SIMIAN International has partnered with Prostaff LLC Following a successful accreditation audit last week, CISRS has approved the first Overseas Scaffolding Training Scheme (OSTS) centre in Russia. SIMIAN International working in collaboration with Prostaff LLC, part of the Polati Group, a Russian scaffolding supplier and contracting company, have opened a
CBRE Investment Management has completed a transaction to provide forward funding investment to RJR Securities for the development of a new 188-bedroom Maldron Hotel on Chapel Street in Manchester City Centre. Dalata Hotel Group plc, the largest hotel operator in Ireland with 45 hotels across the UK and Ireland, has
William Hanson, the UK’s leading etiquette coach and expert, gives guidance to young installers on how to make the perfect first impression as part of the Future Talent Initiative from Worcester Bosch… Worcester Bosch is delighted to announce their partnership with etiquette expert, William Hanson, to help educate young installers
Leeds based Brewster Bye Architects has promoted Andrew Chapman to associate director and Waqar Hussain has become a fully qualified architect at the firm, after successfully completing his RIBA part 3 exams. Andrew joined Brewster Bye in 2013 and has worked on a wide range of projects from hotels through
Chancerygate has submitted plans to speculatively build 72,140 sq ft of industrial and warehousing space in Bredbury, near Stockport. Called Cromwell Park, the proposed scheme will be located on a four-acre site in Bredbury Park Industrial Estate and comprise 10 Grade A leasehold units ranging from 1,927 sq ft to
A housebuilding consortium comprising Davidsons Homes, William Davis Homes and David Wilson Homes has now broken ground on the first phase of 574 homes, open space and infrastructure at the Thorpebury development to the North-East of Leicester. Developer CEG, the landowner and the consortium exchanged contracts earlier this year to
Actis regional sales director and Women in Construction ambassador Jemma Harris has been inspiring young women to reject stereotypes and follow their dreams of a career in a male-dominated profession. Jemma, who is responsible for sales growth in the UK Northern region, was speaking to year 11 students at a
Also a LEED Fellow, WELL Faculty member and Fitwel Ambassador, Heidi’s work focuses on sustainability and wellness strategies for the academic, civic, cultural, commercial and residential sectors, at the building and masterplan scales. We spend as much as 90% of our lives in buildings. It’s therefore only fair and right
Research from London lettings and estate agent, Benham and Reeves, has revealed that it’s not just London house prices that have climbed considerably in recent times, with the total paid in council tax by London homeowners and tenants hitting almost £5bn a year – £1.2bn more per year compared to
Workman, the UK’s largest independent commercial property management and building consultancy firm, has been appointed by General Projects as property manager for Heal’s Building, Tottenham Court Road, London. General Projects recently acquired the 187,000 sq ft Grade II listed, a mixed-use asset in a joint venture with global investment firm
SIMIAN International has partnered with Prostaff LLC Following a successful accreditation audit last week, CISRS has approved the first Overseas Scaffolding Training Scheme (OSTS) centre in Russia. SIMIAN International working in collaboration with Prostaff LLC, part of the Polati Group, a Russian scaffolding supplier and contracting company, have opened a training facility in the Moscow suburb of Mytishchi. Polati Training Centre has been running their own scaffolding training programme for some time, and originally opened their centre in 2017. They also deliver other associated courses such as Rope Access, confined space and rescue training. They were, however, very keen to gain third party approval with CISRS as they see it as the leading international training standard for tube and fitting scaffolding. Initially the Centre will offer CISRS Level 1 and 2 Training for Scaffolders in Tube and fitting, Basic Scaffold Inspection and Supervisory programmes. They will look to build upon their CISRS portfolio going forward, possibly incorporating Soyuz a ring-type system which they use and supply, plus other scaffolding systems. Dave Mosley, CISRS Managing Director, said: “The centre is fitted out to the highest specifications, with brand new materials, tools and PPE. There are several classrooms but one is particularly impressive as it houses both an independent and a hanging scaffold actually within the classroom.” SIMIAN International Managing Director Ian Fyall added: “We are delighted to be partnering Prostaff in this venture and moving both SIMIAN and CISRS’ footprint into another part in the world. We are looking forward to training and assessing their instructors and giving advice and guidance going forward. “It’s been 12 months in the making due to Covid but we eventually got there” The centre also makes use of a miniature modelling system called BabyScaff, which is an exact replica of the ring-type scaffold system and is used to explain assembly, loadings and stability of scaffolds. Training Centre CEO Evgenii Guseinov said: “We are extremely pleased to be working with SIMIAN International and very proud to have opened the first CISRS centre in Russia. We have been delivering our own successful training programme for several years, however, gaining third party approval from CISRS which is recognised as the international standard for Tube and fitting scaffolding training, is another step forward and will set us apart from our competitors.” Polati are a very large Scaffolding Supplier and Contracting company with around 3,000+ scaffolders in Russia and surrounding countries. In 2017 they worked on the Lakhta Tower project in St Petersburg, at 448m it was the largest building in Europe which involved around 250 Scaffolders using over 700 tonnes of Layher Allround Scaffolding in extreme weather conditions. They have several depots across Russia and are looking to open additional CISRS OSTS approved facilities in the near future, including one in Kazakhstan.
