Reynaers Aluminium UK has won the coveted ‘Aluminium Systems Company of the Year’ award at this year’s National Fenestration Awards ceremony. The accolade highlights Reynaers’ work in supplying premium aluminium systems for doors, windows and facades to the UK fenestration industry. Decided by an open vote, the awards are based
Business one of only 30 members awarded new standard McLaughlin & Harvey has been awarded Platinum accredited membership via The 5% Club’s 2023-24 Employer Audit Scheme. The award recognises significant contributions made to the development of employees through “earn & learn” schemes such as Apprenticeships, Graduate Schemes and Sponsored Students
Northern ethical property investors are set to receive impressive rental yields in student accommodation. The region is seeing a boom in demand for high-quality properties from its growing intakes of UK and international students following investment in higher education facilities, putting the region on the map as a go-to
Roma Finance, the borrower first lender, achieved its record month in October, not only for new business following the highly successful launch of its new FLOW product range. New business increased by 51.2% in October compared to the average levels for 2023 as a whole. Roma has experienced multiple record-breaking
Panattoni, the largest logistics real estate developer across the UK and Europe, has passed the major landmark of £350 million through three significant acquisitions this year. The first quarter saw Panattoni acquire a prime west London redevelopment site near Heathrow Airport where an 80,000 sq ft unit will be delivered
The nation’s landlords are responding to higher levels of mortgage interest rates by cutting down on their borrowing. The research comes from specialist property lending experts, Octane Capital, which compared the total amount of borrowing amongst buy-to-let landlords between Q3 2022 and Q2 2023 and the corresponding period the year
Willmott Dixon has completed the structural phase of a new £12m facility for Army musicians at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS) being delivered under the Defence Estate Optimisation (DEO) Army Programme. A topping out ceremony took place to mark completion, with military officials and project partners from the Army delivery
A Midlands housing association has secured the next phase of work at the UK’s largest self and custom-build development. Graven Hill Village Development Company (GHVDC) has re-appointed Bromford for this latest phase, which will include 50 homes; 31 of which will be affordable rent and 19 shared ownership at the
A team of experts, innovative plant and equipment, 200km of cables and a 32.5km underground tunnel network, 40 metres beneath the city of London. Find out how we’re rewiring London’s electrical transmission system to keep Londoners connected to a safe and reliable electricity supply. #Expertengineers #BuildingNewFutures Building, Design & Construction
Story Homes has recently received Reserved Matters planning permission, which will see the developer bring 143 new homes to Tanfield in County Durham. Story Homes has worked in partnership with Miller Homes, to bring forward plans to redevelop the site of the former Ever Ready battery production factory in Tanfield,
Reynaers Aluminium UK has won the coveted ‘Aluminium Systems Company of the Year’ award at this year’s National Fenestration Awards ceremony. The accolade highlights Reynaers’ work in supplying premium aluminium systems for doors, windows and facades to the UK fenestration industry. Decided by an open vote, the awards are based on industry recognition with all companies working within the UK fenestration trade eligible to take part and vote. Over the past twelve months Reynaers has made significant strides in ensuring its customers receive the best service and product range. This has included a major expansion of its warehouse facilities to increase stock availability and reduce lead times; continually developing products to offer additional options such as motorisation and open corners, as well as continuing to provide top performance quality for air, wind, and water testing. In addition, the company has implemented a strong sustainability strategy in Reynaers Act. It manufactures nine systems that are cradle-to-cradle certified and has developed products for the trade and retail sector that can achieve thermal efficiency ratings as low as 0.8W/mK² without compromising on slim sightlines. Reynaers also offers a comprehensive support programme for its installers and fabricators, with access to an online portal to make ordering and tracking deliveries easier, along with dedicated marketing support, including the Reynaers at Home website, which aims to generate additional sale leads for installers. The winners of the 10th NFA’s were announced at a ceremony on Saturday, October 28th at the Hilton Garden Inn, in Doncaster. Reynaers’ UK Head of Marketing Samantha Hill and Head of Sales for Trade and Retail Terry Ledwith were present to collect the award. In a statement they said: “Being voted as the Aluminium Systems Company of the Year by the people within the industry means everything to the team here at Reynaers. “We are committed to providing the highest quality products, backed by excellent service and to see this recognised by the industry that we serve directly is a privilege.” Managing Director of Reynaers Aluminium UK Richard Hall added: “Reynaers is dedicated to creating market leading aluminium systems that bring quality, durability and design excellence to the buildings they are used in. “We look forward to continuing to develop futureproof systems that are designed to meet increasingly stringent UK regulations, delivering sustainable, high performance, innovative products for our customers. “Customers are at the heart of everything we do here at Reynaers, which makes winning this award particularly important to us as it is voted for by the people within the industry that we work alongside. To see our commitment recognised in this way is a real honour.