As a homeowner, there are so many things that you need to think about getting right when you are trying to make the right changes to improve your situation. Becoming a homeowner is one of the most satisfying things you can do, but there are plenty of headaches and pitfalls
Glencar, a leading UK construction company that was recently ranked amongst Europe’s fastest growing businesses, has today announced that is has completed the construction of 14 new industrial/warehouse units for its repeat customer: urban logistics property developer and asset manager, Chancerygate at its Dagenham Logistics Hub development in Dagenham, London.
THE CITY of Nottingham has seen the opening of a brand-new green space, representing a key milestone for the wider £2 billion Broad Marsh regeneration project – one of the largest development spaces of any core city in Europe. The ‘Green Heart’, which was officially unveiled by Nottingham City Council
Aston University is thrilled to announce the acquisition of the landmark 10 Woodcock Street building, previously owned by Birmingham City Council. This strategic expansion will accommodate several of Aston University’s world-renowned schools and strategic initiatives, further solidifying the University’s commitment to innovation, business excellence, sustainability and community engagement in line
Aldi has announced its largest-ever annual investment, committing £800 million to accelerate its store expansion across the UK. The supermarket giant plans to open 23 new stores by the end of the year, with key locations including Muswell Hill, London, and Caterham, Surrey. This forms part of a broader £1.4
Admiral Taverns, the UK’s leading community pub group, has announced the acquisition of 18 freehold pubs from Marston’s PLC. The move further strengthens Admiral’s extensive portfolio, taking the total number of pubs in its estate to over 1,420. The newly acquired wet-led establishments are spread across key locations, including Dorset,
20 traditional construction companies and two MMC firms have been appointed to a new build framework, where they will carry out principal contractor duties on social housing offsite projects. The Integrated Traditional Build & MMC framework has been launched by Procurement for Housing (PfH) and Building Better, the National Housing
One of North London’s waterside neighbourhoods has reached practical completion in Tottenham Hale, bringing 505 new homes to the area. Hale Wharf is situated off Ferry Lane, close to Tottenham Hale rail and underground stations. The completed project has made a valuable contribution to the Mayor of London and the
Wickes has unveiled an “exciting pipeline” of new store openings as the DIY and trade retailer sets its sights on reaching 250 locations in the coming years. This announcement comes as part of the retailer’s interim results for the first half of 2024, a period that saw the opening of
Savills has bolstered its retail, leisure, and food and beverage research capabilities by appointing Matt Thompson as director in a newly created role. With over 15 years of experience in retail and consumer insights within the real estate sector, Thompson brings a wealth of knowledge to the team. He joins
As a homeowner, there are so many things that you need to think about getting right when you are trying to make the right changes to improve your situation. Becoming a homeowner is one of the most satisfying things you can do, but there are plenty of headaches and pitfalls you might experience as a homeowner, and this is something that you need to work on as much as possible. There are so many elements that you need to make the most of when making your life easier as a homeowner, and this is something that you need to consider when it comes to trying to improve your property. There are a multitude of homeowner headaches that you might encounter, and being able to deal with these issues as effectively as possible is really important. These are some of the key ideas and options that will help you improve this, and it is vital to take steps to understand the issues you face and how to deal with them. Leaking Roof A leaking roof is one of the key things that you need to make sure you can keep on top as a homeowner, and this is essential to deal with effectively. There are a lot of things that play a role in helping you to make your property better, and ensuring you deal with a leaking roof in the most effective way you can is super important. This can be very damaging to your property, and might create additional issues if not dealt with effectively, and this is something that you need to try to make the most of as much as possible. There are so many elements that play a part in this, and you have to think about some of the leading elements that help when it comes to dealing with and fixing a leaking roof. Plumbing Issues Plumbing issues can be catastrophic to your property long-term, and this is something that you need to ensure you make the most of in order to look after your home better. It is important to think about some of the leading ideas that are going to play a part in allowing you to assess and improve this. Being able to come up with some of the leading ideas that you are going to help you make this process better, and this is something that plays a huge part in making this process better. Plumbing issues are