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Kenneth Booth

Nottingham Castle ‘Refurbishment project of the year’ shortlisting for G F Tomlinson at prestigious Building Awards

Kenneth Booth September 30, 2021

Midlands-based contractor G F Tomlinson has been shortlisted for ‘Refurbishment of the year’ at the annual Building Awards, recognising work undertaken at Nottingham Castle. The historical landmark has undergone a significant transformation to become a world-class visitor destination and heritage site following its £31million redevelopment which began back in November

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Kempton to Kew white caps replacement contract awarded to Barhale

Kenneth Booth September 30, 2021

Barhale has extended its role in the maintenance of the Thames Water Ring Main (TWRM) after securing works to replace almost 100,000 white caps in the tunnels between Kempton and Kew. The £1.47M project will see the civil engineering and infrastructure specialist isolate, drain, clean and inspect two sections of

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ZENTIA PUT YOU ABOVE ALL IN NEXT PHASE OF BRAND STRATEGY

Kenneth Booth September 29, 2021

Leading ceiling systems manufacturer Zentia announces brand relaunch. Zentia, the UK’s market leader in complete ceiling solutions, is putting customers at the heart of its brand and marketing strategy. Following Zentia’s rebrand, which evolved from Armstrong Ceiling Solutions last year, the ‘Above all, you’ campaign will communicate what that means

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SmartParc partners with SEGRO to deliver a 1.85m sqft high-tech food manufacturing and distribution campus on 112-acre site at Spondon, Derby

Kenneth Booth September 29, 2021

 Regeneration of the former British Celanese site set to create thousands of jobs Initial occupation of the innovative food production hub – SmartParc SEGRO Spondon – early 2022 The final step has been achieved to enable the 1.85m sqft, high-tech food manufacturing and distribution campus on the 112-acre former Celanese

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The iMist system becomes the only water mist fire suppression system to hold LABSS Registered Details certification in Scotland

Kenneth Booth September 29, 2021

The high-pressure water mist fire suppression system designed and manufactured by Yorkshire-based iMist has been awarded LABSS Registered Details certification, making it the only water mist system for domestic and residential projects to hold this prestigious certification. The LABSS Registered Details certification covers all of the components in iMist’s STX12

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EMCOR UK: What to do now to create the workplaces of the future

Kenneth Booth September 28, 2021

Insight Partner EMCOR explores the third of our megatrends, the future of work… They were live at the IWFM Conference 2021 held on Monday 13 September, As Abraham Lincoln once famously said, ‘The best way to predict your future is to create it’ and that is exactly what is happening now as

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Issue 343 : Aug 2026

Kenneth Booth

Nottingham Castle ‘Refurbishment project of the year’ shortlisting for G F Tomlinson at prestigious Building Awards

Kenneth Booth September 30, 2021

Midlands-based contractor G F Tomlinson has been shortlisted for ‘Refurbishment of the year’ at the annual Building Awards, recognising work undertaken at Nottingham Castle. The historical landmark has undergone a significant transformation to become a world-class visitor destination and heritage site following its £31million redevelopment which began back in November 2018.  Funded by the National Lottery through the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF), Nottingham Castle Trust, D2N2 and client Nottingham City Council – the brief for the construction phase of the overall castle transformation involved specialist restoration and refurbishment works to the 17th century Grade I Listed Ducal Palace, a new extension to house new galleries, and the construction of a visitor centre with a ticketing office, café and outdoor seating area. Responding to the brief, the design of the new visitor centre features external oak cladding, chosen due to its association with Robin Hood and Sherwood Forest – home of the famous 1,000-year-old Major Oak tree. The project has transformed the historical landmark enhancing the heritage and history of the city, helping to realise the castle’s vision of attracting more than 400,000 yearly visitors.  Chris Flint, managing director at G F Tomlinson said: “We are delighted to have been recognised as a finalist for such an acclaimed award. The project was a real highlight of the last two years and a huge achievement for the business, even more so given that the majority of the work took place during the COVID-19 pandemic which posed its own set of challenges. “Throughout the project we ensured that labour was sourced from local businesses and organisations and we are proud to say we were able to recycle 97% of the onsite construction waste as we continue to take responsibility of our sustainable footprint.” The contractor provided opportunities for the local community including 27,000 hours of employment, training and social value initiatives – such as local school and college site tours, graduate work experience placements, apprenticeships and employment opportunities, alongside support for a local charity called Framework who provide support with employment, housing and health for people cross Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, Derbyshire and Sheffield. The works were well-received by the client, as the current Lord Mayor of Nottingham Dave Trimble said: “The completion of this part of the castle works on such a historic site, despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and periods of adverse weather, is a big achievement. “The impact of these works will have a lasting impression on the city, bolstering tourism with the restoration of the fascinating building which lies on an iconic cave network, and the construction of the new visitor centre.”               The Building Awards recognise the most impressive UK businesses and projects within the building and construction sector. Projects will be judged on design, sustainability, innovation and construction performance, procurement and team work with the client. Winners of all categories will be announced during a black-tie dinner in November at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London. 

