’s 1,900 colleagues. It
A new site manager has won a coveted industry accolade just a year into the job, aged just 26.Ben Taylor, from Sutton Coldfield, was appointed site manager at Bellway West Midlands’ Green Oaks development in Hednesford last year. This time spent learning the job has now paid off, with Ben
HS2 is asking for members of the public, living in Ealing, Brent and beyond, to help us chose names for the next two tunnel boring machines (TBMs) that will dig HS2 tunnels under the capital. In early 2024, HS2 will launch the two machines that will construct the Northolt Tunnel
Building your own home or second property can be a thrilling and rewarding experience. It allows you to bring your dream house to life, tailored to your preferences and lifestyle. However, the journey can be complex and challenging for new self-builders. To help you embark on this adventure confidently, Dale
Southwark Council has selected Higgins Partnerships as its development partner for the two phase, £176 million estate regeneration of Ledbury Estate in Peckham. Four existing blocks, which were identified as ‘having serious structural and fire safety issues’ by the council, will be replaced with a new development of 340 mixed tenure homes set within six blocks ranging from five to 22 storeys in height. There will also be the reprovision of a community centre and a multi-use games area along with wider estate improvement works. Extensive consultation has taken place with Ledbury Estate residents who voted in favour of demolishing the four blocks and providing modern high quality new homes designed by Karausevic Carson Architects. 224 of these homes will replace the existing homes which will comprise 206 socially rented homes and 18 leaseholds properties. Cllr Helen Dennis, Southwark Council’s Cabinet Member for New Homes and Sustainable Development, said, “We’re very pleased to welcome Higgins to the Ledbury Estate project. Their appointment marks the next milestone in our journey to providing high-quality new homes on the estate in line with our residents’ wishes. We look forward to seeing these new homes and amenities become reality as the transformation of the Ledbury Estate gets underway.” Located on the site of the former Bromyard House, Phase one will feature 80 new homes within two blocks. All the affordable rent properties will be completed prior to the occupation of the market sale homes to allow for the decant of residents from the second phase and to give those currently living ‘off site’ a right to return. Phase two will see the demolition of Peterchurch, Sarnsfield and Skenfrith Houses and associated underground garages to create 260 new homes, two commercial units and the new community centre and MUGA. Declan Higgins, Chief Executive Officer for Higgins Group comments, “On the back of our successful partnership with Southwark Council at our Ecole development we are delighted to be appointed as development partner to redevelop Ledbury Estate. “This scheme has undergone extensive consultation with the community who have been at the forefront of the design process; we now look forward to starting work to deliver these much needed new homes for the area. “Throughout the development we will also provide training and employment opportunities and support the up skilling of local people with at least 25% of our labour resources coming from the Southwark area. We will also work with community groups and social enterprises to allow us to design targeted community led social value initiatives which create impact and leave a lasting legacy.” The new homes will be built in accordance with the council’s New Homes Design Standards providing high quality, energy efficient and sustainable homes. The wider neighbourhood will also benefit from landscaping and new public realm with a large, multi-purpose garden courtyard featuring community growing and play area along with a series of tree-lined paths that extend out to create new pedestrian and cycle friendly connections between the Old Kent Road, Pencraig Way and Bird in Bush Park to the south-west. For further information about Higgins Partnerships please visit www.higginspartnerships.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
SIX students gave up time in their summer holidays to take part in an engineering sustainability challenge which has inspired them to pursue future employment opportunities. The aspiring engineers, all from West Cumbria and either at college or having just sat GCSEs, spent eight days on a project looking at ways of reducing carbon emissions at Sellafield Ltd’s Engineering Centre of Excellence at Cleator Moor. The summer sprint project was the first of its kind and was set up by Lorna Devine, Sellafield’s Engineering Development Solutions Lead, in collaboration with Lakes College and the Centre for Leadership Performance. For the project the students were given a £250,000 budget and asked to recommend the most effective ways to lower carbon emissions at the Engineering Centre of Excellence and contribute towards Sellafield Ltd’s long-term goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2050. The students spent a week on the project at the Engineering Centre of Excellence, working with the Sellafield team and gaining personal development coaching from the Centre for Leadership Performance, followed by three days working on the project at Lakes College. The students researched and evaluated their solution options by focusing on three categories: At the end of their eight days of project work the students presented their findings to Engineering Centre of Excellence’s senior managers at a specially-arranged project outbrief event held at Lakes College on Wednesday (August 23). Those attending were presented with the following recommendations by the students to deliver to the brief most effectively and within budget: roof insulation; tinted/stained windows; double/triple glazing; wind energy; and signage with carbon reduction messaging. The students – Jackson Benn, from Moresby (who attended Lakes College); Dylan Penn from Cleator Moor (St Benedict’s); Dylan Stalker, from Egremont (Lakes College), Harley Berragan from Cleator Moor (West Lakes Academy); Aaron Currier, from Whitehaven (Lakes College); and Keegan Holliday from Workington (Workington Academy) – all explained how they had learned from the pilot summer sprint experience. As well as enhancing their technical skills, the students were asked what personal development they had gained from the project. They said it had improved their communication skills, ability to develop ideas, time management, ability to work independently, adapt to working in a new environment and with new people, learning from experienced engineers, improved their knowledge of what working on a project involves and enabled them to work as a team. Craig Branney, Sellafield Ltd’s Head of Off-Site Developments said the next step from the pilot project was to ensure there were career pathways into employment for those who took part and others in the area interested in pursuing engineering qualifications. Craig said: “This is our first summer sprint working with Lakes College and the Centre for Leadership Performance and it has been a really positive experience. What is crucial now is how we work together to make sure there are job opportunities for them in the supply chain. “We have given them their first taste of what an engineering career involves. For me now it’s vital we find out how we complete the loop and get them into employment. “This is only the start. What would be great is to develop this first summer pilot into a full six-week sprint project in future years involving several supply chain companies as well.” Lorna Devine said: “It’s been great to work with students who have all volunteered to be here. They are such a great mix with some looking to start on engineering degrees, others looking for an apprenticeship and they have all come together to work really well as a team and have been inspired about a career in engineering which is great.” Sharon Baillie, Lakes College Business Engagement Manager, said: “The students have shown fantastic commitment to take part in the sprint and develop their skills in their own time. This is going to stand them in good stead when they are looking for employment.” Sophie Reynolds, Centre for Leadership Performance’s Workplace Programmes Manager, said; “It was really interesting to see such a big change in the students from the start of the project to the presentation just ten days later. They have all come a massively long way.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Regional housebuilder Beal Homes has secured full planning permission to complete a £210m development in one of Yorkshire’s fastest-growing towns. The planning approval from East Riding of Yorkshire Council is for 600 homes, giving the green light for Beal to continue to deliver The Greenways in Goole. The Greenways is Beal’s largest-ever development, ultimately extending to 806 properties, and the biggest housing scheme in the East Yorkshire town for decades. The development is on a 73-acre site equivalent to almost 50 football pitches off Rawcliffe Road in Goole. Beal has now sold more than 180 homes at The Greenways, with continuing strong demand from a wide range of househunters. Many buyers been local people achieving their dream of owning a high-quality new home in their home town, as the Beal investment is addressing a shortage of new-build properties in Goole. The Greenways is a key element of an ongoing wave of investment in Goole, including a £200m-plus rail village being developed by Siemens Mobility and a worldwide distribution hub for FTSE 100 company Croda, which are creating hundreds of highly-skilled jobs in the town. Beal Chief Executive Richard Beal said: “We identified the rich potential of Goole many years ago now, as well as a pent-up demand for high-quality new homes in the town. “The strong sales we have achieved and the continuing high demand we are seeing at The Greenways has justified our confidence. “We’re now pleased to have secured full planning permission to