Travis Perkins plc, which is the largest supplier of building materials and equipment, and a leading partner to the construction industry, has appointed Nick Pinney as the Group’s new Property Director from 1st November 2021. Nick will be replacing Martin Meech, who is retiring from the Group at the end
The World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) has published a new report, with the support of Dar Group and its member firms Integral Group, T.Y. Lin, Perkins&Will and Currie & Brown, to identify opportunities for how an integrated approach to the whole built environment is essential to deliver change commensurate with
Midlands based construction engineering consultancy, Howard Ward Associates (HWA), has been appointed by Ineco Energy to deliver a major solar PV project at 41 sites across Coventry. The scheme is part of a wider decarbonisation strategy in the city which will deliver carbon reductions and renewable energy generation improvements across
The Manufacturers of Equipment for Heat Networks Association, MEHNA welcomes the Heat and Buildings Strategy that recognises the importance of heat networks as the way forward for sectors that will be difficult to decarbonise. Steve McConnell, Director, MEHNA said: “Heat networks are an essential part of the decarbonisation approach. The
For many of us, homeownership is a major life ambition that we work for consistently over a prolonged period of time – and it’s natural that, since this is the case, virtually everyone has some sense of what they would like their “dream home” to look and feel like. The
Bellway is set to deliver 1,134 new homes at four new sites across the south-east of England as the company focuses on the provision of new housing in the Thames Gateway area. Plans are in the pipeline for three new developments in Kent – at Maidstone, Greenhithe and Northfleet –
The Heat Pump Association warmly welcomes the launch of the UK’s Heat and Buildings Strategy today in the hope that it will encourage exceptional market growth over the next few years. The Heat and Buildings Strategy published today (Tuesday 19th October) has unveiled phased out dates for the installation of
Work underway to deliver 824-home neighbourhood, breathing new life into a disused trading estate in Hove Construction has begun at Moda Living’s Sackville Road regeneration project, which will deliver a thriving intergenerational neighbourhood of more than 800 state of the art homes in the heart of Hove. The project at
“Although the Government’s Heat and Buildings Strategy does look like a clear indication of ongoing investment, it doesn’t go far enough. “When considering a heat pump there are many factors to assess which are not considered here, such as the property’s suitability. A home may need to be adapted to
Mark Bouldin, Clean Air Expert, Johnson Controls UK&I “With COP26 round the corner, now is our chance to work collectively and set the standard for others to follow. “Thankfully, technologies already exist that can help us get to grips with many of the issues at hand. 40% of the world’s
Travis Perkins plc, which is the largest supplier of building materials and equipment, and a leading partner to the construction industry, has appointed Nick Pinney as the Group’s new Property Director from 1st November 2021. Nick will be replacing Martin Meech, who is retiring from the Group at the end of 2021 in a move that has been planned carefully for some time, and after 16 years of distinguished service. Martin’s retirement brings an end to a period of 35 years where he held the role of Property Director but will be continuing in his Non Executive and advisory roles. Nick first joined the Group as Divisional Property Director in 2014 before being promoted to Property Director for the Group’s Merchant businesses in 2019. As the new Group Property Director Nick will oversee the Group’s £1bn property business with a portfolio of more than 1300 buildings, and be responsible for the continued growth and development of the Group’s estate. He will be reporting to the Group’s CFO, Alan Williams. “I am really pleased to announce the promotion of Nick, who is a fantastic asset to our team and who has grown with us since he joined the business seven years ago. This appointment is a testament to his talent and skills, and also of our commitment to the development of our own colleague pipeline. “Nick has already played a key role in developing the property strategy that supports the ambitious growth we have for our businesses, and he will now be responsible for the long term plan to maintain and improve our estate, to make sure it is fit for the future in terms of driving the digital agenda, and that we lead the way on sustainable construction,” explained Alan Williams. Prior to joining Travis Perkins, Nick worked as a Retail Partner for Strutt & Parker and as an analyst at Morgan Stanley. He is a language graduate from Oxford and has an MA in Property Valuation & Law from Cass Business School at City University. Nick lives in the Banbury area with his wife and four young children, and when time allows, he’s a keen tennis player and enjoys golf.
