Developer PfP igloo has accelerated plans to release more than 200 homes for sale across three UK cities over the next 12 months. A collaboration between PfP Capital UK and igloo Regeneration, the developer is part of the wider PfP Capital development partnership portfolio, with in excess of 400 homes completed or in construction and a total development value of £127 million. “Like everyone, we’ve had to adapt during the pandemic and it’s been an extremely tough time to keep on programme, but by being agile and using new technology we’ve not delayed any sales releases and conversely, due to the speed of sales, we’ve even been able to bring our next phases for release forward and we are releasing homes 12 months ahead of completion,” commented Peter Connolly, chief executive at igloo. As well as the Ouseburn Valley neighbourhood developments in Newcastle, the city council has also recently confirmed PfP igloo as development partner for Stephenson Square, a mixed use £100m city centre site that will create 2,000 jobs and provide 190 homes. The Ironworks in Leeds, Steenbergs Yard in Newcastle and Nottingham, Waterside sites have all released new phases for sale over the summer months and have brought forward the release dates of future phases due to high demand. “Looking at the sales data from our developments, it’s clear to see that the attention we have paid to the design and the mix of home styles, and creative investment in public realm is being very well received by local communities, and demand for our product is high,” said John Tatham, finance director at PfP Capital. “We are continuing to back our own developments and pushing forward with new phases faster than we had anticipated, even pre-Covid. I’m confident that with the insights we have gained, our programmes will continue to operate as a catalyst for an uplift in the investment profiles of these important city regeneration areas. We are now actively looking for new sites to meet this demand.” PfP igloo will make further announcements in early 2021.

Plans for a major business park which would create a total of 1,300 jobs in Leicestershire have been submitted by Jersey-based Gulf Ventures 2 Ltd. The application is earmarked for land north of Neovia Logistics, Desford Lane, Desford. If backed by Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council 909,647 sq ft of industrial and office space and 75,024 sq ft of storage space across four buildings would be created. More than 900 car parking spaces would also be created if the go-ahead is given. A document submitted to the council on behalf of the applicant said: “The design has been considered to offer the maximum commercial benefit to the borough whilst sensitive to the environmental issues and adjacent settlements of Desford & Peckleton Village. “Consulations and responses have been carefully considered and where it is within the remit of Griffen, appropriate measures have been taken to mitigate the development impacts. “The site location has some exceptional metrics to attract high quality occupiers and employment which is Griffen’s strategy of making such a large capital investment in this location. “The masterplan has been developed to offer the very best in class for contemporary logistic workspace whilst making a significant contribution to the local communities by the creation of a major biodiverse habitat which will be freely accessible to the local communities. “The principal development site will be a fully secure, highly managed development cluster operating 24 hrs/seven days per week and this will continue in use with regular community engagement and controls with each occupier. “There is an aspiration to utilise local skills in both construction and future operation wherever possible. This is now a fully accepted commitment in major large developments. The development will achieve the highest standards of sustainability and energy efficiency for speculative logistics developments. “The design solution will make a positive contribution to the Borough with contemporary perceptions of use and activity. High quality materials and detailing will contribute to this perception of a development set in high quality landscaping.” Griffen UK Ltd acquired the site the from Neovia Logistics Services (UK) Ltd in May 2020.

