Reposit, the InsurTech company bringing tenancy deposit alternatives to the forefront of the residential lettings market, has announced its new partnership with Pattinson, the largest independent agency network in the North East of England and its large base of landlord clients. Reposit helps landlords attract new renters by reducing upfront
PlanRadar, the web-based application for construction and real estate projects, has launched in the UK to continue its global expansion. For Britain, this launch has the potential to take the country out of its 20-year long productivity slump where over a third of construction projects overrun on time (40%) or
A 99-year lease has been signed by the University of Lincoln and Bishop Burton College to secure the provision of land-based further and higher education at the Riseholme Campus. The new agreement, which benefits from the support of the Education and Skills Funding Agency, ensures practical land-based further and higher
The new partnership between Wates Residential and Orbit will bring a further 42 new homes to the London Borough of Bexley. Already creating more than 700 homes in Bexley, the partnership will further contribute to the redevelopments of a site on West Street in Erith. “We are delighted to be
London’s Southall Waterside regeneration project has welcomed its first new residents into their homes, marking a key milestone of the development. The first 304 homes are ready for occupancy and are specifically targeted at existing Ealing residents on either an affordable rent or shared ownership basis. “Southall Waterside was previously
A major transformation project will bring two new buildings to a school in Slough. Wates Construction has commenced work on the site of Langley Grammar for the 63,300 sq ft facilities, which will include space for 200 more students. “We’re pleased to be starting the important task of building these
Kier has been confirmed by the Ministry of Justice as the main contractor for the construction of a new prison at Wellingborough, in Northamptonshire. Scheduled to start next month, work on the 1,680-place category C resettlement development is due to be completed by autumn 2021. The new prison will be built
Swindon-based Flynn Group has acquired a Bristol groundworks company, which trades as Kenny, in order to form an £80 million turnover group. Flynn Group, which has waste management, building maintenance, civil engineering and groundworks divisions, has been advised to go ahead with the purchase by the industrial products and services team, led
43 acres of commercial development land has just been bought by PLP’s UK logistics investments vehicle from the joint venture between Harworth Group plc and Evans Property Group for an undisclosed sum. The company will now work with AVL to begin earthworks and on and off-site infrastructure, alongside the submission of
A key milestone has been reached by a Manchester apartment scheme ahead of its opening next month. Contractor McGoff marked the completion of Phase Two’s concrete frame with a topping out ceremony at Downtown on Woden Street. When complete, Downtown will provide 374 apartments with high end facilities and hotel-style
Reposit, the InsurTech company bringing tenancy deposit alternatives to the forefront of the residential lettings market, has announced its new partnership with Pattinson, the largest independent agency network in the North East of England and its large base of landlord clients. Reposit helps landlords attract new renters by reducing upfront costs, therefore opening up properties to a wider demographic of potential tenants. The pioneering cover protects landlords from those same issues covered by a traditional deposit, such as rent arrears, damages and cleaning costs. According to a 2017 House of Commons briefing study, between 1996 and 2006, the North East area saw an increase in private renting of 212%. This rise in the private rental share of the housing market continues in the area, meaning it is an important area for solutions like Reposit, democratising the rental market for agents, landlords and tenants alike. The InsurTech solution saves money and stress for tenants; its security deposit alternative requires only one week’s rent as a service fee upfront. For Pattinson’s tenants, this would average at £119, compared to £595 in a traditional deposit scheme. The landlord is added to a group insurance policy that is FCA approved and protected by FSCS, demonstrating the care and extensive range of safeguards the modern user expects from financial services and security providers. The tenant remains responsible for any breach of the tenancy agreement and any respective costs at the end, as they are with a traditional deposit. Pattinson is offering Reposit to all new tenants that pass referencing. Rents with the agency range from £275pcm to £2000pcm across the region. Although Reposit might be seen as a solution for the lower end of the renting market, pound for pound, those paying higher rents have more to save upfront, given the higher deposits