Built on a site that once housed a popular public house dating back to the 1800s, The Astley in the Northern Quarter of Manchester is a beautiful residential development offering 135 privately rented sector apartments. The architect wanted to incorporate a number of brick details to enhance the design quality
A new study from Juniper Research has found that the number of buildings globally deploying smart building technologies will reach 115 million in 2026, from 45 million in 2022. This growth of over 150% reflects increasing demand for energy efficiency from businesses and residents alike, as energy costs spike. Juniper
Peter Sharpe has joined Bouygues UK as Project Director, starting work on Zone One of the innovative Pentre Awel development in Llanelli. Peter joins Bouygues UK from Laing O’Rourke and Balfour Beatty where he held Senior Project Leader positions. His new appointment sees him returning to Bouygues UK, following his
Developing eco-friendly equipment alternatives for the construction and plant hire sectors has paid off in spades for innovative Sales & Rehire company MHM Group, as it achieved a record number of enquiries at the Executive Hire Show. MHM Eco, part of the MHM Group, made its first-ever appearance at the
Johnson Controls, the global leader for smart, healthy and sustainable buildings, has joined over 200 forward-thinking companies as the newest member of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). With a global team of 100,000 experts in more than 150 countries, Johnson Controls offers the world’s largest portfolio of
Bouygues UK has formally handed over the keys to the newly-completed sbarc|spark building at Cardiff University, which was officially opened on St David’s Day, 1st March 2022. The new building is the largest innovation facility of its kind in Wales, featuring 12,000m sq of floor space across six storeys, with commercial units and
NHBC, the leading warranty and insurance provider for new homes in the UK, has announced that Roger Bullivant’s RBeam precast concrete foundation system has been officially welcomed to NHBC Accepts. NHBC Accepts is an all-inclusive, end-to-end service that helps to build confidence in innovative construction and enable innovative products to be fast-tracked
Asset lifecycle software specialist Glider has made a lasting impression following its attendance and sponsorship of the Digital Impact stage at this year’s Futurebuild, the leading industry event aimed at inspiring the transformational change needed to propel the industry to net zero. Held at London’s ExCel Centre from 1st –
Research by VonHaus has revealed that on average, first-time buyers spend £1,397 on furnishing within the first 12 months of moving in. It can be daunting to splash the cash on home furnishing without knowing how long your pieces will last. This is why buyers should consider upcycling older items if their
Specialist property developer and operator Strawberry Star Group continues to expand its housing vision with the launch of a dedicated Built-to-Rent (BTR) arm, Star Living. Star Living is positioned in the market to provide a modern and convenient rental product within the commuter belt against a background of chronic supply
Built on a site that once housed a popular public house dating back to the 1800s, The Astley in the Northern Quarter of Manchester is a beautiful residential development offering 135 privately rented sector apartments. The architect wanted to incorporate a number of brick details to enhance the design quality of the building. IG Masonry Support provided a number of products to ensure the finished building met the aspiration. The Astley is an eight to fourteen-storey development which comprises stunning apartments at the corner of Port Street and Great Ancoats Street. The apartments range from 430 sq ft one-bedroom accommodation through to 900 sq ft three-bedroom apartments, with the ground floor offering a reception area and residential lounge. Around 6,000 sq ft of commercial space is also provided. As well as the upper levels offering scenic vistas of the city and Peak District, there are communal roof gardens on the elevation facing south-west. The main contractor engaged IG Masonry Support and requested its teams to develop a range of brick slip products to achieve intricate brick detailing on the exterior of The Astley apartment block. Going above and beyond to fulfil this demand didn’t stop there; IG also provided a huge amount of design support prior to engagement in terms of drawings and sample products. On all its projects, IG Masonry Support strives to exceed customers’ high expectations in terms of quality. The Challenge The main challenge that this project posed was in terms of the ground floor deep brick soffits which required a detailed design to be developed by a masonry specialist, in conjunction with the design team. The architect and design team produced the design intent, with IG Masonry Support providing detailed design and input including a selection of brick bond pattern set-outs. A header bond pattern was chosen for the outside edge of the soffit and a stretcher bond pattern on the soffit panels. To achieve the detailing required for the deep soffit reveal, IG created a series of interlocking brick slip soffit panels that could be simply installed on site to create the agreed visual appearance. As the prefabricated units were manufactured offsite and delivered complete with the bricks bonded, the lightweight panels facilitated fast and efficient installation. Consequently, this allowed an uninterrupted continuation of brick on the underside of the first floor. Elsewhere, numerous brick soffit solutions had to be created to accommodate a variety of different sized window and balcony openings across The Astley’s exterior. The smallest window opening was 0.9 metres in length. The largest windows on the façade required a continuous brick soffit that spanned