CBRE Investment Management has completed a transaction to provide forward funding investment to RJR Securities for the development of a new 188-bedroom Maldron Hotel on Chapel Street in Manchester City Centre. Dalata Hotel Group plc, the largest hotel operator in Ireland with 45 hotels across the UK and Ireland, has agreed a 35-year lease on the new property to trade under the group’s Maldron Hotel brand. The land was sold by Telereal Trillium, with JLL acting for their team. CBRE acted as funding advisor for RJR Securities, with Gleeds as Development Manager and Squire Patten Boggs as their legal advisors. Avison Young represented CBRE Investment Management. McAleer & Rushe has been appointed as contractor to deliver the new Dalata Maldron Hotel, which will be situated in the Chapel Street/ Embankment Quarter. Currently used as a surface overspill car park by BT, the site will be regenerated into a 17-storey hotel with 188 bedrooms, coffee lounge, bar, restaurant and gym facilities. Richard Peskin, Chairman and majority shareholder of RJR Securities, commented: “I was associated with many interesting development projects during my career at GPE and this one, due to my personal involvement, has certainly been among the most exciting. Over two years ago we identified this site, being close to Manchester’s luxury and prime leisure core, as an ideal location for a hotel. Now, with the secure forward funding provided by CBRE Investment Management, we are able to fulfil our ambitions. My thanks go to them, along with the various teams who, in the most trying and complex of circumstances, demonstrated their commitment in getting us over the line with the land acquisition, planning, pre-letting and building contract for this top-class project, which will commence next month”. Shane Casserly, Corporate Development Director at Dalata Hotel Group plc, said; “We are delighted with the confirmation of the funding for our Maldron Hotel on Chapel Street in Manchester City Centre and look forward to construction commencing in the coming weeks. With Clayton Manchester City Centre just opened and a Maldron under development on Charles Street, Manchester is a market that we know well, and view our new hotel on Chapel Street as an ideal addition to our portfolio in the city.” Will Kennon, Executive Director for CBRE, said: “Despite the obvious challenges that the hospitality sector has faced due to Covid, we are witnessing a selected return of investor appetite for the sector, and this project attracted strong fund interest owing to the combination of; undoubted location, indexed lease to the strong financial covenant of Dalata and the first-class project delivery team.” Murray Burdis, Senior Strategy & Disposals Manager for Telereal Trillium, said: “We are delighted to conclude the sale of this surplus car parking site to RJR Securities and their development partners. This ambitious scheme will maximise the site’s potential and continue the regeneration of Chapel St and the wider Deansgate area with renowned hospitality provider Dalata and a new Maldron Hotel. We look forward to seeing the project commence in the coming weeks.” Peter Devlin, Contracts Director at McAleer & Rushe, comments: “We look forward to commencing construction next month and thank the teams at RJR Securities, CBRE Investment Management, Dalata Hotel Group, and all stakeholders involved for entrusting us with the safe delivery of the scheme. This is a credit to our team’s renowned expertise and reliability in delivering quality turnkey hotel developments and adds to our growing portfolio across major cities in the UK.”
