It’s launch time for the landmark in the Frankfurt financial district designed by KSP Enge for the “central business tower” on Neue Mainzer Strasse. This paves the way for construction of a new high-rise according to plans by the Frankfurt-based architects. According to the plans by KSP Engel, the 205-meter-high
Construction is coming to an end at Bellway’s The Beeches at Stanton Cross development in Wellingborough, where just six homes now remain for sale. The 149-home scheme is delivering 142 properties for private sale and seven affordable homes available for local people through rent or shared ownership, as part of
Leeds College of Building is launching a unique ‘Methods of Land & Civil Surveying’ course to help boost careers in the construction industry and in response to growing sector demands. Commencing in January 2022, the new surveying programme was created by a specialist team at the College in conjunction with
Rotpunkt, award winning designer and manufacturer of carbon neutral German Kitchen furniture leads the way in eco-luxe interior design on account of its market-leading furniture solution BioBoard Gen2, which has been in production for nearly two years and is available to UK customers. Made from up to 90% recycled wood, this versatile
Construction is nearing the final stages at a development in Kings Norton which has paved the way for a new style of new-build homes across the country. Bellway is providing 171 new homes at The Oaks, off Parsons Hill, where the housebuilder launched its flagship Artisan Collection back in September
Bakewell’s local war hero Colonel Leslie Wright was honoured at a housing development named after the great man. Diginitaries gathered at the site on Shutts Lane to hear local pupils from Lady Manners School tell the story of the Colonel before a stone marking the opening was unveiled. They were
Brickflow, the UK’s first search engine for development finance, reports a record number of loan terms that accounts for £88 million that were issued through its deal forum in November. The deal forum is similar to a competitive tender process; developers input their project details and Brickflow’s algorithms select the
A topping-out ceremony to mark the completion of the external structure at Amber House, a new development of affordable homes in Bracknell took place on Tuesday 30th November. Councillor Dale Birch, Deputy Leader of Bracknell Forest Council joined senior members of Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing (MTVH), The Hill Group and
Bouygues UK has signed the contract with Swansea Council to build the city centre’s new high-tech, carbon zero office development that will provide space for 600 jobs. Bouygues UK will break ground in the coming weeks on the site of the former Oceana nightclub at 71/72 The Kingsway. Set for
Two sales executives have recently been promoted within Harron Homes. Rebecca Nixon from Doncaster, and Ellie Wyles from Huddersfield, are now senior sales executives at Harron’s North Yorkshire developments, Bishop’s Glade and Hockley Croft respectively. After just four months with Harron, 24-year-old Rebecca was put forward for promotion by Senior
It’s launch time for the landmark in the Frankfurt financial district designed by KSP Enge for the “central business tower” on Neue Mainzer Strasse. This paves the way for construction of a new high-rise according to plans by the Frankfurt-based architects. According to the plans by KSP Engel, the 205-meter-high new build create an appropriate counterpart to the Deutsche Bank towers opposite. At the same time, the high-rise denotes the northern end of the cluster of skyscrapers along the former city ramparts and creates the necessary counterweight to the future towers of FOUR, as well as for the Commerzbank Tower and the Main Tower, Helaba’s headquarters, both of them in the immediate vicinity. Following the approval of the preliminary building application, the signing of contracts is the next and initial milestone in the “central business tower” project in Frankfurt. It marks the next project phase for the high-rise, whose name alludes to its prime location in the Central Business District of Frankfurt, the financial metropolis. In the new-build on Neuer Mainzer Strasse, the architects are combining public and cultural uses with an office high-rise. With this unusual and at the same time very balanced concept, the tower will in future fulfil a key role as the interface between the green space of Frankfurt’s old ramparts and the high-rise group along Neue Mainzer Strasse. In terms of sustainability, KSP Engel again applies an innovative concept that has been the subject of lengthy prior research: With photovoltaic modules integrated into the façade, an unprecedented “solar power plant” the size of a high-rise is created, which supports power supplies to the building. The box-window façade also boasts an external solar shading system that is protected from wind and weather by the rear-ventilated impact pane and is therefore highly effective. The basis of KSP Engel’s high-rise design goes back to the winning competition entry from 2001 and has since been newly devised and advanced. Building permission will presumably be issued in 2022 and demolition of the existing buildings on the construction site on Neue Mainzer Strasse are scheduled to start in November 2021. The first tenants are set to move in in 2027 and completion of the overall project is scheduled for 2028.