over 4.5 metres in length. Furthermore, the largest openings over the balconies spanned 3.7 metres in length. IG’s Brick Slip Lintels achieved the brick soffits over the smaller span openings and IG employed welded masonry support and its B.O.S.S. (brick on soffit system) units for the larger openings. On the window and balcony openings, the header bond has helped to differentiate the soffit from the brickwork on the main façade. The Solution On this project, IG Masonry Support has demonstrated the breadth of its product range and ability to design and supply a range of solutions. Living up to its reputation as an innovative solution provider, IG Masonry Support offered both seamless designs and service. As well as designing all the masonry support, lintels and brick soffit products, IG took time to attend site regularly and provide the installation team with training and support to ensure products were fitted correctly. Further proof of its commitment to quality, IG Masonry Support was sent a consignment of brick identical to the ones used onsite to ensure the prefabricated components blended effortlessly with the façade’s brickwork. To achieve the details traditionally, onsite labour would have been a time-consuming task that required brick cutting and additional skill. Moreover, when achieving the deep reveal around the ground floor, the utilisation of IG’s brick slip soffit panel instead of traditional methods negated the need for mechanical lifting. IG Masonry Support’s lightweight brick slip panels utilise 25mm brick slips to reduce the weight of the installation. As it is supplied in 1/2m2 panels the system not only eliminates mechanical lifting, it is quick and easy to install. A stunning development, the presence of IG’s seamless and quality brickwork support solutions has ensured this modern apartment block truly stands out from the crowd in Manchester’s bustling Northern Quarter. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction Industry News
A new study from Juniper Research has found that the number of buildings globally deploying smart building technologies will reach 115 million in 2026, from 45 million in 2022. This growth of over 150% reflects increasing demand for energy efficiency from businesses and residents alike, as energy costs spike. Juniper Research defines a smart building as a building that uses connectivity to enable economical use of resources, while creating a safe and comfortable environment for the occupants. The new research, Smart Buildings: Key Opportunities, Competitor Leaderboard & Market Forecasts 2022-2026, found that by enabling buildings to monitor and automate common functions, significant efficiency gains can be made, while improving the environment for workers and residents. The report recommends that vendors focus on building analytics platforms for the most value to be driven from deployments. Non-residential Smart Buildings Driving Spend The research found that non-residential smart buildings will account for 90% of smart building spend globally in 2026; at a similar level to 2022. This dominance is due to the larger economies of scale in commercial premises driving this spend, as well as the commercial focus of most smart building technologies. “Smart building platform vendors will understandably focus on non-residential use cases, as these provide a stronger return on investment, but they should not neglect the importance of residential deployments, as environmental concerns intensify,” explained research co-author Dawnetta Grant. Smart Building Sensor Shipments to Accelerate Quickly The research found that the global shipments of sensors used in smart buildings will exceed 1 billion annually in 2026 from 360 million in 2022; representing a growth of 204%. Sensors, when combined with intelligent management platforms, will allow smart buildings to adapt to conditions; matching elements such as lighting, heating and ventilation to live requirements. The report recommends that smart building vendors partner with AI vendors to maximise the benefits of automation, such as reduced energy costs and improved working environments. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction Industry News
Peter Sharpe has joined Bouygues UK as Project Director, starting work on Zone One of the innovative Pentre Awel development in Llanelli. Peter joins Bouygues UK from Laing O’Rourke and Balfour Beatty where he held Senior Project Leader positions. His new appointment sees him returning to Bouygues UK, following his role as Project Director for Pembrokeshire Learning College in 2016. “These are exciting times returning to Bouygues UK as Project Director to deliver the prestigious Pentre Awel Wellbeing and Life Sciences Village at Machynys,” said Peter of his appointment. “The multi-disciplined project provides the environment to share my skills with the project team and stakeholders, as well as interact with the local community, identifying opportunities to deliver community benefits from this great project. I’m looking forward to working with the Senior Leadership team to further grow and develop Bouygues UK’s aspirations in this region.” He is now leading the build of the prestigious £87 million Pentre Awel development which will bring together life science and business innovation, community healthcare and modern leisure facilities at the 83-acre Delta Lakes site on the Llanelli coastline. Pentre Awel is the largest regeneration project in south West Wales. It aims to create around 1,800 jobs over 15 years, boosting the local economy by more than £450 million. The project is being delivered by Carmarthenshire County Council, in partnership with Hywel Dda University Health Board, Universities and Colleges. Bouygues UK’s construction of the development will include business and innovation, integrated care and physical rehabilitation facilities, a well-being skills centre, and a new state-of-the-art leisure centre, along with landscaped outdoor public spaces for walking and cycling. “It is great to welcome Peter back to the Bouygues UK fold, and it is particularly gratifying to have a Project Director of his experience and calibre on a project such as Pentre Awel. This is such an exciting project for us, as well as for the client Carmarthenshire Council, and we are really looking forward to starting this amazing build, with Peter at the helm,” added John Boughton, Bouygues UK Managing Director in Wales. Bouygues UK is holding a Meet the Buyer event at Parc y Scarlets on 30th March, where local sub-contractors are invited to come along and discuss the opportunities available on the build of Pentre Awel Zone One. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction Industry News