William Hanson, the UK’s leading etiquette coach and expert, gives guidance to young installers on how to make the perfect first impression as part of the Future Talent Initiative from Worcester Bosch… Worcester Bosch is delighted to announce their partnership with etiquette expert, William Hanson, to help educate young installers on how to make the perfect first impression when entering customers’ homes, as part of the ongoing Future Talent Initiative (FTI). The Future Talent Initiative was launched back in September 2021 and aims to help young installers, apprentices and those new to the sector navigate the start of their careers by providing them with advice spanning many different topics. The most recent is led by William Hanson a leading etiquette expert, who has developed a bespoke resource to give young installers advice on how to make a strong first impression when interacting with customers in their homes. The video can be viewed below: As a leading expert in etiquette and CEO of the English Manner, the UK’s most established etiquette and protocol consultancy, William has the right skills and expertise to help young professionals develop their confidence and build strong relationships with their customers. William commented, “It has been a privilege to work with Worcester Bosch on this Initiative. It is true to say that first impressions do count, so I’m hoping young installers find my advice useful and are able to apply it to their working life.” Conor Evans, Head of Future Talent at Worcester Bosch, adds, “It has been great to have William onboard for our Future Talent Initiative. General etiquette are invaluable skills that are not necessarily taught at school, so we hope this can help young installers feel prepared when entering a customers’ home for the first time.” If you are a young installer, an apprentice, or just new to the industry, visit the Worcester Bosch YouTube here to access the Future Talent Initiative series.
Leeds based Brewster Bye Architects has promoted Andrew Chapman to associate director and Waqar Hussain has become a fully qualified architect at the firm, after successfully completing his RIBA part 3 exams. Andrew joined Brewster Bye in 2013 and has worked on a wide range of projects from hotels through to residential conversions throughout Yorkshire and beyond. He’s also recently been involved with several high-profile student accommodation schemes including the eight storey Oasis Residence just off Millennium Square, in Leeds city centre, which consists of 96 high specification, self-contained studio apartments, as well as amenities. Andrew has also designed and recently secured planning permission for another major student accommodation scheme in Nottingham’s Southside Regeneration Area, that will offer 297 bedrooms. Waqar joined Brewster Bye in 2018 as an architectural assistant after completing a master’s degree in architecture at the University of Huddersfield and winning several awards including the West Yorkshire Society of Architects Award and the RIBA Yorkshire Student Silver Award. He’s now completed a Professional Practice and Management in Architecture (RIBA part 3) qualification to become a fully certified architect. Since joining Brewster Bye, he’s been involved in several key projects including Leeds City Village and the successful planning application for Barkerend Mills, which is a Grade-II listed mill complex close to Bradford city centre. The complex had fallen into a state of disrepair but planning permission has now been granted for it to be transformed into 117 new apartments. Andrew Chapman said: “This promotion will see me leading on several exciting projects, across numerous sectors, from the feasibility stage right through to completion, so it’s a great opportunity for me. In recent years it’s been a privilege to be involved in a such a variety of schemes throughout the north of England and I’m looking forward to building on this further in this new role.” Mark Henderson, director at Brewster Bye, said: “Andrew has played a key role in all types of successful projects in recent years. He has a fantastic eye for detail and an excellent understanding of both the planning system and crucially, what planning committees want to see, which makes him very popular with clients. He thoroughly deserves this promotion. “Since joining us nearly four years ago, Waqar has built up a wealth of experience designing high quality and functional homes throughout the region, and he’s worked hard to pass his part 3 exams and become a fully qualified architect. There’s no doubt he has a fantastic career ahead of him with us.”
