The progress on a new residential development in Benfleet, Essex, has been celebrated with a topping out ceremony. The accommodation is being built for special education needs (SEN) learners at Glenwood School by Morgan Sindall Construction. Glenwood School’s state-of-the-art education facility provides support for children and young adults with severe
A new community sixth form campus is due to arrive in Leivester city centre, as a site is being redeveloped. The project will see former call centre facilities for telecoms giant BT in New Albion House on Dunkirk Street and the adjacent Wellesley House on Wellington Street transformed into two
A new technique for automatically enhancing LIDAR (light detection and ranging) imagery to the highest detail yet is predicted to revolutionise and improve the capture of land data across the UK. Developed by Lumiere Property, the technology is enabling LIDAR images captured from planes to be enhanced to 4 times
Consumers are paying the price for residential developers’ historic lack of investment in digital connectivity, according to new research from real estate connectivity certifications provider WiredScore and the HomeOwners Alliance. 85% of British renters and homeowners still face connectivity issues and failing services, forcing them to use an additional 2.5GB of extra mobile
A former construction project manager from Leeds has launched a new coaching business this June to support fellow construction professionals, amidst a mental health crisis in the industry. With recent statistics revealing that the suicide rate for male construction workers is three times higher than the average male suicide rate
A key milestone has been reached by Vinci on the construction of the new King’s School in Macclesfield, which was celebrated at an event to mark completion of steelwork erection. “I am very pleased that it blends into the surrounding landscape nicely and it will be a fantastic addition to
Parker Building Supplies (Parkers) has acquired, with the support of its strategic partner, Cairngorm Capital, the Sussex Turnery and Moulding Company Limited (Stamco). Parker said that the move is a “key step” in their strategy to expand its business through a combination of acquisitions, new site development and organic growth.
A major acquisition has been announced by Galliford Try Partnerships, who has agreed a deal to acquire developer Strategic Team Group. The purchase supports the company’s ambitious growth strategy, targeting growth in key regions around the country to increase the supply of new homes. Strategic Team Group, based in Yorkshire
A new £11 million Future Parks fund, which will be used to secure the future of parks and greenspaces across the UK, has been announced by the National Trust And National Lottery Heritage Fund. Through a package of grants and expert guidance, Future Parks aims to tackle, head on, the
According to the 2019 Vitality Index by Lambert Smith Hampton, Edinburgh is the city with the best prospects for UK economic growth, with Cambridge and Manchester coming in second and third place, despite the UK’s uncertain economic and political environment. Compiled every year, The Vitality Index provides a comprehensive assessment
The progress on a new residential development in Benfleet, Essex, has been celebrated with a topping out ceremony. The accommodation is being built for special education needs (SEN) learners at Glenwood School by Morgan Sindall Construction. Glenwood School’s state-of-the-art education facility provides support for children and young adults with severe and multiple learning difficulties. The ceremony celebrated the 20-bedroom development that will enable the school to provide a 24-hour curriculum for some of the pupils, with comfortable accommodation available adjacent to the school building. Morgan Sindall Construction previously delivered Glenwood School’s new £15.5 million premises in 2017, which increased the school’s capacity from 150 to 210 places. The building features 26 spacious classrooms, a hydrotherapy pool and specialist facilities to help meet the young people’s sensory needs, including swing therapy rooms and a trampoline room to help promote body awareness, postural control and organisation of the senses. “Glenwood School is a truly inspirational place where young people with SEN can feel safe and secure and really make the most of their education journey. Morgan Sindall Construction is incredibly proud to have overseen this wonderful transformation of Glenwood School and we’ve worked closely with Essex County Council and the school to deliver their vision for this facility,” said Chris Travers, operations director at Morgan Sindall Construction. “The new residential accommodation will provide a welcoming and homely space for pupils to learn and we hope will have a really positive impact on the lives of pupils and families. We’re looking forward to progressing with work on site to deliver this exciting new addition to Glenwood School,” Chris added.
A new community sixth form campus is due to arrive in Leivester city centre, as a site is being redeveloped. The project will see former call centre facilities for telecoms giant BT in New Albion House on Dunkirk Street and the adjacent Wellesley House on Wellington Street transformed into two new buildings. Delivering the work is ISG, which will redevelop the building so that it houses 33 classrooms, 11 laboratories and a learning resource centre, as well as ICT suites, social areas, and private study spaces. ISG will install new, high-performance mechanical and electrical services and comprehensively reconfigure the layout within the buildings to create a contemporary and inspiring learning environment that is set to open its door to students in September 2020. The work is being completed thought the firm’s latest framework project with the Department for Education (DfE) and Lionheart Academies Trust. “Delivering an entirely new sixth form college in the heart of Leicester city centre is a project that will derive a long-term legacy for the local community and wider city region. It’s clear to see the positive social value generated by projects of this nature, and this brings a real passion and singularity of purpose from our extended team to deliver an outstanding result for the Trust,” said Wayne Flannery, ISG’s regional director for the Midlands. “The DfE framework procurement route has enabled all project stakeholders to come together and collaborate at an early stage, identifying key challenges and developing smart solutions to drive efficiencies throughout the programme. By working closely with the Trust, we have all been inspired by its vision for a new standard in post-16 teaching facilities and there is great anticipation as we move forward with the meticulous planning stages ahead of our start on site later this year,” Wayne added. The new Beauchamp City Sixth Form campus is designed by Associated Architects, and will focus on the study of STEM subjects. Work will begin on the project in November 2019 with a full internal strip out of both existing buildings.
