The owners of White Ink Architects have announced it has become an employee-owned company. The is the first wholly Northern Ireland based consultancy to make the move to employee ownership through an Employee Ownership Trust. The decision, say the three founders, will preserve the independent spirit of the practice. White
Trent Bridge Quays, a new residential development of 95 homes on the banks of the River Trent, has now opened the first waterfront apartments to prospective buyers looking for their dream waterside property. Located on Meadow Lane, a short distance from the centre of Nottingham and close to West Bridgford,
Traditionally, a home would be divided into separate living and dining spaces. Today, however, homeowners’ tastes often call for one large, multifunctional space where all of the property’s required amenities for living and dining are integrated. So, could you build an open-plan area like this for your own home? The
Midlands-based contractor G F Tomlinson has completed a programme of refurbishment works at the University of Lincoln’s Riseholme Park campus, just north of the city. The 400-acre site, which comprises the Lincoln Institute for Agri-Food Technology (LIAT), Riseholme Hall, an equestrian centre, Plowright House, woodlands, grasslands, watercourses and a working
Lincolnshire-based architects and urban designers, PolkeyCollins, has welcomed two new members to its architecture team as part of its planned growth strategy. Jason Hall and Connor Horgan have joined the practice as senior architect and architectural technologist respectively. The hires come as part of PolkeyCollins’ five-year growth strategy to further
Managing cash flow in construction can be complex. Good cash flow ensures that there is enough money available to cover all types of expenditure during a project, including the suppliers, materials, salaries, and other day-to-day activities. Efficient and sufficient cash flow is vital for any construction business to be successful.
As the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund opens to applications, Kensa Contracting is urging local authorities and housing associations in England to act now and bid for a portion of the £160 million available in 2021/22 to install highly efficient low carbon ground source heat pumps to tackle climate change and
A property investment offers the chance to have fun with design while increasing the value of your house or apartment. It’s not just about decorating, fixing the roof and overhauling the plumbing, although these will all increase the value. You can also elevate your property value with luxury interior and
The London Borough of Tower Hamlets has granted approval for Urbanest student residential-led mixed-use scheme designed by Apt, consisting of three towers of 28, 36 and 46 storeys providing 1,672 student beds and 80 residential apartments, 41,000 sqft commercial office space, including workspace for local business start-ups and small enterprises,
Property developer, Taggart Homes, has revealed plans for a number of new schemes across the UK, as well as its intention to acquire a home building company and new land for development to grow the Taggart brand. Since launching in the UK back in 2018 Taggart Homes has worked on
The owners of White Ink Architects have announced it has become an employee-owned company. The is the first wholly Northern Ireland based consultancy to make the move to employee ownership through an Employee Ownership Trust. The decision, say the three founders, will preserve the independent spirit of the practice. White Ink Architects model of Employee Ownership will be achieved through a ‘Trust’. It will manage 100% of the company shares on behalf of all employees. The news arrives ahead of 20th anniversary celebrations for White Ink next month. “We believe that employee ownership heralds the start of a vibrant new chapter in the White Ink story. Our team now have a mammoth incentive to continue to drive forward the performance of the practice, helping our clients and improving lives through the buildings we create. This is going to benefit clients who, under the leadership of the existing directors, have a team of employee owners more connected to their success than ever before,” said White Ink Architects Director, Joan McCoy. White Ink Architects turnover in 2020 reached £2,419,097, a 2.7% increase on the previous year. This was despite a challenging period from March to July 2020 due to lockdowns. The company anticipates they will improve these figures for 2021 and are targeting a 10% increase for 2022. The practice has worked on high-profile projects across the UK. These include the £50m RIBA Award Winner Brentford Lock West Phase, and projects for Hilton Hotel and Taylor Wimpey London. “We’re very proud of the company we’ve built and the strong client relationships we have formed over the last 20 years. It was important that we protect White Ink’s legacy whilst acknowledging the contribution of our team to White Ink Architects’ success. We are delighted to be placing the future of the company into the hands of our employees. The new ownership structure removes barriers to succession, ensuring that the choice of future leaders will be determined solely on talent, ability and the drive to deliver White Ink’s vision,” added White Ink Architects Director, Claude Maguire. As part of the transition, White Ink Architects has made several appointments to strengthen the existing management team and nurture talent. Claire McAteer, Pearse McCann and Shane McCrory step into a management role as Associates, with a combined 13 years of experience at the company. The three architects represent the trend for high staff retention rates at the practice. They also boast higher-than-average gender diversity for the profession, with a 40% female workforce.