continue our long-term investment and the critical contribution we’re making to Goole’s remarkable rejuvenation.” The 600 homes that have now received full planning consent will comprise a selection of East Yorkshire-based Beal’s most popular two, three and four-bedroom properties. Beal Land Director Chris Murphy said: “The Greenways has transformed the quality and variety of housing in Goole, providing luxury, contemporary homes for local residents as well as attracting new people to the town. “As the largest single development in our company’s history, securing full planning permission for the remainder of The Greenways marks another significant milestone in our delivery of this long-term scheme. “It builds on our proud history of delivering high-quality developments that enhance local communities, provide desirable places to live, and support economic growth.” The Greenways is playing a major role in the regeneration of Goole. Over the course of the development, Beal’s investment will secure the employment of almost 2,500 people in construction and related roles and in the local community. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The latest market analysis from property purchasing specialist, House Buyer Bureau, reveals that despite a supposedly cooling market, UK house prices would have to drop by a huge -19.3% just to return to pre-pandemic norms, let alone crash, which is more than the -12.9% decline seen during the global financial crisis of 2008/09. House Buyer Bureau has analysed the current average UK house price and compared it to that at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic to see how much current values would have to fall before ‘returning to normal’ prior to the pandemic market price boom. The analysis then goes on to compare this to market performance during the global financial crisis of 2008. There is talk of a cooling housing market and that prices are on the decline. But the data shows that, even after months of economic and market turmoil, today’s average house price of £287,546 would have to fall by a colossal -19.3% to return to its pre-pandemic level o£ 231,940 in January 2020 So, while some may express concern that the market is struggling, it’s clear to see that any slight price dips are negligible following the immense growth seen over the pandemic and no doubt aided by the subsequent Stamp Duty holiday. This required price drop of -19.3% is so large that it even dwarfs the massive price drops recorded during the recession brought on by the 2008/09 global financial crisis. When that recession began in April 2008 (Q2 2008), the average UK house price was £183,148. By the end of the technical recession (Q2 2009), just 14 months later, prices had fallen by -12.9% to an average of £159,561. So, for current prices to return to pre-pandemic norms, the decline would have to be significantly more severe than that caused by the global financial crisis which was, it is widely agreed, a more severe period of economic turmoil than that we are currently enduring. Managing Director of House Buyer Bureau, Chris Hodgkinson, commented: “Many so-called property experts have been quick to prophesize the demise of the UK property market with fear mongering mutterings of a market crash. This simply hasn’t been the case and house prices would need to fall by nearly 20% just to return to their pre-pandemic norm, let alone for the market to crash. The housing market is standing strong and this is great news, however, our previous research found that the average buyer now needs almost nine times their annual income to cover the average cost of a home. When you combine this huge affordability barrier with a cautious buyer mindset following a string of interest rate hikes, the challenge today is the ability to find a genuine buyer in a proceedable position, not the price they are willing to pay when you do. With property values showing little sign of reducing, this issue is one that is likely to persist and so sellers need to approach with pragmatism and avoid overvaluing, while buyers must be prepared to negotiate tenaciously to ensure they don’t overstretch financially.” Data tables Data tables and sources can be viewed online, here Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
FOLLOWING its expansion into the north of England in late 2022, engineering consultancy Hexa has continued to solidify its presence in the region through the appointment of three new team members. In line with an increased project portfolio and capabilities, a milestone for the consultancy came with the appointment of director Richard Osbond at the end of 2022, spearheading Hexa’s growth into Leeds and the north of England. Richard, who has more than 20 years’ experience in the industry, has since been working to build the team further. Three new experts have joined bringing a wealth of experience and skills from a mix of engineering backgrounds, which follows the appointment of senior technician Jake Adams in May, Bringing with them varied backgrounds in the industry, principal engineers Matt