Beckton Parkside development in Beckton, part of Bellway London’s collection of homes, has announced the handover of their first homes to their new owners. This milestone was marked by the completion of an apartment building at the development, in which 55 home owners received the keys to their apartments. Out
AS Homes Scotland, a family-run, Glasgow based housebuilder, has announced the start of groundwork for its 36 affordable flats in Bellahouston. Developed in partnership with Home Group, the new development will see the transformation of the former Bellahouston Academy site into a mix of flats. “My team and I are
Ashberry Homes, a trading division of Bellway Homes, has announced the completion of a development in Rochford comprising 401 homes. Residents at the Elizabeth Gardens development in Rochford have now moved into the final completed properties, following the conclusion of construction work at the site. Elizabeth Gardens is located off
Roann Limited, the specialist granite and quartz worktop supplier, has been selected by leading construction company Taylor Wimpey for its Milton Keynes development – Shenley Park. As the exclusive supplier for this development, Roann will be providing worktops in 30mm Cosentino Silestone Blanco Stellar. “Securing the Shenley Park development project is an
London-based architects Robert Hirschfield Architects have announced the completed renovation and restoration of a large Arts and Crafts period home in Hampstead Garden Suburb. Now, the home benefits from extra space, as well as being intelligently and emotionally connected all the way through. To encourage the family that owns the
Arloid Automation, a global leader in AI-based solutions designed to simplify MEP (mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineering) systems management for a broad portfolio of real estate, states that the use of AI within any building management system could lead to significant savings of up to 30% on energy and coolant
Beresfords, an award-winning and family-run property management group, has announced the launch of six new homes developments across Essex this September. With a property value of £160 million, the properties range from luxury waterfront dwellings to rural family homes and well-appointed apartments. The portfolio includes 400 new homes, consisting of
Agilité, an international commercial interiors specialist, has announced its commitment to supporting and advancing the careers of women working in the commercial property sector. An investment of £10,000 is going towards women at all levels within the company, both in France and the UK. The commercial interiors specialist boasts a workforce
Aqualisa, the UK’s leading designer, developer and producer of innovative shower products, has hired Glenn Payne as director of sales within its specification division. In this new role, Glenn will report to Aqualisa sales director Tim Creedon, and will spearhead the expansion of its business in the specification, housebuilder and
The UK Government has announced it will allocate £161 million to renovate Oxford station. Out of that, the Department for Transport has awarded £78.6 million to Network Rail to participate in the redevelopment of Oxford station and railway. The funding follows the granting of a Transport Works Act Order (TWAO)
Beckton Parkside development in Beckton, part of Bellway London’s collection of homes, has announced the handover of their first homes to their new owners. This milestone was marked by the completion of an apartment building at the development, in which 55 home owners received the keys to their apartments. Out of the 391 properties due to be built at Beckton Parkside, consisting of studio, one, two and three-bedroom apartments, a total of 200 are finished and occupied. Currently, the choices available at the development are studio, one, two and three-bedroom apartments within the Parkside Court and Redwood Court apartment buildings, with prices starting from £265,000. Further homes will be released for sale as building work progresses, while all work on site is due to be completed next year. “A new community is forming in Beckton as more new residents arrive at Beckton Parkside. The latest completions here take the number of finished homes to 200, which means the development is now more than 50 per cent complete. Beckton Parkside has been particularly popular with first-time buyers, young single people and couples, and the Help to Buy scheme in London has helped many buyers to get a foot on the property ladder and realise their dream of homeownership,” said Emma Hamlett, Sales Director for Bellway London. “The development still has new homes for sale with Help to Buy, but only on those reserved by 31 October 2022, and ready for build completion by the end of the year, so we’d urge anyone interested in Beckton Parkside to make an appointment with the sales team to find out more.” The London Help to Buy scheme, which is due to come to an end in March 2023, allows first-time buyers to purchase a new-build home up to the value of £600,000 in London with a five per cent deposit and 55 per cent mortgage. The remaining 40 per cent is provided in the form of a Government-backed equity loan which is interest free for the first five years. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction Industry News