Trent Bridge Quays, a new residential development of 95 homes on the banks of the River Trent, has now opened the first waterfront apartments to prospective buyers looking for their dream waterside property. Located on Meadow Lane, a short distance from the centre of Nottingham and close to West Bridgford, Trent Bridge Quays provides buyers the best of both locations, with developer Elevate Property Group drawing on the character of the local industrial, and historical architecture which has inspired the development’s design. “The development has generated significant interest since construction began, with over 90% of the first release of homes already sold, with a further 58 recently launched in the second release also selling well,” said sales director at Elevate Property Group, David Hofton. Selling agent FHP Waterside Living, is holding an open day on Saturday 4 September for potential buyers to have the first look around the apartments and to get a feel for what living by the water is like. Trent Bridge Quays hold a prominent position on the River Trent, with water views spanning from Victoria Embankment across to Lady Bay Bridge. No longer the choice of the privileged few, waterfront living means space, freedom and privacy. One, two and three-bed luxury waterfront apartments are available, with prices ranging from £220,000 for a one-bed duplex, to £1m for a 1722 sq ft penthouse with a 904 sq ft roof terrace. Help to Buy options are available for first time buyers on all one bed apartments. Three story four-bed townhouses with ‘morning and afternoon’ balconies to enjoy sunrise and sunset vistas along with parking and gardens start from £495,000. “With its interconnecting green spaces, a rich tapestry of independent shops, bars and restaurants, Trent Bridge Quays is right at the heart of a new chapter in Nottingham’s history,” added Joe Hargreaves, property consultant at FHP Waterside Living and lead estate agent for Trent Bridge Quays. “I have witnessed many buyers fall in love with this development – and now that potential buyers can view the waterfront apartments for themselves, I’m sure they will be extremely popular and I’m looking forward to welcoming guests on our open day early next month.” Trent Bridge Quays forms part of Nottingham’s vision to transform the heritage of the river and canal side. It also provides the ideal location for access to world renowned sport with Notts County and Nottingham Forest football clubs and Trent Bridge Cricket Ground a short walk away, as is as it peaceful open spaces such as Holme Pierrepoint Country Park and The Hook nature reserve in Lady Bay.
Traditionally, a home would be divided into separate living and dining spaces. Today, however, homeowners’ tastes often call for one large, multifunctional space where all of the property’s required amenities for living and dining are integrated. So, could you build an open-plan area like this for your own home? The simple answer is yes – but you would have to navigate a fair few obstacles on your way to realising a combined space that would fit the above-mentioned description while also meeting your own needs. Consider your specific requirements Before you start sourcing supplies for your project, think about what you would personally like it to achieve from a practical point of view. For example, would you like to play music in it? Would you want it to include dedicated storage compartments? The Homes & Gardens website has advice for what you could do in either of these scenarios. You should also order materials based on the space’s intended design – such as by ordering industrial table legs if you are aiming for this kind of look. Look into whether you will need planning permission You could create an open-plan living and dining area by refitting existing space, building an extension or, indeed, doing both. However, your choice will affect what planning permissions, if any, you will need. While propertypriceadvice.co.uk notes that many local authorities allow certain extensions to be built to the rear of a property without any need for planning permission, you should contact your local planning authority before starting any work. Even just removing a wall can require planning permission. Take building regulations into account, too Even if your particular project turns out not to need planning permission, you should heed that all extensions would have to satisfy building regulations. These touch on all aspects of construction – including ventilation, insulation, heating and fire protection. Building regulations approval can be obtained by making a full plans application if you are set on substantial redesigns or by submitting a building notice application if the works will be minor. Figure out when to seek professional assistance For example, if your project will include a complicated extension, you might need to hire an architect who could help you with matters such as design and technical drawings. Meanwhile, if the dining part of your open-plan space is set to incorporate a kitchen, you should get in touch with a kitchen designer – ideally early in the project to help prevent time-consuming revisions later. Let natural light shine through where possible Accommodating sunlight in this way can help enhance the brightness and airiness of your new space. Fortunately, there are various daylight-enhancing measures you could take for it – such as installing glazing and a lengthy row of bi-fold or sliding doors. Alas, even after you have done all of this, sunlight could struggle to reach those parts of the space furthest from the glass – in which case, you could seriously consider adding roof lights or a roof lantern if either option would be practical in your particular situation.