Freeman and Alex Hopton are now supporting Hexa’s capabilities in sectors including commercial, industrial and education. Alex experience is in building structures, while Matt has previously specialised in sustainable drainage systems and highway design. Speaking on his time with Hexa so far, Matt said: “Since joining the Hexa team in Leeds, I’ve been able to apply the knowledge I’ve earned throughout my career while also gaining new insight and skills. “From my first day, I’ve been excited by what we’re planning to achieve. I’ve had the opportunity to work on innovative projects, such as the civil engineering design for the UK’s first Passivhaus hotel in Runswick Bay; the kind of project every engineer wishes for when starting their career.” Balancing work and study, Usaama Yate, a project structural engineer is the third newest addition. Usaama has a background in various engineering realms including developing design concepts and ensuring compliance. Having spent five years in the sector, Usaama is also studying part time for a civil engineering degree at Leeds Beckett University. The team now reside at Studio 22 at 46, The Calls in Leeds City Centre, with Richard at the helm. Richard said: “Hexa’s expansion to the north started as a small idea and to now have an established team of five in total with a project portfolio that has grown organically, is something I am exceptionally proud of. “We’re lucky that with our Hexa North team, we’ve all had the pleasure of working with each other before, so we have those strong relationships that we’re able to continuously build on.” Since establishing its team in Leeds, Hexa has been working on several projects in the region including a multi-storey car park and multi-storey office block as part of the redevelopment of Whitehall Riverside. Hexa North is also involved in a number of high-level projects across England, alongside colleagues based at the Hexa head office in Nottingham city centre. For more information about Hexa, please visit https://www.hexaconsulting.co.uk/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The major redevelopment of the lido at Northcroft Leisure Centre, Newbury has completed following a £5.7 million investment. Commissioned by West Berkshire Council and developed by Alliance Leisure working in partnership with Myrtha Pools and Universal Civils & Build through the UK Leisure Framework, the new outdoor facilities include a 50 metre, Olympic length outdoor swimming pool, a splash pad and fun slides, beach hut style changing rooms, a sun terrace and a relaxation area, all of which are fully accessible. Greg Walker, Business Development Manager at Alliance Leisure, says: “It’s fantastic to see so many people enjoying this amazing space again. There has been a lido on this site since 1870 so it’s part of the local DNA. “The original pool was affected by ground water levels, which, over the years, undermined the integrity of the structure and became increasingly expensive to maintain. Now that the pool has been re-engineered with the benefit of modern-day learnings and technologies, families will be able to enjoy the many physical, mental and social benefits of this amazing facility for generations to come.” It is forecast that the new facilities, opened on the 21st August 2023, will accommodate 50,000 attendances each season. Kevin Burns, UK business development manager at Myrtha Pools, says: “Like most lidos across the country, modern technology is affording leisure operators the chance to redevelop and plan for the future. “The new pool benefits from our precision engineered chromium-rich steel technology, which futureproofs the lido for decades to come, both in terms of ongoing maintenance costs and sustainability savings. This project is a prime example of how existing facilities can be renovated and improved upon, without beginning a new build process from scratch, which is increasingly important as council’s and leisure operators look to optimise budgets.” In addition to attracting more visitors to the facility through the inclusion of the splash pad, main pool, slides, residents will now also enjoy an extended season. Greg Walker explains that this is thanks to the redesign of the pool. He says, “By shortening the pool from 72 metres to 50 metres and reducing the depth from a maximum of 2.8 metres to a profile from 0.9m to 1.58m, pressure on the structure has been reduced and maintenance demands have been eased. This means the facilities can now be operational from April right through to the end of September. This not only extends access to this amazing community provision, but has created a more sustainable financial proposition.” Adding to this, Martin Davies, Director at Universal Civils & Build, says: “We have been privileged to manage this project almost from inception, through detailed design and build, to final delivery. This has not been without its complications imposed by budget, timescales & engineering complexity but has been a great challenge. We have used the in-house ground solution & piling teams of our