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June 3, 2024

Peel Waters unveils Miller's Quay development

Peel Waters unveils Miller’s Quay development

Peel Waters has unveiled the new brand identity for Miller’s Quay, a transformational residential development at Wirral Waters, featuring 500 highly sustainable one- and two-bedroom waterfront apartments. When designing Miller’s Quay, in collaboration with award-winning architects Howells, Peel set out to create a new iconic landmark for Wirral, seamlessly integrating

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Plans approved for 168 new homes in Warminster

Plans approved for 168 new homes in Warminster

Wiltshire Council has approved plans to develop almost 170 new homes in Warminster. Wessex was successful in its reserved matters planning application, meaning it can soon commence construction on a new phase at its Jubilee Gardens development. The 168-home phase includes a wide range of tenures for local people from

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Calling all Health and Safety Procurement Managers!

Calling all Health and Safety Procurement Managers!

Construction & Utility sites are full of potential hazards. A good proportion of these can be reduced by having the correct footwear. Whether simply walking across a site, digging a ditch or climbing a ladder, you need safety boots with a good grip and effective non-slip soles. Risks such as

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Latest Issue

BDC 318 : Jul 2024

June 3, 2024

Peel Waters unveils Miller's Quay development

Peel Waters unveils Miller’s Quay development

Peel Waters has unveiled the new brand identity for Miller’s Quay, a transformational residential development at Wirral Waters, featuring 500 highly sustainable one- and two-bedroom waterfront apartments. When designing Miller’s Quay, in collaboration with award-winning architects Howells, Peel set out to create a new iconic landmark for Wirral, seamlessly integrating urban living with natural surroundings. The result is a contemporary interpretation of the historic Birkenhead Docks, drawing inspiration from the vibrant colours, metalwork, and warehouses that define the area’s industrial past. These waterfront apartments offer not only striking architecture and expansive views but also south-facing shared spaces, dockside walkways, and access to new green spaces and micro parks, inviting residents to immerse themselves in nature while enjoying urban comforts. The ew homes now have a distinctive new brand that pays homage to the area’s rich 19th Century industrial heritage. The name “Millers” harks back to its historical use as a Flour Mill and a Copper-Rolling Mill, while “Quay” symbolises a positive transformation, reclaiming the waterfront for community use. Each of the six residential blocks within Miller’s Quay is named after elements of the site’s industrial past – Salt House, Copper Mill, Steam Yard, Lime Studio, Glaze Works, and Soda Factory. These names reflect the materials and processes used in the manufacture of cobalt and copper that, alongside pottery, took place on this site, serving as another subtle reminder of the area’s proud heritage. The ‘chemical reaction’ visuals of the new Miller’s Quay brand also reflect some of these industrial processes, further enriching the narrative of this historically significant site. The brand identity for Miller’s Quay features a bold word-mark inspired by the docks’ industrial legacy, complemented by a distinctive marque that aims to leave a lasting impression. Alan McCartney, Partner at Howells, said: “We’re hugely excited to see Miller’s Quay develop and continue to progress on-site, even more so with this striking new brand. The development harnesses a picture postcard aesthetic for Wirral Waters, along with creating a thriving, residential project with a real sense of place and waterside living at its heart.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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Plans approved for 168 new homes in Warminster

Plans approved for 168 new homes in Warminster

Wiltshire Council has approved plans to develop almost 170 new homes in Warminster. Wessex was successful in its reserved matters planning application, meaning it can soon commence construction on a new phase at its Jubilee Gardens development. The 168-home phase includes a wide range of tenures for local people from 1-bed apartments to four-bed homes. 55 of the new homes will also be transferred to a local housing association, helping alleviate pressure on the Council’s over 4,000-strong housing waiting list. ‘Phase P2’ of the development includes a large section of the spine road, surrounding public open space, sustainable urban drainage systems, a cycle link and an area of floating wetland. Wessex Deputy Managing Director, Seb Spiller, said: “We are delighted to have secured planning permission from Wiltshire Council to deliver 168 new homes for local people at our existing Jubilee Gardens development. “We are proud of the progress at Jubilee Gardens, which is creating a sustainable community for local families, and are pleased to have the local authority’s support for our next phase of construction. “This second phase will enhance the existing site by delivering new market homes for local people, while 55 properties will be transferred to a local housing association for social provision. We are determined to create a positive and lasting legacy in every area we build, and we are proud that our new development will continue to make the dream of homeownership a reality for local families.” As part of the wider Jubilee Gardens development, Persimmon is investing millions of pounds in the local vicinity as the housebuilder delivers a sustainable community for local people. This will include land for a new primary school, significant areas of open space including a riverside park, equipped children’s play areas, two areas of sports pitches and associated changing rooms. A local centre, allotments, public art, employment land, improvements to public footpaths, new pedestrian and cycle routes, biodiversity enhancements and a dedicated ecology area will also be delivered at Jubilee Gardens. Significant financial contributions will also be made towards education provision, bus services connecting the scheme with the town centre, signal upgrades to improve vehicle movements in the town centre, health care in Warminster, and enhancements to local public rights of way. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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Calling all Health and Safety Procurement Managers!

