In the UK, the decision to include a pool as part of a property development isn’t as straightforward as it might be elsewhere in the world. While they are invariably a pleasure to use, the cool climate means that pools aren’t a given feature in even the most extravagant home, and UK buyers tend to be wary about the practicalities and costs of maintaining one through the six months of the year that are too cold to swim. On top of that is the issue of space; in the UK, properties with the highest price tags are not necessarily those with the most square-footage. If you have your mind set on integrating a pool into your luxury development, it’s important that you consider which types will work most effectively with the size, style and potential owners of the property. Outdoor Pools vs. Indoor Pools A beautifully constructed swimming pool will enhance the interior or exterior of any home, and its location on the property will not necessarily have any bearing on the value of the home. Outdoor Despite the British climate, high-quality outdoor pools are still a popular choice for homeowners across the UK. The huge variety of pool shapes means that designs can complement almost any style of architecture, and blend seamlessly with the surrounding landscaping. For an outdoor pool to be truly appealing in the UK, the most important factor is ensuring the comfort of swimmers. The easiest way to achieve this is to install a sliding dome cover, which helps to retain the heat of the pool and provides shelter in inclement weather, but can be retracted out of the way during summer. Indoor If the building allows for it, an indoor pool may be more convenient for frequent use. The temperature will be easier to moderate, and surface evaporation can be kept to a minimum. Overall, maintenance will be easier and less expensive than that of an outdoor pool. Of course, the best of both worlds can be achieved with a little creativity. Doors that open from the pool room onto a deck will bring the outdoors inside during warmer months, or integrating a pool floor that rises to deck level can mean that an outdoor pool doesn’t become a wasted space in colder months. Full-Sized Pools Infinity Pools The most luxurious of pool installations is undoubtedly the infinity pool, also known as a “vanishing edge” or “negative edge” pool. The concept is that the water’s edge blends seamlessly with the surrounding vista, whether it’s a neighbouring body of water, or a spotless blue sky, giving the pool the appearance of stretching on forever. To create the illusion, at least one wall of the pool must be lower than the plane of water. This causes a slight waterfall over its edge, which gets caught in a pool sitting below the line of vision. From this catch pool the water gets filtered and pumped back into the main body of water. Infinity pools should always be custom-built to their surroundings, and are most effective when positioned over a slope or precipice. Usually installed outdoors, it’s challenging – but by no means impossible – to recreate the illusion with an indoor pool. Natural Pools The number of natural pool installations in the UK is growing as more and more families appreciate the ability to enjoy swimming in fresh, chemical-free water at home. Instead of keeping the water clean with harmful substances like chlorine, which irritate the skin and eyes, a natural pool uses reed bed technology to filter out dirt and pollutants from the water. Not to be confused with artificial ponds, the design of a natural pool needs to include a “regeneration” area with aquatic foliage and a pump that keeps the water from becoming murky. Usually lined with rubber or reinforced polyethylene, you should be able to see right to the bottom of a natural pool, making it an inviting place to take a dip. Natural pools make a beautiful feature in any garden and can provide safe, comfortable swimming all year round. However, just like a conventional pool, it is essential that leaves and debris are kept from the water, and the water temperature is properly regulated to prevent bacteria growth. For a natural pool to stay clean and hygienic, it should be installed by professionals with experience in building the appropriate filtration systems. Compact Pools Just because a home has limited square footage, doesn’t mean it has to miss out on the luxury of a private pool. The rise of high-density living has caused a huge increase in the popularity of compact pools, such as lap pools, spools and plunge pools. All of these styles provide a comfortable, versatile place to take a dip, with much less maintenance than a full-sized swimming pool. Lap Pools Also referred to as exercise pools, fitness pools and “endless pools” (although not to be confused with infinity pools), a lap pool is specifically designed for swimming in a limited space. Dimensions are usually long (around 14m) and thin (2m or so), with an average depth of 1.2 meters for comfortable swimming. Lap pools are often used as an architectural garden feature so measurements may vary in order to match the available space and the architecture of adjacent property. Particularly where lap pools are shorter than standard, they should be installed with resistance jets which create an artificial current. This allows swimmers to practise their stroke without ever reaching the end of the pool, giving the illusion of size. Spools A spool, or spa-pool, seamlessly blends the functionality of a full-sized pool with that of a spa. Like a lap pool, sub-surface jets can be used to generate a resistance current for swimming, but they can also be adjusted to create a jacuzzi effect. The modest size of a spa pool (3-5 metres in length, 2-2.5 metres in width) also makes it easy to adjust the water temperature between comfortably cool and relaxingly warm, making them a highly