AS Homes Scotland, a family-run, Glasgow based housebuilder, has announced the start of groundwork for its 36 affordable flats in Bellahouston. Developed in partnership with Home Group, the new development will see the transformation of the former Bellahouston Academy site into a mix of flats. “My team and I are delighted to have been appointed to deliver 36 innovative new homes in Glasgow,” said Kieran Sexton, Commercial Director at AS Homes Scotland. “Formerly used as an educational campus, this site has a lot of potential and we’re delighted that it is being used to bring more affordable properties to the area. As the demand for affordable housing continues to grow, it is important that we do our part to ensure that our homes are available to those in need. “We’re extremely optimistic about this project and the difference that it will make to the local area. It will be rewarding to see this development progress and enhance the local area as it nears completion.” The work included in the project involves the transformation of the school’s former gymnasium and swimming pool facilities to build a mix of sustainable one-bedroom and two-bedroom flats. The vibrant new development will span a 0.7 acre site, designed in accordance with the local surroundings. Ultimately, the AS Homes development would and bring a fresh yet well-suited ambience to the area, including an on-site car park, cycle stores and a community playpark for families and children to enjoy. “It’s great to be working in partnership with AS Homes Scotland to add to our existing portfolio of affordable homes in Glasgow. This project will play a key role in further strengthening Bellahouston’s offering as an attractive and affordable place to live and we’re delighted that work is underway,” added Andrew Campbell, Development and Delivery Manager at Home Group. Designed to accommodate varying occupier needs, the development has received the Secure By Design Gold Accreditation. Moreover, the homes were created in an energy-efficient way, in order to support the area’s wider net zero ambitions, as well as meet Glasgow’s gold hybrid standard for suitability. The new development is due for completion in August 2023. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction Industry News
Ashberry Homes, a trading division of Bellway Homes, has announced the completion of a development in Rochford comprising 401 homes. Residents at the Elizabeth Gardens development in Rochford have now moved into the final completed properties, following the conclusion of construction work at the site. Elizabeth Gardens is located off Hall Road on the western edge of Rochford and it includes a range of two, three, four, and five-bedroom homes. It was delivered as part of a larger project that saw Ashberry Homes join forces with fellow homebuilder Bellway to deliver a total of 620 homes, of which 219 were built by Bellway at its Eastbury Park development next door. “This partnership has significantly increased the provision of housing in Rochford through the delivery of more than 600 new homes in the town. There was a noticeably high demand for more housing in the area which was reflected by the large volume of enquiries received by our sales team. Such was the popularity of the development that the final homes for sale here were reserved off plan in March, several months ahead of construction work being completed,” said Jenny Walker, Sales Director for Ashberry Homes. “The varied mix of house types has enabled buyers at various stages of the property ladder to find a home here and this has helped to create a diverse neighbourhood with people of different ages and backgrounds. Now that the keys to all the homes have been handed over to their respective buyers, we can see a thriving community starting to bloom,” she added. As part of the planning agreement for the wider 620-home scheme, Ashberry Homes and Bellway have contributed more than £6.1 million towards education in the local area. They have also provided around £395,000 for healthcare, £60,000 towards local conservation, £496,000 for highways, and £15,000 towards measures to improve air quality. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction Industry News
Roann Limited, the specialist granite and quartz worktop supplier, has been selected by leading construction company Taylor Wimpey for its Milton Keynes development – Shenley Park. As the exclusive supplier for this development, Roann will be providing worktops in 30mm Cosentino Silestone Blanco Stellar. “Securing the Shenley Park development project is an exciting opportunity for us, we are delighted to have secured this project in Milton Keynes. We have completed a number of successful projects in collaboration with Taylor Wimpey and have cemented a longstanding relationship built on our quality service and delivery,” said about the achievement of being selected for the project Scott Wharton, Sales Director at Roann Limited. The new Shenley Park development will be located on the outskirts of Milton Keynes and will feature 73 new homes, which will be a mixture of three, four and five-bedroom houses. The location benefits residents as it is a family-friendly area, with both primary and secondary schools located nearby, as well as community centres, green open spaces, bars and restaurants. “We have been involved with Roann since 2017, and I have worked with them across many of our developments. They have been involved with a mix of houses and high-rise apartment schemes. They have always been great at coming back to my quotes within a maximum of 48 hours, and are always happy to meet with the Sales Executives on-site to discuss the products and provide samples. All communication is usually via email and the whole team has always been very friendly,” commented Nicola Phillips, from Taylor Wimpey. Established in 1990, Roann Limited specialises in manufacturing, supplying, and installing high-quality granite and quartz worktops within the house building, property development and construction sectors. With more than 30 years’ experience, the company is dedicated to procuring stone worktops that help developers significantly reduce costs on their projects by selling direct to them. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction Industry News
