Esh Construction has completed work on a £3 million project and has handed over 20 new affordable homes at Fir View Gardens in Sheffield. Working on behalf of Great Places Housing Group, the development has been delivered on a vacant piece of land off Osgathorpe Drive, close to the Earl
Hend Maktari, Head of Sales at The Lucan: “Over the past decade, London’s property industry has experienced notable progress towards inclusion and equality, with more diverse and female representation across all demographics in all roles. As the world becomes increasingly interconnected, the property industry has been forced to adapt to
One of the West Midlands leading independent architects is celebrating a major healthcare first for its business. Johnson Design Partnership, which has recently increased its team to 10, has been named on the NHS Shared Business Services Framework for the region, scoring top marks in the Property lot for Consultancy
Construction works to deliver the next phases at Lincoln Enterprise Park are progressing to schedule with 80% of space already reserved. Located on the A46 near Thorpe on the Hill, Lincoln Enterprise Park is progressing with phases 7 to 10, which will bring an additional 34,500 sq ft. to the
Esh Construction has completed work on a £3 million project and has handed over 20 new affordable homes at Fir View Gardens in Sheffield. Working on behalf of Great Places Housing Group, the development has been delivered on a vacant piece of land off Osgathorpe Drive, close to the Earl Marshal Recreation Ground. The two and three-bedroom homes have been built by Esh Construction for affordable rent and include associated parking and landscaping in Sheffield. A fabric-first approach was used in both design and construction, with maximising energy efficiency being a top priority. Esh Construction’s Operations Director, Simon Woodward, said: “Fir View was the first contract we were awarded through the Innovation Chain North framework, and it’s proved a real success for Esh in delivering energy efficient homes while providing added benefit to the community through school engagement, volunteering and community funding.” A comprehensive social value plan has been delivered which has seen 133 weeks of employment delivered for residents within 10 miles of the site and 108 weeks of employment provided for previously unemployed people in the area. A further 250 learner hours were delivered in partnership with local schools and colleges while four full-time apprentices were hired, contributing to more than 230 apprentice training weeks during the project. Fir View Gardens is one of the developments that Great Places Housing Group is delivering in South Yorkshire as part of the housing association’s commitment to build additional affordable homes in the area. Other projects include 50 homes at Riverdale Park in Doncaster and 51 apartments at London Road close to Sheffield city centre. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Hend Maktari, Head of Sales at The Lucan: “Over the past decade, London’s property industry has experienced notable progress towards inclusion and equality, with more diverse and female representation across all demographics in all roles. As the world becomes increasingly interconnected, the property industry has been forced to adapt to changes including the rise of overseas investors, evolving client demographics, and the ability to conduct business from virtually anywhere. These changes have led to a notably broader pool of talent entering the industry, including an increased number of women. Despite these advances, challenges still persist. Outdated industry practises and insufficient support for women in senior positions continues to create a gap in the industry, hindering female progress and opportunity. To move the sector forward, companies must prioritise supportive environments and challenge biases. There is still work to be done to ensure true equality in the industry. The advice I would give to inspire the next generation of female leaders would be to believe in yourselves unapologetically and surround yourselves with people that are aligned with your own beliefs. Don’t be afraid to speak up and put yourselves forward, especially when encountering situations where you might feel compromised. It’s crucial for the next generation of young women to maintain self-confidence and never doubt their abilities, particularly when external pressures might try and hold them back.” Helena Moyas de Forton, Managing Director, Head of EMEA and APAC, Christie’s International Real Estate: “I’ve seen many exciting changes and increasing opportunities for women in the real estate industry over the last decade, including a rise in woman-owned brokerages and women in leadership positions. While these are positive steps, the industry must keep the forward momentum going by prioritizing equality and providing education and training to empower women. My message to the next generation of female leaders would be, set your sights high and stay focused on your goals. There are many women in leadership roles in real estate in the UK – at Christie’s International Real Estate, a high proportion of our leaders are women. Let these women be your inspiration. Sharpen your market knowledge, negotiation and other leadership skills and know that the industry is changing, opening up an increasing amount of opportunities for us.” **Helena Moyas de Forton is pictured… Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
