London’s St James’s district benefits from new office, retail and restaurant space with the completion of a multi-use development. 35,000 sq ft of office space was delivered over the first to sixth floors, with 11,000 sq ft of retail and restaurant space at ground and basement levels. The Marq project
The latest technology to deliver engine testing and research into sustainable power concepts has been brought to Coventry with the construction of a new automotive hub. Built by Willmott Dixon, the Centre for Advanced Low-Carbon Propulsion Systems (C-ALPS) houses some of the most advanced test facilities currently in the UK
Mechanical and electrical engineering consultancy McCann and Partners completed the MEP design for a £5M state of the art fire station at Bristol Airport, which has now been handed over. This is the latest in a series of developments that McCann and Partners have and will be undertaking at Bristol Airport, which
A new office development in Leicester city centre, located next to two newly constructed hotels and public realm areas, is set for early completion in July 2019. “No.1 Great Central Square is such a key development for Leicester; the site exceeds occupiers demands in terms of office accommodation in a modern
UK Power Network has invested £600 million to boost London’s electricity network. The company’s major works have enabled the redevelopment of the Greenwich Peninsula, Nine Elms, Kidbrooke and White City, plus flagship projects such as Crossrail, the Thames Tideway tunnel and HS2. This annual investment is part of the company’s
Dulux Trade is reporting a significant shift in buying behavior from trade professionals with sales of water-borne paint up and solvent-borne paints down across the total paint market in 2018. The latest market data to the end of 2018 shows a rise of 13% in the sales of water-borne paint
Teeside University has welcomed its latest flagship building, which has been completed as part of a new UK centre of excellence for biosciences set to open later this year. The new National Horizons Centre, the University’s research, teaching and training facility, was delivered by Wates Construction over a year-long build programme.
Buckingham Palace, the official London residence of Queen Elizabeth II, could earn £1,034,291.43 a day if listed on Airbnb. The figure was calculated by GuestReady, a globally leading Airbnb management company, to demonstrate how much the sovereign could profit if she rented out the palace’s rooms on the short-term rental
Tenant Shop, an Inchora company is delighted to announce that it has entered into a new partnership with Reposit in order to provide a security deposit alternative product within its portfolio for agents, landlords and tenants. Tenancy deposits have traditionally comprised six weeks rent and despite the cap in the
Two tower cranes have been delivered on a site in Coventry where the development of new student accommodation is taking place. UNINN Parkside Development’s scheme will see 502 en-suite, mix of studio & cluster bedrooms constructed within three towers – six, 13 and 19-storeys high. The 19th floor will house a
London’s St James’s district benefits from new office, retail and restaurant space with the completion of a multi-use development. 35,000 sq ft of office space was delivered over the first to sixth floors, with 11,000 sq ft of retail and restaurant space at ground and basement levels. The Marq project has been completed by Skanska for its client The Crown Estate. “Handing this project over on time, within budget and to such a high standard is a fantastic achievement. Working together with all of our stakeholders has created a strong working ethic that has delivered our customer’s requirements and it’s a building that they can be proud of,” said Richard Kirkpatrick, Project Director. The development features three pieces of bespoke artwork by Jacqueline Poncelet, with two external elements – splay corner and gates – being complemented by an interior wall-based artwork. Moreover, the building is on target to achieve a BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ rating for the office space and a WELL Building Core and Shell Gold certification. On this project Skanska was also supported by Rolfe Judd (architects), Waterman Group (structural engineers) and Watkins Payne Partnership (services engineers). “This has been a complex project at a busy location with several constraints on the site. It has been an exciting project for us, involving creative engineering in close proximity to nearby buildings and busy streets. The structural works have gone very smoothly thanks to close collaboration between all parties. The project is a great credit to all involved,” commented Richard Whitehead, Board Director of Structures at Waterman.
The latest technology to deliver engine testing and research into sustainable power concepts has been brought to Coventry with the construction of a new automotive hub. Built by Willmott Dixon, the Centre for Advanced Low-Carbon Propulsion Systems (C-ALPS) houses some of the most advanced test facilities currently in the UK and is available to car makers, airplane manufacturers, small and medium-sized companies to accelerate the creation of new powertrain solutions for use across automotive, aerospace, marine and rail sectors. “It is a pleasure to be working with Coventry University and FEV to create this cutting-edge facility. Research into low carbon technologies is incredibly important and, as a carbon neutral business, it is something close to the heart of all of us at Willmott Dixon. It was a challenging build, but thanks to strong relationships and communication between all partners, C-ALPS has been a great success,” said Peter Owen, managing director of Willmott Dixon in the Midlands. “Similarly, the constrained location came with its challenges due to being surrounded by businesses, a church, a university and residential areas – it’s very different to most of other FEV sites around the world which are normally located miles away from other buildings. Because of this, our design partner Broadway Malyan designed its cladding to blend in with the environment and complement the site’s location,” Peter added. The hub will allow experts from across the world to conduct research into vehicle hybridisation, electrification, plus enhancement of conventional and alternative fuel-based powertrains to meet the requirements of future transportation and future cities. It is part of a long-term collaboration between Coventry University and FEV, the international leader in design and development of advanced gasoline, diesel and hybrid powertrains and vehicle systems. The development has created five testing cells, offices, a workshop, car parking and soft landscaping. It has created strong links into the engineering industry for Coventry University and in turn, will create fantastic opportunities for students and Coventry itself.