Midlands-based contractor G F Tomlinson has completed a programme of refurbishment works at the University of Lincoln’s Riseholme Park campus, just north of the city. The 400-acre site, which comprises the Lincoln Institute for Agri-Food Technology (LIAT), Riseholme Hall, an equestrian centre, Plowright House, woodlands, grasslands, watercourses and a working farm, has undergone extensive refurbishment works to the value of £4.7 million. Secured through the Scape Regional Construction framework, the project was delivered over two contracts by G F Tomlinson alongside architects CPMG and PolkeyCollins – to provide improved learning and research facilities for university staff and students at the site’s existing buildings, including Riseholme Hall, Plowright House, the on-site stables used by Bishop Burton College and Riseholme Park Farm. The site, part of which is located within a registered historic park and gardens of special historic interest, is home to the buried remains and earthwork of a medieval village – a settlement which was established there in the late 11th century. #Works to the Grade II listed, early 18th century Riseholme Hall, saw M&E systems upgraded including new lighting and intumescent door fixings to meet current fire regulations, as well as redecoration throughout the building. New security door scanning technology was also installed to each office and meeting room within the building, and included the installation of a new kitchen and café area, shower room and toilet facilities. Externally, essential repairs were carried out to protect the fabric of the historic building, including liquid coating the roof, replacing leadwork and replacing timber. Refurbishment works of the existing equestrian centre and farm included upgrading the barns and stables with new roofing, lighting and adding an extension to one of the barns. A new roundhouse was also constructed for the farm livestock – providing a lighter environment, separate sections and easier channels for livestock movement and managing veterinary visits, as well as a raised viewing area for staff and students to enable safer teaching. New lighting, fencing, timber cladding and guttering were also provided to two of the farm’s existing agricultural buildings – with a new extension including welfare space for students constructed at one of the buildings. G F Tomlinson also carried out refurbishment works to Plowright House, which is used by Barclays, and houses an Eagle Laboratory Farm. Formed in partnership with the University of Lincoln’s Institute for Agri-food Technology and Agri-Robotics research centre, the Eagle Laboratory Farm supports entrepreneurs with the latest technology, co-working and dedicated business spaces, a robotics lab, a demonstration packhouse and model refrigerated supermarket aisle, all intended for the aim of furthering innovation in agricultural technology. This is the second major project that G F Tomlinson has completed where the University of Lincoln has been a key stakeholder following previous redevelopment works to the Lincoln Science and Innovation Park in 2016 (owned jointly by the University and the Lincolnshire Co-op). Whilst on site, G F Tomlinson recycled 97% of its construction waste, with 83% of local labour and 77% of local spend sourced and achieved within 40 miles of the site. “The agriculture research and teaching facilities at Riseholme campus are recognised as one of the best institutions in the world, and the major refurbishment works have delivered vast improvements to the site to enable the continuation of important research, innovation and education,” commented Craig Stopper, framework manager at G F Tomlinson. “We are proud to have worked with the University once again to help bolster its fantastic further and higher education resources and facilities for students all over the world who choose to study there. “As a company, we pride ourselves on the social value we can deliver to improve the communities and areas in which we work, and through the Scape Regional Construction framework, this is another project that has enabled us to provide excellent environmental and economic benefits to Lincolnshire and the wider East Midlands region.”