One of the West Midlands leading independent architects is celebrating a major healthcare first for its business. Johnson Design Partnership, which has recently increased its team to 10, has been named on the NHS Shared Business Services Framework for the region, scoring top marks in the Property lot for Consultancy and Advisory Services for Health. This means the Bridgnorth-based practice will now be able to directly tender for more than £250m worth of contracts, building on an already impressive medical CV that currently accounts for more than £10m of live design and build projects. These include a Physio Hub for Frimley Park Hospital and Farnham Hospital, a new Urgent Treatment Centre and Emergency Department for New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton and reconfiguration and expansion of Car Park A at Stoke Mandeville Hospital. Vic Johnson, who founded Johnson Design Partnership in 2001, commented: “We are so pleased to be named in the SBS Framework for the West Midlands, giving us the perfect opportunity to bring our design flair to healthcare projects on our doorstep. “The rigorous assessment process scores organisations on capability, sustainability, track record and ability to deliver projects on time and competitively, driving savings across the NHS.” He continued: “Not only did we pass all the criteria, we top scored in the Property lot, beating some of the biggest organisations in our field in the process. “What it means for our business is that we are now approved and that healthcare institutions in the Midlands can use us for design and consultancy work without having to go out to tender. This could potentially deliver double the amount of work we do in this field over the next two years.” Johnson Design Partnership has built a growing relationship in the healthcare sector, now accounting for more than half of all projects it currently takes on. Major hospitals, specialist surgical settings, doctor’s surgeries and dental practices have all benefited from the JDP design flair that aims to bring spaces to life, whilst also meeting the demanding infection and operational requirements expected of it. The firm’s agility has also started to pay dividends with the NHS looking for quicker response times. Matt Spinks, Director, continued: “There are lots of factors to consider when working in a medical environment, but we relish that challenge, seeing it as an opportunity to push the boundaries of conventional thinking by bringing new design ideas and materials into play. “We aim to be creative with the spaces we are given responsibility for, aiming to bring the ‘inside in’ as much as we can through the use of different landscapes, new visuals, more lighting, different colours and creative seating.” He concluded: “There’s no point trying to hide behind the challenges. Be bold and be brave, giving medical staff, patients, and their families a kinder and more welcoming environment.” Johnson Design Partnership offers a complete project management service from feasibility work and planning to detailed design, project monitoring and contract administration. It has recently invested in the latest 3D design software and management systems, as well as embarking on a new website and digital media campaign to showcase its vast array of successful projects and the design solutions it offers. For further information, please visit www.johnsonltd.co.uk or follow the company on its social media channels. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Construction works to deliver the next phases at Lincoln Enterprise Park are progressing to schedule with 80% of space already reserved. Located on the A46 near Thorpe on the Hill, Lincoln Enterprise Park is progressing with phases 7 to 10, which will bring an additional 34,500 sq ft. to the park and could potentially create up to 100 new jobs. Following the continued demand for commercial property in and around Lincoln and a successful planning appeal in 2021, developer and site owner LEP Developments commenced works in October last year, acting as both developer and contractor. With groundworks done, steel frames ups and roofs complete, works to phases 7 and 8 – which are 6,500 sq ft. each – are on schedule. In total, phases 7 to 10 will bring 13 new mixed-use units ranging from 1,451 to 11,500 sq ft. to Lincoln Enterprise Park, offering in-demand expansion opportunities for current occupants and new commercial premises for other businesses. Current occupant and bespoke kitchen and furniture manufacturer, Krantz Designs, has been on Lincoln Enterprise Park since 2020. With its expanding client portfolio and desire to manufacture all its products in-house, the company has bought phase 7 as well as securing the lease of part of another unit as part of phase 9, giving the company a total of 20,000 sq ft. at the park. Managing director of Krantz Designs, Jamie Krantz, said: “With our showroom on historic Bailgate in Lincoln, we currently manufacture about 90% of our products here at Lincoln Enterprise Park, but for some time have wanted to increase that to 100%. We had no desire to move from the park as it’s the perfect location for us, is well managed and has a supportive business network, therefore when Nick secured planning for the next stage of expansion, I jumped at the chance to design and build our new HQ. “We will have approximately 30 skilled team members at the park when we move into our new spaces later this year, which will include CAD technicians, cabinet painters, machinists and office personnel, and we will be recruiting in due course to fill new roles. The team and I are pleased to be continuing our journey at Lincoln Enterprise Park.” Managing director of LEP Developments, Nicholas Falkinder, said: “At Lincoln Enterprise Park we support economic growth by providing our premium product in a unique and highly accessible location. “Because of what we have on offer here and the service we provide, we have been fully occupied for over seven years. Jamie and the team at Krantz Designs are a great example of the business community at the park and how we support those businesses through leasehold agreements, then on to freehold opportunities if required. “From the outset interest in the new units has been high and this resulted in 80% pre-construction sales in just a matter of months. The majority have been taken by existing occupants, which is what we strive for, and we are welcoming some exciting new businesses later in the year. “I’m passionate about this park and its success, and for the first time we are developer and contractor, which is an incredible journey to be on to both ensure quality and see the progress onsite each day. I want to thank our community of businesses here and everyone who has made these next phases possible.” Phases 7 and 8 are due for completion in the summer this year, phase 9 in early autumn and phase 10 in early 2025. Two units remain available to rent or buy and are being marketed by local agents Pygott & Crone and Lambert Smith Hampton. All contractors working on the site are East Midlands-based and include CM Civils, a Lincoln-based civil engineering company which has delivered the groundworks. Subject to planning, there is scope for further expansion at Lincoln Enterprise Park. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