Mechanical and electrical engineering consultancy McCann and Partners completed the MEP design for a £5M state of the art fire station at Bristol Airport, which has now been handed over. This is the latest in a series of developments that McCann and Partners have and will be undertaking at Bristol Airport, which has planning approvals in place to handle 10 million passengers per annum. “Bristol Airport is going through such an exciting period of growth at the moment and we are delighted to have been involved in its expansion over the past few years. The airport team are continually investing in sustainable, low carbon systems and we’ve been working closely with them throughout 2018 to ensure that this building is extremely energy efficient. Working on this state of the art development has been a huge opportunity for us at McCann and Partners, and we look forward to expanding on this in the coming months,” said Jeff Price, Mechanical Director at McCann and Partners. As well as the new fire station, which is located next to the runway and the existing fire training ground, the upcoming developments will include an immigration hall and new airline building, the first of which has recently commenced. “We are currently completing a variety of development projects at the airport to meet the growth in passenger numbers. Sustainability and energy efficiencies are key factors and decision drivers for all projects and it is great to work with a business like McCann and Partners, who share the same approach in promoting state-of-the-art technology and design in development,” commented Andrew Goodenough, Development Director at Bristol Airport. McCann and Partners specialise in providing the full range of building services associated with mechanical, electrical and public health engineering systems – developing innovative and bespoke design solutions. Working across multiple sectors, its commitment is to developing exemplary, sustainable buildings through a collaborative approach to design.
A new office development in Leicester city centre, located next to two newly constructed hotels and public realm areas, is set for early completion in July 2019. “No.1 Great Central Square is such a key development for Leicester; the site exceeds occupiers demands in terms of office accommodation in a modern thriving city centre. Construction is ahead of schedule and the completion date has moved forward. This is great news given the overwhelmingly positive response and strong interest from potential occupiers received to date. Interested parties are reacting to the clear advantages this location offers, not to mention the fantastic facilities and working environment offered,” said Reg Pollock from property consultants APB Leicester LLP. “Great Central Square is a significant regeneration scheme so it’s no surprise that people are keen to be a part of it. Its completion will create a gateway between the city and the waterside, tenants will benefit from the nearby Highcross shopping centre and fantastic transport links to the rail station, motorway network, and nearby airports,” Reg Pollock added. As well as offering up to 33,000 sq ft of Grade A offices, the Great Central Square mixed-use development will also see the listed Great Central Railway Station brought back to its former glory and converted into retail/leisure space. “It’s great to see speculative development within Leicester City Centre reflecting the confidence our clients Charles Street Buildings have in the market. No.1 Great Central raises the bar in terms of specification and design of offices delivered in Leicester to date and, when combined with the high-profile city centre location, really does offer office occupiers looking for space within the Leicester market something quite special,” commented James Keeton of joint agents JLL.
UK Power Network has invested £600 million to boost London’s electricity network. The company’s major works have enabled the redevelopment of the Greenwich Peninsula, Nine Elms, Kidbrooke and White City, plus flagship projects such as Crossrail, the Thames Tideway tunnel and HS2. This annual investment is part of the company’s commitment to invest £1.6 billion in London from 2015 to 2023. Since the beginning of its investment, UK Power Networks has developed a number of new electricity sub stations. “We work with developers, land owners and local authorities to ensure they have the power they need to progress their plans, which ultimately delivers economic growth for all,” said Director of Connections Mark Adolphus. “In the first six months of 2018 we commissioned five main substations to boost the capacity of the London network – that’s the most investment we’ve seen since the 1960s. That includes three main electricity substations within three kilometres of each other; Black Wall Way and Greenwich are catering for infrastructure developments. The third is Crossrail Limmo which is fully funded by our customer. This new infrastructure is the result of a lot of hard work from employees across our business and it represents a huge growth in our network capacity,” Mark added. The total power capacity being installed in London is around 540 MW- which is equivalent to powering 270,000 new homes. New substations providing extra power capacity and built since 2017 include Greenwich Peninsula, Camden and Whitechapel. Other projects under construction to power further development in areas of London and facilitate more infrastructure projects, include new substations at Nine Elms, White City, Willesden and Silvertown. UK Power Networks adds tens of thousands of new connections to its networks every year, runs 30,000 kilometres of high voltage cables under the streets of London, and is developing a smart grid to support changing energy needs.
