Heat the Streets, a project coordinated by Kensa Utilities, has moved onto its next phase with the installation of ground source heat pumps in newly built apartments in Carlyon Bay near St Austell. The renewable heating project enables developers to get ahead of the Future Homes Standards, set out by
HeidelbergCement, the parent company of Hanson UK, a leading supplier of low carbon heavy building materials to the construction industry, has just announced its global rebranding. From now on, the company will be known as Heidelberg Materials, to reflect its strong position in the aggregates, cement, and concrete markets. “This
Amid rising energy costs, Rippon Homes, a Midlands-based housebuilder, has urged people to buy new. The house itself can be a potential factor in the rising energy bills, with studies showing that new homes have significantly lower bills on average than their older counterparts. Dedicated to reducing fuel usage in
Contractor and developer G F Tomlinson has completed the renovation of the historic, local building Tunstall Town Hall, together with the Stoke-on-Trent City Council. The two have uncovered, repaired and preserved some of the original heritage features of the Grade II Listed building. Built in 1885, Tunstall Town Hall was
A new strategic alliance is due to automate the payment management system in the construction industry. Payapps Limited and Autodesk will bring their innovative solutions to the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and North America, offering customers real-time accounting and faster payment cycles during the construction process. “Construction companies are
To mark National Tradesmen Day, which is celebrated today on 16th September, an employee from My Build Estimate has launched a new club, dedicated to those working in the construction industry. Aiming to help tradesmen share information more easily, the WhatsApp group consists of 171 builders, homeowners, and property developers.
Acquired by Capital & Centric, a historic warehouse in Manchester is due to be renovated into new workspaces, as well as turned into headquarters for the company. The developer will be joining Piccadilly East neighbourhood, next to its owner occupier community at Crusader Mill on Chapeltown Street. As part of
Portsmouth council has announced it has put forward the planning application for the regeneration of the City Centre North. As part of the proposal, the area between Hope Street to the north, Charlotte Street to the south and Commercial Road to the east will benefit from an incredible transformation. Included
The pin Partnership, a new venture created by propertyCEO, the UK’s leading property development training company, and the property investors network (pin), the UK’s largest property training and networking organisation, aims to become the central resource for property training and education. Anyone interested in learning more about this sector will
Construction at Rosemead Place development in Horam has reached its final stages and with it all of its properties have been sold. Developed by Bovis Homes, Rosemead Place consists of 80 private sale and 43 affordable properties. Built on the site of a former farm off Horebeech Lane, with nearly
Heat the Streets, a project coordinated by Kensa Utilities, has moved onto its next phase with the installation of ground source heat pumps in newly built apartments in Carlyon Bay near St Austell. The renewable heating project enables developers to get ahead of the Future Homes Standards, set out by the government, and install highly efficient, renewable heating. “I was pleased to meet the team from Kensa and see their innovative project in Carlyon Bay. The Heat the Streets initiative is an excellent one and it was useful to hear more about the benefits of ground source heat pumps as an energy supply method that will be critical to help the country achieve its green energy goals for the future,” commented Cornwall Councillor for Mevagissey and St Austell Bay, James Mustoe. “It is good to see Kensa working with a range of properties across Cornwall, New and old, private, and social rent, to showcase the flexibility of the ground source heat pump and the ease in which it can be installed and then left in situ. I look forward to seeing this work continue as a viable option for a greener and cleaner energy future for Cornwall.” To motivate developers switch to renewable heating, Kensa Utilities has decided to pay for the ground array infrastructure through Heat the Streets. This means that they can install ground source heat pumps in their developments for less than the costs of air source heating. Although air source heat pumps cost less to install than ground source, they can suffer corrosion damage at coastal locations such as Carlyon Bay, this increases maintenance costs and reduces the lifespan of the equipment. These new apartments will benefit from ground source heat pumps which are located inside, away from the elements. Better yet, the heat pumps are manufactured by a Cornish company just twenty miles from site. Heat the Streets will soon enter its most ambitious phase street by street retrofit of ground source heat pumps in the Cornish village of Stithians. Kensa Utilities are replacing existing heating systems in the village with efficient Cornish made heat pumps, with no upfront costs to the homeowners. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction Industry News