By Neil Driver, Director at Davis Grant Hundreds of property developments across the UK that are undertaken on contaminated land could benefit from a unique tax relief that reduces a company’s Corporation Tax bill or provides funding via tax credits.  With more and more building projects being built on previously developed, derelict and contaminated land, there is the possibility that lots of developers could benefit from Land Remediation Relief (LRR). Under this tax relief, taxable profits are reduced, which in turn reduces a businesses Corporation Tax liability for the year.  In some cases, this may mean that owner-occupiers or property investors can benefit from up to 150 per cent Corporation Tax relief from qualifying remediation expenditure, while even loss-making businesses can receive a 24 per cent tax credit. Meanwhile, developers can receive Corporation Tax relief of 50 per cent. Qualifying expenditure for LRR includes contaminated land costs, which are defined as those incurred in, “preventing, minimising, remedying or mitigating any harm or pollution of land or controlled waters, by reason of which the land is in a contaminated state, or restoring the land or controlled waters to their former state”. The relief, therefore, only relates to any remediation costs involved in improvements to contaminated land, including: the removal of asbestos from buildings breaking-out buried structures the treatment of harmful organisms and naturally occurring contaminants, such as radon and arsenic. Land is considered contaminated if there is something in, on or under the land that causes ‘relevant harm’, or if there is a serious possibility that ‘relevant harm’ could be caused in future. The relief only applies to businesses and not to individuals or partnerships. Companies that are a member of a partnership can, however, still make an election in respect of its share of the partnership’s land remediation expenditure, as long as it satisfies the necessary criteria. A company may also be excluded from the relief if it has already claimed capital allowances on the same expenditure or it is the original polluter, or is connected to the original polluter. The relief can only be used for land in the UK that is, or was, acquired by the company for its trade or property business, and at the time the company acquired the land at least part of it was in a contaminated or derelict state.  The company must also have incurred revenue or capital expenditure on qualifying land remediation work in respect of the land. Claims for the scheme are done via a company’s usual Corporation Tax relief return, but there are various conditions that can affect when a company can or should claim LRR.  This is a generous relief, which is fairly underutilised at the moment. However, with many more construction projects relying on contaminated and derelict land, developers and investors should assess whether they may be eligible to make a claim via this scheme.  Considering the complexity of the scheme and the steps that need to be taken to determine eligibility for the relief it is highly recommended that professional advice is sought beforehand. 

National housebuilder Keepmoat Homes is testing ‘dog’s eye view’ showhome videos for pet-loving homebuyers looking to give their four-legged friend a remote VIP viewing.  The first video, filmed at the company’s Elm Tree Park development in Yorkshire features Chester, a 10-month old cocker spaniel, who belongs to Keepmoat Homes Sales Manager Alison Mahoney.  Chester was given the chance to explore a new three-bedroom home at his leisure and the resulting ‘dog cam’ footage has been turned into a showhome walk-through video with a difference. “It was a throwaway comment by someone in the team who said ‘I wonder what homebuyers’ pets think of our new homes?’ It was one of those things that seemed funny at first but then caught the attention of colleagues, so we thought we’d road test it – or paw test it – here at Elm Tree Park. I volunteered my cocker spaniel Chester as he’s a naturally inquisitive dog and I thought he’d be good at exploring our showhomes – plus I secretly think he enjoys the limelight,” said Chester’s owner, Alison Mahoney, who works as a Sales Manager at Keepmoat Homes. Chester was fitted with a lightweight, pet-friendly video camera and harness and was left to his own devices – the resulting dog’s eye view sees the curious canine padding around one of Keepmoat’s Staveley showhomes. “Unsurprisingly he went straight to the sofa first, that’s a favourite spot at home, but it was interesting to watch him explore the house from his perspective and see what he found most appealing. It’s a lovely insight into the minds of our pets and I’m delighted to see him take this starring role.  Maybe this will kick-start a career as a dog actor. Lassie, Wellard and Waffle watch out,” added Alison.