Construction is coming to an end at Bellway’s The Beeches at Stanton Cross development in Wellingborough, where just six homes now remain for sale. The 149-home scheme is delivering 142 properties for private sale and seven affordable homes available for local people through rent or shared ownership, as part of the wider Stanton Cross neighbourhood to the east of the town. More than 95 per cent of the private homes at The Beeches are now sold, with the six properties still available comprising a choice of three and four-bedroom homes, including a three-bedroom showhome, available to view. The Beeches is the first phase of Bellway’s work at Stanton Cross. Homes within phase two, a 135-home development called Hawthorn Place, are already for sale and construction is progressing well, while work is due to start soon on a third phase, Chestnut Vale, to provide a further 180 new homes. “Bellway is committed to supporting the supply of new housing at Stanton Cross in Wellingborough and will have provided around 500 of the new homes within this new community by the time our work on the project is complete. Construction is progressing well, with The Beeches in its final stages and work well underway at Hawthorn Place, while we are looking forward to launching Chestnut Vale next year,” said Sales Director of Bellway Northern Home Counties, Luke Southgate. “The final six homes for sale at The Beeches are the last chance to buy within this inaugural phase at Stanton Cross. There’s a choice of three-bedroom semi-detached houses, including the Irchester and Grendon showhomes, as well as three and four-bedroom detached properties still available, so there’s something for a range of buyers.” Stanton Cross is a major mixed-use development set to deliver a wide range of new homes, employment areas and shopping facilities, together with direct access to Wellingborough railway station. The development includes shops, schools, commercial space, a town park and community centre. Major improvements to roads and public transport will also take place. The final three and four-bedroom houses for sale at The Beeches at Stanton Cross are priced from £280,000 and £350,000 respectively.
Leeds College of Building is launching a unique ‘Methods of Land & Civil Surveying’ course to help boost careers in the construction industry and in response to growing sector demands. Commencing in January 2022, the new surveying programme was created by a specialist team at the College in conjunction with the national awarding body, Pearson. Students will gain a BTEC certificate for surveying practice units (Levels 4 and 5) and a certificate of achievement awarded by the College. The programme is ideally suited to anyone already working in a technical role or who has a requirement to carry out surveying duties but no formal training. It is also a suitable entry point for those seeking a career change, engineering apprentices and technical assistants, or school leavers with a strong interest in site surveying or engineering careers. “This is an exciting new area for the College. Over the years, we have noticed a real need for a formal qualification for those who already carry out surveying or technical roles but who have ‘learnt on the job.’ Many of the students I see fit in this category, and so their only option is usually an HNC/HND qualification route. Instead, the content of this programme is based on two BTEC Level 4 and 5 surveying units, giving them an alternative learning route,” said David Riby, Lecturer in Surveying at Leeds College of Building. Applications are now open for the Methods of Land & Civil Surveying course at Leeds College of Building. Students will attend for one day per week for a total of 20 weeks, and ideally applicants should possess a minimum GCSE grade C in mathematics and English. “The course will begin with an introduction to the field of surveying and the service it provides throughout the construction life cycle. Surveying requires confident use of equipment, and so the course delivery is focused on practical surveying activity and instrument training. Students will be introduced to industry-standard software packages and trained on specific aspects of workflow – introduction to AutoCad, GNSS processing and transformations, and point cloud registration and uses of data. “Surveyors work in technologically advanced, specialist roles, playing a vital part in a range of civil engineering and construction projects. We’re really excited to offer this much-needed qualification to formalise practical experience and enthusiasm, and help boost the careers of more sought-after construction specialists,” David added.