London-based architects Robert Hirschfield Architects have announced the completed renovation and restoration of a large Arts and Crafts period home in Hampstead Garden Suburb. Now, the home benefits from extra space, as well as being intelligently and emotionally connected all the way through. To encourage the family that owns the house to make better use of the under-utilised lower ground floor level, which opens out onto the rear garden, the architects created greater floor to ceiling heights. “To better enjoy this level, we excavated down to create more generous floor to ceiling heights, as well as introducing a double-height space in the dining area, up towards the ground floor, to allow for a better connection across the two levels,” said Director Robert Hirschfield. A large, diagonal bay window was an original feature of the building that had previously looked down the centre of the garden, until a neighbouring house was built in close proximity. To fix that, the architects looked at restoring the window back to its glory days and the view from the ground floor is now far-reaching across the garden’s woodland and tree canopy. “We restored the majesty of this architectural feature by pulling back the ground floor at this point, creating a double-height window. Those enjoying this feature at lower ground level are enveloped by the banquette, with a backdrop of greenery seen through the windows,” explained Hirschfield. Robert Hirschfield Architects also wanted to encourage the use of the lower ground floor in order to create more space downstairs. Therefore, the kitchen and dining area have both been relocated into one open-plan space, which sits alongside the snug TV room located below the new study. Better connections are afforded between the floors through the use of internal glazed partitions. The living room on the ground floor has also enlarged and panelled to create a dual feeling of period detailing and space. There are also painted timber shutters that can be closed off to give a sense of privacy. In keeping with the traditional Arts and Crafts style, the use of timber as a material lends a handcrafted quality throughout the project. The internal doors have also been remade as interpretations of the existing period panel doors. There are three new staircases running through the home, all of which work independently from each other. “These were designed to create more leisurely movement around the house and encourage the user to pause at the end of one flight of steps before going on to the next one, a ‘staircase promenade’ if you will,” concludes Robert. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction Industry News
Arloid Automation, a global leader in AI-based solutions designed to simplify MEP (mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineering) systems management for a broad portfolio of real estate, states that the use of AI within any building management system could lead to significant savings of up to 30% on energy and coolant use. In this sense, AI could be further used by EU member states to help reach the voluntary 15% gas reduction target. Member states agreed to reduce their gas demand by 15% compared to their average consumption in the past five years, between 1 August 2022 and 31 March 2023, with measures of their own choice, according to the Council of the EU. The importance of reducing energy demand cannot be overemphasised largely due to supplies from Russia being significantly reduced, erratic and they may be stopped altogether. Arloid’s AI system can be implemented without any hidden costs, which makes it one of the cheapest and easiest ways for EU states to significantly reduce energy consumption with no upfront costs and get a step closer to reaching their gas target. Once installed, companies can start savings and, once those savings have been established, a percentage fee can be charged. For a company to reduce its energy usage with Arloid’s AI system, it needs to follow a series of simple steps. In the first instance, a virtual building identical to the one where savings are to be made is produced. This digital building has the same construction materials, location, climate and personnel attributes as the real one in order to help AI make a series of simulations based on live data from the real building. This process takes about a month, which is a lot faster than if it was done by building services engineers or property managers in the real world. The AI intuitively adjusts the heating, ventilation and cooling settings, thus resulting in real savings. Imagine a world where all these changes are automatically done – then imagine what can be achieved. It’s