BDC News Team
New Electric Hammer LEKA Toras 35 brings hammering to a new era

New Electric Hammer LEKA Toras 35 brings hammering to a new era

Since its foundation in 2018, Finnish company Lekatech has revolutionized the world of breakers and hammers with its state-of-the-art advanced electric powered solutions. Continuing its work in redefining the capabilities and benefits of hammers and breakers, Lekatech is proud to unveil its latest development at Hillhead 2024, the new Electric Hammer LEKA Toras

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New life for Monkwearmouth Hospital as redevelopment handed over

New life for Monkwearmouth Hospital as redevelopment handed over

Monkwearmouth Development Ltd “MDL”(a Joint Venture between Sir Robert McAlpine Capital Ventures Limited “SRMCV”, and Argon Property Development Solutions Limited “APDS”), with funding from Railpen, proudly handed over its first development to NTW Solutions Ltd at Monkwearmouth Hospital in Sunderland last month. Located within the grounds of the existing hospital,

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Tapestry Collection by Hilton Debuts in York

Tapestry Collection by Hilton Debuts in York

Hilton has today announced the opening of Elmbank York, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, marking the brand’s debut in the city. Signed as part of a franchise agreement with Cairn Hotel Group, the 62-room hotel overlooks the picturesque Knavesmire Strays. It features Leetham’s Brasserie, a restaurant serving seasonal British cuisine, Peacock Bar,

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Glencar celebrates completion of prime logistics development at G-Park Basingstoke for Wrenbridge

Glencar celebrates completion of prime logistics development at G-Park Basingstoke for Wrenbridge

Glencar, a leading UK construction company that was recently ranked amongst Europe’s fastest growing businesses, has today announced that it has completed construction of a 209,000 sq ft speculative industrial/logistics facility at G-Park Basingstoke developed for long-term and valued customer Wrenbridge, it’s funding partner Bridges Fund Management and leading global

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Hiab launches mobile app MyHiab for operators

Hiab launches mobile app MyHiab for operators

Hiab, part of Cargotec, launches the MyHiab mobile app, to improve operator productivity and safety. The digital companion provides features and content about Hiab equipment throughout its lifecycle. It also establishes a communication channel between Hiab and the end-users.  MyHiab provides operators with immediate access to the tools they need

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Efficient financial asset management especially for renewable energies

Efficient financial asset management especially for renewable energies

meteocontrol introduces new platform “mc Assetpilot” at Smarter E Europe 2024 meteocontrol GmbH, a leading provider of energy and asset management solutions in the renewable energy sector, announces the introduction of its latest product, “mc Assetpilot,” at this year’s Smarter E Europe in Munich. Under the motto “Your assets under

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Latest Issue
Issue 324 : Jan 2025

BDC News Team

Henkel launches two novel additional solutions in its IIoT Loctite Pulse portfolio

Henkel launches two novel additional solutions in its IIoT Loctite Pulse portfolio