The World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) has published a new report, with the support of Dar Group and its member firms Integral Group, T.Y. Lin, Perkins&Will and Currie & Brown, to identify opportunities for how an integrated approach to the whole built environment is essential to deliver change commensurate with the commitments of the Paris Agreement. The report ‘Beyond Buildings: Why an integrated approach to buildings and infrastructure is essential for climate action and sustainability’argues for systemic and integrated infrastructure solutions to improve sustainability outcomes. Business leaders recognise that the built environment – buildings and infrastructure – must be on a clear path to decarbonise at the latest by 2050 and have made significant progress by 2030. The WorldGBC network calls on the built environment industries for collaboration and alignment in ambition for all asset types, in all places to accelerate the transition of the infrastructure sector. The urban built environment alone is responsible for 75% of annual global GHG emissions, with buildings accounting on its own for 37%. Members of the media are welcome to join our #BuildingToCOP26, hosted by WorldGBC, GlobalABC & UKGBC, on 21 October 2021 at 4pm GMT for the launch and discussion forum of the Beyond Buildings report. Register free here. This new report is a call to action for the built environment industry and policy makers to respond to the climate crisis with both the building and infrastructure sectors acting together. In Beyond Buildings, the WorldGBC presents the interconnection between buildings and infrastructure, and argues that systemic and integrated solutions will unlock improved sustainability outcomes. They will also accelerate the change in trajectory of GHG emissions from the built environment. Through presenting the roles that both the private and public sectors must play in terms of investment, policy and procurement, WorldGBC’s work identifies that a global framework of principles is necessary to accelerate sustainability performance across infrastructure. If we are to succeed in this critical decade, united action across all sub-sectors of the built environment industry is essential as the purpose of much of our built infrastructure is to create and support places for people. WorldGBC calls for collaboration amongst all actors in the development of a framework of principles. These principles should be adapted and verified at a local level in order to align with the 1.5° emissions trajectory and the United Nations´ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and be applicable to all asset types, to be co-created, agreed, and universally pursued. This report sets us on the path of that journey. Nigel Topping, UN High Level Climate Champion for COP26, said: “How our towns, cities and countries continue to grow really matters to the global climate crisis. We have to realise that what worked in the built environment and infrastructure sectors in the past will not work in the future. “The world faces crisis on multiple fronts, which is why we’re putting collaboration in infrastructure and built environment – a sector that contributes 75% of annual global GHG emissions – at the heart of everything we do. “Only by forging new partnerships and all-party agreements can we overcome the challenges facing our planet and society today.” Cristina Gamboa, CEO, World Green Building Council, said: “In the lead up to the Cities, Regions and Built Environment day at COP26, the importance of considering all aspects of the built environment – both the buildings we live in, and the infrastructure that supports them – is critical for taking a holistic and systemic approach to climate action and sustainable development. If we’re to build a better, brighter future, the infrastructure sector needs to de-link its growth from emissions by embracing a systemic approach which delivers sustainable built environments for everyone, everywhere. “The Beyond Buildings report sets out a path forward to support the rapid adoption of best practice sustainability outcomes across the building, construction and infrastructure space. It identifies critical next steps for the deep transformation needed to meet 2030 reduction goals. “Our green building network, its partners, members and other organisations advancing sustainable infrastructure and buildings are ready to accelerate this massive transition and ensure a zero carbon, resilient, healthy and sustainable future.” Richard Palmer, Director of Global Sustainability, Integral Group, said: “The built environment is such an important part of addressing both the causes and impacts of climate change. This report highlights the opportunities between buildings and infrastructure to accelerate climate action at the scale and speed demanded by science.” Ref 1: UN Environment. ‘2021 Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction’ [2021] Find out more at worldgbc.org