Do you know how to look for a new house? Of course you do; it seems silly to even ask. What about making an offer? Even most first-time buyers know what’s involved there. Okay, how about the steps between your offer being accepted, and exchanging contracts with the seller? Can you explain what goes on between exchange and completion? Didn’t think so. When purchasing a house, many question the necessity of hiring a solicitor, but few understand the process of conveyancing – the legal procedure of transferring a property title to somebody new. In case you’re not familiar with the process, here’s what your solicitor does (and why they take so long), in between you making an offer on the property, and them handing you the keys. Guiding you through the process. It’s fine if you don’t know about the legal steps of purchasing a house; that’s what a solicitor is for. A qualified solicitor or conveyancer has been specifically trained to manage property law, and will be both your representative and guide throughout the process. Solicitors are particularly valuable for first-time buyers, as they can simplify each step and explain the various legalities associated with conveyancing and property contracts. Investigating the history of the property There are certain aspects of a property that are not immediately obvious, like whether it’s built on contaminated land or if a neighbour has an easement in place. When you hear the term “conducting searches”, it refers to these investigations. While the law doesn’t stop you from making these due diligence queries yourself, instructing a solicitor to carry these out on your behalf will be quicker, more thorough and far less stressful. Typically, the list includes: Checking with the Land Registry to confirm the title ownership and boundary lines; Determining whether the land may be affected by flooding, landfill sites, nearby (or previously existing) industry or other ground stability issues; Establishing any usage restrictions in place by the local authority; Contacting the local water authority in case public drains will affect your ability to extend the property; Identifying whether the property is liable for chancel repairs (where landowners are required to pay ongoing fees towards the local church); Any searches specific to the local area, such as common land or mining searches. These checks happen around the same time that you would commission a survey on the property, to check for structural defects. Depending on your circumstances, you may choose to use a firm that can assist you with multiple aspects of your purchase, like getting both conveyancing and RICS surveys with Daily Move. Handling the legal hurdles For many parts of the conveyancing process, it is not a legal requirement that they be conducted by a qualified solicitor. However, it can certainly help to have an expert on hand to negotiate any issues that are revealed in the searches, or contained in the draft contracts sent over by the seller. Without the experience of a conveyancer, buyers can easily end up out of their depth dealing with complex legal issues. There are still some aspects of conveyancing where a legal professional is mandatory, such as guaranteeing that the existing mortgage on the property will be removed. This undertaking must be provided by a qualified solicitor or conveyancer, as improper handling is considered professional misconduct and is met with severe penalties. Managing the contracts. Once you and your solicitor are satisfied with the results of the searches, it’s time to go through the contracts again. Unsurprisingly, the contracts transferring property ownership are long and detailed. Going through them with someone that has legal experience is strongly advised, and they can draw your attention to any clauses they have concerns about or items they feel are too vague (or missing altogether). Your contract will also include the list of fixtures and fittings that are included in the property and, crucially, the completion date agreed between you and the seller. When the contracts have been signed, you can arrange a time for your solicitor to manage the exchange of contracts with the seller’s representative. This is usually done over a recorded phone call, so both solicitors have a record that their documents contain the same thing. Completing the sale. Once contracts have been exchanged, most buyers (and sellers) breath a huge sigh of relief. At this point, the sale agreement is legally binding, and serious penalties come into effect if either party pulls out or delays the transaction past the agreed date for any reason. It might feel like the final stretch to buyers, but there is still a lot of conveyancing work to be done. Funds have to be transferred, tax returns have to be prepared and Stamp Duty Land Tax must be paid to HMRC. If you don’t choose to hire a solicitor, it becomes entirely your responsibility to ensure the necessary actions are taken in time to meet strict deadlines. Even if you are not relying on a mortgage (and therefore are not legally required to instruct a solicitor), the technical conveyancing process is extremely stressful. It’s much easier to instruct an experienced solicitor to carry out your conveyancing, leaving you to put your feet up until they hand you the keys.