Rotpunkt, award winning designer and manufacturer of carbon neutral German Kitchen furniture leads the way in eco-luxe interior design on account of its market-leading furniture solution BioBoard Gen2, which has been in production for nearly two years and is available to UK customers. Made from up to 90% recycled wood, this versatile eco-luxe material is one of the most environmentally-friendly chipboards ever used in the global kitchen industry, becoming a key pillar of the company’s integrated social-environmental policy up to 2030. Not only does BioBoard Gen2 reduce the use of virgin wood in the supply chain, but it also benefits indoor climates by ensuring the amount of formaldehyde released is half that of new chipboard. “As sustainability meets luxury design in the 2022 kitchen, we are proud to lead the way with an eco-friendly alternative that does not compromise on quality or design. All KBB professionals know that ‘change is an inside job’ and developing a brand is ever-evolving, which is why we are excited to report huge retail uptake and market support in our mission to become sustainable in every aspect of our business. To paraphrase Henry Ford, ‘Any customer can have any kitchen in any colour, as long as it’s green!’ As a German manufacturer, we have long been aware of the importance of recycling and protecting the environment and in 2017 our founders decided to take action in line with the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals – known as the Agenda 2030 – and so this has always been a fundamental part of our corporate responsibility,” said Head of UK Operations at Rotpunkt, Matt Phillips. Rotpunkt is laser-focused on seeing green solutions throughout its supply chain from the factory floor to the end users’ experience in the showroom. The company’s senior management team is continuously working on rethinking processes and questioning consumer habits – to pursue its zero carbon target by using an “avoid-reduce-compensate” approach. Emissions that cannot be avoided or reduced have been offset through sustainability projects since 2019 in partnership with myclimate. “It is a credit to the imagination and commitment of our global Rotpunkt family that our vision is on track despite challenges in the wake of the pandemic. In 2020, we ensured that all our materials for kitchen production were fully FSC-certified and this year we converted our heating system so that it uses wood waste, having made a complete switch to green energy to promote climate-friendly production across our Bünde and Getmold sites. Our next goals are to ensure that not only are our kitchens manufactured in a carbon-neutral way, but that all our raw eco-luxe materials are zero carbon too. We are investing in our production facility at our Bünde site with state-of-the-art robotics and a photovoltaic system to harness solar power as well as installing of charging stations for electric vehicles,” added Matt. As the journey to zero carbon emissions gathers pace, so do technical innovations at Rotpunkt. For instance, a new batch production process size at the Getmold site is significantly reducing wastage and the order-shipping team now have the option of using a passive robotic exoskeleton that reduces the physical strain of performing heavy repetitive or overhead tasks. All staff can explore extensive wellness options as part of the company’s employee benefits package –proof that sustainability starts from within.
Construction is nearing the final stages at a development in Kings Norton which has paved the way for a new style of new-build homes across the country. Bellway is providing 171 new homes at The Oaks, off Parsons Hill, where the housebuilder launched its flagship Artisan Collection back in September 2019. Homes within the Artisan Collection, which have since been rolled out to Bellway sites across the country, combine traditional craftsmanship with modern construction techniques and their design was based on decades of customer feedback. All the Artisan Collection homes at The Oaks have now been sold, with just four of the remaining homes within the development now available to reserve. All 17 of the affordable homes within the scheme have also been completed and handed over, with work set to finish at the Kings Norton development as a whole early next year. “We’re very proud that the new designs which were pioneered at The Oaks have gone on to provide homes for people across the country. With a mix of Artisan Collection and traditional Bellway house types at The Oaks, it’s been clear that the success of the development has been a combination of high-quality construction across all our homes and their great location. The range of property styles and sizes provided means we’ve seen a good mix of buyers here, including first-time buyers and growing families,” said Sales Director for Bellway West Midlands, Marie Richards. “New homeowners at The Oaks appreciate the development’s attractive setting nestled between the Worcester and Birmingham Canal to the west and dense woodland to the east, while it’s just seven miles south of central Birmingham and within walking distance of Kings Norton railway station for trains into the city centre. With just four homes remaining for sale and construction work now nearing the final stages, we’re looking forward to finishing on site early next year.” The final homes remaining for sale at The Oaks include a choice of two-bedroom Atherstone houses, priced from £257,500, as well as the four-bedroom detached Bascote, priced from £415,000.
Bakewell’s local war hero Colonel Leslie Wright was honoured at a housing development named after the great man. Diginitaries gathered at the site on Shutts Lane to hear local pupils from Lady Manners School tell the story of the Colonel before a stone marking the opening was unveiled. They were joined by members of Derbyshire Dales District Council and staff from Lindum Construction as well as other involved parties for the event. “We are very proud to deliver the first affordable housing in the beautiful Peak National Park for 10 years, especially as it is an area of the country where house prices and affordability are particularly volatile. This scheme not only brings new affordable homes for local people, it has benefited the local community and local economy. We feel this development is a real achievement for all concerned,” said Elizabeth Froude, Group Chief Executive of Platform Housing group. Colonel Leslie Wright Close is made up of 30 homes built for Platform Housing Group in a project that took almost a decade to come to fruition. Meticulous planning ensured the homes were built to maintain the look of the area, using stone from the local Dale View quarry at Stanton Moor. The land was originally bought from Lady Manners school, who used the funds to build their 3G sports pitch which is now enjoyed by the school and wider community. “This project has been 13 years in the making and in pushing for the scheme from the start we recognised an overwhelming need for these homes. All partners have worked extremely hard to secure high quality affordable homes for local people who have a link to Bakewell,” said the Leader of DDDC, Councillor Garry Purdy, who was also in attendance. “The District Council carried out two housing need surveys in Bakewell that underlined the need for this development. We allocated £500,000 capital funding to help make these homes happen in the National Park and I would suggest that this scheme is arguably the single most important affordable housing scheme in the District Council’s housing programme in recent times. “We had never before allocated £500,000 to an affordable housing scheme and every penny came from Right To Buy proceeds from our former council housing stock, demonstrating how Right To Buy receipts are being used to replace homes lost across the Derbyshire Dales in the National Park.”