serious, and they need to be dealt with as soon as possible, and this is something that plays a key role in being able to make the most of this moving forward. Foundations Slipping One of the biggest ways of being able to improve your home is essential, and this means protecting and looking after it as much as you can too. There are so many different ideas that will help you focus on this process, and keeping an eye on the foundations is one of the most important ways of achieving this. If you have trees next to your home, they can suck the moisture from the foundations and cause slippage. This can lead to all kinds of long-term issues and problems, so you need to try to deal with this process as effectively as possible. Dealing With a Listed Building Listed buildings often look wonderful and aesthetically impressive, but they can be a nightmare when it comes to dealing with maintenance and upkeep because there are certain rules that prevent you from being able to do particular things. This is why you need to be able to secure listed building insurance as one of the best ways of being able to protect your property, and this can help you moving forward. It is vital to do the best you can to make this process better for you, and to maintain and improve your listed building as much as possible moving forward. Flood Prevention Flooding is one of the biggest problems that a lot of homeowners face in their lives, and this is something that you need to try to focus on. Flood damage can cause a lot of long-term problems for your home, not to mention resulting in a lot of outlay in terms of cost. This is why you need to be able to use the right flood prevention tips in order to help you understand some of the best options that play a role in this. It is important to think about some of the leading ideas that are going to help you work towards defending against the risk of flood damage, and this is something it is important to make the most of. Bin Day Bin day is something that you need to become familiar with, and it will be the same day every week (often the same time too). There are so many factors that play a part in making this work for you, and it is important to think about some of the leading ideas that can help you stay on top of this. You need to be able to make sure you put rubbish into the relevant bins, depending on what you have to work with. For some people, this comes in the form of general waste, recycling, garden waste, food waste, and more. Staying on top of bin day, and making sure you put the right rubbish and packaging in the right bins is an important part of being able to make this process improve in the right way. These are just some of the key ways in which you can improve and address homeowner headaches, and this is something that plays a part. It is vital to make sure you think about the homeowner headaches you are likely to face, and this is something that you have to work on getting right as much as possible. If you can stay on top of these issues, and deal with them in the right way, this is something that can help to improve your
Glencar, a leading UK construction company that was recently ranked amongst Europe’s fastest growing businesses, has today announced that is has completed the construction of 14 new industrial/warehouse units for its repeat customer: urban logistics property developer and asset manager, Chancerygate at its Dagenham Logistics Hub development in Dagenham, London. Chancerygate sold the development to investment manager, Padrock in June 2022 The project saw the construction of 14 Grade A units in a range of sizes from 6,456 sq. ft up to 34,826 sq. ft. in a single unit. The units typically feature 8-10M clear internal height, 37.5 to 50kN sq. m floor loading, electric loading doors, covered loading bays, fitted first floor offices, 15% warehouse roof lights, PV panels, air source heat pumps, the ability to combine units, 12 year collateral warranty, comfort/cooling heating and a landscaped environment. Also incorporated in the newly available units are an extensive number of environmentally friendly technologies to achieve a BREEAM Excellent rating together with an EPC rating of A+ for each unit. As a result, occupational costs to the occupier will be greatly reduced. These include electric vehicle (EV) charging points, photovoltaic (PV) panels, high-performance building fabric and secure cycle storage for those wishing to reduce their carbon footprint. The design will maintain optimal daylight and air permeability levels throughout the site. Speaking about the project, Glencar Managing Director for the UK South, London, and Ireland, Roy Jones, said: “We are delighted to have had the opportunity to work with Chancerygate once again. This marks our third project with them, and we are thrilled to be involved in a flagship, multi-unit scheme with such compelling green credentials. Dagenham Logistics Hub provides an excellent solution for businesses across Greater London and is a prime example of how sustainability can work hand in hand with economic growth. I would like to thank the entire professional team involved in this build for delivering an exceptional end-product, and we look forward to seeing the building in operation very shortly”. George Long, Padrock Development Manager said: “Occupiers are looking for high specification units with strong ESG credentials, constructed to a good quality which has been delivered to us on this scheme. Glencar were very professional in their approach to this development and the team on site were all very knowledgeable of the various nuances throughout their time on site.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