Developing eco-friendly equipment alternatives for the construction and plant hire sectors has paid off in spades for innovative Sales & Rehire company MHM Group, as it achieved a record number of enquiries at the Executive Hire Show. MHM Eco, part of the MHM Group, made its first-ever appearance at the Executive Hire Show after its launch in January 2022. Its eco range offers low emission and innovative products that emit zero or reduced carbon and can be powered by renewable fuel sources. After a two-year break, the Executive Hire Show returned in early February at the Coventry Building Society Arena. A total of 2,751 visitors from the hire sector attended the event, looking to expand their fleets with new products and discover the latest innovations and launches from the diverse range of exhibitors at the show. One of the many products MHM exhibited at the show was the solar hybrid gen MGTP 20 SHG-5 – a 20 kVA combined solar, battery and diesel generator with a user-friendly, complete automatic self-charging hybrid system. In addition, MHM launched two new products in Coventry including the Ultra-Silent Event Ready range and the Pressure Washer Water Bowser which were showcased before their official launch in Spring 2022. MHM Group Managing Director Matt Llewellyn said: “The Executive Hire Show was a rewarding experience for the MHM Group. It was great to be back and interacting with people following the postponement of the show in 2021. “We were able to showcase our Eco brand and demonstrate MHM’s commitment to pushing the hire industry to become greener, as well as look to alternative methods of energy to power plant equipment across the UK. We have and will continue to increase our sustainable hire fleet and promote products that improve energy efficiency and lower emissions as part of a drive towards a cleaner, more sustainable future. Which are available to purchase or rehire from MHM Group” Matt added: “We were thrilled to sponsor the ‘Innovation Trail: ECO Live’ stage which was presented by construction industry specialist Peter Haddock. The stage explored new power options and introduced technologies that improved safety, security and productivity in the workplace. Boasting a unique design working with zero CO2 emissions, noise levels and fuel consumption, MHM’s Street-Lite model also featured at the Innovation Trail and continues to be a popular choice among clients. “We are delighted with the success of the show and the number of enquiries we had from the event. The whole MHM Group team have done themselves proud from start to finish, set up to breakdown.” Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction Industry News
Johnson Controls, the global leader for smart, healthy and sustainable buildings, has joined over 200 forward-thinking companies as the newest member of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). With a global team of 100,000 experts in more than 150 countries, Johnson Controls offers the world’s largest portfolio of building technology, software as well as service solutions with some of the most trusted names in the industry. With a history of more than 135 years of innovation, the company delivers the blueprint of the future for industries such as healthcare, schools, data centres, airports, stadiums, manufacturing and beyond through its comprehensive digital offering OpenBlue. Johnson Controls is committed to helping solve the climate crisis, supporting customers in achieving their efficiency and sustainability goals through offerings such as OpenBlue Net Zero Buildings as a Service. As a global leader in smart, healthy, sustainable buildings, sustainability has been a central focus of Johnson Control’s operations for decades. The company was among the earliest industrial companies to report emissions and pledge emission reductions and has made tremendous progress – reducing carbon emissions intensity by more than 70 percent since 2002. Johnson Controls continues to take significant steps to further improve its environmental impact and has committed to achieving net zero Scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions by 2040 – ten years ahead of the Paris Climate Agreement goal. By 2030, the company aims to cut its Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 55 percent and reduce Scope 3 emissions by 16 percent. These ambitious 2030 emissions reduction targets have been approved by the Science Based Targets initiative. Johnson Controls also recently became the first S&P500 industrial company to release an Integrated Sustainable Finance Framework as well as issue a Sustainability-Linked Bond. This builds on its green finance leadership following its prior green bond issuance and the linking of its senior credit facility to sustainability metrics. As part of its Integrated Sustainable Finance Framework, Johnson Controls further committed to achieving interim absolute emission reduction targets by 2025. Johnson Controls is a member of both the WBCSD decarbonisation and circular economy working groups for the Built Environment. With an integrated focus on designing buildings with low to no carbon, standardising measurement across the industry, and delivering nature positive solutions, the two working groups are on the forefront of designing the future of sustainable, equitable cities. “We are delighted to join WBCSD”, said Katie McGinty, vice president and chief sustainability and external relations officer at Johnson Controls. “The building sector accounts for nearly 40 percent of global annual CO2 emissions, so there is no tackling climate change without substantial investment in buildings. We look forward to working with and learning from fellow WBCSD members, leading the way to a low carbon, nature positive, sustainable economy, together.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction Industry News