A new technique for automatically enhancing LIDAR (light detection and ranging) imagery to the highest detail yet is predicted to revolutionise and improve the capture of land data across the UK. Developed by Lumiere Property, the technology is enabling LIDAR images captured from planes to be enhanced to 4 times their original resolution. Using the new algorithm, 1m resolution images can now produce more detailed 25cm equivalents. According to the Environment Agency, around 40% of England is not surveyed using LIDAR or has only been surveyed at the lower resolution of 2m. For the most advanced land research and modelling, data needs to be current and at 1m resolution or higher. Their goal is to achieve full UK coverage by the middle of 2020. “Currently, only small areas of the country have 25cm resolution coverage. With our new approach, which we’ve built using deep neural networks, we can generate a 25cm resolution LIDAR image for anywhere in the country that has 1m coverage giving our algorithms a detailed view of terrain and buildings over a much wider scale,” explained Geoff Smith, Software Engineer at Lumiere Property. The Environment Agency’s primary use of LIDAR laser sensing techniques is for flood risk mapping but Lumiere’s latest breakthrough in super-resolution will make it relevant across a huge range of applications including identifying the attributes of a building. “This higher resolution and 3D mapping gives us a more precise understanding of existing buildings and their surroundings and will allow us to quickly and cheaply calculate the development potential of huge numbers of properties to search out the best opportunities,” said Chris Rowland-Smith, Managing Director, Lumiere Property. “For example, we may want to pinpoint any big buildings with a specific attribute such as what part of the building has a flat roof and what part has a pitched roof. Or smaller attributes like existing roof windows or different types of roof tile – the value this brings to our business is potentially huge,” he added.
Consumers are paying the price for residential developers’ historic lack of investment in digital connectivity, according to new research from real estate connectivity certifications provider WiredScore and the HomeOwners Alliance. 85% of British renters and homeowners still face connectivity issues and failing services, forcing them to use an additional 2.5GB of extra mobile data each month to compensate for their poor WiFi – this additional cost totals £2.2bn across the nation. Despite consumers paying an average of £312 for their home internet service, this additional cost is being incurred by users trying to overcome regular connectivity issues and failing services – typically totalling 20 service breakdowns per month. It’s perhaps no surprise that over a quarter of British homeowners and renters (28%) would not have moved into their property if they’d known about the connectivity issues they face. However, the new report launching today ‘Poor Foundations: the state of UK residential connectivity’ has revealed that the residential developers are now waking up to the dire state of the UK’s connectivity infrastructure and the potential gains of delivering higher-quality service. The research has been commissioned as part of the launch of WiredScore Home, the latest certification from global digital connectivity rating company WiredScore that focuses on residential property. WiredScore Home builds on the immense success ofthe commercial real estate certification, which has certified more than 500 million sq. ft. across six countries impacting six million office workers since its launch in 2013. Better designed buildings The certification will support developers looking to improve the design of the connectivity services for new buildings to prevent the need for expensive retrofits. It will also introduce critical transparency to the residential market, enabling landlords and sellers to demonstrate the higher quality service in their buildings. There are clear commercial benefits of good digital connectivity services: Two-thirds (61%) of residential developers report they can rent their properties at a higher price and/or with a greater yield Two-fifths (40%) see an increased demand for their properties More than half (56%) report they can rent their properties for longer, due to the improved in-home experience Nearly half (47%) stated that it enabled them to sell their properties for a greater price Sixty per cent of developers have already improved their current planning applications in line with the new National Planning Policy Framework, to support next-generation cellular coverage (5G) and full fibre connections, with a further 29% resolved to improve future applications. Full fibre connections are now a greater priority, with three-quarters of developers reporting some of their current projects will have full fibre and 19% reporting all will have fibre to the premise. This will result in a significant boost to the current 6% of UK properties with full fibre. With many traditional building materials (including treated glass, steel frames and metalised insulation) negatively impacting cellular coverage, 59% of residential developers report that they are adopting different building techniques. Over half are also undertaking RF surveys, to understand the connectivity service in their building, and installing connectivity technologies to boost in-building signal, including DAS and small cells (55% and 54% respectively). More guidance required While it appears that residential developers have made the critical mindset shift towards appreciating connectivity, all survey respondents indicated they want more guidance around improving the digital connectivity services of their existing or future developments. Specifically, three-quarters (77%) would like to better understand the current digital connectivity level of their developments and have guidance on how to improve it, while 57% want guidance on how they can implement the highest levels of digital infrastructure into their developments.