Dulux Trade is reporting a significant shift in buying behavior from trade professionals with sales of water-borne paint up and solvent-borne paints down across the total paint market in 2018. The latest market data to the end of 2018 shows a rise of 13% in the sales of water-borne paint year-on-year twinned with a decline in sales of solvent-borne paints by 3%. The surge in sales reflects the significant improvements to water-borne formulations that have been achieved by the research and development teams at manufacturers, including AkzoNobel, as they identify sustainable solutions that don’t compromise on the quality of the finish. “The science and technology behind water-borne paints has come a long way in the last few years. Now, our focus is on upskilling the trade to be able to get the best out of these products when they’re on the job. Commercial specifiers and homeowners are becoming increasingly aware of the sustainable alternatives that are available to them when specifying for a project – this shift is going to continue and the trade needs to be ready,” explained Karen Wilkinson, Dulux Trade Lead at AkzoNobel. The new water-borne formulations are durable, quick drying, none (or less) yellowing, low odour and easy to clean from used brushes and equipment. The shift in market is indicative of the increasing number of specifiers making a switch to specifying water-borne paints to comply with Green Building Standards such as BREEAM, LEED and The Well Building Standard. “Our recently launched water-borne Dulux Trade Diamond Satinwood has great flow and can be applied using a range of techniques including spray, allowing trade professionals to achieve a high quality finish in a fraction of the time. It is also very durable, offering excellent stain and grease resistance, which means it is particularly beneficial for woodwork in high traffic areas such as corridors, stairways and internal doors, and is non-yellowing for long-lasting whiteness, so every job can be finished with brilliance,” added Wilkinson. “We expect sales of water-borne paints to rise again over the next twelve months as product innovation continues with new advances in formulation technology, and more and more specifiers and decorators become aware of the benefits, gaining the confidence to switch to water-borne for good,” she concluded.
Teeside University has welcomed its latest flagship building, which has been completed as part of a new UK centre of excellence for biosciences set to open later this year. The new National Horizons Centre, the University’s research, teaching and training facility, was delivered by Wates Construction over a year-long build programme. The £22.3 million building will sit at the heart of a cluster of excellence on Darlington’s Central Park alongside the National Biologics Manufacturing Centre and the University’s Centre for Professional and Executive Development. At peak construction periods, Wates’ team stood at 125 site operatives with extensive opportunities for training and employment for local people also created. On-site training has also included the contractor’s industry leading Building Futures course, which is designed to introduce local jobseekers to careers in construction. The course at the National Horizons Centre led to long-term employment for 50% of candidates with Wates and its supply chain. “The new National Horizons Centre is one of the biggest investments we have made so far. Our rich history of innovation, research and development is set to continue thanks to this state-of-the-art facility in Darlington. Just a year ago, I was stood in an empty field and we were breaking ground on this world-class biosciences research facility – and now we’re seeing the results. I’m also delighted to see that local businesses and local apprentices have benefited from the construction phase,” said Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen. “The new economy will be built on biologics and digital – key sectors we need to support. This massive £17.5million commitment of ours is testament to the importance we have placed on securing jobs for the future,” he added. A programme of fit-out works are now scheduled to take place ahead of the reveal of the new campus later this year.