THE CITY of Nottingham has seen the opening of a brand-new green space, representing a key milestone for the wider £2 billion Broad Marsh regeneration project – one of the largest development spaces of any core city in Europe. The ‘Green Heart’, which was officially unveiled by Nottingham City Council leaders and local school children, has been described by officials as ‘a place for locals to enjoy nature’, with 38 trees, 34 of which are newly planted, alongside colourful planting, a superbloom providing nectar to wildlife all year round, as well as a new marsh pond and rain garden areas. Pathways have been created from sandstone, which wind around the Green Heart and allow visitors to wander through the new public space, while the main path through the Green Heart serves as a direct route to the local train and bus stations, as well as the interconnecting city centre. Multi-disciplinary firm Pick Everard was behind the scheme, operating through Perfect Circle under the SCAPE Consultancy framework to deliver advisory, contract management, project and cost management, health and safety, and civil engineering services. The firm has worked closely with contractor Willmott Dixon and Nottingham City Council to bring the project to life, following its successful delivery of the Broad Marsh Bus Station and Car Park, Nottingham Central Library, Collin Street play area, and interconnecting public realm work. Oliver Hatton, director at Pick Everard, said: “The completion of the Broad Marsh Green Heart scheme represents a significant milestone in the quest to redevelop a key part of Nottingham’s public infrastructure. “Our team has collaborated closely with project partners to ensure the delivery of a vibrant community space, which reflects changing attitudes to the way we view our towns and cities, with plenty of accessible greenery that contributes positively to modern sustainability goals. “Having been a key part of the team that has delivered several Broad Marsh initiatives, including the car park, adjacent library and Collin Street revamp, we’re proud to be continuing to lead the charge in transforming Nottingham’s future, and look forward to the Green Heart becoming an integral part of the city’s Southside area.” The Green Heart project was funded through the Department for Transport’s Transforming Cities fund, a £161 million package given to Nottingham and Derby in 2020 to keep cities moving and improve connections between and around cities. Its transformation is among several redevelopment initiatives taking place in Nottingham city centre, with plans for a green infrastructure network connecting Nottingham Castle to the city’s £1.4 billion Island Quarter project, which is set to deliver new homes, grade-A office space, a five-star hotel, retail units, and student accommodation. More progress on the ongoing regeneration of the wider Broad Marsh area is still to come, with a state-of-the-art NHS Community Diagnostic Centre set to open in the area, as well as plans for new homes and offices. Councillor Neghat Khan, Nottingham City Council leader and executive member for strategic regeneration, transport and communications, said: “I’m proud to officially open this beautiful new green space for the city. It’s wonderful to see so many people already enjoying it. Following the collapse of the intu Broadmarsh shopping centre, we asked people in Nottingham what they wanted to see in this space, and they overwhelmingly asked for a new green park. “I’m pleased that something amazing has bloomed, creating a wonderful new space for people and wildlife alike. Thank you to council colleagues and partners who have brought this to life. “The Green Heart is just the latest step in regenerating the Broad Marsh area, following the new Central Library, pedestrianised streets, and the bus station and car park. New homes and offices will follow in the future – providing a complete revamp for this part of the city.” Nick Heath, director at Willmott Dixon, said: “After demolishing the old shopping centre on the site, we’re pleased to have delivered new spaces for children, shoppers, workers and the local wildlife to enjoy. “The vibrant, biodiverse Green Heart and the new play area on Collin Street have created a welcoming gateway between the city centre and the train station. Nottingham is currently a hub of regeneration, and the addition of these pedestrianised routes will also help to drive connectivity between the city’s different quarters.” For more information on Pick Everard and the services it provides, visit: www.pickeverard.co.uk/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Aston University is thrilled to announce the acquisition of the landmark 10 Woodcock Street building, previously owned by Birmingham City Council. This strategic expansion will accommodate several of Aston University’s world-renowned schools and strategic initiatives, further solidifying the University’s commitment to innovation, business excellence, sustainability and community engagement in line with its bold 2030 