HeidelbergCement, the parent company of Hanson UK, a leading supplier of low carbon heavy building materials to the construction industry, has just announced its global rebranding. From now on, the company will be known as Heidelberg Materials, to reflect its strong position in the aggregates, cement, and concrete markets. “This is an exciting announcement and one which will allow us to take advantage of our strengths as a global company. For the time being it is business as usual for us and we remain Hanson UK but, in the future, our business – along with other international subsidiaries – will be rebranded and we are excited about the opportunities this will bring,” said Simon Willis, the CEO of Hanson UK. “While our name may be changing, everything else stays the same. Our commitment to our customers and delivering excellence remains and, as we head to the future, we’ll continue to strengthen innovation and deepen partnerships with our customers and other stakeholders.” The new brand identity, which includes a subtle ‘h’ design, underscores Heidelberg Materials’ leading role in achieving carbon neutrality and digitalisation in the building materials industry. Hanson UK is a leading supplier of heavy building materials to the construction industry. It is split into four business lines – aggregates (crushed rock, sand and gravel), concrete, asphalt and contracting and cement – which together operate around 280 manufacturing sites and employ more than 3,500 people. Hanson UK is part of Heidelberg Materials (formerly the HeidelbergCement Group), one of the world’s largest integrated manufacturers of building materials and solutions, with leading market positions in aggregates, cement and ready-mixed concrete. It has more than 51,000 employees at almost 3,000 locations in over 50 countries. At the centre of its actions lies responsibility for the environment. As the forerunner on the path to carbon neutrality and circular economy in the building materials industry, it is working on sustainable building materials and solutions for the future. We enable new opportunities for customers through digitalisation. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction Industry News
Amid rising energy costs, Rippon Homes, a Midlands-based housebuilder, has urged people to buy new. The house itself can be a potential factor in the rising energy bills, with studies showing that new homes have significantly lower bills on average than their older counterparts. Dedicated to reducing fuel usage in its properties, Rippon Homes has partnered with technology company Etopia Group to deliver energy-efficient homes with the aim of Net Zero carbon. In fact, if homeowners opt to install solar panels, the property will be energy positive with a potential EPC rating of 104. Moreover, the housebuilder is implementing the Powered by Etopia (PBE) system at its Marquis Gardens development in Old Dalby, Leicestershire and involves the Etopia Group providing pre-manufactured panels to site that will form a home’s structure. While this particular system is so far being used on one site, Rippon Homes work hard to ensure all their properties are energy efficient, not only saving money for their homeowners, but also reducing their impact on the planet. “We realise the concerns a lot of our customers have right now. Rising energy costs are hitting many people hard. That’s why Rippon Homes is committed to making our homes as energy efficient as possible. Not only are we conscious of our environmental impact, but we also want our customers to live as comfortably as possible. Our energy efficient homes are designed to reduce carbon emissions and our customers’ energy bills. We always go above and beyond at Rippon Homes and we’re proud to say we are constantly adapting to bring our customers the best possible experience,” said Ian Dyke, Managing Director at Rippon Homes. On average, people living in existing homes are paying £1,457 a year for their energy since the 54% energy price increase. As comparison, those living in new homes have seen half as much of an increase and are paying only £713 a year. Even with the energy price cap coming into place in October, those living in an existing home will still see much higher energy bills than those in new homes. This happens because older homes usually feature outdated insulation and technology, preventing them from retaining heat and increasing fuel usage. New homes, such as those built by Rippon Homes, feature double-glazed windows, improved air tightness, high quality insulation, highly efficient boilers, and water saving systems. While older buildings inevitably suffer from wear and tear, the technology and materials in new-builds are up-to-date, making them more energy efficient. On average, it costs £38,000 – £74,000 to renovate a three-bedroom house. A new home requires no renovation and will help the buyer to save on energy bills from day one. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction Industry News