Buckingham Palace, the official London residence of Queen Elizabeth II, could earn £1,034,291.43 a day if listed on Airbnb. The figure was calculated by GuestReady, a globally leading Airbnb management company, to demonstrate how much the sovereign could profit if she rented out the palace’s rooms on the short-term rental platform. The palace has 775 rooms, of which include but are not limited to, 19 Staterooms, 52 Royal and guest bedrooms, 188 staff bedrooms, 92 offices and 78 bathrooms. The overall figure represents the rent price for one day in the palace’s premises, including access to the property’s garden and facilities. The calculations were made by taking into consideration the daily rental rate of properties in the same area where Buckingham Palace is located. GuestReady made sure its estimate was based on prices of office and events spaces, flats and hotel suites that provide a similar level of luxury that one would expect to get at the palace. In addition, GuestReady accounted for the fact that with the high number of quality amenities offered at the palace – such as a private movie theatre, indoor swimming pool, post office, or medical centre – the daily rates would increase by approximately 50%. According to GuestReady’s numbers, one night in one of the 52 Royal bedrooms would be £3,570, while those keen to stay at Buckingham Palace on a budget could stay in one of the staff apartments on a significantly cheaper amount for just £284 a night. If you fancy renting out the banquet room, which seats 160 guests, you’d need to pay £16,000. If you’re expecting more guests, you can take the party to the palace’s garden where approximately 8,000 people are usually invited to the royal garden celebrations. Buckingham Palace’s garden covers 40 acres and includes a helicopter landing area, a lake, and a tennis court. To rent that space out for one day, the price is a bit steeper at £400,000. “Who never imagined what would be like to stay as a guest at Buckingham Palace? Millions of people around the world are fascinated by the British Royal Family, so we thought we’d crunch the numbers to give them a bit of a glimpse of how much one of the most famous properties in the planet would go for if listed on Airbnb. Even though travellers are still not allowed to book the palace as their next holiday accommodation, there are still plenty of amazing properties in London they can book through short-term rental platforms,” commented Steffan Maagefelt, UK Country Manager at GuestReady.
Tenant Shop, an Inchora company is delighted to announce that it has entered into a new partnership with Reposit in order to provide a security deposit alternative product within its portfolio for agents, landlords and tenants. Tenancy deposits have traditionally comprised six weeks rent and despite the cap in the Tenant Fee Bill bringing this to five weeks, a lump sum of this amount can be difficult for some renters to find. Reposit’s security deposit alternative provides a new way to rent property, with tenants only required to pay a single week’s rent as a service fee to add their landlord to a group insurance policy. The policy covers a landlord for everything that the traditional lump sum would have covered at less cost to the tenant. This innovative product helps landlords fill their properties quickly and securely and gives tenants a deposit alternative. The product crucially includes eight weeks rent as cover (three weeks more cover than cash deposits can legally offer due to capping at five weeks rent) as well as Reposit dealing with all collections of owed money from the tenant via their platform. Tenant Shop prides itself in offering the highest industry standard of products and services to its customers and this is where Reposit’s product excels. Unlike other security deposit alternatives, this product sees a tenant paying a service fee and Reposit then adding their landlord to a group insurance policy as a named beneficiary. As a result only the tenant’s landlord can cancel the policy. This means that the policy is not in the name of someone who cannot claim or be a beneficiary. This ensures maximum regulatory compliance and a far better customer outcome for both landlord and tenant. Reposit’s scheme has significant check-out / claims data to prove that the product works end to end with independent arbitration in the case of a dispute. Underwritten by certain underwriters at Lloyd’s, regulated by the FCA and covered by the FSCS, Reposit proves itself as the strongest product on the market. Tenant Shop has been partnering agents for over ten years providing its dedicated technology platform SULU to help them manage tenancies and reduce workload. It provides agent, landlord and tenant services through notifications, dedicated account management, a unique void solution and utility, media and insurance services (including rent protection). Reposit will be added to the portfolio in April and will be provided in two ways. Letting agents and their landlords will be able to use Reposit via direct introduction from Tenant Shop or coupled with referencing via their preferred referencing partner, UKtenantdata.
Two tower cranes have been delivered on a site in Coventry where the development of new student accommodation is taking place. UNINN Parkside Development’s scheme will see 502 en-suite, mix of studio & cluster bedrooms constructed within three towers – six, 13 and 19-storeys high. The 19th floor will house a rooftop lounge terrace. UNNIN Parkside Development has been working with Winvic Construction, who completed this recent milestone, to refine the design and solve engineering challenges for the last six months. “Winvic has been making excellent progress on Parkside and their knowledge of city-centre, high-rise developments is evident. Already there is a buzz about Coventry’s next luxury student accommodation provision and we look forward to welcoming students into their new rooms in summer 2020. Together with Winvic, we’re confident to exceed expectations,” said Andrew Jamieson, Managing Director of UNINN Parkside Development. So far, the piling for the 5 metre deep basement, which will provide a gym, laundry, cinema, karaoke room and communal lounge for tenants and a plant room/energy centre, has been completed. On the ground floor there is also planned a 100 m2 of retail space. Ground works are underway with the first pile caps and beams installed. Following this will be the storm water attenuation measures, blue roof tanking over basement areas and erection of the steel framed building will. A combination of brick slips and rainscreen cladding will make up the external façade’s striking design, and the interior will take shape with high quality finishes throughout, meeting the demands of the luxury student living market. Delivered on a turnkey service by Winvic, additionally comprising works to the existing highway and the creation of 160 bicycle spaces, the 95 week project will ready for habitation in August 2020.