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Business one of only 30 members awarded new standard McLaughlin & Harvey has been awarded Platinum accredited membership via The 5% Club’s 2023-24 Employer Audit Scheme. The award recognises significant contributions made to the development of employees through “earn & learn” schemes such as Apprenticeships, Graduate Schemes and Sponsored Students Course Placements. Launched to mark their 10th Anniversary, The 5% Club’s new top tier of Platinum Membership is awarded to those who have attained Gold Membership for three consecutive years, with the third year consisting of 10% or more staff members “earning and learning”. McLaughlin & Harvey is one of only 30 employers who have met the Platinum standard, putting them in the top 3% of members. Alison Reilly, Group HR Director, commented: “We have supported the 5% Club for a number of years as we believe investing in talent development creates a sustainable pipeline of skilled and motivated employees. Earn and learn employees currently make up 11.5% of McLaughlin and Harvey’s workforce. The initiative promotes diversity and inclusion in the workplace, addresses the skills gap and demonstrates our commitment to social responsibility and investing in long-term success and sustainability.” Mark Cameron OBE, Chief Executive at The 5% Club, said: “Our Employer Audit scheme recognises the efforts of all those employers who invest in their workforce through a broad range of workplace learning schemes. It is fantastic that in these challenging times so many are able to commit to the Employer Audit and to gain the credit for their efforts, and that the majority are striving to expand their schemes over the coming years. Their efforts and achievements are to be applauded. Even more impressive is the 3% percent who have achieved Platinum level membership – they represent the very best of our movement and of employers offering ‘earn and learn’ opportunities.” Gill Cronin, Director of Operations at The 5% Club added: “Having seen The Club grow to more than 900 members, I am always impressed at the commitment, drive and energy our members channel into offering “earn and learn” skills opportunities. To now see 20% of these members gain Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum accredited membership of The Club is inspiring and demonstrates how these companies are all contributing to the future of skills in our economy.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Northern ethical property investors are set to receive impressive rental yields in student accommodation. The region is seeing a boom in demand for high-quality properties from its growing intakes of UK and international students following investment in higher education facilities, putting the region on the map as a go-to city for education and training. The housing challenge faced by students across the UK is a pressing issue, and Integritas Property Group (IPG) is at the forefront of addressing it. Through initiatives like Optima in Bradford and the completed Bijou student living project (the first phase of this development), IPG is leading the way in the student accommodation landscape and is reporting a boom in rental yields for property investors. The student population in Bradford is currently over 42,000, with 30% of students arriving from 130 countries, as the university offers 352 undergraduate courses and 213 graduate courses. With University of Bradford only having 1,004 units available for student accommodation, comprised of 2 managed halls of residence and 34 four-story townhouses, there is huge need for new, highly quality student accommodation across the city. Mitchell Walsh, CEO at IPG, says, “By providing students with first-class living options, IPG is offering investors a lucrative opportunity to invest in a growing metropolis.” IPG’s approach goes beyond just housing provision as it creates accommodation that is accessible, affordable, and conducive to learning. As it becomes increasingly more difficult for students across Bradford to find suitable accommodation, these luxury lets, currently on sale to investors, will soon be home to some of the city’s student population. Mitchell Walsh continued, “Decent student accommodation in a city near their place of study is often a challenge to find – as a result, students are then pushed further out into the suburbs, which adds extra pressure to their day whilst increasing social isolation. Our Optimadevelopment is strategically located in the heart of Bradford city centre, giving students easy access to the city centre, nightlife, and the university.” “Optima, the high-spec property, offers exquisite finishes, stylish interiors, and modern appliances in each unit, ensuring a luxurious living experience for residents – a step up from the run-of-the-mill student digs most people think of.” The big driver in student accommodation demand is growth in PGT (Postgraduate Taught) international intakes, with the University of Bradford coming 15th in the top increases in full-time PGT study numbers in the UK 2021-2022. In many localities, growth in demand is far outstripping growth in the supply of student accommodation. * IPG’s Optima development comes after the success of its Bijou project, set within the residential scheme in Laisteridge Student Village, which saw 46 units snapped up by investors looking to provide accommodation for Bradford’s growing student population. TheOptima development features 54 student pods and four accessible studios, with shared access to a fully fitted kitchen, a laundry room, and a large open-plan living space for student socialising and aims to be complete ahead of September 2024. Mitchell Walsh concludes, “Investing in the property market in Bradford right now is a wise decision as the rental yield is currently at an impressive 8.25%, 3% higher than the national average.” The last few units remain for investors to purchase, starting from £78,000, each with a 999-year lease. These units offer an 8.25% rental yield, and all units come fully furnished and managed. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Roma Finance, the borrower first lender, achieved its record month in October, not only for new business following the highly successful launch of its new FLOW product range. New business increased by 51.2% in October compared to the average levels for 2023 as a whole. Roma has experienced multiple record-breaking periods of enquiries and completions over 2023, and a review of cases in underwriting show this to be continuing. Roma has its highest ever pipeline in both volume and value with demand for its RomaFLOW products, the fast completions channel, being its most popular range. The new RomaFLOW range has been put in place as a result of the continued success of the process of the same name. Roma believes the surge in enquiries and cases demonstrates the success of the new range and the continually growing requirement for short term finance and the drive of landlords, developers and property investors to continue their own growth aspirations. Michael Allison, commercial director said, “I am delighted by the results of this first month and November has started strong as well. The results clearly demonstrate the quality of our sales teams, our strength and commercial flexibility in underwriting and the unwavering way we work with brokers and borrowers to achieve positive outcomes. The amount of repeat business, recommendations and referrals we continue to receive are testament to this. This is another fantastic step on our trajectory to achieve our business plan and every possible positive outcome for customers.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Panattoni, the largest logistics real estate developer across the UK and Europe, has passed the major landmark of £350 million through three significant acquisitions this year. The first quarter saw Panattoni acquire a prime west London redevelopment site near Heathrow Airport where an 80,000 sq ft unit will be delivered for Q3 2024; the site is called Panattoni Poyle. The start of the third quarter saw the acquisition of a site to deliver 800,000 sq ft in Milton Keynes, where the business will construct two speculative units of 350,000 sq ft and 450,000 sq ft. The end of the third quarter sees the acquisition of a two unit park totalling 626,468 sq ft in Sittingbourne, strategically located to the Southeast of London 4 miles from junction 5 of the M2. The 26-acre site, acquired from Abrdn, will be developed as a state-of-the-art, net zero carbon development. This prime location offers unparalleled access to local and national distribution routes facilitated by the M2, M20, and M25 motorways. The development will provide seamless connectivity to vital markets such as London, the Southeast, and Europe via London Thamesport, Dover, and the Port of Tilbury. The site has planning consent for two distinct units, spanning 439,228 sq ft and 205,320 sq ft, respectively which will be speculatively developed. Construction is due to commence at the end of the fourth quarter of 2023, with a targeted completion date in the fourth quarter of 2024. A key advantage and differentiator of Panattoni Park Sittingbourne are its enhanced environmental, social, and governance (ESG) features; the site has 5MVa of power available with a further capacity of additional 1.35MVa from the solar PV provided as part of the base specification by Panattoni. Furthermore, Panattoni will engineer the construction to achieve a BREEAM sustainability rating of ‘Excellent’ and an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of ‘A’. Panattoni’s acquisition at Sittingbourne follows its success at the nearby 1.6 million sq ft Panattoni Park Aylesford; the level of demand in the region has resulted in the scheme being 100% pre-let to major national and international occupiers in less than 24 months from acquisition Tony Watkins, Head of Development for the South East and London at Panattoni, said, “This third acquisition in the South in 2023 confirms our success in delivering on a strategy to acquire land that provides value to investors and customers in the current commercial environment. We will continue to selectively purchase key developments that offer value-add opportunities within core markets in London and the South East, where we can drive rental growth”. Finally, he said “we expect to be announcing more acquisitions this quarter”. Panattoni were advised by JLL Abrdn were advised by Avison Young and Savills Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The nation’s landlords are responding to higher levels of mortgage interest rates by cutting down on their borrowing. The research comes from specialist property lending experts, Octane Capital, which compared the total amount of borrowing amongst buy-to-let landlords between Q3 2022 and Q2 2023 and the corresponding period the year before. It found that buy-to-let landlords reduced their borrowing by around £7 billion over that