Midlands based construction engineering consultancy, Howard Ward Associates (HWA), has been appointed by Ineco Energy to deliver a major solar PV project at 41 sites across Coventry. The scheme is part of a wider decarbonisation strategy in the city which will deliver carbon reductions and renewable energy generation improvements across a number of council-owned sites; such as sports facilities, schools, office buildings, cemeteries and country park visitor centres. Civil and structural engineer HWA has specialist expertise in the solar PV sector and has advised on major schemes across the UK. For Ineco, the practice has been appointed to provide surveys and assessments, to determine the structural capacity for the installation of solar panels and inverters. The ambitious programme will generate 1,840 MWh of energy, with the potential to save Coventry City Council up to £276,000 annually. Over the lifetime of the projects, it will save the carbon equivalent of planting 9,766 trees. The first phase of works – which was funded by the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS) – saw the completion of six Coventry schools, ahead of the new 21/22 academic year. Giles Ward, director at HWA, said: “We are really pleased to be working on a number of solar PV installations across Coventry alongside Ineco Energy. The scheme is contributing to the city’s decarbonisation strategy, helping to deliver carbon reductions and renewable energy systems on a significant scale.” “This is a diverse industry in which we have gained extensive knowledge and experience in since the field was in its infancy. It is great to see that solar PV installations have developed significantly, and their demand and accessibility continue to grow as local authorities, businesses and organisations across the UK seek energy-efficient solutions.” Works have also begun on the Coventry Central Library, a Council office building and Windmill Road Cemetery in the city, due to be completed this month. Angus Rose, director of Ineco Energy said: “We’re extremely proud to be helping Coventry City Council to reduce its carbon footprint with the installation of solar PV across the region. There has never been a more important time to reduce the carbon footprint of our communities and secure a greener future for generations to come. “This part of the project, funded by PSDS, only scratches the surface of the ambitious project with Coventry City Council. The ongoing decarbonisation plans funded by ERDF will allow the Council to make buildings more energy efficient and help the region reach its net zero target.” Phase 2 will see solar PV being installed across 32 further Coventry City Council public buildings and is funded through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). Ineco Energy specialises in the development, installation, and ongoing management of renewable and energy-efficient solutions for local authorities, schools and businesses within England and Wales.
The Manufacturers of Equipment for Heat Networks Association, MEHNA welcomes the Heat and Buildings Strategy that recognises the importance of heat networks as the way forward for sectors that will be difficult to decarbonise. Steve McConnell, Director, MEHNA said: “Heat networks are an essential part of the decarbonisation approach. The technology is already available, and the carbon savings are being made. The £338 million funding for the Heat Network Transformation Programme is money well spent.” “Currently there are over 14,000 heat networks in the UK, providing heating and hot water to around 480,000 consumers. This is proven technology that will assist the UK to make carbon reductions, and enable consumers to protect their heating and hot water comfort levels, safe in the knowledge that it is being done in the most efficient way possible.” “MEHNA and its members will continue to support government as the UK transitions to net Zero.”
For many of us, homeownership is a major life ambition that we work for consistently over a prolonged period of time – and it’s natural that, since this is the case, virtually everyone has some sense of what they would like their “dream home” to look and feel like. The way things often play out, however, is that we end up having to significantly adjust our expectations to match the pre-existing properties available on the market, not only with regards to the homes we end up living in, but also with regards to the buildings we might want to use for commercial purposes. Ultimately, one of the key ways of getting around many of these potential limitations is to have your property built from scratch – and this is what many people do in fact opt to do. Here are a few of the benefits of having a property built from scratch. A new build, and the benefits that come with that While old buildings very often have their own kind of charm, and are attractive in a range of different ways, there are also various particular benefits that exist only – or at least primarily – with regards to new builds. If you are very drawn to modern architectural trends and home design styles, such as those which emphasise a lot of natural illumination and clean lines, having a properly built from scratch is the best way of guaranteeing that you’ll be able to have those exact aesthetic preferences represented in the way your home ultimately ends up. In addition to this, there are also various other ways in which having a new build could be very beneficial. With the explosive rise in the popularity of “Smart Tech,” and digital tools and systems in general, more people are drawn to the idea of having a “Smart Home,” which is well integrated with features that can be controlled via a mobile app. Often, these features can be difficult and costly to install in an older home, but if your home is being built from scratch, you’ll have a great degree of scope for modifying it so that it has the latest “smart features.” A property that is specifically tailored to your particular and unique requirements Not all homes or properties are the same, or serve the same purpose, and every individual is likely to have their own particular preferences and requirements for the type of property they want. If you run a suitable business, for example, having a plot of land where you can easily erect a Steel Building might be invaluable for helping your entrepreneurial venture to thrive. Likewise, you may have a particular hobby or pastime that you would like your home to facilitate, but which could be difficult to implement in an existing structure. Having a building constructed from scratch gives you a great range of different options for ensuring that