paid for those properties at the top end of the market, making it an effective option for virtually all renters. With this announcement, Reposit continues its efforts to provide a more cost-effective solution for tenants, whilst driving forward with creating a fair system that offers agents, tenants and landlords an attractive, legal and safe alternative to the traditional systems and processes. Jonathan Parker, Pattinson’s Head of Residential Lettings (MNAEA MARLA) stated: “As a company it is important that we are at the forefront of change and embrace new solutions to existing issues. The 8 weeks of cover for our landlords was a key consideration, especially with traditional monetary deposits being capped at 5 week’s worth of rent come the 1st of June. Reducing move in costs will naturally be an attractive option for tenants when it comes to selecting a property. With FCA regulation and FSCS protection at the heart of Reposit’s product and a similar mindset to client care, our clients have the assurances they need. We are pleased to offer Reposit as an optional alternative to the traditional monetary deposit, therefore providing potential tenants with an informed choice over what route suits their circumstances best.” Jude Greer, CEO, Reposit said: “It is great to partner with another major residential lettings agency. Pattinson has an amazing agency network across the North East. We are proud to be able to extend our offering to the North East. We have been impressed with the attention to detail driven approach of Jonathan and the team at Pattinson when it came to selecting us as a partner. We look forward to working with them for many years to come.” Reposit offers market leading cover of eight weeks rent and the InsurTech firm makes sure that any fees owed to the landlords are paid quickly prior to handling the collection of any owed money from the tenant via its platform.
PlanRadar, the web-based application for construction and real estate projects, has launched in the UK to continue its global expansion. For Britain, this launch has the potential to take the country out of its 20-year long productivity slump where over a third of construction projects overrun on time (40%) or budget (35%). With its SaaS solution, the ConTech firm provides the construction industry with digital construction documentation, defect and task management throughout the lifecycle of construction and real estate projects. Using a smartphone or tablet, even when offline, the platform allows construction workers to automate the entire documentation process with interactive blueprints and floorplans, saving an average of seven working hours per week in admin time and averting errors. More than 3,500 customers already use PlanRadar worldwide to manage construction projects and real estate processes. This new London office will support increased productivity, cost efficiency and time savings for UK Construction. “We will not let Brexit get in the way of our mission to digitise the construction and real estate industry in the UK,” explained Ibrahim Imam, managing director and co-founder of PlanRadar. “Risks around bottlenecks in the supply of construction materials and tradespeople can be mitigated with platforms like PlanRadar; digitised processes can raise their efficiency potential against the competition, improve quality control and deliver 900 per cent ROI.” In the last twelve months, PlanRadar has increased sales by 300 per cent and expanded its workforce to 57 employees. “In light of our rapid growth in the past year and the positive international business outlook for 2019, we have moved our head office to a much larger facility in central Vienna to support the increased demand,” added Imam. As part of this European growth, PlanRadar is boosting its Board with industry heavyweight Colin Smith, founder of the ConTech pioneer BIW Technologies. Smith says: “There’s a lot of interest in ConTech right now, but it doesn’t just mean modular housing and 3D printing. It means simple but effective innovation across the entire supply-chain. PlanRadar has developed an intuitive platform that has revolutionised how Europe manages the documentation and communication process of the asset lifecycle – now it’s time for the UK to benefit.” Regarding his involvement with PlanRadar, Smith says “It’s exciting to join the company during such a fierce expansion process with ambitious growth plans in place. I get asked to work with a lot of ConTech businesses, but PlanRadar has technology that can be rapidly adopted – it just works. I’m really looking forward to seeing the impact this platform is going to have on the UK’s construction sector and the difference it will make.” On Smith’s appointment, Imam, says: “With over three decades of experience at the leading-edge of construction technology and a respected industry figure, we are delighted to welcome Colin to the Board. It’s a testament to the exciting vision we have for the business. I look forward to working with him to help PlanRadar in the next phase of its growth”.