Lincolnshire-based architects and urban designers, PolkeyCollins, has welcomed two new members to its architecture team as part of its planned growth strategy. Jason Hall and Connor Horgan have joined the practice as senior architect and architectural technologist respectively. The hires come as part of PolkeyCollins’ five-year growth strategy to further propel the thriving business forward. Two years into the strategy, the firm is ahead of its projections – achieving its expected year third year results in year two. Jason joins the senior team and brings with him over 23 years of experience including six years working in Asia. In his new role, Jason will be working alongside directors Daniel Collins and Clive Polkey and the studio team, to continue the practice’s standard of delivering outstanding projects. Member of the Architects Registration Board (ARB), Jason completed his diploma in Architecture at The Bartlett, University College London before achieving his Part 3 qualification at Westminster University. On joining the PolkeyCollins architecture team, Jason said: “This is a vibrant practice with a fresh approach to design and client service, and a rigorous focus on quality which is what attracted me to the company. I’m joining a skilled team and I’m pleased to be bringing my global experience and to be part of the studio’s continued success and growth.” As an architectural technologist, Connor will be assisting the architectural team and supporting them to drive projects forward, while finding appropriate and buildable solutions to any challenges that may arise. With two years of industry experience undertaken alongside his studies, Connor brings plenty of energy and ideas after graduating with a degree in Architecture from Nottingham Trent University this year. “I’m really pleased to be a part of the PolkeyCollins team, I have always admired the way the practice approaches its projects and the team environment was appealing. I’m grateful for the opportunity to develop my skills and to be able to work my way towards achieving my chartership in Architectural Technology (MCIAT) while working with the great team here,” said Connor. PolkeyCollins provides architectural design services across multiple sectors including education, retail, urban design and leisure. The team are currently working on projects in London, Ipswich, Lincoln, Reading and Southampton, but cover all areas of England. “Two years ago my co-director Clive and I wrote a strategic five-year growth plan. The practice had been performing well and we wanted to harness that whilst being ambitious with our plans for growth over the next few years. We have ambitious plans for the practice, and we are proud to be ahead of our targets enabling us to recruit talented individuals, such as Jason and Connor,” commented Director of PolkeyCollins, Daniel Collins. “It’s a pleasure to welcome Jason and Connor to the PolkeyCollins team. They both bring a unique and valuable set of skills that will be most beneficial to the practice as we move forward with a number of high profile and significant projects. We have a great culture in the team and Jason and Connor will be a big part of that. They are joining at an exciting time.” PolkeyCollins has a strong pipeline of work lined up throughout 2021 and into 2022 with plans to continue hiring in the future as part of the practice’s strategic five-year growth plan.
Managing cash flow in construction can be complex. Good cash flow ensures that there is enough money available to cover all types of expenditure during a project, including the suppliers, materials, salaries, and other day-to-day activities. Efficient and sufficient cash flow is vital for any construction business to be successful. Some of the most common cash flow problems in construction businesses Some of the most common things that cause cash flow problems include poor management of orders, out of date systems, not setting up an initial payment before the start of a project and taking on too many projects at any one time. Tips for improving cash flow Cash Flow is not just about managing the budget, but managing all parts of the project that will affect the budget, including how the project is run, obstacles and risks, time and resource management and more. Management The first step is sufficient management of the project. Ensure that you are clear on what projects are in the pipeline, their key milestones, budget and timeline. It is also important to manage the payments for the project, and ensure this is obtained before the start date or agreed for certain milestones. Risk management When planning the project, and throughout the project, it is crucial to track the risks that may cause constraints. There are problems that you can foresee, which should be taken into account when planning times, supplies and budget. There are also problems that you cannot predict. Make sure you monitor risks throughout the entire project, so if they do arise, they can be managed quickly. Monitor Throughout the entire project, you should not only track the risks, but also the actual vs. estimated schedule and budget. If this is monitored regularly, then any obstacles that arise can be managed accordingly, and all parties involved can be made aware. It is important that you can quickly see how each project is going and how it affects the overall budget. This allows sufficient time for steps to be taken and finances to be adjusted where necessary. Resources Sufficient resource tracking can ensure that you not only remain compliant but also stay within time and budget requirements. Track the incoming supplies, track contractors workload and make adjustments wherever is needed. Improve systems and processes If everything in the project is running smoothly, it could be your systems and processes that are holding you back. Consider reviewing how your systems are currently working for you, and where changes can be made. For example, could you invoice quicker? Are you following up on unpaid invoices promptly? Are you processing change orders quick enough? Make sure you conduct regular reviews on your systems and process, to see where improvements can be made. Alternatively, a guide to your annual filings will help you compare income statements with cash flow statements, so you can identify any red flags. If you want to improve cash flow, it is important to consider all aspects of the project and how they impact the timeline and budget, the adequacy of the systems and processes you have in place and the visibility of project requirements and supply chains.