the space is as personalised as you want it to be, and can properly support and enhance your existing lifestyle, pastimes, and even profession. When you consider just how popular various home ornaments are, and just how big market is for home remodelling and redesign, you can clearly see that most people do want their homes to be well personalised, and to feel like something more than generic living spaces from a catalogue. While there are certainly also things that you can do to enhance the ways in which your home feels truly and uniquely “yours,” and the extent to which it helps to facilitate your preferred pastimes, it’s difficult to argue that any other approach offers quite as much scope and variety as having a home constructed from the ground up, according to particular specifications, and with your own oversight. Greater awareness of just how your property is being built, and what is being put into it Increasingly, there is a growing sense of homeowner awareness about some of the ways in which particular material used in home construction can be hazardous or detrimental – and yet many homes which have been built in the past still contain potentially volatile and harmful materials. It’s still very common, for example, for existing homes to contain have asbestos in their construction – and even though it shouldn’t be harmful unless it is damaged or disturbed, this still creates one significant potential risk factor that you have to be mindful of, and another dimension in which your home might be hazardous to those working on it. In addition to the fact that certain materials that were commonly used in the past might be directly harmful to human health, construction norms have changed over time in other ways, and the kind of homes that were considered fashionable and cozy several decades ago will not necessarily reflect the architectural standards of the current day, or your own preferences. When you have a home, or other property, built from the ground up, you will tend to have a significantly greater level of awareness of just how that property is being built, and what is being put into it. When you’re having your own property built from scratch, you will also be in a much better position to mindfully vet the specific construction team that you want working on the build, and to get a sense for how skilful and trustworthy they are. In recent years, there have been several high-profile tragedies and controversies in different parts of the world, concerning buildings which were built without following proper protocol, back in the day. The satisfaction of being the first one to inhabit the property Let’s face it: although many people like the idea of living in a home that already has its own history and story, many other people also like the idea of being the first inhabitants of a property, and leaving their own mark on it. If you like the idea of starting a new chapter in your life with your own home, and making sure that it really
Bellway is set to deliver 1,134 new homes at four new sites across the south-east of England as the company focuses on the provision of new housing in the Thames Gateway area. Plans are in the pipeline for three new developments in Kent – at Maidstone, Greenhithe and Northfleet – and a further site in Essex, at Fobbing. Bellway Thames Gateway already has planning permission for 532 homes at Harbour Village at Ebbsfleet Garden City in Northfleet, 258 properties at Crossways Quarter in Greenhithe and 168 homes at Maple Creek in Fobbing, while detailed plans are pending consideration for 176 homes for the Bellway at Rosewood development in Langley, Maidstone. Tom Sherriff, Managing Director of Bellway Thames Gateway, said: “We as a company are fully committed to this extensive building schedule which represents a huge commitment by Bellway to the south-east of England. “The need for new housing in this part of the country is widely documented and we are in the process of trying to meet some of that demand. “These developments are four key sites that will help us build on our already extensive portfolio in the Thames Gateway region. These sites will see us create more brand-new communities and provide neighbourhoods where people want to live and put down roots. “The developments differ in size but between them they offer a comprehensive mix of housing, from one-bedroom apartments to five-bedroom houses, which will appeal to a wide range of purchasers from first-time buyers to growing families and down-sizers. “We are set to deliver 966 new homes in Kent and 168 new properties in Essex and are proud to be part of the growing success of both of these counties.” The developer has started construction work on a range of one, two and three-bedroom apartments at the Crossways Quarter site – a five-acre site off St Mary’s Road and Crossways Boulevard in Greenhithe. Groundworks have also begun at Harbour Village on the south bank of the Thames as part of the Ebbsfleet Garden City regeneration zone. The Bellway development will include a mix of one and two-bedroom apartments and two to four-bedroom houses on the former Northfleet cement works. The housebuilder is preparing to start work at Maple Creek, which will comprise a mix of two, three, and four-bedroom houses, and one and two-bedroom apartments on a 24-acre site off High Road in Fobbing. Meanwhile, detailed plans have been submitted for the Bellway at Rosewood development in Langley, Maidstone, after outline planning permission was granted by Maidstone Borough Council. The plans are for a range of one to five-bedroom homes, including houses and apartments, with a third of the 10-acre site to be provided as public open space. For more information about homes currently being built by Bellway Thames Gateway, visit https://www.bellway.co.uk/new-homes/thames-gateway.