Brickflow, the UK’s first search engine for development finance, reports a record number of loan terms that accounts for £88 million that were issued through its deal forum in November. The deal forum is similar to a competitive tender process; developers input their project details and Brickflow’s algorithms select the lenders most likely to make a loan offer and on which loan terms. Borrowers can then choose up to five lenders to bid in a blind auction. Brickflow’s platform secured competitive interest rates, with Loan to Gross Development Values ranging from 50% to 83%, for 17 developers that have funding for projects in the residential, hotel, HMO, retirement living, light industrial and supported living sectors. “By creating an auction environment, borrowers receive the most competitive rates in record time. A LTGDV of 83% is unheard of, especially at a blended senior & mezzanine rate of 8.49%. Our online tools help borrowers complete perfect lender presentations – with first time users stating they can do it within 15 minutes,” commented Ian Humphreys, Brickflow’s co-founder and head of lending. “Our goal is to connect borrowers and lenders in seconds and give developers seamless and fast access to property finance. Judging by November’s activity, I’m confident we can become the UK’s leading facilitator of all development finance transactions.” Below is a summary of the property types, loan sizes and winning interest rates. The cumulative LTGDV being 65.56% at an average rate of 7.05%. Location Property Type GDV Loan Size Loan to GDV Winning Bid Midlands Residential £2,694,600.00 £1,697,598.00 63% 6.25% Midlands Residential £2,550,000.00 £1,657,500.00 65% 6.25% London Hotel £15,300,000.00 £9,015,230.00 59% 6.00% East Anglia Residential £2,600,000.00 £1,508,000.00 58% 6.25% Midlands HMO £4,250,000 £2,592,500.00 61% 6.25% Scotland Residential £2,200,000 £1,408,000.00 64% 8.40% South-East Light industrial £2,148,000.00 £1,065,408.00 50% 8.10% North-West Residential £7,950,000.00 £5,521,000.00 69% 6.40% South-East Residential £9,460,000.00 £7,851,800.00 83% 8.49% North-West Residential £2,510,000.00 £1,631,500.00 65% 8.10% London Residential £44,000,000.00 £29,040,000.00 66% 7.50% Midlands Retirement living £9,500,000.00 £6,175,000.00 65% 7.25% South-East Residential £14,576,800.00 £9,474,920.00 65% 6.45% East Anglia Residential £3,440,500.00 £2,236,325.00 65% 6.65% East Anglia Residential £1,932,000.00 £1,255,800.00 65% 7.00% East Anglia Residential £7,184,000.00 £4,669,600.00 65% 6.65% Midlands Supported living £2,548,000.00 £1,605,240.00 63% 7.90%
A topping-out ceremony to mark the completion of the external structure at Amber House, a new development of affordable homes in Bracknell took place on Tuesday 30th November. Councillor Dale Birch, Deputy Leader of Bracknell Forest Council joined senior members of Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing (MTVH), The Hill Group and Councillors Thomas Parker and Dee Hamilton to celebrate this important construction milestone. “The regeneration of Bracknell town centre is about more than just great shops it includes the provision of much needed new homes. This exciting new chapter will serve to enhance our vibrant community and provide more housing options for local people. I am really thrilled to be here today to see the impressive progress happening on a site which will deliver so many fully affordable new homes for the people of Bracknell Forest,” said Councillor Dale Birch at the ceremony. Located in the centre of Bracknell, the new scheme forms part of the wider £240m regeneration that is taking place in the town centre. Amber House will comprise a mixed-use scheme consisting of 193 high-specification affordable homes set across the development, alongside 350 m2 of additional commercial space and a boulevard of communal amenities including shops, restaurants and leisure facilities on the ground floor. “We are delighted to meet another important milestone in this project and partner with Bracknell Forest Council and The Hill Group on the regeneration of Bracknell town centre. The combination of much needed new homes as well as shopping, community, social and leisure facilities will improve the quality of life for residents. It will also lead to greater opportunities for work and benefit the entire local community. MTVH is excited to help this redevelopment continue to go from strength to strength,” added Geeta Nanda OBE, Chief Executive of MTVH. Previously occupied by two office buildings Amber House and Northgate House, MTVH acquired the site to provide a 100% ‘affordable housing’ scheme where Hill Group will be delivering 74 one- bedroom and 119 two-bedroom apartments, which will be available through Shared Ownership and Social Rent in Summer 2023. “We are pleased with the progress on the development of Amber House and are delighted to be working with MTVH and Bracknell Forest Council on this landmark scheme which will provide much needed affordable new homes and amenities for this new neighbourhood,” commented Ryan Harris, Regional Director at Hill.
Bouygues UK has signed the contract with Swansea Council to build the city centre’s new high-tech, carbon zero office development that will provide space for 600 jobs. Bouygues UK will break ground in the coming weeks on the site of the former Oceana nightclub at 71/72 The Kingsway. Set for completion in the summer of 2023, the five-storey development will include 114,000 square feet of commercial floorspace, providing flexible co-working and office opportunities for innovative tech, digital and creative businesses. The carbon zero office development – led by Swansea council – will be worth £32.6 million a year to Swansea’s economy and will also feature state-of-the-art digital connectivity, a roof terrace, greenery and balconies overlooking the city centre and Swansea Bay. The developments will include two underground levels with new links between The Kingsway and Oxford Street. “Bouygues UK is delighted to sign the contract on this landmark building situated in the centre of Swansea city. To work on such an innovative and environmentally-friendly building is going to be really rewarding for our team and we can’t wait to break ground and get going,” said John Boughton, regional Managing Director of Bouygues UK. “We also know that Kingsway is a key part of the history and infrastructure of the city centre, and that there is a need for high quality office accommodation, which this landmark building will certainly supply.” As part of its work on the build, Bouygues UK will be working with and supporting local voluntary organisations, providing training, work placements and opportunities for local people, in addition to significant supply chain opportunities for local businesses. Cllr Rob Stewart, Swansea Council Leader, added: “We know some businesses have had to leave Swansea in the past to find the kind of high-quality office accommodation they need, so the new development at 71/72 The Kingsway will tackle that trend while also meeting significant unmet demand. Our research shows this remains the case despite Covid having led to far more home working in recent times, with this development providing flexible space that’s fit for the modern office environment. “We’re delighted our main contractor for this scheme – Bouygues UK – will soon be establishing a presence on site as we head towards the start of main construction work. Local training and supply chain opportunities also form part this project, with the development, once complete, due to generate more footfall and spending for our city centre businesses. “This development was always part of multi-million pound plans for our transformed Kingsway. A huge amount of work has already taken place there to considerably improve the look and feel of the area for local businesses, local people and visitors the city, while also helping attract private sector investment and more jobs.” The 71/72 Kingsway development is being funded by Swansea Council and the Swansea Bay City Deal. It is also supported by the European Regional Development Fund through the Welsh Government.
Two sales executives have recently been promoted within Harron Homes. Rebecca Nixon from Doncaster, and Ellie Wyles from Huddersfield, are now senior sales executives at Harron’s North Yorkshire developments, Bishop’s Glade and Hockley Croft respectively. After just four months with Harron, 24-year-old Rebecca was put forward for promotion by Senior Sales Manager Vicki Armitage, who recognised Rebecca’s enthusiasm and skill in the position. Rebecca said: “I’m always striving to reach the next level, and am delighted to be progressing so quickly within the company. I’ll be aiming for sales manager next!” 23-year-old Ellie has also been progressing rapidly with Harron. She joined as a trainee sales executive in February 2019 and became responsible for her own development as a full time sales executive by May 2019. Upon returning to work part time after maternity leave, Ellie was looking for a new challenge and jumped at the chance to apply for a senior sales executive role. “I spoke to my line manager who encouraged me to apply, and since getting the job I’ve been so supported by the whole management team. They’ve made sure there’s enough colleagues on my site to allow me time to focus on my new duties, and they are always just on the other end of the phone if we need anything,” Ellie said. Both Ellie and Rebecca had prior sales experience; Ellie for companies including Cath Kidson and TUI, and Rebecca for Beal Homes. Harron originally appealed to them for its unique offering in the market. “I visited a showhome and became obsessed. I loved that it’s a premium product from a traditional builder” Rebecca said. “Now I love the team, being part of a close-knit group where everyone looks out for each other is fantastic.” Ellie agreed, “I immediately bought into the ethos of Harron as a traditional builder delivering a quality product. Our homes are so different from a lot of the market; they include lots of extra details and luxuries that I would love to have in my own home! “We put a lot of time and effort into ensuring the room sizes in all our house types are large enough for people to grow into and allow them to create the lifestyle they are looking for. It’s great to be involved with such an aspirational product and to help people find and move into their dream home.”