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PICK EVERARD COMPLETES £2.2M SUSTAINABLE EXPANSION PROJECT AT ESSEX SCHOOL

Kenneth Booth September 30, 2021

AN ESSEX secondary school has become the first in the county to benefit from a net-zero carbon, modular building, creating hundreds of additional places for youngsters in the area. The £2.2m project at Sweyne Park School in Rayleigh has been led by independent property, construction, and infrastructure consultancy Pick Everard. Work involved the creation of an energy efficient building to house six new classrooms, a new staff room, office and storage space. The new building has been designed specifically to support the teaching of children who are deaf or have a hearing impairment, using enhanced lighting and acoustic standards. Energy saving measures include photovoltaic (PV) panels on the roof, used to generate the electricity of the building, as well as LED lighting, trace heating on hot water supply pipework and a high-efficiency, fresh air heating system combined with air source heat pumps. This type of heat pump has been proven to be three times more efficient than a gas boiler. Pick Everard was appointed by Essex County Council (ECC) in January this year to deliver project management and quantity surveying for the development. It produced multi-disciplinary designs for the council prior to planning, later fostering a collaboration with project partners Morgan Sindall to see the development through from April until completion. Sweyne Park is one of three secondary schools in Essex that Pick Everard is working on for the council’s modular innovation project, with completion also due at Clacton County High School in Clacton-on-Sea, and Colne Community College in Brightlingsea in the near future. Keith Prendergast, national director at Pick Everard, said: “We are really pleased to have completed this project with Essex County Council to improve the school facilities and increase the number of pupil places in the county. This marks the first of three projects to be delivered by Pick Everard for the council, continuing a longstanding relationship. “We have worked closely with the client and a modular supplier to ensure the brief was achieved, to provide the high-quality education facilities the next generation of students deserve.” Modular buildings are constructed off-site using the same materials and designed to the same codes and standards as conventional buildings – but in about half the time and with minimal disruption to the school. The build process is more environmentally-friendly as it reduces embodied carbon emissions. Build waste is also reduced by around 75 per cent. The units also do not rely on refined fossil fuels like gas, and therefore avoid around 20 tonnes of carbon dioxide being released into the atmosphere annually. Pick Everard quantity surveying associate, Tom Wint, said: “Modular builds are still a relatively new concept for schools but offer a greater level of flexibility and innovation. When compared to traditional on-site methods, Essex County Council has reduced the overall project time by six months by opting for modular builds, providing an efficient solution and allowing Sweyne Park School to open its new building at the start of the new academic year in September.” Property, construction and infrastructure consultancy Perfect Circle – a company jointly owned by Pick Everard, Gleeds and AECOM – was appointed by Essex County Council to deliver project management and quantity surveying services, which have been procured via SCAPE Consultancy, a direct award framework that drives collaboration, efficiency, time, and cost savings. Cllr Tony Ball, cabinet member for education, skills and training at Essex County Council, said: “The modular innovation project is successfully delivering essential new teaching space for schools to meet the needs of the local community. At the same time, we are delivering our ambitions to tackle climate change and working towards making Essex carbon neutral, as announced in the recent Essex Climate Action Commission report. “We know that buildings are currently responsible for 39% of global energy related carbon emissions. This project plays a part in reducing those carbon emissions, while providing a high-quality, bright, fresh, and comfortable learning environment for children. “Building this way also leaves schools with more money to spend on educating children rather than paying bills and maintenance.” Pick Everard employs more than 600 staff across its 13 offices, providing a range of project, cost, and design consultancy services. For more information, please visit www.pickeverard.co.uk.