Henkel has further expanded the portfolio of its industrial internet of things (IIoT) solution Loctite Pulse by launching two novel innovative offerings: Smart Rotating Equipment Monitoring and Smart Pipes and Tanks Leak Detection. These cutting-edge solutions mark another milestone in the company’s commitment to expanding its broad Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) portfolio and delivering advanced technology to industrial operations worldwide.  Driven by a mission to redefine industrial reliability, Loctite Pulse leverages over 70 years of industrial brand expertise to offer a comprehensive suite of IIoT solutions. From state-of-the-art monitoring sensor technology to trusted solutions for both static and rotating equipment, the brand empowers industries to stay ahead of plant failures, helping to reduce downtime and enhancing safety and sustainability. The Loctite Pulse app enables the monitoring of critical assets with just a few clicks and thus significantly facilitates the maintenance of a broad variety of assets without the need for any additional IT implementation. It provides alerts and information about the equipment status to effectively support users in prioritizing tasks and scheduling shutdowns.  Key features of the new solutions include: “We are excited to unveil these groundbreaking solutions as part of our expanded portfolio,” said Dr. Kourosh Bahrami, Corporate Senior Vice President General Manufacturing and Maintenance, Henkel Adhesive Technologies. “With our offer in smart maintenance and advanced IIoT technology, we are empowering industrial customers to enhance reliability, efficiency, and sustainability.” The new solutions amplify the connection between Loctite’s IIoT portfolio and Henkel´s MRO core product range. Smart Rotating Equipment Monitoring allows customers to monitor critical assets like pumps, motors, and gearboxes, detect issues early, and apply proven solutions from Loctite’s extensive MRO product range to solve the issues. Similarly, Smart Pipes and Tanks Leak Detection links seamlessly to Loctite’s established composite repair, sealing, and coating solutions. This integrated approach ensures that problems are diagnosed while corresponding repair products are being offered from a single source. Loctite Pulse goes beyond predicting and identifying failures – in case of interest the company helps customers to find smart fixes by offering high-performing, long-lasting repair products. Henkel introduced Loctite Pulse in 2021 and quickly expanded the offering with the Loctite Pulse Smart Steam Trap solution in 2023. The solutions are being implemented at corporates as well as small and medium-sized enterprises from the oil and gas, chemical, and food and beverage industries, as well as in Henkel’s production facilities. At Henkel’s production site in Düsseldorf, for example, the Loctite Pulse Smart Steam Trap solution provides instant information via the smartphone app, allowing prompt identification of blockages or blow throughs. “With Loctite Pulse Smart Steam Traps, we can react immediately and do not have losses of several months, which cost us money,” explained Annegret Schindlmeyr, Sustainability Manager at Henkel. In addition to the portfolio expansion, Loctite Pulse has received multiple prestigious market accolades for its innovations, including Engineering Product of the Year 2023 by the DEA, the Digital Innovation Award 2023 by BEMAS, the New Technology Award 2024 by OTC, the „Best Smart Industry 4.0 Solutions Award“ of IOT Solutions World Congress, and the Real Innovation Technology Award (RITA) 2024 in the Product Innovation category. To learn more about Loctite Pulse and its expanded portfolio, visit the respective websites for North America and Europe. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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New Electric Hammer LEKA Toras 35 brings hammering to a new era