Contractor and developer G F Tomlinson has completed the renovation of the historic, local building Tunstall Town Hall, together with the Stoke-on-Trent City Council. The two have uncovered, repaired and preserved some of the original heritage features of the Grade II Listed building. Built in 1885, Tunstall Town Hall was brought back to life with the transformation of the double flight staircase, the Victorian cabinet, beautiful plaster covings, original men’s toilets, original woodwork including the etched doors, skirting and architraves and the record of Tunstall council members, which had previously been mothballed. A new chequerboard was also installed, along with re-carpeting the stairs, removing the ‘later’ modern extension at the front to return the Town Hall to its original frontage, using skilled stone masons. “We’re incredibly proud to have completed work on the historical Tunstall Town Hall and to see it in its former glory. We have extensive experience delivering heritage projects of this nature, which has seen us working collaboratively with Stoke on Trent City Council to successfully restore and re-model Longton Town Hall prior to commencing on Tunstall. The restoration has breathed life back into the building, which will enhance the local area, and we look forward to seeing the doors reopen again soon,” commented Chris Flint, Managing Director of G F Tomlinson. With the investment that went into the restoration of Tunstall Town Hall, the council has demonstrated its commitment to heritage in the city, as showcased by the recent Heritage Congress and plans to establish a preservation trust. The investment also includes Stoke and Longton Town Halls, with Tunstall Town Hall being the most ambitious refurbishment to date. “Improving Tunstall Town Hall and moving much needed services into one building is a great start to improving the area. The project shows the council cares about its historic buildings and their significance in communities and is another example of the council being trusted to deliver heritage led projects of this nature,” said Councillor Daniel Jellyman, cabinet member for regeneration, infrastructure and heritage. “The building was in a much worse state of repair than first thought. The front elevation was rotating towards the street and some of the roof tiles had perished and after decades of limited investment, a lot of the structure had become a concern, with one of the first tasks to peel as much of the plaster and finishes to expose the structure. The heritage improvement works for a beautiful building have helped us uncover some incredible features and really capture the craftmanship of historical architectural roots with in the city,” Daniel concluded. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction Industry News
A new strategic alliance is due to automate the payment management system in the construction industry. Payapps Limited and Autodesk will bring their innovative solutions to the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and North America, offering customers real-time accounting and faster payment cycles during the construction process. “Construction companies are looking for ways to increase profitability through cost efficiencies and reduce risks by implementing improved compliance processes. The adoption of back-office technology is becoming more critical to automate what has been historically very time-consuming and error-prone manual processes in managing subcontractor billing. By partnering with Autodesk, we are extending the technology benefits to customers of both companies to help improve their accounting and AP processes,” said Geoff Tarrant, Executive Chairman of Payapps. Payapps provides contractors in ANZ and UKI with solutions that improve the entire subcontractor payment management process from the inclusion of schedules of values all the way through to electronic payment. Meanwhile, in North America, it will be GCPay that will provide general contractors with the same benefits and will also manage the lien waiver exchange with their subcontractors through electronic payment processing. If construction companies digitise and automate the payment process, as well as implement real-time payment exchange, they can decrease risk and take steps to improve profitability. “The payment process in the construction industry is a tedious and administratively burdensome one for both general contractors and their trade partners,” commented Sidharth Haksar, Head of Construction Strategy and Industry Partnerships at Autodesk. “By collaborating with Payapps, we’re able to empower Autodesk Construction Cloud customers to benefit from automating a very spreadsheet-driven workflow to reduce payment cycle time and eliminate potential errors as well.” Autodesk Build, the comprehensive field and project management solution that is part of Autodesk Construction Cloud, currently integrates with many of the same leading ERP systems in North America as Payapps does with its GCPay solution. Through these integrations, Payapps and Autodesk feed and receive data to and from those ERP systems, for real-time accounting and payment management. As part of the strategic alliance, Autodesk and Payapps will work together to identify additional integrations that will benefit each other’s common customer base. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction Industry News