Bouygues UK has formally handed over the keys to the newly-completed sbarc|spark building at Cardiff University, which was officially opened on St David’s Day, 1st March 2022. The new building is the largest innovation facility of its kind in Wales, featuring 12,000m sq of floor space across six storeys, with commercial units and lab spaces for spinouts and start-ups. Designed by Hawkins\Brown architects, the building houses an eye-catching Oculus staircase – the first of its kind in the UK – which was designed and produced by Taunton Fabrications. The sbarc|spark build began in 2018 and is the first building to be completed on the University’s Cardiff Innovation Campus. Bouygues UK remains on site at the Translational Research Hub (TRH) – a building situated adjacent to sbarc|spark – which will house two world-leading scientific research establishments; the Institute for Compound Semiconductors and Cardiff Catalysis Institute. TRH is due for completion in the middle of the year. Featuring collaborative working spaces, auditorium and RemakerSpace, sbarc|spark locates 400 experts from 12 social science research groups alongside Cardiff Innovations@sbarc – the University’s home for partnerships. It will eventually be home to 800 people, providing an innovative space to nurture and grow tomorrow’s big ideas, with dedicated space for student entrepreneurs and start-ups. The building also benefits the local community as the ground floor will be a public open space with a café and a flexible auditorium for TEDx-style events. Bouygues UK Operations Director for Wales, Stephen Davies, said: “Our team have achieved a major milestone in handing over the sbarc|spark building for our valued client Cardiff University. Our team and trusted supply chain partners have worked tirelessly to deliver a facility of the highest quality and it is so rewarding for them to finally see the smiling faces of the client and their tenants as they start to occupy the building. “We would like to thank Cardiff University, Gleeds and all our partners on the project in achieving the successful handover of the sbarc|spark building and look forward to their continued support as we drive towards completion of the full facility. “We are extremely proud of the teams’ commitment to social value and the community which include 471 hours of staff time donated to education and community support and 5,957 weeks of employment delivered for apprentices, trainees, graduates and previously unemployed people. In addition, more than 70% of site contractors and labour was sourced locally during the build, bringing economic benefits to Wales.” Professor Damian Walford Davies, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, has overseen the delivery of the centre. He said of the opening: “We celebrate the opening of sbarc|spark confident that the vision that inspired it – that of a community of Cardiff University researchers with social and economic wellbeing as their subject and goal, co-located with external partners with innovation in their souls in a building designed to eliminate barriers – will now be lived reality.”
NHBC, the leading warranty and insurance provider for new homes in the UK, has announced that Roger Bullivant’s RBeam precast concrete foundation system has been officially welcomed to NHBC Accepts. NHBC Accepts is an all-inclusive, end-to-end service that helps to build confidence in innovative construction and enable innovative products to be fast-tracked for NHBC warranty. As part of the new service, detailed and robust technical reviews of design, manufacture and construction results in provision of a certified usage licence for a bespoke NHBC Accepts logo and website listing. The RBeam is a factory produced reinforced precast concrete foundation system for low-rise developments. The system is used with a range of piled foundation techniques catering for many different soil types and ground conditions including clay heave situations. “Following a thorough approval process we are delighted to welcome Roger Bullivant Limited to NHBC Accepts,” said NHBC’s Innovation Manager, Richard Lankshear. “An NHBC Accepts certificate is a way of demonstrating that innovative products or systems have already been reviewed thus reducing the risk of delays on site. NHBC Accepts will play a critical role in ensuring developers, manufacturers, lenders and consumers have faith and confidence in the quality of new homes built with innovative forms of construction.” Richard Taylor, Bullivant’s Foundation Systems Director, added: “This approval brings customer confidence and improved productivity on site. We also recognise it as an important achievement in the progression of offsite manufacture in the residential market.” Bullivant’s Foundation Systems Technical Manager Nigel Rake said: “Roger Bullivant Limited has been designing, manufacturing, and installing precast foundations for many years. The RBeam system is a category 3 pre-manufactured component under the government’s MMC definition framework and we are very pleased that this has been given a seal of approval for NHBC Accepts. This will provide further assurance in our RBeam system to all our customers and the wider industry.”