A former construction project manager from Leeds has launched a new coaching business this June to support fellow construction professionals, amidst a mental health crisis in the industry. With recent statistics revealing that the suicide rate for male construction workers is three times higher than the average male suicide rate for the UK, Chris Fawcett, originally from Tingley, Wakefield, has the building blocks in place to make a lasting difference. After four years at University getting his Construction Management degree and seven years on sites, Chris, 29, retrained to become a Certified coach for his former profession. His aim is to support workers across the construction industry with their mental health and to help them achieve success through his business Chris Fawcett Coaching. Chris explained: “The statistics around mental health issues in construction are frightening, and I’ve seen firsthand how challenging it can be onsite. But there are ways to look after yourself and overcome challenges with a clear vision of your future and a positive attitude towards life. “We all know a company’s success is built on the performance of its employees, so it’s vital they feel valued and inspired. Whether it’s a self-employed builder investing in himself or a manager supporting their team, through my coaching I can help bring out the best in people, helping them to grow and develop, become more productive and improve their emotional and mental well-being. “There’s no better time than now to tackle the growing mental health challenges in construction, and I’m determined to help talented people in the industry become successful and more positive about their lives and their jobs.” Chris Fawcett Coaching specialises in peak-performance coaching for the construction industry, using techniques including Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) and Timeline Technique Therapy. Chris offers one-to-one sessions for individuals and workshop days for businesses to support their staff.
A key milestone has been reached by Vinci on the construction of the new King’s School in Macclesfield, which was celebrated at an event to mark completion of steelwork erection. “I am very pleased that it blends into the surrounding landscape nicely and it will be a fantastic addition to Macclesfield’s facilities,” said Councillor Adam Schofield, Mayor of Macclesfield. On track for completion in May 2020, the project, which comprises 1350 tonnes of steel, is currently halfway through construction. The project will boast an impressive six lane, 25-metre swimming pool, central library, café, art studios, rugby pitches, all-weather hockey pitches and a 400-metre athletics track. Head Master, Dr Simon Hyde attended the ceremony along with Councillor Adam Schofield, Mayor of Macclesfield, The County’s Lord Lieutenant David Briggs and some of the current pupils were also witness to the special occasion. “We are delighted with progress and we will be proudly handing over what is going to be a magnificent site, on time. It is a really exciting project for us to work on and it has been a pleasure today to welcome a group of pupils, parents and Governors to show them the progress on their new school,” said VINCI Construction UK’s Project Manager Martin Horton. “The completion of the steel frame is a major milestone and we will now bring in a range of different trades to complete the concrete flooring, underfloor heating, brickwork, blockwork and drainage, before we start the landscaping,” he added.
Parker Building Supplies (Parkers) has acquired, with the support of its strategic partner, Cairngorm Capital, the Sussex Turnery and Moulding Company Limited (Stamco). Parker said that the move is a “key step” in their strategy to expand its business through a combination of acquisitions, new site development and organic growth. Parkers aims to become the market-leading independent builders’ merchant in the South East of England. The acquisition was prompted by the retirement of owners, Mike Cullis and Roger Brightiff, who will remain in the business short-term, to ensure an effective handover and a smooth transition. Managing Director, John Cornelius, will join the Parkers senior management team to contribute to the combined company’s growth strategy. “Once Mike and I had taken the decision to retire, our priority was to find a partner with shared goals and values who would help Stamco to fulfil its potential. Both companies have common heritage, outstanding product quality and commitment to the highest standards of customer service, which makes this partnership a very good fit. We are confident that Stamco is in very capable hands and that it will continue to thrive and prosper,” commented Roger Brightiff, owner of Stamco. The acquisition offers Parkers the opportunity for geographic expansion and to extend its product range. The new enlarged business will continue to be headquarted in Polegate, Sussex, has 20 branches across Sussex and Kent, with combined revenues of more than £100 million and over 450 employees. “Our goal is to become the leader in the independent builders’ merchant sector in the South East. To do this we have been working to build a customer-focused business, with great products, outstanding customer service and a strong, expanding branch network. Stamco has very similar values and ambitions to us and a skilled and committed workforce, so this partnership offers the potential for exciting opportunities going forward,” said Chris Maityard, Parkers’ Managing Director.