A 99-year lease has been signed by the University of Lincoln and Bishop Burton College to secure the provision of land-based further and higher education at the Riseholme Campus. The new agreement, which benefits from the support of the Education and Skills Funding Agency, ensures practical land-based further and higher education informed by the latest scientific research and industry needs can continue to be delivered at Riseholme into the next century. “This is wonderful news, not just for the College, its staff and its students, but the whole of Lincolnshire. It means Riseholme College will continue to produce future generations of farmers and other skilled workers,” said chief executive and principal of Riseholme College Bill Meredith. “These are exciting times and this agreement will also provide opportunities for collaborative working with the University, including in applied research, technology transfer, staff development and student progression. We look forward to a long and successful partnership.” Part of Bishop Burton College, Riseholme College will continue to have access to the campus, which is owned by the University of Lincoln, to deliver further education for school-leavers in subjects such as agriculture, engineering and equine studies, including at Riseholmeÿs farm and equine centre. The university will make significant investments to enhance the educational facilities, as well as advancing its own specialisms in cutting-edge scientific research and higher education courses supporting the food and farming industries at Riseholme, which is home to the University’s Lincoln Institute for Agri-food Technology. Both the university and the college have confirmed their shared commitment to developing a centre of excellence at Riseholme drawing on the very latest research to ensure students at all levels have the knowledge and skills they need to drive the future of agriculture and its supply chain in Lincolnshire and beyond. “Lincolnshire is at the heart of the UKÿs thriving food and farming industries and we are absolutely committed to meeting the changing skills and research needs of businesses of all shapes and sizes, by working with industry and our educational partners,” added Prof Mary Stuart, vice chancellor of the University of Lincoln. “This landmark agreement ensures Lincolnshire can boast the complete range of post-16 educational opportunities, from short courses and apprenticeships through to Masterÿs and PhD level study, for decades to come. All this is underpinned by the world-leading research of our agri-tech specialists and Riseholmeÿs outstanding natural features and facilities, reinforcing its status as a jewel in the crown for our regionÿs agri-food sector.”
The new partnership between Wates Residential and Orbit will bring a further 42 new homes to the London Borough of Bexley. Already creating more than 700 homes in Bexley, the partnership will further contribute to the redevelopments of a site on West Street in Erith. “We are delighted to be able to continue our award-winning work with Orbit, which has already led to more than 700 new homes in Bexley either being built or in the pipeline. We look forward to getting started on the West Street project, which will not only deliver more crucial housing for the area but will also lead to increased employment and training opportunities for local residents,” said Paul Nicholls, Managing Director of Wates Residential. The £9.4 million scheme will see vacant buildings including a former car parts warehouse replaced with a contemporary low-rise design including seven homes for London Affordable Rent, 14 homes for London Living Rent and 21 homes for Shared Ownership sale. The plans also include a car park with electric charging points and large community garden. The development of the site forms part of Orbit’s long-term strategy for delivering high quality new homes in Erith and the wider region, and will contribute towards improvements to the quality of the streetscape and the overall appearance of the local area. “We are pleased to once again be partnering with Wates to deliver much needed affordable housing to local people in Bexley. Wates understands our aim of ‘building thriving communities’ and we look forward to delivering more high quality homes for local families who need them,” added Shina Olalekan, Head of Development at Orbit. As part of the West Street project, Wates Residential and Orbit have also pledged to provide employment and training opportunities for local residents. It follows Orbit and Wates Residential’s successful regeneration of Larner Road into the award-winning Erith Park in Bexley. The contractor has also been appointed to help deliver Orbit’s proposed £95 million regeneration of the Arthur Street housing estate in Bexley, featuring 280 new homes.