To mark National Tradesmen Day, which is celebrated today on 16th September, an employee from My Build Estimate has launched a new club, dedicated to those working in the construction industry. Aiming to help tradesmen share information more easily, the WhatsApp group consists of 171 builders, homeowners, and property developers. The Construction Club provides a safe space for people to communicate and ask questions about the construction industry and building projects. Moreover, participants can also compare costs, share best practice and offer networking opportunities. “We speak to builders, homeowners and property developers every day, but we often found that they weren’t able to communicate with each other. There simply wasn’t an easy, practical way to do that. It became clear there was a real need for a forum where they could informally ask questions of each other, gauge opinions and communicate in a way which moves the industry forward,” said Parm Bhangal. “With our contacts and knowledge of the industry, here at My Build Estimate we were in the ideal position to set up this WhatsApp group and allow participants to easily reach out to each other with questions, ideas and networking opportunities. “And what better time to choose, than National Tradesmen Day. Tradespeople form the backbone of the construction industry and provide the tools, experience and skillset to underpin a thriving housing market. We’ve seen numerous people helped through the group already. A problem which could perhaps have been causing a costly and stressful headache for one person, is easily remedied with a quick piece of advice from another,” he added. The group was developed to mark National Tradesmen Day, an event created to show appreciation to tradespeople and the essential services they offer. It calls for the tradesmen in the country to be celebrated and honored for their essential services. A country could have all the sources, but it wouldn’t matter if people with the right skillset are not there to put the sources to the right use. Tradesmen, both men and women, are one such group of people who ensure that sources are used correctly for a nation to live a comfortable life. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction Industry News
Acquired by Capital & Centric, a historic warehouse in Manchester is due to be renovated into new workspaces, as well as turned into headquarters for the company. The developer will be joining Piccadilly East neighbourhood, next to its owner occupier community at Crusader Mill on Chapeltown Street. As part of the restoration plans, the Manchester warehouse will be transformed into a 20,000 sq ft of stripped back work space for creative industries, with modern spaces that retain the historic charm and original features of the building. The workspaces will be split across four floors of the mill, with the plan to turn the ground floor into a café bar and social hub for businesses and residents from the surrounding community. If everything goes well, the building is expected to greet its first occupiers in 2023. “We were early investors in the Piccadilly East neighbourhood as we knew it could be something special. Years later, it’s still growing in popularity and we’re plotting our next restoration. Chapeltown Warehouse is the missing piece of the puzzle in that block, a rundown former textile mill in need of a decent future,” said Adam Higgins, Co-Founder at Capital&Centric. “To be successful, it’s important that new parts of the city aren’t just full of apartments. We’ve already delivered the Jenga hotel and now we want to add the workplaces and ground floor coffee shop to ensure that Piccadilly East is vibrant and active during the day too. Whilst we’ll keep all of the historic features like the cast iron beams and exposed brickwork, of course we also want to give it the trademark Capital&Centric design edge too.” Also being created is a Capital&Centric HQ at the warehouse, moving its expanding team to the setting. Dating back to the mid-19th century, the building was previously part of Manchester’s booming textile industry. Its restoration will mark Capital & Centric’s next major investment in the Piccadilly East neighbourhood. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction Industry News
Portsmouth council has announced it has put forward the planning application for the regeneration of the City Centre North. As part of the proposal, the area between Hope Street to the north, Charlotte Street to the south and Commercial Road to the east will benefit from an incredible transformation. Included in the application are the former Tricorn and Sainsbury’s sites, which the council bought to unlock the opportunity for significant, long-term regeneration in this part of Portsmouth. If successful, the development will bring new homes, a large public green space alongside space for new community facilities, retail, hospitality and leisure uses, as well as new walking and cycling routes south from Charles Dickens and Buckland. “This outline planning application marks an exciting milestone in the revitalisation of the city centre and developing this area is a vital piece of the puzzle when it comes to breathing new life into the whole city centre. This is a long-term project so the flexibility of this planning application means we can adapt the plans over time to reflect the city’s changing needs, new ideas and technologies and support improvements to other parts of the city centre including Commercial Road and Guildhall Square that will come forward first,” said Councillor Steve Pitt Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Economic Development. Designed to bring a modern flair to the area and to support the council’s wider regeneration plans for the whole city and sustainability