As the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund opens to applications, Kensa Contracting is urging local authorities and housing associations in England to act now and bid for a portion of the £160 million available in 2021/22 to install highly efficient low carbon ground source heat pumps to tackle climate change and protect their tenants from fuel poverty. There is an 8-week application window for the first wave of the Social Housing Fund funding bids, beginning on 23rd August and ending on 15th October. To help capitalise on this opportunity, Kensa Contracting will be delivering free CPD sessions showcasing the benefits of ground source heat pumps in social housing with large-scale retrofit case studies and demonstrating how the technology is eligible under the scheme. Kensa can also support local authorities in making a bid by delivering desktop feasibility studies of building stock to help identify ‘retrofit-ready’ projects, and providing estimates for the investment budgets and potential grant amounts needed for installing ground source heating systems. The UK government has committed to reducing emissions to net-zero by 2050, and over 10 years, the Social Housing Fund will potentially provide up to £3.8 billion in subsequent funding waves to encourage local authorities in England to retrofit measures such as low-carbon heating and insulation to increase energy efficiency and decarbonise their housing stock. The primary objective of the Social Housing Fund scheme is to upgrade a significant amount of England’s 4.1m social homes to an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of C by 2030. Currently, nearly 40% of properties fall below this, with fuel poverty posing a serious risk for residents when high fuel bills mean tough choices between heating or eating. Under the scheme’s guidelines, low carbon heating, including ground source heat pumps, can be installed where a ‘fabric first approach is taken’. Electrically-powered ground source heat pumps are sustainable, non-combustion devices generating no point of use emissions or pollution, and have been highlighted by government as a key part of the UK’s strategy to decarbonise heat, of which 37% of total UK carbon emissions are attributed to. Using freely available heat energy from the ground, a ground source heat pump can deliver 3 to 4 kilowatts (kW) of heat for every 1kW of electricity it consumes, making it highly efficient. While modern condensing boilers can be up to 90% efficient, a ground source heat pump can achieve efficiencies of 400%, without the carbon emissions or air pollution created by burning fossil fuels. The government’s 10-point-plan to put the UK back on track to meet its net-zero carbon target by 2050, states the aim to have 600,000 heat pump installations every year by 2028, and the Committee for Climate Change (CCC) has suggested this figure should even be increased to 900,000. This will require a massive scaling up of ground source heat pump installations, and Kensa believes that a Shared Ground Loop Array infrastructure is the key to achieving this.
A property investment offers the chance to have fun with design while increasing the value of your house or apartment. It’s not just about decorating, fixing the roof and overhauling the plumbing, although these will all increase the value. You can also elevate your property value with luxury interior and exterior features and design that will make it a pleasure to live in until you sell. Truly a win-win situation. The property experts at the Luxury Property Show have picked out six of the best home improvements to make your property stand out in the market. Luxury elements can be that x-factor in clinching a sale or holding onto an asking price. With the UK property market changing in response to the pandemic, and houses that offer a more pleasant (and professional) working-from-home environment exploding in value, sellers should consider upgrades that add value. However, not all installations are equal and some home improvements will cost more than they recoup. So, it’s worth assessing how much a feature is going to cost you and whether you’ll enjoy using it when still living in the house, and then checking with a specialist luxury-property estate agent how much it will actually increase the asking price of your home, before embarking on an expensive improvement. A garden office The proportion of people working from home in the UK rose vastly during the pandemic and is unlikely to decrease soon. So if your property has space, a garden office overlooking the flowerbeds can really push up the value. A garden office space is also a great choice for properties that would be made cramped by including the workspace inside. To be clear, we’re not talking about a glorified shed, but a smart, well-insulated, damp-proof and beautiful building, with electricity and possibly even plumbing. Prices start in five figures, but planning permission is generally not required – a saving in itself both in time and money. A pet and wildlife-friendly home If you’re among the 3.2 million households that acquired a “lockdown