The Heat Pump Association warmly welcomes the launch of the UK’s Heat and Buildings Strategy today in the hope that it will encourage exceptional market growth over the next few years. The Heat and Buildings Strategy published today (Tuesday 19th October) has unveiled phased out dates for the installation of fossil fuel heating, increased funding support for households purchasing heat pumps, and the rebalancing of environmental levies on electricity, all of which will be vital to growing the heat pump market and reducing emissions from our homes. Chair of the Heat Pump Association, Phil Hurley said: “The heat pump industry warmly welcomes these bold steps forward. The industry in the best shape it has ever been, with sales this year already double those seen ever before. “This announcement is timed perfectly to take advantage of the Heat Pump Association’s recently launched training course, with the industry now ready to retrain the UK’s army of installers with the capacity to train up to 40,000 per year, to ensure consumers can find a suitably trained and skilled heat pump installer when they need one. “Today’s announcement will give industry and installers a huge confidence boost that now is the time to scale-up and retrain in preparation for the mass roll out of heat pumps, as well as making heat pumps more affordable, so all consumers can soon access and enjoy the benefits of reliable low carbon heating that stands the test of time.” Key highlights for the heat pump industry include: The extension of the Clean Heat Grant scheme. Going beyond earlier proposals, the scheme will now run for three years from April 2022 with an increased funding pot of £450 million. Consumers will receive government grants of up to £5,000 for the purchase of heat pumps. The rebalancing of the environmental levies on electricity and gas. This will help to reduce fuel bills for consumers switching to heat pumps and is likely to further stimulate demand. Phase out dates for fossil fuel heating. Regulation is vital for instilling confidence in industry and commitment to phase out fossil fuel systems by 2035 is a major milestone for the low carbon heating market
Work underway to deliver 824-home neighbourhood, breathing new life into a disused trading estate in Hove Construction has begun at Moda Living’s Sackville Road regeneration project, which will deliver a thriving intergenerational neighbourhood of more than 800 state of the art homes in the heart of Hove. The project at the Sackville Road Trading Estate is set to deliver 564 high-quality build-to-rent homes and 260 care community homes, as well as extensive public gardens and a main boulevard leading to a large public square, office accommodation, workspaces, shops and cafes. The nine-acre brownfield site is on the former trading estate which is conveniently located next to Hove Station and is just a few minutes’ walk from the seafront. Funding for the site purchase was provided by Apache Capital Partners. Midgard has been appointed lead contractor on the project, with completion targeted for early 2024. The construction phase of the project is set to create more than 560 jobs, with many workers at the site based in the local and surrounding area. Moda Living, the UK’s leading family-owned developer and operator of build-to-rent homes, designed the neighbourhood with an intergenerational focus, an emphasis on public amenity spaces and social infrastructure for residents and the wider community. The neighbourhood will offer a variety of homes ideal for families and individuals with secure long-term tenancies for up to three years, helping to address the area’s housing shortage. Approximately 70% of the site will be curated into new public spaces, including landscaped areas and an abundance of green space with newly planted trees and gardens. The plans also include communal lounges for events and wellbeing workshops, private dining areas, restaurants, shops, 50,000 sq ft of office and co-working space, and five communal roof terraces. As part of its commitment to the area, Moda Living has signed the largest planning contributions deal Hove has seen from a private company in more than a decade. The business will contribute more than £10 million to local investment in infrastructure, public realm, education, public art and supporting the local community. Additionally, 10% of the 564 rental homes have been allocated as affordable housing. Following a formal event attended by officials including Hove and Portslade MP Peter Kyle, Moda celebrated the occasion with a community barbeque in Hove Park. More than 70 local residents of all ages enjoyed an afternoon of delicious food and drink with live entertainment, all provided by local businesses and artists. James Blakey, Planning Director at Moda, said: “We are thrilled that construction work has begun on this regeneration project to