Strategy. Originally opened by Birmingham City Council in 2011 as the second-largest purpose-built office building in Birmingham, 10 Woodcock Street was designed by Associated Architects and spans 8,000 square meters. The building served as the city council’s flagship site, housing over 3,000 staff members. The building’s outstanding design and functionality have earned it numerous awards, including the National BCO Test of Time Award in 2017, National and Regional BCO Awards in 2013 and the Built in Quality Award in 2012. It also holds a BREEAM Excellent rating, reflecting its strong sustainability credentials. The newly acquired building will serve as a dynamic hub for several key schools and initiatives, including the globally recognised Aston Business School, Aston Law School, Aston Vision Sciences and the new state-of-the-art Aston Integrated Healthcare Hub. The building will also house the Aston Business Incubator, which will open its doors to the most innovative tech businesses in Birmingham and the surrounding region. The new Aston Integrated Healthcare Hub will offer comprehensive preventative health and wellbeing services and will showcase the latest advancements in digital healthcare technology including a digital centre for remote patient monitoring. The hub will adopt an innovative ‘living lab’ concept by embedding research, training and student placements. The Healthcare Hub will serve not only Aston University’s staff and students, but also the wider Birmingham community, underscoring the University’s commitment to improving public health outcomes. The new home of the ‘triple crown accredited’ Aston Business School will include the new Aston University CEO Academy and Executive Education Lounge, as well as contemporary business simulation labs (including the cutting-edge trading simulation lab and fintech lab). The contemporary staff and student facilities will include a new restaurant and several social spaces for engagement and meetings, self-study and digitally enabled group work. Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of Aston University, Professor Aleks Subic, expressed excitement about the acquisition: “The purchase of 10 Woodcock Street represents a significant milestone in Aston University’s development. “This world-class facility will provide a unified home for our internationally renowned Aston Business School, Aston Law School, Vision Sciences and our game changing Integrated Healthcare Hub, while also supporting the next generation of tech entrepreneurs through our Aston Business Incubator. “This move aligns with our vision to drive innovation, support business growth and deliver impactful research and education that transform lives and drive inclusive growth.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Aldi has announced its largest-ever annual investment, committing £800 million to accelerate its store expansion across the UK. The supermarket giant plans to open 23 new stores by the end of the year, with key locations including Muswell Hill, London, and Caterham, Surrey. This forms part of a broader £1.4 billion two-year growth plan. In addition to expanding its footprint, Aldi is refurbishing 100 of its existing stores as part of the investment push. The announcement coincides with the release of Aldi’s 2023 annual results, revealing a remarkable £2.4 billion increase in sales, reaching a total of £17.9 billion—the retailer’s highest-ever growth period. Aldi’s pre-tax profit also saw a substantial rise, jumping to £536.7 million from £152.6 million in 2022. This boost in profitability was driven by record sales and enhanced operational efficiencies across its store network and central operations. Giles Hurley, CEO of Aldi UK and Ireland, commented: “British shoppers are voting with their feet and choosing Aldi as their first-choice supermarket. We’re responding with our biggest ever annual investment in Britain. For every £1 of profit generated last year, we’re investing £2 this year – opening more stores and building the supply infrastructure to bring high-quality, affordable groceries to millions more families across the country.” Hurley continued: “We’re also investing at record levels to cut prices, reward our amazing colleagues, and support more local causes. All while creating thousands of jobs and providing even more opportunities for our growing base of British suppliers and farmers.” With over 1,000 stores currently in the UK, Aldi is aiming for a long-term goal of reaching 1,500 locations, solidifying its position as one of Britain’s most rapidly expanding supermarket chains. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Admiral Taverns, the UK’s leading community pub group, has announced the acquisition of 18 freehold pubs from Marston’s PLC. The move further strengthens Admiral’s extensive portfolio, taking the total number of pubs in its estate to over 1,420. The newly acquired wet-led establishments are spread across key locations, including Dorset, Derbyshire, and Yorkshire, and continue Admiral’s focus on community-centred venues. This acquisition marks Admiral’s second major deal of the year, following the purchase of 37 pubs from Fuller, Smith & Turner PLC in May, which bolstered their presence in the South-East. The group’s strategy of profitable expansion is evident in these moves, cementing its position as a major player in the community pub sector. CEO of Admiral Taverns, Chris Jowsey, expressed excitement about the new additions: “I look forward to welcoming these licensees into the Admiral family and working with them to grow these pubs as thriving small businesses and social hubs. We have a great relationship with Marston’s, and this acquisition aligns perfectly with our goal to enhance our portfolio of community pubs.” In the last 12 months, Admiral has invested over £38 million in key areas such as refurbishments and sustainability upgrades, showcasing their commitment to the long-term success of their pubs. The group was also recently honoured with the ‘Best Community Pub Operator’ Award at the Publican Awards. Andy Kershaw, Director of Property at Marston’s PLC, commented: “This sale aligns with our strategic review of our estate. Admiral Taverns is the ideal home for these pubs, which fit well with their business model.” This deal underscores the continued resilience of the pub sector, with Admiral Taverns leading the charge in supporting local communities through their entrepreneurial licensees and high-quality estate. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
20 traditional construction companies and two MMC firms have been appointed to a new build framework, where they will carry out principal contractor duties on social housing offsite projects. The Integrated Traditional Build & MMC framework has been launched by Procurement for Housing (PfH) and Building Better, the National Housing Federation-backed alliance of housing associations and councils working together to boost the use of modern methods of construction (MMC) in social housing. PfH and Building Better set up the framework following feedback from social housing organisations who said they wanted trusted local building firms to lead MMC projects and deliver traditional construction elements, where they were needed. The 22 building firms have been appointed across 37 different regions of England and Wales, ensuring that housing associations and local authorities can always work with contractors from their own communities. The £800m framework will run over four years and supports social housing providers to procure principal contractor services for a range of MMC projects, including low and medium rise housing, apartments and extra care homes. The traditional construction firms appointed are: AMMCASS Group, Bugler Developments, CG Fry & Son, Classic Builders, Elkins Construction, Ermine Construction Services, Feltham Construction, Hale Group, Hill Holdings, J. Harper & Sons (Leominster), Keon Homes, Langstone Construction, LIFE Build Solutions, MY Construction Group, Seddon Construction, SMD, Snowdon Homes, Wates Residential, Whitfield & Brown and Wiggett Construction. The MMC firms appointed are: Agile Property and Homes, and Enevate Homes. Tony Woods, Technical Manager – Construction & Sustainability for PfH said: “Over recent years we’ve seen MMC companies focusing more on manufacturing their systems rather than providing a turnkey service. It makes sense to bring in traditional builders with a strong reputation in a local area to manage these MMC projects and deliver any traditional build elements, too. We’ve also appointed two MMC firms that provide excellent turnkey services. All 22 firms are experienced lead contractors, and often have a relationship with social housing providers already. This framework provides councils and housing associations with a compliant route to procuring principal contractor services for MMC sites.” Jamie Watkins, Operations Manager at Elkins Construction, said: “We are delighted to be accepted onto this new framework, giving registered providers access to our services, where we can offer newbuild residential solutions using either traditional or Modern Methods of Construction. Over the last few years, we have seen increased requirements from our clients for net zero homes and this has meant the need to use more innovation in our construction practices. By using MMC or hybrid construction we can cut down time on site, reducing disruption to the communities we work in, improve quality through offsite manufacturing and reduce our carbon footprint, whilst providing our clients with highly energy efficient homes for their residents.” Antony Rees, Group Managing Director, J. Harper & Sons (Leominster) said: “Harpers are thrilled to have been appointed to the Procurement for Housing Framework. We are excited to deliver cost-effective, sustainable, and high-quality developments that meet the evolving needs of social housing organisations. With decades of industry experience, we have refined our expertise and look forward to continuing to deliver projects of the highest standard that meet the diverse needs of our communities.” Lewis Tolputt, Business Development Manager at Classic Builders, said: “Classic Builders is excited to be awarded a place on the new PfH framework. As a traditional contractor founded over 20 years ago, we are continually looking at ways we can innovate and offer our customers increased choice. The use of MMC products is just one of the ways we’re able to stay ahead of our competition. From delivering multi-award winning Passivhaus Plus schemes to pioneering zero carbon LETI compliant projects, by utilising MMC technology we’re able to build a better and more efficient tomorrow, today.” For further information about the Integrated Traditional Build & MMC framework, visit: https://procurementforhousing.co.uk/frameworksa-z/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
One of North London’s waterside neighbourhoods has reached practical completion in Tottenham Hale, bringing 505 new homes to the area. Hale Wharf is situated off Ferry Lane, close to Tottenham Hale rail and underground stations. The completed project has made a valuable contribution to the Mayor of London and the Greater London Authority’s aspiration for 2,000 new homes in the borough and features local retail space, canal-side public realm and infrastructure which has transformed this part of North London. Delivered by Waterside Places, a partnership between Canal & River Trust and Muse, the first phase of development saw 249 homes delivered in 2018, with 108 for rent through leading landlord, Grainger plc. The second and final phase has added a further 256 homes to Hale Wharf with 191 affordable homes for LB Haringey and Grainger plc acquiring 65 build-to-rent homes, expanding its ownership within the overall project. One of the key elements that has helped breathe life into Hale Wharf is a new major pedestrian bridge across the River Lea Navigation. This links the new and surrounding community to a 10-acre area of green space, the Paddock Community Nature Park, opening new public spaces and walking routes for all and wider access to the Lee Valley Regional Park. As with all Waterside Places developments, the water’s edge has also been regenerated thanks to upgrades of access routes for commercial barges as well as canal wall repairs and the addition of floating reed beds. Waterside Places has delivered this project alongside McLaren Construction and architect Allies and Morrison, with Stace acting as Project Manager. On behalf of Waterside Places, Chris Coxall, Project Director at Muse, said: “Everyone working in regeneration wants to make a positive and lasting difference in the community. That’s what we feel we have achieved at Hale Wharf. Our scheme has transformed a forgotten waterside area by the River Lee Navigation and created a great place to live with access to green space. The project team recognised the importance of looking beyond the red lines and have found ways to connect the community to a diverse environment of woodland, scrub, meadow and ponds – which makes a huge difference in a densely populated city.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Wickes has unveiled an “exciting pipeline” of new store openings as the DIY and trade retailer sets its sights on reaching 250 locations in the coming years. This announcement comes as part of the retailer’s interim results for the first half of 2024, a period that saw the opening of two new stores in Long Eaton and Durham. However, Wickes also made the decision to close two underperforming branches in Ashton Gate, Bristol, and Inverness, leaving it with a total of 229 stores by the end of June. Looking ahead, Wickes remains optimistic about its expansion plans. The company’s property strategy is on track for the remainder of the year, with a new store in Aberdeen – its first in Scotland in over a decade – having opened in August, and another branch in Leamington Spa expected to launch in the final quarter of 2024. Despite a challenging first half, during which Wickes reported total revenues of £799.9 million, a 3.4% drop year-on-year, and a dip in adjusted pre-tax profit to £23.4 million (down from £31.1 million in the first half of 2023), the retailer is optimistic about future growth. Trading in the third quarter has already shown signs of improvement. David Wood, Chief Executive of Wickes, said: “We are on track for the remainder of the year and have been encouraged by trading at the start of the second half. Looking further ahead, our outstanding customer offer, proven growth levers, and focus on cost control leave us well-placed within a home improvement market which continues to offer significant opportunities.” As Wickes focuses on its long-term goal of expanding to 250 locations, it continues to position itself as a key player in the UK’s home improvement sector, building on its solid customer base and strategic property growth. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Savills has bolstered its retail, leisure, and food and beverage research capabilities by appointing Matt Thompson as director in a newly created role. With over 15 years of experience in retail and consumer insights within the real estate sector, Thompson brings a wealth of knowledge to the team. He joins from Shaftesbury Capital, where he served as Head of Property Insight, and previously held the position of Head of Retail Strategy at Colliers for six years. In his new role, Thompson will collaborate with Savills’ retail and leisure agency and research teams, focusing on integrating analytics and consumer data to create commercial value for clients. Alan Spencer, Head of UK Retail at Savills, commented: “We are delighted to welcome Matt to the team. His expertise in consumer intelligence will enhance our consultancy services and support our ongoing projects.” Thompson added: “I’m excited to bring my experience to Savills, helping clients navigate the shifting consumer landscape and ma Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