Asset lifecycle software specialist Glider has made a lasting impression following its attendance and sponsorship of the Digital Impact stage at this year’s Futurebuild, the leading industry event aimed at inspiring the transformational change needed to propel the industry to net zero. Held at London’s ExCel Centre from 1st – 3rd March, the three-day exhibition attracted more than 300 exhibitors and 350 speakers and provided the perfect platform for Glider to demonstrate its range of data management software solutions. Hosting 22 seminars across three days, the Glider-sponsored Digital Impact Stage brought together leading experts in digital technology to provoke fascinating conversations and enable industry professionals to better understand “digital construction” and the purpose it serves. John Adams, Head of Product for Glider, chaired a seminar entitled Why the future of construction is digital. It explored the positive influence of digital and how, over the past two years, the pandemic has challenged us to embrace digital beyond what we thought was possible. “We were delighted to sponsor the Digital Impact Stage at Futurebuild 2022 and there was a fantastic line up of speakers ensuring a high level of debate,” commented Nick Hutchinson, Managing Director at Glider. “Futurebuild provided us with the ideal platform with which to showcase, engage and influence with key professionals within the sector and highlight why digital is the driving force behind modern construction.” At the Glider exhibition stand, team members were able to demonstrate some of their flagship digital solutions including gliderbim® – an intelligent information management platform which supports the whole asset data lifecycle. “Our exhibition stand at this year’s Futurebuild was also a great success with visitors overwhelmingly positive,” commented Nick Hutchinson. “There was a high level of interaction with our consulting and technical team which gave us the perfect opportunity to meet up with existing clients, as well as discover new customers and contacts.” Glider will also be hosting a webinar event on the Futurebuild virtual platform from 15:00-16:00 on Thursday 17th March with Jon Adams of Glider chairing a talk entitled: The sustainable actions we need to take to build a better world. It will see speakers from the live event discussing highlights from the show and what is driving healthy buildings and healthy environments. It will also look at sustainable architecture and what we mean by making our cities ‘smart’.
Research by VonHaus has revealed that on average, first-time buyers spend £1,397 on furnishing within the first 12 months of moving in. It can be daunting to splash the cash on home furnishing without knowing how long your pieces will last. This is why buyers should consider upcycling older items if their pieces of furniture need some extra TLC. Putting your DIY skills to work and making old items look as good as new can be a fun challenge. Alternatively, if upcycling isn’t for you, make sure you research reputable furnishing websites which stock good quality items. This can be more expensive, but your items are likely to last for the long haul than upcycling already worn items. “The life expectancy of most pieces varies by several years and is greatly dependent on the original materials used and construction of the pieces, the amount of daily use, and the amount of care taken during the use of the furniture. A sofa in a family room with small children, teenagers, and lots of pets will not last as long as one in a formal living room,” commented Katie Thomas, Interior Designer and Founder of KTM Design. “Although there isn’t any specific life expectancy on furniture as a rough guide, sofas and chairs last between 7-15 years, dining tables between 15-20 years and beds between 15-20 years, however it is all dependant on usage and care. “It’s obvious when it’s time to replace your milk or an everyday essential like your toothbrush, but the expiration dates of our furniture isn’t always clear. While furniture doesn’t have an expiration date like packaged foods, most consumers no longer purchase home furnishings with the plan that they will last forever.” The top 10 best and worst housewarming gifts Searches for ‘best housewarming gift 2021’ were up 600% last year, showing that Brits are conscious of gifting their loved ones with the best or most thoughtful items possible.. Whilst it’s a lovely tradition in the UK to gift an item to someone when moving house, there are some presents which first-time buyers would prefer not to receive. A survey conducted by VonHaus reveals the top 10 housewarming gifts that are perfect for a new home as well as the 10 worst housewarming presents which appear to be better left on the shelf. The housewarming gifts that people really want: Money (28%) Gift cards (27%) Plants (24%) DIY Tools (17%) Kitchen crockery (17%) Alcohol (16%) Scented candles (16%) Basket of tea and coffee (13%) Food (12%) Glassware (11%) The housewarming gifts that people don’t want: Toilet paper (28%) Exercise gear (27%) Air freshener (19%) A house pet (17%) Prints with quotes such as ‘live laugh love’ (15%) Underwear and socks (15%) Second-hand appliances (14%) Calendar (14%) Novelty drinking cups (13%) Teddy Bear (13%)