London’s Southall Waterside regeneration project has welcomed its first new residents into their homes, marking a key milestone of the development. The first 304 homes are ready for occupancy and are specifically targeted at existing Ealing residents on either an affordable rent or shared ownership basis. “Southall Waterside was previously a disused industrial site and the much-needed regeneration of this land means that it is now beginning to actively contribute to our local economy. The development is providing jobs and will bring a diverse mix of new amenities to the area. Importantly, it is also delivering affordable homes for Ealing residents – this means that Southall Waterside is a community for all and I am looking forward to continuing to work with Berkeley and Catalyst as we welcome more residents to Southall Waterside,” commented Cllr Julian Bell, Leader of Ealing Council. The project aims to create around 3,750 homes of all tenures over the next 25 years, bringing back to life the 88-acre former gasworks. The site’s masterplan, developed in close collaboration with Ealing Council, will create a welcoming, open landscape with a mix of new amenities. This includes plans for a health centre, primary school, community centre and a buzzing commercial district with shops, restaurants, a cinema and public squares, open for everyone to enjoy. “This is one of the most challenging and ambitious regeneration programmes Berkeley Group has ever undertaken and it’s a huge pleasure to see the first local people making Southall Waterside their home,” said Tony Pidgley CBE, Chairman of Berkeley Group. “Together with Ealing Council and our fantastic local partners, we are transforming this long derelict site into a welcoming new part of Southall for the whole community to enjoy. In the years ahead we will create a truly sustainable place with up to 40 acres of beautiful parkland and biodiverse landscapes.” The new affordable homes have been delivered in partnership with Ealing Council, Catalyst and Clarion. The development of Southall Waterside is set to create 21,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs, and a further 600 permanent roles.
A major transformation project will bring two new buildings to a school in Slough. Wates Construction has commenced work on the site of Langley Grammar for the 63,300 sq ft facilities, which will include space for 200 more students. “We’re pleased to be starting the important task of building these long-awaited, new facilities for Langley Grammar School. At Wates, we understand how learning environments have a direct impact upon the development of young people and attainment levels and we bring our appreciation to every stage of the process. We will be drawing on our vast experience as a trusted contractor for the education sector here in Slough to ensure the quality delivery of this new school building,” said Alec Jackman, Business Unit Director, Wates Construction Southern Home Counties. Delivered across three phases, the project includes the construction of a three-storey teaching block and provision of temporary accommodation for the school’s dining facility, library and administration offices. Once the new building is completed, the original one will be demolished. The third phase will then commence with the construction of a two-storey front-of-house building, providing the school with administration offices, dining room, hall, library, a small number of classrooms and a dance studio. The scheme is being delivered on behalf of the DfE as part of the Priority Schools Building Programme (PSBP2) to rebuild or refurbish school buildings across the country. “It is fantastic to see work starting on our new buildings, which have been so long in the planning. The project will deliver first class facilities for our students for many years to come. This is the biggest construction project in the school’s history and will transform the site into an attractive campus environment. We have developed a strong and positive relationship with Wates during the design stage and look forward to that continuing as the new buildings take shape,” added John Constable, Headteacher at Langley Grammar School. The new facilities are expected to be complete by July 2021.
Kier has been confirmed by the Ministry of Justice as the main contractor for the construction of a new prison at Wellingborough, in Northamptonshire. Scheduled to start next month, work on the 1,680-place category C resettlement development is due to be completed by autumn 2021. The new prison will be built on the same site as the former HMP Wellingborough, which closed in 2012. A price of £253 million (excluding VAT) for its design and construction has now been agreed with Kier, announced the minister. “I am committed to the building of up to 10,000 modern and decent prison places to replace old, expensive and unsuitable accommodation, and the start of work at Wellingborough is an important step forward. Providing offenders with decent conditions and regimes is absolutely key to turning their lives around and ultimately keeping the public safe,” commented Prisons minister Rory Stewart. The development at Wellingborough is part of the government’s Prison Estate Transformation Programme. Also part of the programme are another new facilitt at the former Glen Parva & Young Offender Institution (YOI) in Leicestershire and a new house block at HMP Stocken, in Rutland. “We’re very proud to have been appointed to deliver the new resettlement prison at Wellingborough and look forward to working closely with the MoJ and using our experience in new-build prison programmes to deliver first-class rehabilitation facilities,” added Mark Pengelly, executive director of Kier Major Projects.