Group to support us, which alongside Myrtha Pools has allowed us to jointly create a wonderful community facility.” The UK Leisure Framework, owned by Denbighshire Leisure LTD (DLL) has supported many community leisure development projects from full scale multisite leisure centre new builds to 3G pitches and pump tracks. Speaking about this project, Jamie Groves, Managing Director, says: “This is exactly the kind of project we launched the Framework to support. The Northcroft lido has been a part of the community’s landscape for more than a century and it’s fantastic to secure its future for many more years to come. “This was a technical project that required a high level of specialist expertise. Through the UK Leisure Framework we were able to engage expertise at all levels of the supply chain and feed this back through a single point of contact, Alliance Leisure. This helped to mitigate any risks that could threaten the budget or timescale of the project and ensured a smooth transition from concept through to launch.” Janine Lewis, West Berkshire’s Executive Member for Public Health, Culture, Leisure, Sport and Countryside added, “Working in partnership with Alliance Leisure, we’ve breathed new life into a much-loved facility and created a model that will enable thousands of residents and visitors from far afield to enjoy the pleasures of outdoor swimming and other water activities for many years to come. We can now all celebrate the success of this project together.” Moving forwards, Everyone Active has been appointed under a ten-year term to manage the Northcroft Leisure Centre and Lido as part of a wider leisure management agreement with West Berkshire Council.
3t Energy Group, the global training powerhouse that provides the highest-impact learning solutions for safety-critical industries, has secured a contract with gas distribution firm, Wales & West Utilities. The seven-figure contract will run for three years and provide a complete workforce management solution for Wales & West’s 1,900 colleagues. It will leverage 3t’s capabilities across its industry-leading businesses including the UK’s number one energy training provider, AIS Survivex, leading utility training specialist, Utilities Construction Training (UCT) and software and technology firm, 3t Transform. Wales & West Utilities operates the gas distribution network for 2.5m homes and businesses and more than 7.5m people across Wales and South West England. It also provides the gas emergency service whilst investing £2 million a week to ensure communities receive a safe and reliable gas supply in those areas. Practical training in safety-critical areas will be delivered through AIS Survivex and UCT, and key contract partners. The training contract will also include 3t Transform’s cloud-based training management platform and digital learning technologies such as eLearning, with a view to incorporating more blended learning such as virtual reality and gamified learning in the future. These solutions will help digitise and streamline the management of training for Wales & West Utilities. Charlie Guthrie from 3t Energy Group said: “Winning this contract is fantastic news and represents a significant strategic step forward as our first truly integrated contract combining the expertise of AIS Survivex, UCT and 3t Transform. “AIS Survivex has more than a decade of experience delivering training for high-risk, compliance-led industries such as oil and gas and renewables and UCT is one of only a handful of providers to offer training across the entire utility sector and is unique in delivering apprenticeships to new utility industry entrants. 3t Transform is also market-leading having won a number of awards for its innovative workforce management software and digital learning solutions. Together we will focus carefully on providing a complete workforce development package with technology-driven solutions to ensure we maximise efficiencies for the team at Wales & West Utilities.” Rhiannon Williams from Wales & West Utilities said: “Following an extensive tender process, we are delighted to award our provision of training services contract to AIS Survivex. The Group demonstrated an in-depth understanding of our needs and offered flexible and innovative solutions which will help our workforce operate at the very highest levels of safety, competency, and efficiency.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A new site manager has won a coveted industry accolade just a year into the job, aged just 26.Ben Taylor, from Sutton Coldfield, was appointed site manager at Bellway West Midlands’ Green Oaks development in Hednesford last year. This time spent learning the job has now paid off, with Ben – who started as an apprentice carpenter after leaving school – being named as a winner of the National House Building Council’s Pride in the Job Quality Award. He is one of just 444 site managers chosen from around 8,000 across the UK to be recognised in the competition. Ben said: “Hopefully this will be the first of many awards I can win as I lead the site team here at Green Oaks. Sheer hard work, long hours and persistence has led me to achieve this award. It’s been the highlight of my career so far.” Focusing on the needs of customers has been a key part of Ben’s success at Green Oaks, where around 60 per cent of the 74 homes have now been built. “I think one of the best parts of the job is getting good feedback from the customers through survey feedback,” Ben said. “We want customers to benefit from the quality of houses we build so it’s always important to have their needs in mind, even when we’ve just started building and houses haven’t gone on sale yet.