Chancerygate has submitted plans to speculatively build 72,140 sq ft of industrial and warehousing space in Bredbury, near Stockport. Called Cromwell Park, the proposed scheme will be located on a four-acre site in Bredbury Park Industrial Estate and comprise 10 Grade A leasehold units ranging from 1,927 sq ft to 22,001 sq ft. The projected gross development value is around £16m. The development site benefits from excellent access to the town centre and is less than one mile from junction 25 of the M60. Neighbouring occupiers include leading national bakery Allied Bakeries, international courier delivery services company TNT, carpet wholesaler Hadfields and chain manufacturer Renold Chains. Chancerygate development manager, Chris Brown, said: “This is an exciting opportunity to build on one of the last remaining undeveloped sites allocated for employment in the Stockport borough. “Our plans for Cromwell Park aim to meet the significant demand for high-quality, new-build industrial space that there is from businesses operating in and around Stockport and the wider North West. With planning now submitted, we are looking forward to working with Stockport Council to bring a much-needed, high specification industrial and warehousing development to Bredbury.” Agents for Cromwell Park are Williams Sillitoe and Cushman & Wakefield. You can learn more about Chancerygate’s live projects across the country here.
A housebuilding consortium comprising Davidsons Homes, William Davis Homes and David Wilson Homes has now broken ground on the first phase of 574 homes, open space and infrastructure at the Thorpebury development to the North-East of Leicester. Developer CEG, the landowner and the consortium exchanged contracts earlier this year to bring forward much-needed homes, including affordable housing, in Charnwood. This phase of the development, known as Thorpebury-in-the-Limes, will provide a comprehensive mix of housing, high-quality landscaping and green spaces including sports pitches, play areas, parkland and new walking and cycling routes. A new haul road and temporary bridge have been delivered to facilitate construction with access from Hilltop Road avoiding local villages. Earthworks, infrastructure and utilities will be delivered between now and the end of the year with work starting on housing construction in the new year. The first homes will be ready for occupation in late Summer 2022. Transport initiatives will also be delivered in nearby Barkby and Barkby Thorpe to reduce speeds and make travel through the village safer. There will also be financial contributions made for new education provision and other transport improvements. Will Martin, area manager at CEG, explains: “Three high quality housing partners have been selected to deliver the first phase. Along with the high-quality landscaping and open space, this will ensure an exemplary and characterful development.” CEG and the consortium have worked closely with Charnwood Borough Council to deliver a strategic approach to the design of this first phase, which will provide a mix of homes ranging from 2 to 5 bedrooms, including affordable homes. John Reddington, Managing Director at David Wilson Homes East Midlands, said: “We’re pleased to have this opportunity to deliver high-quality properties to Leicestershire homebuyers and invest in this growing community in Charnwood. “Exciting plans are in place for the development and we’re looking forward to seeing this community progress.” Jason Glover, Operations Director for Davidsons Homes, said: “We are delighted to work alongside CEG to deliver 217 one to five-bedroom homes at Thorpebury-in-the-Limes, including 43 affordable properties. This is set to be a flagship development in a fantastic location, including plenty of green open space, brand-new facilities and, of course, high-quality housing.” Guy Higgins, Managing Director at Loughborough-based William Davis Homes, said: “As regional builders, we’re passionate about creating high-quality homes and thriving communities in Leicestershire. We’re delighted to be involved in this very important development.” As a Charnwood business, William Davis Homes is already a major local employer and user of local suppliers. This includes the recruitment of Leicestershire teenagers to the company’s award-winning apprenticeship scheme. Adjoining the city, Thorpebury is close to existing employment, services and public transport links. Thorpebury will make a significant contribution towards meeting the Borough’s housing needs over the next 15 years. This private sector led development is forecast to create 3,500 construction jobs and 3,200 permanent jobs within the development, benefiting the local economy. Over the course of the development, which could be around 30-years, Thorpebury will ultimately deliver three distinct neighbourhoods comprising: A package of early interventions and traffic calming in Barkby and Barkby Thorpe. A multimillion-pound package of further transport improvements including a north-west link road between Barkby Lane/the A607 with a bridge across the railway line to reduce vehicle movements in the villages and a southern link road with an extension and improvements to Hamilton Park. Approximately 4,500 residential units, including family, first time buyer, affordable and Extra Care accommodation for the elderly Approximately 13 hectares of employment land Shops and services, healthcare facilities and new primary schools, within the main district and two local centres and a reserved site for a secondary school 48 hectares of parks, 61 hectares of natural green space including allotments, parks, play areas and open space. This will deliver biodiversity benefits through the delivery of new habitats 29 hectares of outdoor sports activities, including playing pitches and tennis courts New footpaths/cycleways, including connections to existing communities such as Thurmaston
Actis regional sales director and Women in Construction ambassador Jemma Harris has been inspiring young women to reject stereotypes and follow their dreams of a career in a male-dominated profession. Jemma, who is responsible for sales growth in the UK Northern region, was speaking to year 11 students at a school in Hull, and shared her own career path working in two very traditionally ‘macho’ environments – the Royal Navy, where she worked as a weapons engineer, and construction. She talked about the additional obstacles she, along with many women, faced to get to the top of the career tree – with advice on how to overcome them. She added that a depressing Gender Gap Index report report stated that it would take 108 years for society to close the global gender gap. She told them: “It sounds pretty boring selling insulation, but there’s actually a lot more to it than that. You get involved with the whole design and build process in construction and the eco side of things – saving the planet. “However, I have had to put the hard work in and overcome many obstacles, particularly as a woman in the industry that I currently work in and during my service in the Royal Navy. “I had to work that bit harder than the boys, particularly on board a ship. I was promoted later than others because I was a girl. I was overlooked for certain positions. These obstacles didn’t deter me from my goals. They made me more determined to succeed and prove myself to be just as good.” Her naval career also saw her receiving a medal for her role in the Gulf War, play football and win a physical fitness award. The talk inspired the young women to rethink their pre-conceived notions of the world of work, with 87.5% of them interested in pursuing a career in sales or business, as a result of what Jemma told them. Responses included: “Jemma’s talk gave us a chance to show young women that they can do anything that they actually want to do and that they don’t have to do the stereotypical ‘girl jobs’ and that girls are just as good as boys and that everything should be equal.” Another attendee said: “It helped open young minds that they shouldn’t listen to people who tell them that they can’t so something because they are a girl and that this is a ‘guy job.’”Jemma added: “Diversity and inclusion are always something industries should strive for. I’d like to think that, along with other women in the industry, we are making an impact and difference in inspiring the next female generation to get involved in construction.”
Also a LEED Fellow, WELL Faculty member and Fitwel Ambassador, Heidi’s work focuses on sustainability and wellness strategies for the academic, civic, cultural, commercial and residential sectors, at the building and masterplan scales. We spend as much as 90% of our lives in buildings. It’s therefore only fair and right that buildings are influenced by those that use them in a way that positively impacts climate change and supports health, wellbeing and quality of life. Climate and end-user wellbeing are intimately intertwined. Yet buildings are currently responsible for 40% of all annual global emissions. The same emissions contribute to climate effects inducing catastrophic events like flooding, wildfires and pandemics – events that typically impact individuals and communities least equipped to combat them. This isn’t right. It’s not fair and it’s not good enough. Which is why we at Buro Happold are committed to improving it. Below are six relatively simple yet key pledges that can help the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) community mitigate climate impact, address inequalities, and make buildings healthier and more inclusive for all: Adopt a human-centric approach and make design inclusive from the start. This will positively influence buildings and places, and enable more equitable outcomes. Approach every project with a holistic view of health, wellbeing and social equity. This requires early, meaningful engagement of stakeholders – both in the problem-solving and decision-making process – so that they may better voice the needs of the community. Create buildings that make people feel good. That means ensuring water quality, access to nature, inspiring movement, and comfort (amongst many others). It means proper ventilation and air filtration to eliminate odors, allergens and viruses, as well as thoughtful operations including waste reduction and green cleaning methods. Specify materials with consideration. This means considering not only for the health of building users, but also for the workers and communities where raw materials are extracted and manufactured, and for those impacted by building demolition or fire. Join aligned organizations and support them in their advocacy efforts. Embed equity into approach and team makeup when pursuing any building, masterplan or advisory project. The AEC community is ideally placed to drive meaningful change and create buildings that are better for both the planet and the people that spend time in them – “happy people, healthy planet,” to borrow a recent meme. That means addressing inequalities and decarbonizing building stock by first providing a robust platform for those who typically wouldn’t be involved in the decision-making process. In getting there, the importance of users in the economics and physics of design must be acknowledged. Moving beyond first costs, AEC leaders are instead focused on the triple bottom line of people, planet and profit. Considering the lackluster results from COP26, where the commitments made thus far are not enough to prevent warming from exceeding 1.5°C, it is clear that follow up policies and actions by all nations and a strong push from the AEC industry will be required to substantially curb our dependency on fossil fuels. Finally, but perhaps most important, the AEC community must work together to shape this more inclusive and equitable future for ourselves, our buildings, and our communities. We must all play a key role in advocating and designing with empathy to create a resilient future in which people thrive.
Research from London lettings and estate agent, Benham and Reeves, has revealed that it’s not just London house prices that have climbed considerably in recent times, with the total paid in council tax by London homeowners and tenants hitting almost £5bn a year – £1.2bn more per year compared to just five years. Last week it was reported that inflation has surged to a 30 year high and with gas and electricity costs set to climb higher yet, the cost of living has become increasingly difficult for many. Those living in London already face some of the highest house prices and rental values in the nation, with the capital also home to the highest household expenditure and this squeeze on affordability has no different when it comes to the amount of council tax they pay. Household council tax costs The research by Benham and Reeves shows that the average Londoner pays £1,374 in council tax per year, up 26.8% in the last five years, Richmond is home to the highest council tax cost per property at £2,065 per year while Southwark has seen the largest increase over the last five years at 36.8%. Total council tax costs In total, London’s current council tax bill is a huge £4,993,798,878 per year based on the average cost per household and the total number of dwellings across the capital. Barnet is home to the highest sum of council tax paid on an annual basis, with £258.5m paid across the 146,730 homes in the borough. Croydon is also home to one of the highest total council tax bills at £252m per year, followed by Bromley (£225m), Ealing (£195m) and Lambeth (£1782m). But it’s not just the increasing cost of council tax per household that is pushing up this total, in the last five years an additional 150,000 homes have been built within London which has contributed to a £1.2bn increase in the total sum of council tax paid across London. Tower Hamlets has seen the largest annual increase in council tax costs over the last five years, with the total sum paid per year increasing by 48.6%. Southwark (45%), Barking and Dagenham (41.4%), Lewisham (41%) and Croydon (38.9%) are also amongst the boroughs to have seen the largest uplofts in the total sum of council tax paid. Director of Benham and Reeves, Marc von Grundherr, commented: “Council tax is one of the core costs that many homebuyers fail to consider when looking to buy a home and the sum owed each year can differ drastically depending on where you choose to live. Much like our home insurance or energy bills, it’s also subject to change and the average London homeowner has seen council tax bill increases squeeze their cost of living by a further £300 a year in the last five years alone. So it’s an important one to consider when it comes to the ongoing affordability of your home, as unlike an expensive phone contract or comprehensive TV package, it can’t be dodged.” Data on council tax costs per dwelling sourced from Gov.uk: Live tables on council tax Data on total dwellings in each borough sourced from Gov.uk: Live tables on dwellingsTotal council tax bill and change based on the current average cost of council tax per dwelling (2021/22) multiplied by the total number of dwellings vs five years previous (2016/17)
Workman, the UK’s largest independent commercial property management and building consultancy firm, has been appointed by General Projects as property manager for Heal’s Building, Tottenham Court Road, London. General Projects recently acquired the 187,000 sq ft Grade II listed, a mixed-use asset in a joint venture with global investment firm KKR from Columbia Threadneedle Investments. Home to the flagship store of the legendary design furniture retailer for 200 years, the site consists of nine interconnected buildings housing a mixture of retail, office and residential tenants. General Projects plan to reimagine the site into a hub for creative, media and technology businesses while sensitively maintaining the Heal’s legacy. Site Close to Tottenham Court Road Underground The building sits on the eastern site of Tottenham Court Road opposite Goodge Street Underground station and is a 5-minute walk from the new Tottenham Court Road Underground and Elizabeth Line station that will give direct access to Heathrow to the West and Canary Wharf to the East. David Soar, Partner at Workman, commented: “Being appointed by General Projects on another exciting project to reinvent such an iconic building, is testament to the skills of our team to support General Project’s vision for delivering workplaces of the future while working with the current occupiers.”