pet”, you’ll know the challenges that pet ownership throws up. There are simple improvements that make accommodating a pet easier, such as a smart cat flap that only opens to your own microchipped cat, or more substantial, like converting the cupboard under the stairs into a little pet room or bed. A cleaning station where you can bath a dog after a muddy walk will be a lot more pleasant than the garden hose – for both of you – while a stylish feeding station can keep mess and smells to a minimum. The lockdown also encouraged many homeowners to rethink their gardens to be both more enjoyable for themselves and more wildlife friendly. A professionally designed pond can certainly increase the value. It will not only encourage birds, bats, reptiles, hedgehogs and even deer to your garden, but can also be calming and fun for you too. Going one better, a natural swimming pool, also known as a swim pond, uses natural processes to clean a swimming pool. They cost from around £50,000 from scratch, but much less if you convert an old-style chemical pool to use naturally clean water. You can then swim among the rushes and reeds, iris and forget-me-nots, while dragonflies hover and swallows swoop. Make the basement into a wine cellar Strange to think that until 1970 fewer than half of UK households owned a fridge. Once upon a time everyone knew that the lowest, north-facing part of the house was the coolest, even capable of keeping ice until well into the summer. Perfect for wine then! Wine should be stored in a cool, dark place away from direct sunlight. The temperature mustn’t fluctuate too much throughout the day, or throughout changes in the season. If your basement is where the boiler is built, for example, the temperature might rise and fall too much. The dedicated oenophile may well invest instead in a commercial-grade wine cooler. But if you have the space, a smartly designed wine cellar will certainly add value to a home. A purpose-built, climate-controlled wine cellar works particularly well with homes clearly designed for entertaining, with large and attractive dining rooms and gardens with terraces and high-end pergolas. A wine cellar also offers potential for dramatic and exciting storage. The combination of oak – traditionally used in viniculture – steel, glass, subdued lighting and those rich wine colours is inherently classy. Feel free to do a few vineyard tours to gather ideas! Install a walk-in wardrobe Nothing says “you’ve made it” like walking into your own wardrobe, to see your clothes beautifully presented rather than stuffed into drawers. A walk-in wardrobe attracts attention to your property. It is also likely to appeal to the female buyer – traditionally the final decision-maker in property purchases. Recent research has also found that it can add over £100,000 to the price of your property. So, consider this as one of your pre-sale improvements. Your high-tech bathroom A well-designed bathroom will always add value to a home. While for some high-end buyers throwing out the old fittings and installing your own fresh, unused design will always be essential, others will be wowed by a beautiful bathroom. You can go high or low tech – either can work well. Meghan Markle’s £5,000 copper bath was a distinct nod to the traditional, as are waterfall showers and wet rooms. A wet room, especially in an upstairs room, requires the highest quality fitting, and will normally add 20 to 30% to the cost. For others, mood-enhancing lights created by a “chromotherapist”, a waterproof TV built into the tiling and an LCD panel from which you can set the mood from within the bath might just make that sale for you. After the pandemic it’s all about touchless technology – yes even in your own bathroom – with digital taps and toilet seats, and self-cleaning facilities. Install or upgrade the security Burglary offences in the UK have, mercifully, roughly halved in the past 20 years. Even
The London Borough of Tower Hamlets has granted approval for Urbanest student residential-led mixed-use scheme designed by Apt, consisting of three towers of 28, 36 and 46 storeys providing 1,672 student beds and 80 residential apartments, 41,000 sqft commercial office space, including workspace for local business start-ups and small enterprises, as well as ancillary residential, indoor soft play-space for children and retail. The development will transform the vacant and important gateway site at 2 Trafalgar Way, on the edge of Canary Wharf, and deliver a significant economic and social boost for the borough and local community, with hundreds of new jobs created and an estimated £10.5m spent in the borough each year by students, residents and staff. The proposals have been supported by University College London. “Our vision for 2 Trafalgar Way was to create a vertical campus, where living, studying, and working successfully co-exist, serving to create an enriching environment which will extend into the ground floor public realm and beyond. We’re thrilled that Tower Hamlets have approved the proposal and we look forward to working with Urbanest through the next stages of the project,” said