New Electric Hammer LEKA Toras 35 brings hammering to a new era

Since its foundation in 2018, Finnish company Lekatech has revolutionized the world of breakers and hammers with its state-of-the-art advanced electric powered solutions. Continuing its work in redefining the capabilities and benefits of hammers and breakers, Lekatech is proud to unveil its latest development at Hillhead 2024, the new Electric Hammer LEKA Toras 35. The development and introduction of Lekatech electric hammer technology is seen by the breaking industry as ‘game changing’. The patented Lekatech linear electric motor technology is the result of many years of dedicated research and innovation. Its development is now disrupting the traditional hydraulic impact hammer market as its electric technology produces high levels of performance, delivering huge benefits on urban construction projects and in quarry or mine environments, above or below ground. Lekatech’s electric hammer technology is a major advance in hammer design and construction. Of light weight and high power, but producing low vibrations, Lekatech hammers are built for operator comfort, economic use and high productivity. Electrically powered, Lekatech’s linear electric motor produces low emissions and operating costs, and as such, is transforming breaking globally. Designed to seamlessly integrate with electric carrier machines, Lekatech electric hammers have been designed to be the perfect match for electrically powered machinery. The original Lekatech Electric Hammer delivers up to 70% energy savings when factoring in overall energy consumption of the equipment. In addition to energy efficiency, the Lekatech Electric Hammer has been able to significantly outperform comparable traditional technology, providing twice the blow impact energy of a hydraulic hammer of the same size. “The Lekatech Electric Hammer is highly efficient and has a power to weight ratio superior to similar traditionally powered hammers. Furthermore, it was introduced to the market at the same time as electric excavators and is thus a natural partner for electric powered equipment, and the ideal choice for when working in zero or low emission areas. Through listening to our customers and distributors, we have now improved the Lekatech Electric Hammer. We are proud to introduce the Electric Hammer LEKA Toras 35 which will be shown for the first time at Hillhead 2024 in the UK (25-27 June) at the Lekatech stand, S7,” explains Antti Anttila, CEO, Lekatech Oy. Introducing the LEKA Toras 35 As with its existing electric hammers, the LEKA Toras 35 has been developed using the latest technology in conjunction and working with breaking experts in the field. The LEKA Toras 35 is based on tubular linear (permanent magnet) electric motor technology which is designed to withstand the harsh conditions of breaker hammer use. The structure, despite weighing only 540kg, is robustly constructed with a minimum number of wear parts. “For an operator, the effectiveness of the hammer is often the most important feature of a working machine. With LEKA Toras 35, significantly higher performance values are reached than with conventional technologies. It is also highly flexible, with adjustability being integral to its development. Every blow and every gap between the blows can be adjusted individually and dynamically enabling unprecedented possibilities for hammering applications,” explains Antti Anttila. “In designing the LEKA Toras 35, we built on the success of our original Lekatech Electric Hammer. This was developed so that users could benefit from using a breaker where each hit of the hammer is optimized with the machine adapting to changing conditions. In effect, using a high precision force that learns. Lekatech technology is an embodiment of digitalization in hammering and is a catalyst for the electric transformation in the ecosystem. “Through the latest development, the LEKA Toras 35, we have developed an electric hammer which further revolutionizes the breaking and hammering industry. It has been tried and tested in demolition, hard rock quarrying and many other applications, and we are now proud to introduce it to professionals and companies who will truly benefit from its unique and market changing features. We feel that given the historical importance of Hillhead to the global hammering and breaking industry, that the show will be the perfect environment to introduce our latest development to the world,” adds Antti Anttila. Revolutionary environmental development As with the original Lekatech Electric Hammer, the LEKA Toras 35 is based on Lekatech’s patented linear electric motor technology and uses electric impact hammer technology. This technological breakthrough not only enables more energy efficient earthmoving, quarrying and mining operations, but also strengthens the realization of a green transition in these fields. “Environmental friendliness and performance go hand in hand with the LEKA Toras 35, with its programmable features providing flexibility that enable continuous digital development. Furthermore, the innovative hammer eliminates the need for oil and the oil-associated environmental impact of hammering, with oil consumption being reduced by 98% when compared to hydraulic hammers,” concludes Antti Anttila, CEO, Lekatech Oy. The LEKA Toras 35 is now available from Lekatech, and a number of countries in Europe from Lekatech’s strategically located partners located throughout the world. Key features of the LEKA Toras 35 The Lekatech stand at Hillhead will be located at S7 and will display the new LEKA Toras 35 as well as an array of Lekatech electric hammering solutions. For more information, please contact: Satu Rämö, Marketing and Communication Manager, Lekatech Oy Tel.: +358 40 537 4020 satu.ramo@lekatech.fi www.lekatech.fi Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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New life for Monkwearmouth Hospital as redevelopment handed over