Specialist property developer and operator Strawberry Star Group continues to expand its housing vision with the launch of a dedicated Built-to-Rent (BTR) arm, Star Living. Star Living is positioned in the market to provide a modern and convenient rental product within the commuter belt against a background of chronic supply issues, whilst serving investors as a resilient asset class poised for growth. Star Living will launch at its Harlow development in Essex, with phase one as a dedicated BTR block of 163 residential units with a GDV of £45m, due to start construction this year. Planning permission has also been granted for a Star Living site in Gravesend, Kent, with a first phase planned of around 100 BTR units with a GDV of £30m. An existing BTS site of Strawberry Star, Lu2on in Bedfordshire, will soon launch phase two with 564 units under BTR with an estimated GDV of £160m. Strawberry Star Group aim to have a portfolio within London commuter towns with a target of £1 billion GDV by 2027. “Our vision for Strawberry Star’s Star Living arm is to be the leading income generating, diversified and scalable BTR investment platform through our unique, cost-efficient, build and operational expertise. We aim to be one of the largest BTR providers in the commuter belt by 2027. Star Living brings together our existing skillsets as an end-to-end provider combined with a panel of leading contractors and consultants for significant placemaking schemes that benefit each local community,” said Chairman of Strawberry Star, Santhosh Gowda. “With a strong pipeline of new Star Living sites due to launch in the next 12 months, we are one of the few developers responding in volume to the current supply crisis. We are focusing on commuter growth towns with a high proportion of young professionals and a low supply of rental properties, aiming to help redress the balance which is causing an upwards pressure on rental values. More choice and better supply will be a huge advantage to those now spending increasing time at home with flexible working here to stay, as BTR products are in a much better position to meet future needs and live-work trends,” continued Santhosh. Adding a dedicated BTR offering on top of development, residential sales, lettings, asset management and acquisitions, Star Living positions the business as a unique end-to-end provider for an integrated solution, providing one customer journey for both investor and tenant. Handling everything from letting the property to community engagement, Star Living’s purpose-built model is a one-stop-shop designed to secure peace of mind on both sides. The business has already tested out market appetite at their flagship Lu2on scheme in Bedfordshire, having recently completed on its first phase of 401 units, with one of the three finished blocks dedicated to BTL rental homes only. 65% of the 135 rental units have already rented within the last 3 months of completion. Luton represents a key growing commuter hub for Strawberry Star, indicative of the future sites Star Living will target. For tenants, the first Star Living site in Harlow will provide a single customer journey from reservations to end of tenancy, including digital concierge, maintenance, parcel storage, flexible co-working and multi-purpose room, shared roof terrace, ancillary services such as laundry, dry cleaning, and housekeeping, with pets allowed and flexible contracts on offer. Studios as well as one and two-bedroom apartments are expected to be available to rent with Wi-Fi and furniture included. Star Living Harlow is due to complete in 2024 and will eventually provide over 163 new homes. Other Star Living sites aim to fill a gap in the market by virtue of its chosen location. By choosing areas close to transport hubs that have very few new-build rentals on offer, Strawberry Star aim to be the first to market, providing invaluable new homes for growing commuter hubs. Nearly all BTR schemes under Star Living will be located in towns and cities identified as having increased housing targets, underlining the important role these homes have in meeting the UK’s national housing targets. A combination of robust demand for housing from the local population, new household formations, fewer private landlords and low levels of housing completions, has led to a structurally low level of rental vacancy. Recent analysis from Capital Economics concluded that the UK would need 230,000 new rental homes a year if the current trajectory of tenant demand continues. BTR could serve a vital role in boosting supply, remaining the fastest-growing part of the rental sector since 2016.