“Green Oaks was one of the first Bellway sites to roll out Google Nest products and customers love this technology in their home. Many mention how it is user-friendly and easy-to-use in their survey feedback.“It’s been an absolute privilege to lead the team here at Green Oaks and deliver state-of-the-art and progressive homes. This Quality Award motivates me even more to complete the development to the best of my ability while continuously improving my skillset as a site manager.” Ben also hopes his early career success might inspire others to follow his path into the construction industry, where he says he benefitted enormously from learning from others on site.He said: “I worked for Bellway in assistant roles for four years so I have got to shadow other site managers leading various trade teams and got to know my colleagues. I grew in this role and that helped me to carve my own path and make the site manager role my own. “I now manage 60 to 70 people on site. I’d had experience leading teams before so this aspect of the job didn’t overwhelm me – I just ran with it. I’m fortunate enough to work with an amazing team.“I hope to inspire those at school or college who are considering a career in construction that you can achieve so much in such a short space of time and progress really quickly. You don’t necessarily have to be in construction for over 10 years to win accolades.” Ben is one of four Bellway West Midlands site managers to win Quality Awards this year. The others are Lee Aston, from Cecilly Mills in Cheadle, Paul Edwards, from The Spinney in Shrewsbury, and Jamie Smith, from Hatton Court in Hatton, Derbyshire. To find out more about the new homes being built by Bellway West Midlands’ award-winning site managers, visit https://www.bellway.co.uk/new-homes/west-midlands, while for more information about careers with Bellway, visit https://www.bellwaycareers.co.uk/. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
HS2 is asking for members of the public, living in Ealing, Brent and beyond, to help us chose names for the next two tunnel boring machines (TBMs) that will dig HS2 tunnels under the capital. In early 2024, HS2 will launch the two machines that will construct the Northolt Tunnel East travelling through Brent and Ealing. The TBMs will set off towards Greenpark Way in Greenford, travelling 3.4miles from HS2’s Victoria Road site, near to new Old Oak Common station. Before the TBMs set off, they are given names. As per convention, they will be named after influential women and HS2 is asking the public to vote for two names from a shortlist of five with connections to Ealing. TBM naming helps communities remember and celebrate great local woman from all walks of life. The names on the shortlist are: The selected names will be displayed on the side of the TBMs which are to be lowered into a shaft ready to tunnel in the Autumn. Before launch, there will be a ceremony to bless the TBMs featuring a statue of St Barabara, the patron saint of tunnelling, conducted by a local priest. Speaking about the naming, HS2’s Head of Community Engagement, Maddelyn Sutton, said: “As HS2 construction begins to reach its peak, we are preparing to launch our next duo of tunnel boring machines in London. Giving the TBMs names with local connections is a great way for us to celebrate the achievements of women and for the local community to get involved in this once in a generation infrastructure project.” Both TBMs are170 metres long and over 1,700 tonnes in weight. They will be operated by HS2’s main works civils contractor building the London Tunnels, Skanska Costain STRABAG Joint Venture. The tunnel they are building will be 8.4miles in total, stretching from Old Oak Common station to West Ruislip. The other 5miles of the tunnel is under construction with two further TBMs, Sushila and Caroline, already one mile into their journey. More information on HS2’s TBM naming can be found here and more information can be found on HS2 at https://www.hs2.org.uk/. The voting is open from Monday 21st August until Monday 4th September 2023. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Building your own home or second property can be a thrilling and rewarding experience. It allows you to bring your dream house to life, tailored to your preferences and lifestyle. However, the journey can be complex and challenging for new self-builders. To help you embark on this adventure confidently, Dale Joinery, a timber window and door specialist, has compiled a list of the top ten mistakes you can easily avoid with your next build. Inadequate Planning and Budgeting. Failing to plan is planning to fail. Before breaking ground: Here are a few other main things to be mindful of. Water & Electricity Services: It’s important to determine the availability and cost of connecting essential services like water, electricity, broadband and sewage. If the plot of land you want to purchase doesn’t connect these services, you must acquire connection quotes. Planning Permission: Only purchase a plot of land with planning permission in place. We recommend contacting the local planning department to determine if the plot you’re seeking to purchase already has planning permission. Technical Surveys: Technical surveys, such as soil surveys, are paramount before building your property. You need to know the quality and type of ground you’re dealing with to determine the foundations you need for the property. Different types of foundations vary in cost, so we recommend getting a good picture early in the planning stages. Ignoring Local Building Regulations. Each region has its own set of building regulations, permits, and zoning restrictions. Neglecting to comply with these can lead to expensive fines, delays, or even demolition of your project. Engage with local authorities to understand and adhere to your construction’s specific rules. Skimping on Professional Services. While cutting costs by handling everything yourself may be tempting, relying on experts is crucial for a successful build. Engaging qualified professionals such as architects, engineers, and contractors ensures the project is carried out safely, efficiently, and up to code. In the planning stage, changing a drawing is far less costly than changing something that is already built! Overlooking Energy Efficiency. In today’s eco-conscious world, overlooking energy-efficient practices is not just a missed opportunity but could see you fail to reach your targeted SAP calculations for building control alongside the future gains to be had with the cost of running your future home. Invest in energy-efficient insulation, windows, lighting, and appliances to reduce long-term operational costs and leave a smaller environmental footprint. Poor Site Selection. The location of your build significantly impacts your lifestyle and property value. Consider factors like proximity to amenities, accessibility, sunlight exposure, and drainage when choosing your building site. Rushing the Design Phase. The design phase is where you shape the entire project. Avoid rushing it. Review your ideas, consult experts, and ensure the design meets your needs and preferences. Modifications become increasingly expensive once construction starts, so get it right beforehand. Not Future-Proofing Your Home. Think beyond your current needs and plan for the future. Your family may grow, and your lifestyle needs might change over time. Incorporate flexibility into the design to accommodate potential modifications or expansions down the line. Things like locations of light switches, door swings, furniture and frequently used areas need to be considered. Ignoring Quality of Materials Using low-quality materials to save costs may lead to costly repairs and maintenance in the future. Invest in durable, long-lasting materials, and strike a balance between quality and affordability. If you buy cheap, you buy it twice. Underestimating Construction Time Construction delays are common, and underestimating the time required can lead to disappointment and additional expenses. Be realistic with your timeline and set aside a buffer for unforeseen events. Refurbishments will always take far longer than originally anticipated due to unforeseen issues that wouldn’t have been possible to consider at the design phase. An experienced team of professionals will be crucial in overcoming site issues and moving the project forwards. Neglecting Proper Communication Open and clear communication is vital throughout the build. Maintain regular contact with all involved parties, including contractors, suppliers, and professionals, to stay updated on progress and address any concerns promptly. Key Takeaways In conclusion, building your own home or second property can be a transformative experience if approached with foresight and care. Avoiding these common mistakes will not only save you time and money but also ensure a smoother and more enjoyable journey toward your dream home. We can’t emphasise enough that once a plan has been made and finalised, it’s important to stick to it. Delays and overspends are usually a result of changes to the design or material schedule once the build has commenced. Take your time when it comes to planning and making decisions. By planning meticulously, seeking expert advice, and committing to quality, you can make your self-building project a resounding success. Furthermore, if you look to sell your new build home in the future, be sure to follow this guide on getting the best value for your home. Happy building!