New life for Monkwearmouth Hospital as redevelopment handed over

Monkwearmouth Development Ltd “MDL”(a Joint Venture between Sir Robert McAlpine Capital Ventures Limited “SRMCV”, and Argon Property Development Solutions Limited “APDS”), with funding from Railpen, proudly handed over its first development to NTW Solutions Ltd at Monkwearmouth Hospital in Sunderland last month. Located within the grounds of the existing hospital, the new modern fit for purpose building provides a welcoming, level and accessible front entrance to the main outpatient facilities. In addition to the new entrance and reception area, the new accommodation includes meeting rooms, flexible open-plan workspaces and breakout areas, and consultants’ offices on upper floors along with areas for their support teams to work in. The new building has created the perfect office environment for employees at the site and encourages collaborative working and support; all of which service users should benefit from. The building also houses a Changing Places facility, and the new ‘Café Bede’ community café is open to the general public, visitors, staff and service users across the Hospital. The new café includes areas for inside and outside dining and is home to a time capsule that was placed in the ground during the construction works; telling the story of the build, the history of the site and the previous building for people to read in years to come. Sir Robert McAlpine completed the construction of the 3,287 sq. m, three-storey building for MDL over 19 months with the facility achieving a Design stage BREEAM Excellent standard. In addition to a replacement tree lined staff car park, the development delivers level access and a beautifully landscaped piazza area including seating and extensive planting, along with a memorial garden. The external works have transformed the previous parking area that fronts onto Newcastle Road and creates better connectivity within the estate for hospital users, staff and visitors. MDL worked with NTW Solutions Limited, a limited company established by Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust, to provide premises that will enable NTW Solutions to deliver improved facilities and a range of important services to the Trust. Cumbria Northumberland Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest mental health and disability Trusts in England. Monkwearmouth Development Ltd is a Joint Venture between Sir Robert McAlpine Capital Ventures Limited and Argon Property Development Solutions Limited. It was appointed to this work through SRMCV’s place on the Pagabo Developer Led Framework, a nationwide procurement framework available for public sector organisations that focuses on delivering social value for each development. David Peck from Monkwearmouth Development LTD, said, “We could not be more delighted with the outcome, that has been a true collaboration between all the parties involved, who have created a building that is streets ahead of the one it replaced and that will make a significant difference to patients that rely on it for their care and the people that use it as their place of work.” David Hosken, Project Director at SRMCV, said, “We are immensely proud of delivering a unique facility using an innovative development solution, helping NTW Solutions Limited renew their estate with a quality building designed for modern ways of working.  This fantastic project allows us to continue to build on our successes working alongside NHS Trusts to deliver developments with positive outcomes for the people who will use them.” Richard Wilks from Argon Property Development Solutions Ltd, said, “It has been a pleasure working with NTW Solutions, the Trust and the team on the ground who made this happen.  Knowing that what we have delivered is already making such a positive difference to the staff, clinicians and service users is testament to everyone’s efforts to make this happen.  We are so pleased to have been able to play our part in improving mental health services and the positive impact this development will have across the region.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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Tapestry Collection by Hilton Debuts in York

Tapestry Collection by Hilton Debuts in York

Hilton has today announced the opening of Elmbank York, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, marking the brand’s debut in the city. Signed as part of a franchise agreement with Cairn Hotel Group, the 62-room hotel overlooks the picturesque Knavesmire Strays. It features Leetham’s Brasserie, a restaurant serving seasonal British cuisine, Peacock Bar, an opulent space featuring original fireplaces and jewel-adorned walls, and convenient onsite parking. The hotel joins a portfolio of over 120 Tapestry Collection by Hilton hotels, each with a unique and vibrant personality shaped by elevated design and locally inspired food and beverage, offering guests authentic experiences in diverse destinations. With a strong pipeline of more than 100 properties, the opening continues Tapestry’s expansion in high barrier-to-entry markets in Europe, where small boutique properties are looking for an engine to help them grow. Patrick Fitzgibbon, senior vice president, development, EMEA, Hilton, said: “We are seeing growing demand for our lifestyle brands in the UK, as travellers increasingly seek out distinctive, locally inspired stays. The opening of Elmbank York, Tapestry Collection by Hilton underscores our commitment to providing truly unique, authentic experiences for guests, and we look forward to working closely with Cairn Hotel Group to bring this vision to life.” Located on The Mount, a charming residential area only a short walk away from York’s historic city centre and train station. The hotel offers convenient access to several world-famous attractions, including York Racecourse, National Trust properties such as Goddards Garden and Treasurer’s House, York Castle Museum, and The Shambles, one of Europe’s best-preserved medieval shopping streets.  The city’s rich heritage extends to the hotel itself – a unique 19th-century mansion that was once home to the city’s elite and a venue for York’s most lavish parties. The Elmbank celebrates its Yorkshire roots through its thoughtfully designed and styled rooms, artwork, and signature details. Housed inside Elmbank’s main house is one of the UK’s finest Art Nouveau collections, featuring stunning stained glass, beautiful murals, and detailed stencils, carefully preserved to allow guests to immerse themselves in Art Nouveau history, whilst enjoying modern comforts and amenities.    Aneil Handa, director, Cairn Group “We are thrilled to launch the first Tapestry Collection property in the North of England, continuing our longstanding relationship with Hilton. The Elmbank Hotel’s rich history and exceptional Art Nouveau collection offer a distinctive experience that aligns perfectly with the Tapestry brand, providing guests with a unique blend of local charm and high standards of service.” Guests of all Hilton properties can benefit from the award-winning Hilton Honors guest loyalty programme, allowing members who book directly with Hilton to earn Points for hotel stays and experiences. Hilton Honors members can also unlock access to instant rewards and benefits, such as contactless check-in with room selection and exclusive member discounts.  Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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Glencar celebrates completion of prime logistics development at G-Park Basingstoke for Wrenbridge