Calling all Health and Safety Procurement Managers!

Construction & Utility sites are full of potential hazards. A good proportion of these can be reduced by having the correct footwear. Whether simply walking across a site, digging a ditch or climbing a ladder, you need safety boots with a good grip and effective non-slip soles. Risks such as falling materials cannot be removed, but the severity can be greatly reduced by wearing adequate toe protection – i.e. a steel toe cap or one manufactured with composite materials. The risk of underfoot injury should also be considered, with many sites containing debris, sharp materials and uneven ground. Choosing safety footwear with a steel or para-aramid anti-puncture protective midsole may be a wise option in order to protect the sole of the foot from punctures that may lead to infection. Distractions cause accidents Construction and Utility workers need to multi-task – doing their actual job whilst being aware of the dangers around them, if their main focus is discomfort of their footwear, accidents can potentially follow and could have severe consequences, especially on busy sites. Comfort increases wellbeing Protection and support should be the major concern when choosing safety footwear for a construction or utility site. However, with spine issues and plantar fasciitis being a big problem for workers who are on their feet for lengthy periods whilst working in extreme conditions, comfort and support should also be considered as a must have. Fortunately, with top-quality safety boots, there is no reason to compromise on safety for comfort. Additional comfort can be achieved by adding Activ-Step footbeds for arch support, Activ-step anti-fatigue footbeds and Activ-step socks. Comfortable safety boots start with quality components that are kind to the foot and the planet. Always look for footwear that meets or even better exceeds official safety standards and is suitable for the environment that the wearer is working in – for some roles you may need more than one type of footwear to support the role that worker is covering. Strong outsoles and comfortable inner soles that fit correctly are a good start. Fit for purpose On any site there should be a good range of footwear available to the worker, with accessories available to provide arch support, insole comfort and correct fastenings to ensure that the fit is correct for everyone. It is essential to consider different shapes and sizes of people’s feet. The person responsible for providing the safety footwear needs to be aware of the ergonomic hazards that may pose a risk of injury to the musculoskeletal system in as much detail as they focus on for site hazards. Offering a wide and varied selection of safety footwear is sure to increase attendance and productivity. Rock Fall UK Can Help! With over eighty styles of footwear and a wide variety of accessories to increase safety and comfort Rock Fall UK are a one-stop shop for the busy H&S/Procurement Managers. We have an unequalled range of footwear that covers every size and environment in today’s demanding environments readily available. Our women’s Hurricane and Carbon Safety boots took the big win the at the SHE Awards 2024 for the Best Health and Safety Project of the Year! To give some background behind the collaboration that led to the development of these award winning safety boots here’s a short video.   Want to know more ?  Call 01773 608616 or contact: sales@rockfall.com for immediate assistance. Rockfall.com

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Tenants are spending more time in rental properties, highlighting importance of PRS landlords

Tenants are spending more time in rental properties, highlighting importance of PRS landlords

The latest research by Zero Deposit, the tenancy deposit alternative, has revealed that while home owners are upping sticks and moving more often, the time spent in rental properties by PRS tenants has increased by 12% over the last decade, highlighting the important role landlords play in today’s property market.  Zero Deposit analysed the latest figures from Gov UK English Housing Survey looking at the number of years spent in a property for each segment of the market and how these lifestyle trends have changed over the years.  The analysis shows that when it comes to home owners, we’re moving more, spending an average of 9.2 years in a property (mortgage buyers). This is the second lowest amount of time spent in the last 10 years with the exception of the 2020-21 pandemic year (8.7) and some way below the average of 9.9 years seen over the last decade.  What’s more, it marks a 13.9% reduction versus a decade ago, with homeowners remaining in their properties for 1.5 fewer years today versus 2012-13.  However, when it comes to tenants in the private rental sector the opposite trend has emerged over the last 10 years.  The average PRS tenant currently spends 4.3 years in their rental home. While this has reduced slightly on an annual basis, down from 4.4 years, it sits 12.1% higher than a decade ago when tenants rented for an average of 3.8 years.   It also sits higher than the average of 4.1 years seen over the last decade as a whole, highlighting the importance of the private rental sector when it comes to providing long-term accommodation for those who haven’t made the transition to home ownership.  Sam Reynolds, CEO of Zero Deposit commented: “Over the last ten years, tenants have grown increasingly reliant on the private rental sector due to the high cost of home ownership and we’ve also seen renting as a lifestyle choice result in tenants staying put for longer.  It’s also fair to say that, with renting itself becoming more expensive, many tenants would rather stay put once they’ve secured a rental property, rather than foot the costs of moving while their original deposit is still being held by their previous letting agent.  While the build to rent sector has looked to provide a solution to the requirement for longer term tenancies, it’s PRS landlords who are vital to the sector and are still shouldering the majority of the weight when it comes to the provision of these properties.  With the Renters Reform Bill also set to provide further security to tenants with respect to tenancy lengths and eviction powers, it’s likely that the time spent in the same rental property will continue to increase over the coming years. This highlights just how vitally important landlords are when it comes to the rental market echo system and why we must encourage investment into the sector, not deter it.  Data tables and sources Data tables and sources can be viewed online, here. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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