James Ewen, project leader at Apt. In addition to providing high-quality accommodation, the project aims to achieve exemplar sustainability credentials, targeting BREEAM Outstanding and Passivhaus certification, which once achieved, will make it the largest Passivhaus development in Europe. The proposals also focus on sustainable transport, with approximately 1,500 cycle spaces provided across the site, which, together with much-improved public realm and better connections to the local cycle network, will ensure that the site becomes more integrated and accessible to local communities. “We’re delighted that Tower Hamlet’s Strategic Development Committee has granted approval to our scheme. We have worked extremely hard over the past few years to create something exceptional that not only responds to the resilient demand we are seeing but is also a beautifully designed collection of buildings,” said Anthony Mellalieu, Development Director, on behalf of Urbanest. “We’re obviously very excited about the scheme’s sustainability credentials. Delivering the largest Passivhaus certified student accommodation building globally is a massive undertaking and a testament to our commitment to creating the sort of places and spaces future generations want to live and work in. “This is an excellently located site for students, with lots on in the local area and only a short walk or Cycle to Canary Wharf, and a quick tube into central London. We look forward to starting construction and proposed opening in time for the 2025/26 academic year.” Work on site is expected to commence in the first quarter of 2022.
Property developer, Taggart Homes, has revealed plans for a number of new schemes across the UK, as well as its intention to acquire a home building company and new land for development to grow the Taggart brand. Since launching in the UK back in 2018 Taggart Homes has worked on acquiring and developing multiple housing schemes across the Midlands and South of England, and plans for 11 new sites have been announced in these locations, which once complete will bring 400 quality new-build family homes to the two regions. Taggart Homes is currently working on new developments in Annesley and Retford in Nottinghamshire, and Carterton in Oxfordshire, and its new sites include schemes in Great Dalby and Somerby in Leicestershire, Mansfield in Nottinghamshire, Huntington in Staffordshire, and South Kesteven in Lincolnshire. The Irish founded company has recently confirmed a number of deals for design and build social housing alongside its current live developments and has also announced its intention to acquire land for sale in the Midlands and South, with scope to deliver new housing schemes in these specific areas. CEO Michael Taggart says that they are also wanting to acquire existing UK house building companies, to merge into and grow the Taggart Homes brand – which is testament to the developer’s continue long-term investment in establishing itself and building quality housing in the UK. “We are delivering a number of high-quality housing developments in these prime locations and quality is our USP. Home to many major employers such as Amazon, Boots, HMRC, Next, Siemens and Samworth Brothers – the Midlands is centrally situated, with excellent travel links up and down the country, and its accessibility will soon be further improved with the introduction of HS2,” said Michael Taggart, CEO of Taggart Homes. “The South of England, with its varied geography, close proximity to the picturesque Cotswolds and the capital offers plenty of opportunity and there is scope to deliver key developments for a range of buyers from families, to first-timers and downsizers. “Taggart Homes is advancing steadily in the UK and have ambition to continue growing and evolving. We will be looking to link up with landowners and corporate financial advisors with sites for sale, and we wish to talk to business owners who would be open to forging partnerships, with a view to being incorporated into Taggart Homes. “As with all properties by Taggart Homes, our team of professionals ensure that each detail of each property is designed and built to the highest standards to provide the best possible product on the market – from the layout and design, to the workmanship and materials used for the build, interior fixtures and fittings and surrounding landscaped spaces.” Michael Taggart takes a very active interest personally in ensuring that quality is assured and that the value for money products are installed in each home. “We build communities where neighbours become friends, where memories are made and we understand what a huge step buying a new home is, so we always strive to provide the finest quality properties, where luxury meets convenience.” Taggart Homes recently commenced construction of 100 high spec outdoor glamping pods/shepherds huts suitable for home working and a range of small businesses including beauty salons, gyms and accommodation. The pods will come in a variety of sizes and designs and are available to the public in the UK and Ireland, as well as buyers of Taggart Homes properties.