Glencar celebrates completion of prime logistics development at G-Park Basingstoke for Wrenbridge

Glencar, a leading UK construction company that was recently ranked amongst Europe’s fastest growing businesses, has today announced that it has completed construction of a 209,000 sq ft speculative industrial/logistics facility at G-Park Basingstoke developed for long-term and valued customer Wrenbridge, it’s funding partner Bridges Fund Management and leading global logistics operator GLP. The building which took just 12 months to construct features a highly sustainable specification designed to meet the needs of a modern occupier, achieving EPC A+ and BREEAM ‘excellent’ rating. The building boasts an impressive specification and benefits from 15M clear internal height, 50kN sq m floor loading, 47M wide yard depth, 19 dock doors, 2 level access doors, 9 HGV/162 car parking spaces, a gatehouse, an abundant power supply together with 10,829 sq ft of office space over two storeys. Speaking about the development, Glencar Managing Director, London and South, Roy Jones said: “Delivering another successful project for our much valued repeat customer, Wrenbridge, marks a significant milestone for us. The advanced features of this facility, including intelligent energy-saving systems and PV panels, enhance operational efficiency and contribute to significant cost savings. Our team’s dedication has resulted in a top-class development that we are excited to showcase.”. The site, on Priestley Road, is part of the established Houndmills Industrial Area, which is home to major occupiers including Sainsburys, Royal Mail, XPO Logistics, Leverton Clarke and GAME. It benefits from excellent infrastructure links and offers an unrivalled opportunity to service the London and wider South-East markets. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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Hiab launches mobile app MyHiab for operators

Hiab launches mobile app MyHiab for operators

Hiab, part of Cargotec, launches the MyHiab mobile app, to improve operator productivity and safety. The digital companion provides features and content about Hiab equipment throughout its lifecycle. It also establishes a communication channel between Hiab and the end-users.  MyHiab provides operators with immediate access to the tools they need to better plan their working day and troubleshoot when things are not working as expected. If they need further assistance the app enables them to call their nearest Hiab service centre. In the initial release, Hiab can contact end-users directly with essential information about the equipment and proactive service information.  “Hiab operators are our biggest fans and the most influential advocates of our solutions. This app is designed to support and simplify their workday and is our way of giving something back. It also makes it possible for us to reach them directly and learn more about their challenges to create better solutions for tomorrow,” says Michael Bruninx, Senior Vice President, Services, Hiab.  The app can be downloaded in local language versions from Apple’s App Store and Google Play in Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, Sweden, the UK and the US. More markets and language versions will be added during the year. The initial release contains mostly content about HIAB loader cranes, MULTILIFT demountables and MOFFETT truck mounted forklifts. However, there is also content of interest for users of other Hiab load handling equipment.  While the app enhances the operators’ understanding of their equipment, it will also provide essential data, encrypted, to Hiab. This information will be used to improve Hiab’s services and product development. “MyHiab makes it possible to have daily touchpoints with our users, not limited to visits to workshops or on-road assistance. We aim to have an industry leading service experience and this is a natural evolvement of our HIPERFORM offering,” adds Michael Bruninx.  HIPERFORM is a suite of smart solutions to maximise the Hiab equipment lifecycle value by optimising the performance and productivity of operators, equipment and fleets. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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EJ Peak Technology Solutions secures multi-million-pound framework with Yorkshire Water

EJ Peak Technology Solutions secures multi-million-pound framework with Yorkshire Water