Swindon-based Flynn Group has acquired a Bristol groundworks company, which trades as Kenny, in order to form an £80 million turnover group. Flynn Group, which has waste management, building maintenance, civil engineering and groundworks divisions, has been advised to go ahead with the purchase by the industrial products and services team, led by Ian Curtis at Transcend Corporate, the Birmingham and Reading-based corporate finance house. “Flynn has grown considerably in recent years, as customers utilise our company’s efficient, reliable and economic services, enabling them and ourselves to increase output. Kenny is a fine business and highly complementary, providing us with an enlarged platform to accelerate growth and expand our coverage,” said Managing director at Flynn, Alf Hambidge. John Kenny, one of the founders of the Bristol company, also commented on the purchase: “My wife Val and I have overseen Kenny from a fledgling business, to being a leading player in house-building in the South West, with an expert team that consistently provides efficient and reliable services, of which we are very proud. “As we move into our retirement, we are pleased to pass on our strong traditions to the team at Flynn and wish them well in the continued development of Kenny, and say thanks to all our staff and contractors who have helped us grow into the successful business it currently is.” The deal to purchase Kenny was funded by Allied Irish Bank and it was also advised by Foot Anstey while SGD provided financial due diligence and tax structuring advice. “There are significant opportunities for further growth as recent structural change in the housebuilding sector provides the opportunity for accelerated expansion,” added transcend corporate director, Ian Curtis.
43 acres of commercial development land has just been bought by PLP’s UK logistics investments vehicle from the joint venture between Harworth Group plc and Evans Property Group for an undisclosed sum. The company will now work with AVL to begin earthworks and on and off-site infrastructure, alongside the submission of a ”reserved matters” planning application to Leeds City Council for 850,000sqft of industrial and distribution space across 4 units. “We are very excited about this acquisition, which provides a clear opportunity for PLP to deliver high-quality logistics space in a variety of configurations for occupiers. Beyond this and our other three recent acquisitions, we continue to look for prime logistics developments and assets in key markets,” said Jeremy Greenland, CEO of PLP. Once the planning is approved, construction work will begin on the new units in Summer 2020. In addition to this purchase, PLP has also acquired a few other assets at Sheffield, Crewe and Knowsley, which will take the value of UKLV’s managed assets to £500m (€579.4m) on a completed basis. “This is an excellent outcome for all concerned which will deliver a significant proportion of the jobs promised when the Enterprise Zone was initially created. AVL’s focus now is to assist PLP to get on-site as quickly as possible so that thousands of new jobs can be delivered for the City Region to benefit from,” commented James Pitt, development director at Evans Property Group. Leader of Leeds City Council councillor Judith Blake also commented on the purchase, saying: “This deal is very welcome as it brings significant new investment into Leeds and the Leeds City Region Enterprise Zone, enhancing economic growth, job creation and innovation in the area and the city.” Established in 2015, the PLP platform is owned by Macquarie Capital, Peel Group, Ivanhoe Cambridge and its senior management team.
A key milestone has been reached by a Manchester apartment scheme ahead of its opening next month. Contractor McGoff marked the completion of Phase Two’s concrete frame with a topping out ceremony at Downtown on Woden Street. When complete, Downtown will provide 374 apartments with high end facilities and hotel-style services including lobby with 24 hour concierge, gymnasium, spa, media room, postal room, dry and chilled storage, private dining, business centre as well as landscaped grounds and roof terraces. The first residents are due to arrive at the new development in May 2019. “The collaboration between McGoff Construction, Heyrod Construction, Alliance Investments, our legal team, architect and Wellesley has been incredible. Developing this bespoke partnership has enabled us to take advantage of Downtown impressive sales success and start build of Phase II two much earlier than planned,” said Chris McGoff, director at the McGoff Group. “As we near the end of construction at Downtown, and reflect on its success, we can safely say that our collaboration was a truly unique and refreshing way to work in the construction industry. With all apartments selling quickly off-plan, the McGoff Construction team was agile with regards to the build programme, fully supported by Heyrod Construction, which not only saved money but also allowed us to accelerate the build of Phase II without the need to negotiate based on better than envisaged sales. With such a solid partnership in place, and the results to prove it, Wellesley was happy to adapt and release funds for Phase II early. It really has been a success story with regards to both sales and construction on site,” he added.