A conservatory roof manufacturer and installer has appeared in court after a worker suffered serious injuries in a fall from a conservatory roof. The 59 year old worker from Bolton suffered a fractured skull which resulted in a bleed on his brain and a shattered eye socket in the incident which occurred at a property in Newton Le Willows in June 2015. The incident was investigated by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) which prosecuted Phil Coppell Ltd for serious safety failings and failing to report a previous incident in 2013 when the same employee fell off a roof and lost consciousness, and another employee suffered multiple broken ribs in a fall through a skylight. Manchester and Salford Magistrates Court heard that two workers had been carrying out repair work on the roof of the conservatory. Whilst working alone on the roof the employee lost his footing and fell approximately 2.5 metres onto a patio area below. There were no preventative measures in place to prevent the risk of a fall from height. An Improvement Notice was served by HSE during the investigation and the company subsequently developed a barrier for use as edge protection. Phil Coppell Ltd of Cemetery Road, Radcliffe, Greater Manchester pleaded guilty to a breach of Regulation 6(3) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and breaches of Regulation 3(1) of the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995, and Regulation 4(1) of the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013, and was fined £40,280 and ordered to pay costs of £1,464.70 Speaking after the hearing HSE inspector Christine McGlynn said: “This incident could have been avoided if the company had learnt lessons from two previous similar incidents in 2013. The risks of working from height are well known and there is plenty of guidance available. “Employees of this company were exposed to the risks of falls over a prolonged period of time. Generally work of this nature is at the rear of premises and is not visible or easy to monitor, however this prosecution should highlight, in particular to other companies who carry out work on conservatory roofs, that they should have in place control measures to prevent the risk of falls” For more information on what employers need to do to protect employees when they work at height please visit: http://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/safetytopics/workingatheight.htm Notes to Editors: The Health and Safety Executive is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. It aims to reduce work-related death, injury and ill health. It does so through research, information and advice, promoting training, new or revised regulations and codes of practice, and working with local authority partners by inspection, investigation and enforcement hse.gov.uk More about the legislation referred to in this case can be found at: legislation.gov.uk/ Further HSE news releases are available at www.press.hse.gov.uk.     Journalists should approach HSE press office with any queries on regional press releases. Source link

Browser does not support script. Contact us The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has given an initial reaction to today’s Queen’s Speech. Of particular interest to the RIBA:  National Planning and Infrastructure Bill – including new legislation for neighbourhood planning Education for All Bill – commitment to lay foundations for educational excellence in all schools RIBA Chief Executive Alan Vallance said: “The overuse of pre-commencement planning conditions has long frustrated our architect members, so we are pleased to see government listening to the concerns of our profession and taking action on this issue through the National Planning and Infrastructure Bill. “We are also interested to see government’s focus on empowering regions. Improving infrastructure is key to ensuring that communities all over the UK can unlock even greater potential and help rebalance our economy – we will be watching how these plans develop. “We are pleased to see the £150 million investment for schemes in areas most affected by flooding and will continue our work with government, through such programmes as the Cumbria Floods Partnership, to ensure that this money is used to support more sustainable flood resilient measures.” “The government’s new proposals to encourage excellence in schools are to be encouraged, but the important role of well-designed school buildings should not be overlooked. As our recent ‘Better Spaces for Learning’ research report shows, current funding and procurement structures are inefficient and wasteful and far too many pupils and teachers are struggling to learn and teach in school buildings that are damaging to their health and attainment. We urge the Government to review the Education Funding Agency’s current school building programme to make sure it delivers consistently good results and better value for the tax payer.” “We welcomed government commitments to review space standards, sustainable drainage and carbon standards as the Housing and Planning Act concluded its passage last week. But given the scale of the housing crisis, a strong emphasis on encouraging the building of well-designed and affordable homes is a notable omission from today’s speech.” ENDS Notes to editors 1. For further press information contact Melanie Mayfield in the RIBA Press Office melanie.mayfield@riba.org 020 7307 3662 2. The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) champions better buildings, communities and the environment through architecture and our members www.architecture.com Follow us on Twitter for regular RIBA updates www.twitter.com/RIBA @RIBA   Posted on Wednesday 18th May 2016 Source link

Almost three quarters (72 per cent) of building services firms say they actively manage occupational health, according to a new survey from the Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA), the BESA and Constructing Better Health. Of those that said they managed occupational health (OH), some 82 per cent cited a ‘moral duty’ as a key reason for doing so, while over half (51 per cent) said it also helped to show the sector was ‘a great place to work.’ Many respondents also said that managing OH led to a more productive workforce, with better staff retention (77 per cent), and less absenteeism (84 per cent). The main on-site occupational health hazards identified by respondents were manual handling (96 per cent), noise (94 per cent), and asbestos (93 per cent).  According to ECA Director of Business Paul Reeve: “The findings of this survey will help us and our stakeholders to understand much more clearly what the real occupational health issues are in our sector. The sector already has an exceptionally good safety record and this data should help the sector to further increase cost-effective occupational health provision.  “The response to this survey has yielded some very useful data but we are also mindful that, generally speaking, those who responded may already be ‘switched on’ and there is much more to do across the sector”. Tim Rook, BESA Director of Technical, comments: “We are encouraged by the results of this survey because it shows that employers take occupational health issues seriously. However, while it is correct to say we have made impressive strides forward on safety, we still have some way to go on health.  “We have a growing skills shortage. Improving our image and really caring about our workforce, whether in the office or on site, is essential if we are to attract the diverse workforce we need to deliver projects to a high standard and meet ambitious future construction targets.”  Gerard McLaughlin, Operations Director of Constructing Better Health, adds:  “This survey reflects a generally positive attitude towards occupational health. However, the incorrect perception still remains within our industry that, a focus on ‘safety’ in relation to accidents and incidents is meeting all the requirements of good health and safety practice.   “We need to promote training and increase the number of qualified ‘in-house’ occupational health professionals with a real understanding of work-related health. With the input of trained work-related health specialists, we as an industry can progress good practice, supported by evidence-based standards in order to improve and to maintain wellbeing within the workforce.” Noting there are widely differing definitions of ‘occupational health management,’ the survey also offered a suggested ‘working definition’ (see Notes to Editors below), with which nearly 8 in 10 firms  ‘agreed entirely’, and just 3 per cent of respondents disagreed. Further survey findings will be released shortly. The findings come as the entire industry met last week in London to discuss what next steps can be taken to tackle ill-health and disease in construction. Source link