A major acquisition has been announced by Galliford Try Partnerships, who has agreed a deal to acquire developer Strategic Team Group. The purchase supports the company’s ambitious growth strategy, targeting growth in key regions around the country to increase the supply of new homes. Strategic Team Group, based in Yorkshire and the North West, employs a total of 120 staff and currently has 23 live sites. In the year to September 2018, Strategic Team Group reported revenues of £61.8m and delivered over 500 new homes. “Galliford Try Partnerships is an excellent fit for STG and we believe the deal will help to accelerate growth in areas where we see real opportunity for housing supply, helping to deliver development objectives for clients,” commented Andy Watson, Managing Director of Strategic Team Group. The management team and staff at Strategic Team Group will remain in place, working within Partnerships to accelerate both business’ growth plans. The company will begin to trade as Galliford Try Partnerships Yorkshire from 1 July 2019. “We are really excited to have reached agreement with Strategic Team Group, which is a great fit for our growing business. It will enable us to expand our regeneration offering and help accelerate delivery in Yorkshire and the North West. As we grow, we will continue to offer exciting employment opportunities and bring together the skills across the business to deliver high quality developments. We look forward to working with new and existing clients to bring forward the supply of more homes,” said Stephen Teagle, Chief Executive of Galliford Try Partnerships. In 2016, Galliford Try Partnerships led the successful acquisition of Drew Smith Limited, based near Southampton, to create a Southern region to the business.
A new £11 million Future Parks fund, which will be used to secure the future of parks and greenspaces across the UK, has been announced by the National Trust And National Lottery Heritage Fund. Through a package of grants and expert guidance, Future Parks aims to tackle, head on, the growing financial challenges facing public parks, which is putting them at serious risk. Local authorities and communities will be empowered to find innovative and sustainable ways to manage and fund parks and open spaces across entire towns and cities. From a total of 81 applications across the UK, eight places, covering a population of five million people, were chosen for their ambitious and creative strategies to put green spaces right at the heart of local communities. The projects will: • make green spaces central to everyday community life • give the public a bigger role in how they are managed • ensure parks contribute more to the public’s mental and physical health • transform the way parks are funded to secure their futures For instance, in Islington and Camden the councils will focus on using parks and green spaces to improve health and wellbeing by developing closer links to the NHS, health providers, doctors and health charities. The other successful places are: • Birmingham; • Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole; • Bristol; • Cambridgeshire (county-wide, covering seven council areas); • Edinburgh; • Nottingham; • Plymouth Announcing the fund, Hilary McGrady, the National Trust’s Director General, said: “Today is a landmark moment for the nation’s urban parks. “This is not just about new ways to fund and support these much-loved community spaces, but completely re-thinking the role green spaces play in our lives and how we can ensure they thrive for generations to come.”
According to the 2019 Vitality Index by Lambert Smith Hampton, Edinburgh is the city with the best prospects for UK economic growth, with Cambridge and Manchester coming in second and third place, despite the UK’s uncertain economic and political environment. Compiled every year, The Vitality Index provides a comprehensive assessment of the health of UK towns and cities, considering education, entrepreneurialism, affluence, productivity, growth and environmental factors. By identifying the best destinations to support future economic growth and provide opportunities for business expansion, the top ten rankings for 2019 are as follows: Edinburgh Cambridge Manchester Brighton & Hove Oxford Bristol Reading Guildford Cardiff Colchester Climbing from 2018 position number five, Edinburgh has risen to the top of the ranking, knocking Cambridge off the top spot for the first time since 2016. The city has seen one of the highest rates of house price growth of any location, alongside strong wage growth. The only Scottish location in the top 10, Edinburgh has a highly qualified population and is forecast to see one of the strongest rates of job growth over the next five years. Followed by Cambridge at second place, the city has retained its first place as the most highly educated, being home to the UK’s top-ranked university and one of the highest proportions of residents qualified to a degree level or above. Manchester remains in position number three and is the sole Northern location to rank within the top ten, seeing strong growth in both population and commercial property rents. As one of the fastest-growing locations, the city has shown a robust GVA growth in the UK as well being one of the most entrepreneurial cities of the year. The South East region currently dominate with four locations featuring in the top ten. Brighton comes in fourth place, holding the top spot for growth in commercial property rents. While Oxford and Guildford both fell slightly in the ranking from last year, they remain in the top 10 with Oxford showing the fastest rate of workforce job growth forecast over the next five years. Elsewhere, Reading takes seventh position, having seen a substantial improvement in wage growth. Although still dominated by the South East of England, the Welsh capital Cardiff feature in the top ten for the first time, at position number nine, due to increasing house prices and strong job growth. The city has been forecasted to see job growth of 6% over the next five years, the strongest of all the locations. Colchester also featured in the Index’s top ten for the first time, due to its rates of job growth and the city’s ambitious growth plans, which include a £3bn transformation project. The Essex town is forecast to see one of the fastest rates of job growth over the next five years and has recently witnessed sizeable increase in commercial property rents.