transform a rundown brownfield site in Hove into a multi-generational community, providing high quality rental homes and hundreds of jobs, both during construction and on completion. “We are also excited to integrate Moda Living into Hove’s vibrant wider community and are looking forward to investing £10m into local projects spanning education, public realm, employment, sport, public art and green spaces.” Sean O’Driscoll, Operations Director at Midgard, said: “We’ve been working with the Moda team on the project for several months and we’re excited to have reached the stage where construction works are finally commencing. “We’re looking forward to working closely with all stakeholders to deliver a successful project.” John Dunkerley, CEO and co-founder of Apache Capital Partners, said: “Our Hove site with Moda is one of our largest and most ambitious projects to date, and the construction phase will create local jobs and ultimately see this former brownfield site turned into a modern, intergenerational community replete with amenities that is underpinned by high-quality homes for rent. “Institutional capital wanting to access resilient, long-term income streams to match their liabilities continues to be attracted to the UK build-to-rent sector as it is structurally supported by long-term demographic growth drivers and a demand-supply imbalance, with a lack of high quality, professionally managed, purpose-built properties set against a growing number of privately renting households and an ageing population.” Hove and Portslade MP Peter Kyle said: “Whenever I walk around Hove, I look at the beautiful Regency architecture we are fortunate to have, and I say thank you to the people who built it all those years ago. “I want any new development in Hove to be something that people will say thank you for, long after we’re gone. That’s exactly what we have with Moda’s redevelopment of the Sackville Road Trading Estate.” Leader of Brighton and Hove City Council Phélim Mac Cafferty said: “Sackville Trading Estate was identified as a key site for development in our City Plan to help address the city’s chronic housing shortage. “This development will bring this largely underused and derelict land back into use to provide hundreds of new homes as well as jobs, community facilities and public gardens.” For more information, please visit: https://modaliving.com/live/location/brighton-hove
“Although the Government’s Heat and Buildings Strategy does look like a clear indication of ongoing investment, it doesn’t go far enough. “When considering a heat pump there are many factors to assess which are not considered here, such as the property’s suitability. A home may need to be adapted to accommodate a heat pump, such as resizing radiators and making space for hot water cylinders, which carry cost implications. Therefore, the proposed grants may help with the cost to purchase a heat pump, but there will still be costly investment required from homeowners in existing properties. “As for boilers, the strategy does not refer to any legislation behind a boiler ban, so it’s not surprising that there is confusion among installers and homeowners. “Whilst it is encouraging to see that hydrogen is still on the agenda and is referred to within the Strategy, it is a shame to see that a decision around hydrogen won’t be made until five years from now. With hydrogen-ready boilers already successfully trialled, they could be a strong alternative to fossil fuel boilers on the market today – yet this strategy seems to omit them. “We are committed to the decarbonisation of heating and hot water in the UK and will continue to work with Government and industry to offer a technology agnostic future, while educating and inspiring homeowners to make greener choices for home heating.”
Mark Bouldin, Clean Air Expert, Johnson Controls UK&I “With COP26 round the corner, now is our chance to work collectively and set the standard for others to follow. “Thankfully, technologies already exist that can help us get to grips with many of the issues at hand. 40% of the world’s carbon is generated by buildings so we must look to innovation to put us solidly on the pathway to Net Zero. Smart technologies are no longer a gimmick or a flash in the pan initiative and must instead be recognised as a significant vehicle to make a positive impact and advance our sustainability efforts. “But what governments and businesses don’t realise is that improving energy efficiency has more than just a good effect on the planet. Research has found that, in buildings with clean air technology, productivity can increase by 11%, with cognitive scores increasing by 101%. That’s a business gain that can only be achieved by exceeding current regulations. “When it comes to tackling climate change, we don’t have the luxury of time. Technology is the place to start, sooner rather than later.”