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Kempton to Kew white caps replacement contract awarded to Barhale

Kenneth Booth September 30, 2021

Barhale has extended its role in the maintenance of the Thames Water Ring Main (TWRM) after securing works to replace almost 100,000 white caps in the tunnels between Kempton and Kew. The £1.47M project will see the civil engineering and infrastructure specialist isolate, drain, clean and inspect two sections of the TWRM from the Kempton shaft to the Mogden shaft (6.875km) and from the Mogden shaft to the Kew shaft (4.820km). Barhale will then replace the existing push-fit caps covering the lifting eye sockets on each tunnel plate with new, screw-fit types. The Thames Water Ring Main was built between 1988 and 1994. It is 2.5m diameter and 80km long and is a critical part of London’s water infrastructure carrying around one-sixth of the capital’s daily water demand. Access to this section of the Ring Main is only possible through access flanges at the Kempton, Mogden and Kew shafts so some enabling works may be required. Barhale regional manager, John Prendergast described the works as an important element in the ongoing maintenance of the Ring Main  “We have worked alongside Thames Water on the Ring Main for many years and we are pleased to be extending our long-standing relationship with this latest programme.” he said. “The close relationship between the two teams and our collaborative approach continues to yield positive outcomes for customers – not only in programme delivery but also in terms of the longer-term benefits where we are improving the network’s resilience and safeguarding the future supply of drinking water to London.”

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London remains the leasehold hotspot for homebuyers, but North West isn’t far behind

Kenneth Booth September 29, 2021

The latest research from Warwick Estates has revealed which regions of the property market in England and Wales are currently the leasehold homebuyer hotspots. Warwick Estates analysed price paid data from the Land Registry over the last 12 months to see where the most leasehold homes are selling. The figures show that across England and Wales, 651,488 homes have sold in the last 12 months, 117,892 of which have been leaseholds, accounting for 18% of all market activity. London continues to lead where leasehold property popularity is concerned. 44% of all homes sold across the capital in the last year have been leasehold, by far the highest proportion of all regions. However, the North West ranks second, where the 25,858 leasehold sales equate to 32% of all market activity. The South East completes the top three regions with the most leasehold homes sold, with 15% of all transactions in the last year being for leasehold properties. In contrast, just 6% of homes sold across the East Midlands in the last year have been leasehold, while Wales (8%) and the West Midlands (11%) are also home to some of the lowest leasehold homebuyers. COO of Warwick Estates, Bethan Griffiths, commented: “The leasehold lifestyle appeals to a certain type of homebuyer and so there will always be a large regional disparity where the proportion of market activity attributable to leasehold sales is concerned. They remain a popular choice in many larger cities where apartment living, in particular, is the lifestyle of choice for many. They also provide a more affordable option for those purchasing in inflated pockets of the market. However, we’re now seeing an increase in popularity due to the social and communal aspects that many leasehold developments offer. This has become an important feature for many since the nation was plunged into lockdown and will remain a prominent aspect of life after the pandemic.” Location All transactions Leasehold transactions Leasehold % London 69,265 30,683 44% North West 79,685 25,858 32% South East 118,696 18,234 15% South West 75,991 10,877 14% North East 27,305 3,791 14% Yorkshire and the Humber 60,108 7,493 12% East of England 77,030 8,932 12% West Midlands region 57,560 6,307 11% Wales 31,437 2,501 8% East Midlands 54,411 3,216 6% England 620,051 115,391 19% England and Wales 651,488 117,892 18% Data sourced from the Land Registry Price Paid data records for residential property sales, excluding properties listed by type as ‘other’, between August 2020 and July 2021.        

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ZENTIA PUT YOU ABOVE ALL IN NEXT PHASE OF BRAND STRATEGY

Kenneth Booth September 29, 2021

Leading ceiling systems manufacturer Zentia announces brand relaunch. Zentia, the UK’s market leader in complete ceiling solutions, is putting customers at the heart of its brand and marketing strategy. Following Zentia’s rebrand, which evolved from Armstrong Ceiling Solutions last year, the ‘Above all, you’ campaign will communicate what that means to customers. Driven by extensive stakeholder research, it focuses on Zentia’s specifier, contractor and distributor partners and their key future challenges and opportunities.   The ‘Above all, you’ message derives from the brand’s ethos to work collaboratively with customers and create real value in every project delivered. This, teamed with the company’s reputation for anticipating customer needs, highlights their innovative mentality, and has become one of the four brand pillars underpinning the strategy. The rebrand is only the start for Zentia, with exciting plans for the future including innovative NPD, and investments in both training and customer support, as well as a multi-million-pound investment in manufacturing capabilities.    Graham Taylor, director, sales and marketing at Zentia, explained: “Quality, control and endless predictability were just some of the key themes identified – any one of which may be our partners’ key concern at any one time. Our campaign recognises this reality of multiple priorities, but at the same time signs off with a constant – that for Zentia, it’s ‘above all, you’, our partners, who are our priority.”  He added: “In this uncertain and ever-changing world, having everything from manufacture to customer support right here in the UK means we are more agile and in control. Together with our forward-thinking culture, this allows us to successfully solve problems for our end user clients.” The multi-channel campaign launches this month (September) across web, trade media, social channels, and direct communications. Visit www.zentia.com for more.