timespan, from £37.9 billion in 2021-2022 to £30.4 billion in 2022-2023. In terms of a percentage change, this means that buy-to-let landlords collectively reduced their borrowing by -19.8% in just a single year. A period in flux It’s no wonder that landlords have looked to reduce their exposure to the mortgage market, given how the Bank of England base rate has shifted over that period. At the start of December 2021 the base rate stood at 0.1%, while by June 2023 it reached 5.0%. Other unusual events also rocked the markets. In February 2022 Russia would launch its invasion into Ukraine, creating an inflationary effect on the cost of energy, which would filter through to other sectors. Meanwhile September 2022 saw ex-Prime Minister Liz Truss’s ill fated mini-budget, where a selection of uncosted tax cuts served to spook the financial markets, causing mortgage interest rates to surge almost overnight. It’s no wonder that investors have looked to restrain their borrowing in this context. First-time buyers The rest of the market followed a similar trend to buy-to-let, as lending to first-time buyers dropped from £68.1 billion in 2021-2022 to £65.9 billion in 2022-23, a reduction of -3.2%. Meanwhile all other forms of lending fell by -7.6%, from £92.2 billion to £85.2 billion. Remortgage activity rose slightly, from £79.9 billion in 2021-2022 to £81.0 billion in 2022-2023, reflecting how more borrowers consolidated what they had rather than saddling themselves with fresh debt in the form of a new mortgage. CEO of Octane Capital, Jonathan Samuels, commented: “Landlords are taking fewer risks with their borrowing, which makes sense given how the market has become objectively less attractive in the past couple of years. “No longer are buy-to-let mortgages available for 2-3%, so it’s less economically viable to invest in property on a highly leveraged basis. “Now landlords are in a period where they’re adjusting to a new normal, where they need to be strategic and consider using a larger deposit if they want to continue growing their portfolios.” Data tables and sources can be viewed online, here. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Willmott Dixon has completed the structural phase of a new £12m facility for Army musicians at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS) being delivered under the Defence Estate Optimisation (DEO) Army Programme. A topping out ceremony took place to mark completion, with military officials and project partners from the Army delivery team and Defence Infrastructure Organisation joining Willmott Dixon to celebrate the project’s progress. The purpose-built facility has been designed to house and support the talented musicians who serve in British Army Band Sandhurst, offering a modern and acoustically optimised environment for rehearsals, performances and musical collaboration. It can accommodate all 54 members of British Army Band Sandhurst, which performs at passing out parades and Sovereign’s parades, as well as supporting military sporting events and dinner nights with smaller ensembles. The new and refurbished buildings feature an instrument store, music library, offices, rehearsal rooms, storage, changing and toilet facilities, and a crew room. The facility also has sustainable features, with two of the blocks being installed with solar panels and heat source pumps. Major General Richard Clements CBE, director of Army basing and infrastructure said: “I am delighted to see the excellent progress on these modern, bespoke facilities for British Army Band Sandhurst and I congratulate the project team on reaching this significant construction milestone. “We trust this building will become a flagship facility to inspire future generations of Army musicians, who play such an important role in enhancing the reputation of UK Defence both at home and on the global stage.” The project is being delivered under the DEO Army Programme, which is investing £3.35bn over 10 years across 35 projects. The programme aims to improve the lived experience for soldiers by delivering an effective and sustainable Army Regular estate. William Phillips, national director at Pick Everard, said: “Our close collaboration across the range of project management and NEC supervisor services is providing an inspired space for army musicians. “At Pick Everard, we’ve worked on many projects with the British military over the past 30 years, understanding the unique processes, procedures, and security requirements of the sector. “We now look forward to this new venue taking shape and becoming an integral part of the army’s plans for generations to come.” Hazel Ide, senior programme manager for the Defence Estate Optimisation Programme said: “This project has brought old and new together brilliantly and is going to be a fabulous facility which reflects the history of this site alongside a state of the art new and very modern facility. “The teams, DIO, Army, the site personnel, Willmott Dixon, HLM and Pick Everard have worked together to resolve issues, understand risks, and come up with innovative solutions to some challenging problems to keep the project on track. Only by working together could we have delivered this project the way we have.” Adam Worrall, director at Willmott Dixon said: “I am delighted to be part of such a unique project that will serve as a sanctuary for musical talent within the Army. It will provide a new and modernised building that is high-quality and fit for purpose. I am looking forward to seeing its further progression over the coming months.” Construction will complete in 2024. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A Midlands housing association has secured the next phase of work at the UK’s largest self and custom-build development. Graven Hill Village Development Company (GHVDC) has re-appointed Bromford for this latest phase, which will include 50 homes; 31 of which will be affordable rent and 19 shared ownership at the 462-acre site. As with all new builds at Graven Hill, regardless of construction form, they will meet the Passive Design Standards Revision F which, since adopted by Graven Hill in 2016, have delivered dwellings with energy standards which are higher than the statutory requirements set out in current building regulations. Graven Hill doesn’t just comply with statutory policy requirements, it exceeds them by incorporating sustainable design and construction technology to achieve low carbon development through a combination of fabric energy efficiency and carbon compliance for example. Gemma Davis, customer experience director at GHVDC, said: “Bromford has worked at Graven Hill since 2017, helping to deliver 93 affordable homes to date. “Graven Hill is unique and diverse and aims to offer the widest range of housing, from self and custom-build to apartments and extra care facilities. With 30% of the site providing affordable homes, it has been essential that we find a partner that shares the same vision; to deliver a successful, diverse and pioneering development.” Bromford has 46,000 homes across its operating area in the West Midlands and West of England. Alongside its existing 93 properties at Graven Hill, the housing association will take ownership of the first 26 new homes before the end of the year, comprising of 16 for affordable rent and 10 for shared ownership. The remaining 15 affordable and 9 shared ownership homes will be handed to Bromford next year and are part of the 1,200 new homes the housing association will be delivering during the year. Satty Tiwana, project manager from Bromford said: “We’re delighted to be working with Graven Hill Village Development Company again to provide affordable housing on the latest phase of this project. We’ve just had the first eight homes handed over to us and our latest customers are getting ready to move into their new homes. “They will all benefit from our unique approach to housing management which is focused on creating a close relationship between our customers and their neighbourhood coach. We know that every customer is unique and different customers will benefit from different types of relationship, but we will work with each of them to learn and understand each of their aspirations so we can work together to help them achieve them so they can thrive in their new home.” Graven Hill is a former Ministry of Defence site, which has become a thriving new community with almost 500 homes delivered to date and hundreds more to come. The primary school opened its doors this month, alongside a cocktail bar, wine shop and dentist practice. A nursery school provider is also set to commence development. Further retail units are currently under offer and a site at the frontage intended for a pub restaurant continues to be marketed. Significant amenities planned include a sports pavilion, pitches and allotments and access to the Graven Hill wood. GHVDC is also seeking local contractors to tender for its next phase of new homes and apartments. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A team of experts, innovative plant and equipment, 200km of cables and a 32.5km underground tunnel network, 40 metres beneath the city of London. Find out how we’re rewiring London’s electrical transmission system to keep Londoners connected to a safe and reliable electricity supply. #Expertengineers #BuildingNewFutures Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Story Homes has recently received Reserved Matters planning permission, which will see the developer bring 143 new homes to Tanfield in County Durham. Story Homes has worked in partnership with Miller Homes, to bring forward plans to redevelop the site of the former Ever Ready battery production factory in Tanfield, which has been derelict for many years. This brownfield site was granted outline planning consent in 2017, and now Story Homes along with its development partner have permission to deliver a total of 288 new homes, transforming this under used area into an attractive residential development. Story Homes’ plans include the delivery of 143 high quality new homes, ranging from two to five bedrooms, which have been designed for modern living, with flexible open plan layouts, and luxury finishes throughout. Not only will the redevelopment of the site vastly improve the appearance of the area, but the Section 106 (S106*) Agreement linked to the planning permission, will see the developers invest a total of £286,400 into the local community. The S106 Agreement earmarks £140,000 to go towards a bus service and infrastructure. Of the remaining funds, £60,000 will be contributed to the creation of a cycleway and footpath and the final £86,400 will go towards sports facilities. In addition to these contributions, the scheme will also deliver much needed affordable homes. Dan Chant, Senior Land Manager for Story Homes said: “Our proposed development on this brownfield site will not only improve the look of the area but will deliver multiple benefits to the local community during the construction phase and beyond, as well as direct and indirect employment opportunities for local people through subcontractors and the supply chain.” Story Homes is expecting to commence works at the Tanfield site, which will be named Heritage Fields, within the coming weeks. For more information about the scheme please visit https://www.storyhomes.co.uk/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals