Pye Homes’ Church Farm development in Radley, Oxfordshire, has been named as a finalist in the upcoming South East Centre for Built Environment (SECBE) ‘Constructing Excellence’ awards. The project, which will provide 240 sustainable homes with community areas and natural green spaces, is one of six finalists in the Building
Ekho, the newest hybrid wireless fire detection solution from Hochiki, leading global life safety manufacturer, has been installed in six blocks of apartment buildings for North London borough to help improve fire detection. EN54-25 approved and RED compliant, Ekho uses the latest in radio networking technology and provides a robust
SPORT and leisure specialist GT3 Architects has completed the first phase of a striking new destination leisure centre in Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland, which combines the needs of local residents and nationwide visitors to create a leisure hub for all. The first phase of the £22m flagship scheme features leisure slides and
One of the UK’s leading fire door inspection organisations has warned of a “tragedy waiting to happen” after it revealed three-quarters of the fire doors inspected in the UK by its approved inspectors did not meet the required standard. The Fire Door Inspection Scheme (FDIS)’s data, based on more than
Energys Group, one of the UK’s leading decarbonisation delivery companies, has welcomed the positive impact being made by the Government’s Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS), and believes it is playing a critical role in delivering decarbonisation across the public estate. In announcing the latest round of successful projects to be awarded
As we embrace post-pandemic life, social landlords as well as focussing on building new homes are also putting repairs and maintenance of existing stock at the top of their priority list. This drive to make significant improvements to tenants’ homes relies on key partnerships with contractors.We had to postpone some
Digital construction, net zero and retrofitting are key issues for the construction sector. In recognition of the importance of career progression, industry collaboration body the Scottish Construction Leadership Forum (CLF) has worked to develop a new suite of free-to-use continuing professional development (CPD) modules. Working with Built Environment – Smarter
Britishvolt has partnered with logistics real estate operator Prologis to build its UK battery cell scale-up facility in the West Midlands, home to the internationally renowned battery ecosystem of WMG, Advanced Propulsion Centre and UK Battery Industrialisation Centre With a budget exceeding £200m, the plan looks to create upwards of
The build-to-rent (BTR) market is bigger and more diverse than it has ever been. Once largely the domain of students and young professionals in big cities, the demand for rented property is skyrocketing, with developers that had previously worked to more well-worn revenue models now looking at how to get a slice of the pie. What’s more, getting
Safety on construction sites has improved greatly over the past fifty years. However, the latest report by HSE (Health & Safety Executive) shows that construction tops the most dangerous occupations in the UK for fatal injuries. One of the main causes of fatal incidents for workers is being struck by
Pye Homes’ Church Farm development in Radley, Oxfordshire, has been named as a finalist in the upcoming South East Centre for Built Environment (SECBE) ‘Constructing Excellence’ awards. The project, which will provide 240 sustainable homes with community areas and natural green spaces, is one of six finalists in the Building Project of the Year category. The winner will be crowned at the awards ceremony on Thursday, June 30th that is taking place at the Royal Lancaster London hotel. Graham Flint, Managing Director of Pye Homes said: “We are thrilled to have our efforts at Church Farm recognised with this nomination, sustainability is at the forefront of what we do and this acts as a reward for the approach we have taken to this development. “We have made a commitment to building not only houses, but also communities and will constantly look to consider our environmental impact when doing so.” The Constructing Excellence SECBE Awards recognise and celebrate the very best companies, collaborations and projects from across the London and South East region. The judges will be considering a number of different factors when deciding who emerges victorious on the night. They include a company’s ability to work with external partners, delivering earlier than the completion date, achieving low environmental impact, applying best construction practices and gaining maximum customer satisfaction. Church Farm is being built with a mix of traditional, local materials including brick, stone and wood each with unique features and is keeping with other buildings in the local area. All are wheelchair accessible and built to accommodate future accessibility needs. The new community also has a higher-than-average biodiversity net gain and incorporates natural landscaping to encourage and protect local wildlife, including the introduction of badger corridors. Reflecting Pye’s commitment to sustainability, the homes will not use fossil fuel boilers, instead moving to more environmentally friendly heating solutions with solar panels and air source heat pumps whilst also having electric vehicle charging points available. All the houses will have an EPC rating of A, giving every homeowner a greater level of comfort, with the potential to reduce heating costs. A new cycle link between Radley and Oxford via Kennington will also be part of the development along with additional public open spaces, public transport infrastructure and pedestrian crossing areas – all aimed at encouraging greener lifestyle choices. Building Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction & Property News
Ekho, the newest hybrid wireless fire detection solution from Hochiki, leading global life safety manufacturer, has been installed in six blocks of apartment buildings for North London borough to help improve fire detection. EN54-25 approved and RED compliant, Ekho uses the latest in radio networking technology and provides a robust ‘always on’ network of devices which automatically adapt to changing environmental conditions. It was this innovative design element that led Fire Alarms Fabrication Services (FAFS) to choose Hochiki to consult on their latest project in a North London borough. Ekho takes hybrid wireless fire detection to new levels of reliability, flexibility and performance and has been crucial in helping residents feel safer as well as drive cost savings for building owners. Waking Watch schemes have been used for the last few years to provide 24/7 monitoring of buildings identified as fire risks due to dangerous cladding. With the inherent high operational costs, and the risk of human error, building owners and local authorities are looking to life safety manufacturers and installers to help with more reliable and cost-effective alternatives. Commenting on the project Fire Alarms Fabrication Services, Kevin Dodge, sales Account Manager at FAFS told us “The technology used in the Ekho devices helps residents feel safer compared to relying on a team of people prone to human error. The building owners are reassured due to the self-configuring mesh network which keeps the devices connected and communicating with the fire panel 24/7” The project covered a huge site with six buildings with 16 floors each. A Waking Watch team of six patrolled the stairs, corridors, and communal areas at a cost of £10,000 per week. However, because the teams could not be in all places, at all times, they might not be able to detect a fire escalating up the outside on the cladding. To add to this Waking Watch teams are not permitted to enter private apartments meaning early detection could be missed here too. “This was an incredibly complex and highly involved project, we worked closely with the team at Hochiki who consulted on best devices for this project. The Ekho range offered a wireless solution which allowed us to work around issues such as cabling inside private spaces. Ekho allowed for early detection and most importantly detection outside of the building on cladding by installing heat sensor devices adjacent to every single window, including the windows for individual dwellings. The Ekho range is ultra-dependable, and much more cost effective than the Waking Watch scheme that was in place in these buildings.” Following the successful completion of the project Regional Sales Manager, Tony Obadipe said: “We are pleased that our Ekho product range is making such an enormous difference in keeping people safe. The fact that our technology is also helping to drive huge cost efficiencies for our partners and their end users is a bonus. In the current economic climate this cost saving is essential, especially for local authorities. We are incredibly proud of our teams that have been involved in this project, it really is protecting people’s lives”. To read the full story and learn more about the Ekho range visit hochikieurope.com Building Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction & Property News
SPORT and leisure specialist GT3 Architects has completed the first phase of a striking new destination leisure centre in Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland, which combines the needs of local residents and nationwide visitors to create a leisure hub for all. The first phase of the £22m flagship scheme features leisure slides and splash pads alongside more traditional swimming provisions and fitness equipment to supply a dual-purpose scheme for both fun and fitness. The facility features flexible community spaces and a 100-station gym to support the health and wellbeing of local residents, with memberships as cheap as 85p per day alongside pay-as-you-go options. As well as meeting the existing needs of the local community, the scheme includes facilities designed to incentivise footfall and tourism, including a thermal spa experience, saunas, aromatherapy steam room, spa pool, and experience shower with heated benches. The centre also features an indoor, four-rink bowling green and Hive café, offering a range of hot and cold food and drink, as well as a children’s soft play area. GT3 Architects – which has studios in Newcastle and Nottingham – has acted as lead designer on the leisure centre, covering both the interior and exterior architecture to deliver this complex project. Paul Reed, associate director at GT3, said: “From the very beginning, this project has had a true community feel, and it was vital that the design was rooted in the local area. We wanted to create something that was visually striking and took strong cues from its surroundings, such as the Royal Border Bridge and the town’s ancient walls. “We replicated the elevational rhythm of the bridges but broke it down into individual forms to create a dynamic image with mixes of glass and green-wall. The local colour palette evokes rich warm tones in its hues, which led us to create the dynamic stainless steel shingle façade. It shimmers gold and purple depending on the light, linking to the local architecture as well as creating a beacon to local residents and tourists alike.” The new centre is situated next to the existing leisure centre at Tweedmouth and was completed in phases so facilities could be preserved for residents throughout the build. With the completion of the wet side facilities, work on the second phase has now begun, replacing the existing pool hall on the site with a new four-court sports hall, as well as completing car parking and landscaping. Paul added: “Berwick is a fairly isolated town so it was important that leisure provisions were always available through a seamless transition from old to new. The health and wellbeing of residents remained a central part of the project, balanced with building an attractive tourism offer to boost the local economy. “Designing a facility that covers the needs of both local residents and the town’s tourists has provided an interesting challenge, but by working closely with Active Northumberland, we have been able to ensure that the design covers the requirements of the differing user types. This includes a flexible leisure water zone that can expand into the adjacent learner pool during busy periods and an increased café capacity to cover visitors. “By doing this, we have helped the local authority meet multiple targets on tourist investment and the health and wellbeing of residents.” GT3 is also designing Berwick’s sister project, Morpeth Leisure and Community Hub, for Active Northumberland, which started on site in 2021. Along with wet and dry leisure facilities, the scheme will feature a large library, flexible community space, and adult learning services. Mark Warnes, chief executive at Active Northumberland, said: “The atmosphere in the centre is fantastic. It’s a high-quality, welcoming, and modern environment. It’s full of great areas where local people can come together, socialise, have fun and be more active and we are very excited about the future and the importance it will play in the local community.” The project was funded by Northumberland County Council, with Tolent Construction acting as lead contractor. For further information visit www.gt3architects.com or join the conversation over on Twitter @_GT3Architects Building Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction & Property News
One of the UK’s leading fire door inspection organisations has warned of a “tragedy waiting to happen” after it revealed three-quarters of the fire doors inspected in the UK by its approved inspectors did not meet the required standard. The Fire Door Inspection Scheme (FDIS)’s data, based on more than 100,000 fire door inspections carried out by its approved inspectors in 2021, found that 75% of fire doors failed to meet the required standards, putting lives at risk in the event of a fire. Alarmingly, buildings that had the highest number of fire door inspection failures included healthcare buildings, local authorities and housing associations, and private housing. Given that these buildings’ fire doors are subject to higher use and traffic than other building types, regular inspection and maintenance is key to ensuring they remain fit for purpose throughout their lifespan. Where faults are identified, urgent fire door remedial works must be carried out to bring them up to the required safety standard and ensure compliance with fire safety regulations. Louise Halton, FDIS Scheme Manager, said “With the vast majority of fire doors in the UK failing inspections, it’s sad to say that a tragedy is simply waiting to happen, especially so in buildings that are home to vulnerable residents. But this situation is entirely preventable and, at this stage, still reversible. A fit for purpose fire door can save lives, so now is the time for all of those responsible for fire safety to urgently inspect fire doors in their buildings and act immediately if faults are identified. “It’s crucial that reputable and trained fire door inspectors, such as those approved by the FDIS, carry out fire door inspections. However, the ongoing reporting of maintenance issues with fire doors is a role for us all – every building user should play a proactive role in reporting any faults to ensure they are quickly addressed so that the building’s safety is maintained.” The most common reasons for inspection failure – which can be a result of one or multiple issues – were excessive gaps between the door and the frame (77%), care and maintenance issues (54%), and issues over smoke sealing (37%). In almost a third (31%) of cases, inspections failed due to improper installation – meaning those doors were never fit to perform the task of holding back fire and smoke. The inspection data also revealed inspectors’ top three fire safety concerns as a lack of fire door maintenance, and poor knowledge of fire safety responsibilities and a limited understanding of the role fire doors play in keeping people safe by those responsible for building fire safety. “The issues surrounding the understanding and knowledge of those responsible for fire safety was also highlighted in the FDIS’ inspection data released in 2020 as a key concern,” added Ms Halton. “This clearly demonstrates the need for individuals throughout the building safety sector to have access to quality training, assessment and examination to ensure their knowledge is up to date, and that they understand the fundamental role of a fire door – which is only fit for purpose if it is maintained correctly and inspected regularly.” The positive news is that there is a will to improve. Since the introduction of the Building Safety Bill (now the Building Safety Act 2022), 77% of FDIS inspectors have seen an increase in demand for fire door inspections. This indicates the importance and effect of the legislation in encouraging building owners and fire safety professionals to take a more proactive approach to fire door safety and maintenance. The FDIS certified inspectors are uniquely trained to undertake fire door inspections and improve building fire safety. All approved inspectors have completed the FDIS certificated inspector training and onsite assessment, which provides an understanding of fire doors and their components, including testing and certification, regulations and standards, inspection, and maintenance. For more information about the FDIS and to find an approved FDIS Inspector, visit: https://fdis.co.uk/ Building Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction & Property News
Energys Group, one of the UK’s leading decarbonisation delivery companies, has welcomed the positive impact being made by the Government’s Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS), and believes it is playing a critical role in delivering decarbonisation across the public estate. In announcing the latest round of successful projects to be awarded funding, the Government also revealed that the implementation of affordable, low carbon heating and energy efficiency upgrades across public sector buildings – including hospitals, schools, libraries, museums and leisure centres – will save local authorities and taxpayers an average of £650 million per year on energy bills over the next 15 years. The first round of funding allocated through Phase 3 of PSDS will provide grants – totalling £553 million – to 160 public sector organisations across England, forming part of £1.425 billion that will be issued through Phase 3 until 2025. As well as cutting the use of expensive fossil fuels and saving millions of pounds on energy bills, the scheme provides a major opportunity on the path to reducing emissions from public sector buildings by 75%, compared to 2017 levels, by 2037. Whilst the primary objective of PSDS is to help decarbonise heating, the scheme has also made funds available for other energy efficient technologies that can make a real difference to carbon and energy cost reduction – including LED lighting. Energys Group calculated that it has been responsible for the delivery of approximately 20% of the total spend on lighting upgrades as part of the PSDS, having been involved in over 70 projects that were given the go-ahead under PSDS equating to a total value of around £6m. Kevin Cox, Managing Director of Energys Group, commented: “The announcement of the expected savings local authorities will make as a result of the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme funding clearly shows the positive impact it is having across the public estate. By boosting the implementation of energy efficient and low-carbon technologies, it is providing a major opportunity on the path to realising the UK’s 2050 Net Zero emissions targets. As Phase 3 of the scheme continues to roll out over the next three years, it is critical that public sector organisations continue to take of the funding being made available. For anyone looking for advice on how they can benefit from the scheme, Energys Group is on hand to provide specialist support and guidance.” Guidance on how to apply for Phase 3b will be published in July, with the next round of applications expected to open in September. Building Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction & Property News
As we embrace post-pandemic life, social landlords as well as focussing on building new homes are also putting repairs and maintenance of existing stock at the top of their priority list. This drive to make significant improvements to tenants’ homes relies on key partnerships with contractors.We had to postpone some investment during the pandemic and are now playing catch-up by investing more than ever before in the maintenance and improvement of our housing stock. The Caledonia Group this year alone will be investing over £8m improving more than 30% of our existing 5,500 homes, however this will be challenging as we deal with a perfect storm of supply chain issues, including availability of materials and resources, leading to spiralling costs.Whilst we are weathering the storm, as a landlord and client, we recognise that in order to deliver this investment we need to have robust long-term contracts in place with trusted contractors and suppliers to partner with us to improve tenants’ homes. This process of good relations starts with clear client requirements, a fair procurement process and negotiated contract terms. With this in mind, quality as well as cost are key factors in our procurement process. Our network of contractors plays an integral role in our asset management, and we have a policy of introducing quality as a prerequisite when selecting contractors, looking in detail at the expertise, approach, and contractors’ ways of working, as well as the price. We also want to make sure any contractors who have responded to a tender have done so in a way that is sustainable for them. We have already seen a price rise of over 10% for kitchens, bathrooms and windows, and other raw material costs are also still on that upward trajectory. Experience tells us that prices seldom come back down, therefore it is important for us that we choose contractors who are building sufficient resource into their initial responses to the tendering process. There is also an imperative on us to be a good business partner. Last year, 175,000 people left the UK construction industry. We can see there is a shortage of contractors and the current boom in the construction industry means that the clamour to respond to tenders is no longer a reality. Furthermore, tenders may only have a short shelf life due to cost volatility. We therefore need to be responsive and agile as social housing partners to get the best deal and service for our tenants. Our Asset Management team and network of Neighbourhood Officers are the main contact points for tenants with regard to the work in their homes. However, once appointed, the contractor is also providing a service in Caledonia’s name. We therefore have to trust our contractors crossing the threshold into our tenants’ homes to uphold Caledonia’s values and play a significant role in the successful delivery. We want our tenants to feel comfortable about contractors being in their home and, whether they are replacing their kitchen, bathroom or heating system, our reputation is in their hands. Our aim is therefore to create long-term partnerships. Ideally, we want our contractors to understand how we do business and be sensitive to the needs of our tenants and their families. At the same time, we need to understand the pressures contractors are under themselves, and the difficulties that they encounter in managing our expectations in an incredibly challenging environment. This requires us to work closely together as we constantly manage all projects – from small refurbishments to larger capital improvement programmes. On the ever-increasing number of priorities on our asset management teams’ to-do lists, fostering partnership and building positive relationships with our contractors is crucial to delivering our ambitious investment plans. Building Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction & Property News
Digital construction, net zero and retrofitting are key issues for the construction sector. In recognition of the importance of career progression, industry collaboration body the Scottish Construction Leadership Forum (CLF) has worked to develop a new suite of free-to-use continuing professional development (CPD) modules. Working with Built Environment – Smarter Transformation (BE-ST), formerly the Construction Scotland Innovation Centre (CSIC), the CLF is aiming the new modules at educators, who will cascade the information to a wide variety of different learners. The modules, which have just been launched today (Tuesday 31st May) can be found on the BE-ST Learning Management System, will focus on key areas of the recovery and transformation of the construction sector. They are free to use and include an understanding of digital construction by BE-ST: building a net zero environment with a focus on retrofitting by the Association for Environment Conscious Building; and a course on timber technologies and innovation by Edinburgh Napier University. Kirsty Duncan, Associate Impact Manager at BE-ST, said: “The construction sector is increasingly seen as a very attractive career option and CPD is an important part of that. “These new digital assets and resources will be used by educators to enhance learning provision and will be hosted on our learning management software, requiring only a username and password. “The courses will be short and to the point and will include case studies, videos and real-life scenarios. They will be free of charge and users will be able to do them at their own pace, coming and going as they choose. Certificates will be awarded on completion.” The CPD plan is the latest initiative from the CLF, which recently launched a revolutionary new data dashboard to collect and disseminate statistical knowledge, creating greater openness, transparency and information exchange in the construction industry in Scotland. It has also introduced the Built Environment Workforce Development Portal, a new guide which will provide a breakdown of re-skilling and up-skilling courses by theme, occupation and region across Scotland. The CLF was established in March 2019 to develop and implement a Recovery Plan of actions aligned with Government policies and the Construction Scotland Industry Strategy. Building Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction & Property News
Britishvolt has partnered with logistics real estate operator Prologis to build its UK battery cell scale-up facility in the West Midlands, home to the internationally renowned battery ecosystem of WMG, Advanced Propulsion Centre and UK Battery Industrialisation Centre With a budget exceeding £200m, the plan looks to create upwards of 150 highly skilled, well-paid jobs; unifying the Britishvolt Northumberland Gigaplant with a centrally located scale-up/technology hub The “Battery Corridor” concept enhances the UK’s existing battery ecosystem and powers the country ahead in the next industrial revolution The Hams Hall site will spearhead new cell formats and electro chemistries to create higher performance, production ready, batteries of the future whilst helping lower cell costs for more affordable EVs, aiding mass adoption New facilities, based at Prologis Park Hams Hall, are net zero carbon in construction and will achieve an EPC A Rating in operation Battery pioneer Britishvolt will anchor its UK battery scale up facilities in the West Midlands, with an investment exceeding £200 million, with partner Prologis that will create and sustain upwards of 150 highly skilled and well-paid technology jobs. Leasing the facility enables Britishvolt to rapidly ramp up cells that are production ready to be manufactured in larger volumes at its Northumberland Gigaplant. Paul Franklin, Property Director, Britishvolt: “This is another important milestone for Britishvolt, UK plc and its world class automotive industry. The UK’s battery ecosystem is a global leader in integrated technology development and industrialisation with the Warwick Manufacturing Group, Faraday Institution, UK Battery Industrialisation Centre and the Advanced Propulsion Centre. I am delighted to see Britishvolt lead the UK’s journey into re-industrialisation with the first full-scale battery Gigaplant. The new R&D and scale-up facilities announced today will help the UK build on its home-grown battery intellectual property and level up the country ready for the energy transition.” To summarise the importance of the facility: Hams Hall is destined to become a centre of excellence for all things EV/Electrification, with major automakers close by. The facility will complement the Britishvolt value proposition for customers at Cambois, Northumberland and support the smooth startup of Gigaplant operations in 2024. Practical completion of the development is anticipated in July with fit out and equipment installation to be undertaken through to end Q3, 2023. Tom Price, Capital Leasing & Deployment Director, Prologis UK: “Partnering with innovative technology brand Britishvolt has been a pleasure. The reputation of Hams Hall and the location’s connections to the UK automotive sector has allowed us to embark on a wider conversation with Britishvolt. With battery technology seen as the way forward, it’s exciting to be working in this growing sector. “Prologis is committed to embedding sustainability into every aspect of our business. When looking at “last-mile” logistics, that is the final delivery of goods to people’s homes, it’s clear that the work Britishvolt are embarking on will contribute to reducing emissions in supply chains” The West Midlands is already a “golden triangle” of international battery excellence with the Warwick Manufacturing Group, Advanced Propulsion Centre and UK Battery Industrialisation Centre. This new investment and commitment to the region will further unlock the huge economic potential of the UK’s world-class battery cell ecosystem. Andy Street, the Mayor of the West Midlands: “Britishvolt’s investment in the West Midlands is another seismic vote of confidence both in the future of our region and our automotive prowess. We are already the heartland of the UK’s automotive industry with the country’s biggest car manufacturer, Europe’s largest research centre of its kind, the UK’s only battery industrialisation centre, and a world-leading supply chain. So, it is incredibly exciting that as we accelerate our Gigafactory plans for Coventry Airport, Britishvolt are adding their expertise to our cluster. “I am determined the West Midlands becomes a global leader in the research and production of state-of-the-art battery technology, and today’s announcement is another step towards achieving that.” Charles Spicer, Industrial and Logistics Director at Savills Birmingham, comments: “This is a hugely exciting emerging sector that Savills has been tracking for number of years. We are delighted to have acquired this new site for Britishvolt at the heart of the UK’s automotive industry, which is a major endorsement for the wider West Midlands industrial market.” Britishvolt has already developed pre-A battery samples at WMG in Warwick and is scaling up its unique A-Sample cell formulations at UK Battery Industrialisation Centre in Coventry. This new £200 million investment, coupled to the unique regional battery expertise, enables Britishvolt to develop new formats and formulations helping to make both higher performance and more affordable cells for the world’s future electric cars & commercial vehicles. Britishvolt’s collaborations with academia, industry and private enterprise will also help transition the UK from fossil fuels to a low carbon, battery-based electric future. Britishvolt has already confirmed MoUs with Lotus Cars and Aston Martin Lagonda, which, alongside other commitments to be announced shortly, have cumulative demand in excess of 7GWh in 2024 and 2025, and set the stage for the full 38GWh factory capacity that will be supplied annually from its Gigaplant site in Northumberland. The release of an official A-sample battery cell to customers, which is scheduled in 2022, will help to further accelerate commitments. Britishvolt is one of the fastest growing battery technology companies in Europe and globally. The company is also in discussions with the Canadian Government regarding its expansion plans in the country. https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6935860075269926912 Building Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction & Property News
The build-to-rent (BTR) market is bigger and more diverse than it has ever been. Once largely the domain of students and young professionals in big cities, the demand for rented property is skyrocketing, with developers that had previously worked to more well-worn revenue models now looking at how to get a slice of the pie. What’s more, getting the right partners involved can help steer the direction of travel down the most profitable road, according to Paul Staley, managing director of BTR specialist Wise Living. The BTR market has grown rapidly in the past decade or so, largely off the back of investment from the U.S and Europe. While the rental market in the UK is behind the curve set in central Europe – where in some countries around half of homes are rented – the rising cost of owning a home is going to be a catalyst for the ever-increasing number of people in this country viewing renting property as a viable, long-term option. With the average house price in this country in the region of £270,000, households would realistically need to have a sizeable deposit and combined income in excess of £50,000 to even be considering a mortgage of that size. Factor in the cost-of-living crisis, and the challenges of society are beginning to stack against home ownership. The make-up of the BTR market is something that has developedorganically, and while investors are beginning to see the nuance, it can often be difficult to proceed without the right partners involved. The student market has been well established for decades now and is often seen as an easy win for investors, but it is the emerging sectors in which the most opportunity lies. The new breed What is clear is that BTR now means so much more than the previous perception of student flats, and as the sector grows, this will start to become more apparent to investors, housebuilders and – most importantly – prospective tenants. The newest element to the BTR mix is the single family – those cohabiting rather than sharing, typically with dependents and looking more at suburban housing rather than city centre apartments. This market is usually based around two-or-three-bed family homes and is one that is going to be of increasing relevance to investors and developers. The main barrier is therefore not the lack of opportunity, but how we as an industry make the transition to delivering more BTR schemes by changing perceptions. For instance, if a developer has become quite comfortable selling houses on the open market, making a reasonable margin and ticking over, BTR is usually a topic that may only be discussed once a year before being shelved. However, in times where money is tight and the spectre of recession continues to loom, BTR becomes a highly viable way to de-risk a developer’s expansion. If they can work with the right partner, an upfront block of units is taken off their hands and begins to generate income at a quicker rate. The critical point there, however, is that it needs to be the right partner – one which can work with the developer on an end-to-end basis. Only then is the majority of risk ushered away, and only then will BTR be the best option. The key starting point is establishing the criteria for the where, how, and what of a BTR development. The wrong type of BTR in the wrong place will not maximise returns, and the standard open housing market model won’t work. As a result, developers and investors must factor in the planning early on to truly achieve a partnership model that is successful. Pinpointing the correct location As an example, at Wise Living the first thing we consider is the location. For those renters looking at the two-to-three bed single family homes we specialise in, being close to local amenities and good transport links is often a make-or-break situation. However, we also need to be aware on behalf of our partners of areas where capital values outpace rental values. The next step is looking at the product type with the housebuilder and ensuring that what is being offered is right for the target market and area. This is often a sticking point with developers when they ask for pricing against certain specifications, but equally it is where early engagement and clear discussions are most worthwhile. By working together closely at an early stage, schemes can be finessed. Fresh house layouts and types can be looked at and specifications developed to maximise return on investment, while also providing housing that is both high quality and value for money. This de-risking conversation is particularly pertinent when large and challenging sites are involved. Anywhere with potential groundwork issues and lots of remediation to be done would usually throw up significant red flags for developers and investors. Identifying a partner at an early stage that can take that risk on – paying for the land upfront, then dealing with the groundwork and infrastructure side – has its clear advantages. The earlier the conversation, the more the risk is shared, and the less capital is drained at the start of the project, where typically costs are at their highest. It’s a value solution that may not have been on the table before, but will be increasingly viewed as viable as the public demand for rented accommodation grows. Changing a mindset It’s no secret that private rental properties are some of the worst maintained properties in the UK, which is why there’s a lot of pressure through legislation to try and rectify standards across the board. At Wise Living, our end-to-end service proposition provides an altogether different experience and means that we can ensure quality at every stage. Because Wise Living also handles the letting process, vetting of tenants and the continued maintenance of the homes and surrounding greenery, this type of service is helping to debunk the perception that some rented housing can be unpleasant and not well-built or maintained. We can add value to a scheme, rather than detract from it as we work with our partners to create genuine family homes that are professionally managed without hidden fees. So, not only can a BTR partner like Wise Living provide reassurance in the early stages by helping to design the best scheme, take on challenging locations and buy the units as fast as they can be built – the tenants will also be happy. It’s a mindset that is changing among tenants, and investors and developers are catching on that there is a growing niche in the market, but only if you
Safety on construction sites has improved greatly over the past fifty years. However, the latest report by HSE (Health & Safety Executive) shows that construction tops the most dangerous occupations in the UK for fatal injuries. One of the main causes of fatal incidents for workers is being struck by a moving vehicle. In fact, when compared to the causes of non-fatal injuries, incidents involving a moving vehicle resulted in at least one death on all reported occasions in 2020/2021. Since the introduction of the latest set of Construction Design and Management Regulations (CDM) in 2015, those found guilty of breaching health and safety rules have faced even heftier fines. In 2021, BAM Nuttall Limited was ordered to pay more than £700,000 after an employee was run over and killed by a dumper vehicle at one of its sites. The construction company was found guilty of breaching section 15 (2) of the CDM Regulations, which specify that a contractor must plan, manage and monitor construction work carried out either by the contractor or by workers under the contractor’s control, to ensure that, so far as is reasonably practicable, it is carried out without risks to health and safety. But what does this mean exactly? In BAM Nuttall’s case, the HSE found that the company had failed to adequately assess the risks to their employees while they were repairing and replacing equipment. It also found that the company had failed to provide a place or places where such work could be carried out safely and which segregated people from vehicles. Clearly, vehicle safety should always be taken seriously. But regulations can also be open to interpretation. Certainly, there are question marks over the duties and responsibilities of companies, operators and individuals when it comes to ensuring hazards posed by vehicles on worksites are prevented. The CDM Regulations for vehicles state where a person may be endangered by the movement of a vehicle, suitable and sufficient steps to give warning to any person who is liable to be at risk from movement of the vehicle must be taken by either or both: the driver or operator of the vehicle, or where another person is directing the driver or operator because, due to the nature of the vehicle or task, the driver or operator does not have full visibility Large construction vehicles are notorious for having complex and numerous blind spots and visibility has long been an issue for drivers and workers on the ground. While the CDM Regulations don’t indicate precisely what the suitable and sufficient steps operators should take to prevent incidents are, it is clear that operators and their drivers have a legal obligation to ensure people are not endangered by vehicles under their control. In the event of an incident, an operator or driver could be prosecuted and face hefty fines if they were found to be in breach of these rules. So how can operators and drivers ensure they do not violate these rules? Standards introduced by the industry, such as CLOCS, specify fitting vehicle safety equipment to address such safety concerns. This equipment includes technology like 360-degree cameras, radars and warning alerts. Emily Hardy is a vehicle safety expert and Marketing Manager at Brigade Electronics UK – a leading supplier of safety devices and solutions for construction vehicles. She said: “Construction sites can be extremely challenging and unpredictable environments. Therefore, maintaining safety at all times can be very difficult. On construction sites, the need for safety is paramount, particularly as the slightest mistake can have devastating consequences. “Smart technology is helping to address the problem of restricted visibility and blind spots on vehicles operating on construction sites. These include the very latest RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology, such as Brigade’s ZoneSafe proximity warning system.” Ideal for construction sites, ZoneSafe usesvehicle-mounted antennas that communicate with detection tags, which can be worn by workers, set up in restricted areas or placed on objects or property. When a tag enters a detection zone, the vehicle operator will automatically receive a visual and audible alert via the in-cab control unit, which will enable them to take the necessary action. Tags worn by workers on foot will also vibrate to warn of an approaching vehicle. Due to the RFID technology, which does not require line-of-sight, tags will be detected regardless of obstructions, blind spots, adverse weather conditions or poor visibility. Each tag can be uniquely identified and linked to individual people. Emily continued: “This technology is ideal for all types of construction vehicles that frequently operate within close proximity of workers and other machines. The system provides fast, reliable and accurate data exchange without any limitation on the number of tags or antennas in operation, making it perfect for large areas like busy construction sites.” As the industry prepares for Hillhead in June, safety remains top of the agenda. Emily added: “Driver training is key to ensuring safety standards are adhered to. However, vehicle safety technology can add an additional layer of security and peace of mind for operators who are keen to ensure that their workplaces remain hazard free.” Brigade Electronics will be attending Hillhead 2022 at Hillhead Quarry Buxton Tuesday 21st to Thursday 23rd June and exhibiting its range of plant and construction vehicle safety systems, including ZoneSafe. Find them at Stand RF1. Building Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction & Property News