The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) is pleased to announce that Sir David Adjaye will receive the 2021 Royal Gold Medal, one of the world’s highest honours for architecture. The Royal Gold Medal is approved personally by Her Majesty The Queen and is given to a person or group of people who have had a significant influence ‘either directly or indirectly on the advancement of architecture’. Sir David Adjaye has achieved international attention for an exceptional body of work over 25 years. Drawing on his cited influences including ‘contemporary art, music and science to African art forms and the civic life of cities’, his completed projects range from private houses, exhibitions and furniture design, through to major cultural buildings and city masterplans. From the start of his career he has combined practice with teaching in schools of architecture in the UK and the USA, including professorships at the universities of Harvard, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Princeton. His practice, Adjaye Associates, was founded in 2000 and today has studios in Accra, London and New York, with projects across the world. Adjaye Associates are most well-known for the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, in Washington, DC (2016), where they were lead designer of the Freelon Adjaye/Bond SmithGroup. Other completed projects include Ruby City, an art centre in San Antonio, Texas (2019); the Alara Concept Store in Lagos (2016); the Sugar Hill Mixed Use Development (housing, museum, community facilities and offices) in Harlem, New York (2015); the Aishti Foundation,a mixed use retail and arts centre in Beirut, Lebanon (2015); two neighbourhood libraries in Washington, DC (both 2012); the Moscow School of Management Skolkovo in Russia (2010); the Museum of Contemporary Art in Denver, Colorado (2007); the Nobel Peace Centre in Oslo, Norway (2005); Rivington Place arts centre in Hackney, London (2007); and the Idea Stores – two community libraries in London (2004, 2005). Current projects include a new home for The Studio Museum in Harlem, New York in collaboration with Cooper Robertson; 130 William, a high-rise residential tower in New York’s financial district; the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in Dakar, Senegal;  the Princeton University Art Museum in Princeton, New Jersey in collaboration with Cooper Robertson; the George Street Sydney Plaza in Sydney, Australia; The Abrahamic Family House, an interfaith complex in Abu Dhabi; Winter Park Library and Events Center in Winter Park, Florida; the UK Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre, London led by Adjaye Associates, with Ron Arad Architects as Memorial Architect, and Gustafson Porter + Bowman as Landscape Architect; the Royal Benin Museum in Benin City, Nigeria; the National Cathedral of Ghana in Accra; and the Thabo Mbeki Presidential Library in Johannesburg, South Africa. On hearing the news that he will receive the Royal Gold Medal in 2021, Sir David Adjaye said: “It’s incredibly humbling and a great honour to have my peers recognise the work I have developed with my team and its contribution to the field over the past 25 years. Architecture, for me, has always been about the creation of beauty to edify all peoples around the world equally and to contribute to the evolution of the craft. The social impact of this discipline has been and will continue to be the guiding force in the experimentation that informs my practice. A heartfelt and sincere moment of gratitude and thanks to all the people who supported the journey to get to this moment.” RIBA President Alan Jones said: “It was my absolute pleasure and honour to chair the committee and be involved in selecting Sir David Adjaye as the 2021 Royal Gold Medallist. At every scale, from private homes to major arts centres, one senses David Adjaye’s careful consideration of the creative and enriching power of architecture. His work is local and specific and at the same time global and inclusive. Blending history, art and science he creates highly crafted and engaging environments that balance contrasting themes and inspire us all. I believe his both practising and teaching in schools of architecture has significantly enriched his work. His artistic and social vision has created public projects that perfectly demonstrate the civic potential of architecture – fostering empathy, identity and pride. David’s contribution to architecture and design globally is already astounding, and I am excited that we have so much more of it to look forward to.” Sir David Adjaye was knighted in the 2017 New Year Honours for services to architecture, following an OBE in 2007. As a student, he won the 1993 RIBA Bronze Medal for the best design project worldwide; in 2006 his Idea Store Whitechapel was shortlisted for the RIBA Stirling Prize for the best building of the year. He has won RIBA International Awards for the Museum of Contemporary Art, Denver (2008) and the Francis Gregory Library and William. O Lockridge/Bellevue Library in Washington DC (both 2013). The 2021 Royal Gold Medal selection committee, chaired by RIBA President Alan Jones, comprised: architects Lesley Lokko, Dorte Mandrup and last year’s Royal Gold Medal recipient Shelley McNamara and structural engineer Professor Hanif Kara.