Yorkshire Water has appointed EJ Peak Technology Solutions, part of the Edwin James Group, to its Motor Control Centres and Systems Integration framework following a competitive tender. The contract will run for an initial period of four years with an optional four-year extension. Peak has recently opened a new office in Leeds and is now further recruiting in the local area to support the contract. Projects under the framework will include work on existing Yorkshire Water assets and the integration of new assets into the network, such as PLCs and intelligent motor control centres. Michael Thomas, executive director at Peak Technology Solutions, commented: “We are pleased to secure this new framework with Yorkshire Water and look forward to collaborating with them on their business plan. We work with several utilities clients, and our team has been supporting systems integration, automation, and digital technology innovation in the sector for 20 years. “Last year, we opened a new digital academy that is equipped with the latest hardware and software platforms used in the sector. This has allowed us to recruit and train talent from diverse engineering backgrounds, adding capacity to support the delivery of AMP7 and AMP8 schemes.” Yorkshire Water provides essential water and wastewater services to every corner of the Yorkshire region. It currently serves over 5 million households and 140,000 business customers, collecting and treating approximately one billion litres of wastewater and rainwater every day. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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Efficient financial asset management especially for renewable energies

Efficient financial asset management especially for renewable energies

meteocontrol introduces new platform “mc Assetpilot” at Smarter E Europe 2024 meteocontrol GmbH, a leading provider of energy and asset management solutions in the renewable energy sector, announces the introduction of its latest product, “mc Assetpilot,” at this year’s Smarter E Europe in Munich. Under the motto “Your assets under control,” trade fair visitors can get an exclusive insight into the comprehensive platform for financial asset management of renewable energy projects from June 19 to 21, 2024, at booth B5.210. Customer benefits in focus The mc Assetpilot offers a solution that helps plant operators effectively manage the financial tasks andies responsibilit in the area of financial asset management and optimize their processes. Users of the cloud-based platform receive clear financial insights, recognize potential issues early, and can easily manage documents and contacts. It is suitable for both individual projects and large portfolios. The mc Assetpilot is aimed at companies that are new to financial asset management as well as experienced asset managers looking to increase team efficiency and reduce manual workloads. Tailored solutions for practical use Dr. Stijn Stevens, CTO and Managing Director at meteocontrol, explains: “The mc Assetpilot is a significant advancement for asset managers who face daily challenges in financial management. Our solution provides a central platform that allows maximizing financial performance, eliminating structural inefficiencies, and significantly reducing the work.” Innovative features for maximum efficiency The mc Assetpilot stands out with its comprehensive features specifically tailored to the needs of the renewable energy industry: Test phase and market Launch Numerous meteocontrol customers are already testing the mc Assetpilot under real conditions. The final market launch is planned for July 1, 2024. Interested customers can contact the meteocontrol sales teams now to test the mc Assetpilot in advance. Rouven Lenhart, Executive Vice President at meteocontrol, adds: “With the mc Assetpilot, we offer our customers a powerful and user-friendly solution to meet the challenges of financial management in the renewable energy sector. We create a seamless connection between the technical requirements of portfolio management and the commercial needs. Our goal is to help our customers make their projects more efficient and maximize their investments.” Launch event and live product demo at Smarter E Europe 2024 On June 19, 2024, at 10:00 AM, a launch event with a public product demo will take place at the meteocontrol booth at Smarter E Europe. Interested visitors are invited to attend this event and learn about the new features of the platform. Visit meteocontrol at Smarter E Europe at booth B5.210 In line with the motto “Your assets under control,” meteocontrol invites all visitors to Smarter E Europe 2024 to stop by booth B5.210 and discover the latest solutions from the company. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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Vistry East Anglia joins forces with Own New to offer lower mortgage rates for home buyers

Vistry East Anglia joins forces with Own New to offer lower mortgage rates for home buyers