not only saving energy and money, but improving comfort too. Arloid’s AI uses Deep Reinforcement Learning to automatically manage the operation of HVAC systems in a wide range of buildings via a secure Virtual Private Network (VPN). It then makes decisions based on reinforcement behaviour and real-time data to provide faster optimisation and better HVAC performance. By controlling each HVAC device in the system and dividing the building into distinct heating and cooling micro-zones, arloid.ai provides more control of the environment and better user comfort. The technology is gaining ground not just in Europe but across the world with actual savings being achieved over 56 million square feet. This includes real estate and many types of commercial building such as retail premises, hotels, medical centres, warehouses. By reducing energy use the cost savings can counter the effects of energy supply issues, higher prices and inflation. AI should now top the political agenda right across the EU to help member states reach their voluntary gas reduction target of 15%. It’s not as difficult to achieve as it may first seem because new technology can play a huge part for very little outlay. At any rate it’s an obvious and achievable first step towards EU goals and for those countries encouraging dimmed lights and shorter showers there is another way! Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction Industry News
Beresfords, an award-winning and family-run property management group, has announced the launch of six new homes developments across Essex this September. With a property value of £160 million, the properties range from luxury waterfront dwellings to rural family homes and well-appointed apartments. The portfolio includes 400 new homes, consisting of one and two-bedroom apartments and three, four and five-bedroom detached and semi-detached houses. The prices for the developments in Chelmsford, Felstead, Braintree and Hullbridge range from £685,000 to £800,000. “It’s been an incredibly exciting time for the new homes team at Beresfords, as we launch six new developments to market. We’re seeing the demand for new housing continuing to rise across the County, as buyers look to make purchases now, while the new homes market remains steady, ready to move in next year. Each development is unique and will provide quality homes in fantastic locations across Essex,” commented Aaron Breakwell, Director of New Homes and Land at Beresfords Group. Among the six developments are Birkett Hall Gardens in Woodham Ferrers, an attractive village in the heart of the picturesque Essex countryside. The development has great connections to the city of Chelmsford and London and it is the perfect choice for families looking to relocate. Another unique development is Scholars Green, located in the village of Felstead. Comprising 28 homes, the neighbourhood is surrounded by trees to create a rural and peaceful environment that benefits from private access. Similarly, Wildflower Meadow offers a tranquil collection of ten traditional and contemporary modern homes just outside the rural village of Braintree. As part of the two exclusive developments is Grayling Park, consisting of ten homes nestled into a corner of Little Waltham which is situated on the outskirts of Broomfield, close to the village and Chelmsford’s mainline railway station. The second is Waltham Grange, a gated collection of ten outstanding homes in Blasford Hill, providing an oasis of peaceful, luxurious living. As well as the new homes, a collection of 14 waterfront properties with private gardens and roof terraces sit at Kingsmans Point on the outskirts of Hullbridge with views of the River Crouch. Following a successful period of growth for Beresfords Group, the influx of new housing will further help to generate an economic boost for Essex, attracting more people to the area including those living in London looking to relocate. Beresfords Group will be holding open days at the developments between Saturday 10 September and Saturday 1 October. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction and Property News
Agilité, an international commercial interiors specialist, has announced its commitment to supporting and advancing the careers of women working in the commercial property sector. An investment of £10,000 is going towards women at all levels within the company, both in France and the UK. The commercial interiors specialist boasts a workforce that is 31% female, including 57% of its senior leadership team. With this pledge, Agilité will be supporting CREW France and UK, affiliates of the Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW) Network, which counts for a total of 12,000 members globally. “When it comes to supporting women at all stages of their careers, I’ve seen the power of CREW first-hand, having been a member since 2019 and also sitting as the chair of CREW UK’s communication committee. We are passionate about supporting women in the real estate industry, and with bases in both the UK and France, we were keen to invest in fostering real estate talent within the local markets,” explained Agilité’s development director, Kirsty Shearer. Established in London in 2016, the past two years have seen the UK arm of the network offer leadership opportunities, via board positions and committee roles, to more than 30 real estate professionals within the UK. Meanwhile, Agilité’s investment into the fledgling CREW France will help to power a mentorship program headed by Laurence Girod, head of enterprise IPM solutions EMEA at Cushman and Wakefield. The programme will include 15 mentors from all aspects of the commercial real estate industry providing a broad perspective, guidance, and career insights to mentees. “Agilité’s support will help us to build bridges between real estate women globally,” said Siobhan Godley, head of Deloitte real estate and CREW UK board chair. “The power of the CREW Network in the United States and Canada is undisputed, and we’re delighted that, with Agilité’s longstanding support, we can open CREW UK and France to be part of an established organisation that connects, supports, and advances women globally.” Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction and Property News
Aqualisa, the UK’s leading designer, developer and producer of innovative shower products, has hired Glenn Payne as director of sales within its specification division. In this new role, Glenn will report to Aqualisa sales director Tim Creedon, and will spearhead the expansion of its business in the specification, housebuilder and developer channels. “It’s a particularly exciting time to be joining Aqualisa. The company’s powerful heritage in bathroom innovation, as well as its solid reputation for reliability and customer service, makes it an exceptional brand. I look forward to being able to advance its presence in the specification channel throughout the value chain, and increase the team’s coverage to a national level. This is an outstanding opportunity to extend Aqualisa’s business in the property development, architectural and specification arena,” commented Glenn Payne. Joining Aqualisa from construction materials company Knauf, Glenn used to hold the position of head of sales for the UK and Ireland. Previous appointments have included head of projects for Grohe and head of business development at Whiteleaf Furniture. With a career spanning more than 20 years in the construction product, KBB and furniture industries, Glenn brings extensive experience in sales strategy development, with an established track record in new business generation, building key stakeholder relationships and driving profitable revenue growth. In his new position at Aqualisa, Glenn will accelerate the specification project pipeline and increase conversion ratios, with plans to expand the sales team and lead the Aqualisa, Elisa and Gainsborough brands into new sectors. “I am extremely pleased to welcome Glenn to the Aqualisa specification team. We will benefit greatly from his significant experience and achievements in the industry, as well as his proven background in negotiation, successful project delivery and commercial growth,” added Tim Creedon, sales director at Aqualisa. Glenn holds a BA Hons Degree in Interior Design from the Surrey Institute of Art & Design. A father of two girls, Glenn likes to spend time with his family, and his favourite pastimes include golf, cooking and travel. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction and Property News
The UK Government has announced it will allocate £161 million to renovate Oxford station. Out of that, the Department for Transport has awarded £78.6 million to Network Rail to participate in the redevelopment of Oxford station and railway. The funding follows the granting of a Transport Works Act Order (TWAO) and will enable Network Rail to significantly transform Oxford station, the railway in Oxfordshire and nearby road network, boosting the number of passengers the station can serve, accommodating new services including freight and improving the accessibility of the station. “We are delighted to have been awarded this significant amount of funding from the Department for Transport, which will enable us make positive substantial improvements to Oxford station and railway for the benefit of our passengers and freight customers,” said Mike Gallop, Network Rail’s Western Route and Strategic Operations Director. The redevelopment plan includes the introduction of a new track and platform to be added alongside the existing platform 4, creating an island platform on the west side of the station. A new western station entrance will also be built next to Botley Road and will link up to the new platform via a subway, stairs and lift. The new entrance will make the station more accessible to people living to the west of the station, reducing walking time. Moreover, there will also be improvements to the nearby road network and replacement of Botley Road bridge, including the lowering of the road to enable standard double-decker buses to pass underneath for the first time. The new bridge design will include a four-metre-wide cycle/footpath on each side to encourage sustainable transport and improve safety. “This £161 million will truly transform the region, increasing the number of services for passengers, boosting economic growth by connecting people to new opportunities and increasing freight services between the South and Midlands,” added UK Rail Minister Wendy Morton. The latest funding announcement follows £69 million of investment from the government last May to support the development of the design and enabling work. The Oxford Local Enterprise Partnership (OxLEP) are also contributing an additional £10.5 million towards the project. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction and Property News