targets, the development should take around 15 years to complete. Subject to planning permission, the initial application aims to set the standard for future development and, if given the green light, work on it could begin in 2024. The council has decided to involve the people of Portsmouth in its regeneration plans as well, and, over the coming months, residents will be invited to share theirs ideas for the city centre, including future uses of the new open space that will provide new facilities and green walkable link serving existing communities, while also supporting new city centre residents and becoming an attraction for visitors. As the project progresses the community will also be invited to help shape the look and character of new buildings within City Centre North. Moreover, the council is also planning improvements to the roads around the proposed development, to create easier walking, cycling and bus routes in the city centre and support better transport connections across the region. These improvements will complement plans already in place as part of the South East Hampshire Rapid Transit projects. The council has submitted plans for a new two-way bus lane along Unicorn Road and Cascades Approach, along with safer crossing points for people walking and cycling, and a new shared cycle and footpath on Unicorn Road. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction Industry News
The pin Partnership, a new venture created by propertyCEO, the UK’s leading property development training company, and the property investors network (pin), the UK’s largest property training and networking organisation, aims to become the central resource for property training and education. Anyone interested in learning more about this sector will have access to a variety of high-quality training courses. “Landlords are extremely well-placed to tackle small-scale development projects, and this new partnership means we can help more people reap the benefits of tackling these smaller projects. And of course all pin Partnership students will have the peace of mind of knowing that they will be getting industry-leading training at a fair price,” said Ritchie Clapson CEng MIStructE, founder of propertyCEO. Providing training and mentoring to people interested in small-scale property developments, propertyCEO have developed their courses in a way that it helps trainees leverage their existing skill sets to tackle smaller development projects successfully, and to make the most of the recently expanded range of Permitted Development Rights. pin and the Property Mastermind Programme, both founded by Simon Zutshi, have enabled thousands of people to benefit from Buy-To-Let investing and have helped landlords make the most of their portfolios by providing much needed quality housing in the private rental sector. “Over the last two decades, pin and the Property Mastermind Programme have set a high bar for property networking and training for landlords and investors. Our new venture with propertyCEO means that pin Partnership students will now also have access to propertyCEO’s world-class training and can take advantage of the massive opportunities that exist in small-scale property development right now. The pin Partnership is now the go-to place for high quality training right across the property spectrum,” said Simon Zutshi. The organisations and their products will continue to operate independently, but each will now also operate under the new pin Partnership umbrella. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction Industry News
Construction at Rosemead Place development in Horam has reached its final stages and with it all of its properties have been sold. Developed by Bovis Homes, Rosemead Place consists of 80 private sale and 43 affordable properties. Built on the site of a former farm off Horebeech Lane, with nearly all the homes now occupied, the development has started selling its first homes back in 2019. The due date set for Rosemead Place is the end of this year, with all properties ready to be handed over to their owners in perfect condition. “At Vistry, we are focused on building new homes which meet the needs of buyers in the local area, and we’ve achieved this at Rosemead Place, where all the properties are now sold. This location is now thriving with a mix of new residents, including families and first-time buyers, settling into their new properties. We’ve had great feedback from customers on the quality of their new homes,” said Millie Groves, marketing manager of Vistry Kent, which comprises brands Bovis Homes and Linden Homes. “The development forms a natural extension to Horam, with the design of the houses reflecting the character of this attractive village, while existing trees, hedgerow and woodland have been complemented by new planting. As well as providing new homes, we have also created new play areas and public open space for residents to enjoy. And we have also played our part in the local community, with the sale of the show home furniture from Rosemead Place generating more than £6,000 which we donated to the local charity Demelza Hospice Care for Children,” Millie added. Although all the new homes at Rosemead Place are now sold, Vistry Kent continues to build new homes across East Sussex and Kent under the Bovis Homes and Linden Homes brands. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction Industry News