A scheme which could help new-build home buyers access lower mortgage rates is now available at Vistry Group locations across the Peterborough area and Cambridgeshire. Vistry East Anglia, which incorporates the Linden Homes and Bovis Homes brands, is rolling out Own New’s Rate Reducer product at all its developments across the region. The scheme is designed to help first-time buyers and home movers by enabling them to unlock reduced mortgage rates as low as 3.14 per cent from participating lenders over an initial fixed term, usually two or five years, reducing their monthly payments during this time.* Fraser Hopes, managing director of Vistry East Anglia, said: “Own New will provide more options for people looking to take their first step onto the property ladder as well as those wanting to move into a larger property. It offers a regular mortgage, just with lower monthly payments for the initial period which is often when buyers have additional expenses. “We’re already seeing a great deal of interest in this innovative new mortgage product and are looking forward to helping even more people secure a high-quality Vistry home which meets their needs.” Own New Rate Reducer was launched in February and works by using the housebuilder’s incentive budget to access lower mortgage rates with the lender and therefore reduce the customer’s monthly mortgage payments over a fixed term. For example, if the housebuilder offers a three per cent incentive on a home, Own New Rate Reducer takes this sum and offsets it against the mortgage interest to reduce monthly payments. In addition to cutting monthly outgoings during the fixed-rate period, the customer will pay more off the capital value of their mortgage because the interest charged on the loan is lower. Lenders still carry out their usual affordability assessment to check the purchaser can afford repayments if the interest rate increases once the fixed-term benefit ends. Halifax, Virgin Money, Perenna and Furness Building Society are the lenders which have already signed up to the scheme. Eliot Darcy, founder of Own New, said: “In today’s challenging economic climate, we’ve partnered with national house builders like Vistry Group to introduce a straightforward solution—a regular mortgage with lower monthly payments. This initiative is making homeownership more accessible, allowing people to pursue their dream homes without compromising their financial stability.” Own New is available at developments across the Vistry East Anglia region, including Bovis Homes’ and Linden Homes’ developments in; Once a buyer has found the new-build home they want to buy, the sales advisor at the development will put them in touch with an approved Own New mortgage broker. More information can be found at bovishomes.co.uk, lindenhomes.co.uk or countrysidehomes.co.uk. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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Smithfield Riverside takes step forward as demolition contractor Cawarden appointed

Smithfield Riverside takes step forward as demolition contractor Cawarden appointed

Shropshire Council’s plans to transform the Smithfield Riverside area of Shrewsbury town centre have taken a major step forward with the appointment of specialist demolition company, Cawarden. Chosen for its vast experience of working on similar projects, Cawarden will start work next week (17 June 2024) to demolish the Riverside shopping centre and former Riverside medical practice, paving the way for key enabling works on site for future phases of the Smithfield Riverside scheme. Smithfield Riverside is an ambitious plan led by the council and its development manager, RivingtonHark to transform the area between the River Severn, The Darwin centre, Roushill and Raven Meadows in Shrewsbury town centre. Mark Barrow, Shropshire Council’s executive director of place, said: “We’re pleased to have Cawarden on board for what will be the first real visible sign of change following the recent closure of the former Riverside shopping centre. “The company has lots of experience of working on similar projects and a great track record of keeping nearby residents and businesses informed of their progress, as well as care and consideration for the environment in which they are working. Minimising disruption in the town centre as much as possible was a key consideration when awarding the contract.” Oliver Crooks, Cawarden’s commercial director, said: “We are thrilled to announce that we have been awarded the contract for Smithfield Riverside shopping centre, a significant demolition project that will pave the way for an important development in Shrewsbury. “We are pleased to bring our extensive expertise in managing similar projects and environments, whilst ensuring that our social value commitments are met throughout the process. We look forward to working in partnership with Shropshire Council to deliver this transformative project, which will bring substantial benefits to residents and visitors alike.” Once the site has been cleared, work can begin on the first phase of the Smithfield Riverside project – the creation of a new landmark park near Roushill which was granted planning permission in March (2024). This attractive green space has been designed to help breathe new life and vibrancy into the area, as well as improve biodiversity and flood resilience in the town centre. The park will feature play equipment, facilities for visitors of all ages, and a dedicated events and performance area. It is expected that work to build this will start by the end of 2024. These developments are being financed from a pot of almost £19 million of external funding which was secured by Shropshire Council last year. Following the completion of the most recent public consultation, the next planning application will be submitted later this year, introducing ‘outline’ plans to the develop three plots located between Smithfield Road, Raven Meadows and the new park. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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