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SmartParc partners with SEGRO to deliver a 1.85m sqft high-tech food manufacturing and distribution campus on 112-acre site at Spondon, Derby

Kenneth Booth September 29, 2021

 Regeneration of the former British Celanese site set to create thousands of jobs Initial occupation of the innovative food production hub – SmartParc SEGRO Spondon – early 2022 The final step has been achieved to enable the 1.85m sqft, high-tech food manufacturing and distribution campus on the 112-acre former Celanese site near Spondon to proceed. SmartParc has announced SEGRO as its development partner. SEGRO will work with SmartParc to create a new asset class dedicated to ‘state of the art’ food manufacturing and distribution. SmartParc SEGRO Spondon paves the way for the food industry to collaborate to meet the challenges of sustainable production whilst addressing the need for efficient direct routes to consumers. As development partner, SEGRO will provide a multi-million-pound investment to regenerate the brownfield site.. SmartParc will provide the onsite managed services, supporting the food community to increase production efficiency and drive reduced operational costs through collaborative working. SmartParc’s revolutionary energy sharing infrastructure will utilise wind and solar combined with central services, to deliver the most sustainable food production community in the country. The announcement of the partnership follows Derby City Council granting planning permission in June and the agreement of grant funding contributions from D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership and Derby City Council. D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership has allocated £12 million towards the project from the Government’s Getting Building Fund – the largest single allocation from D2N2’s £44 million allocation. SmartParc was founded to address the challenges facing the food sector. The 1.85m sqft collaborative hub at Spondon represents a pioneering technical breakthrough. It will provide food manufacturing facilities ranging from start-up incubation units through to large-scale manufacturing facilities ranging from 50,000 – 400,000 sqft. The site will also be home to a Food Manufacturing Technology Centre of Excellence to future-proof the food industry, offering education and career opportunities to secure both the local and global food supply chains. SmartParc will provide a new sustainable blueprint for the food industry. Climate change has highlighted the need for far-reaching industry change and, in response, SmartParc will re-engineer current food manufacturing and distribution processes. It will create a new, forward-thinking ecosystem of food production, looking towards new technologies such as vertical farming to disconnect weather from our ability to produce sustainable food. This mission begins with SmartParc SEGRO Spondon as the flagship site. Building on Spondon’s heritage as a site of cutting-edge engineering, SmartParc will create 5,000 direct jobs and enable a new collaborative, flexible work model to accommodate people’s evolving lifestyles with the ambition of reconnecting the local community to food production. SmartParc SEGRO Spondon will be home to the first low-carbon food manufacturing community. A central distribution hub to consolidate goods in deliveries will streamline the distribution chain, providing a reduction in cost for occupiers whilst improving sustainability by eliminating food miles. From design and material selection to support for eventual occupiers, SmartParc and SEGRO will help to ensure excellent environmental performance and bold efficiency gains at the ground-breaking site. Jackie Wild, SmartParc CEO said: “We are delighted to announce SEGRO as our development partner as we work towards our goal of building the first world-leading, sustainable, high-tech food manufacturing and distribution campus at SmartParc SEGRO Spondon.” “Our partnership with SEGRO and the continued support of D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership and Derby City Council will enable us to bring jobs to the region and address the increasingly critical challenges facing food manufacturing supply chains.” “We want to thank everyone involved in realising this vision in record time. From the first walk around site in May 2020 to starting on site in September 2021- it shows what can be achieved when everyone pushes in the same direction with a shared agenda.” “The creation of this dedicated asset class is pivotal in achieving a more sustainable future for food production and giving a framework for the food industry to build upon. We want to embrace Derby’s engineering heritage to ensure that SmartParc is the home of the next food revolution. We already have a significant level of interest from manufacturers and retailers both from the UK and overseas and we are starting work immediately so we can welcome our first ‘collaborators’ to SmartParc early next year.” Andrew Pilsworth, Managing Director, National Logistics at SEGRO, added: “SmartParc’s bold new concept for food manufacturing and distribution has the potential to be a true game-changer. Over the last 18 months we’ve seen the importance of having robust supply chains closer to home and being able to quickly and efficiently distribute goods. SmartParc enables both of these within the vital food and drink sector and does so while keeping sustainability at its heart. We look forward to working together to make the concept a success.” “By backing innovative projects like this one, we are levelling up areas across the country by building stronger and more resilient local economies, which can support jobs and prosperity in our communities.” Councillor Chris Poulter, Leader of Derby City Council commented: “We are delighted with the progress so far in the SmartParc scheme”. “The project is hugely welcome in Derby, fitting perfectly into our aims to boost our economy and job market and to further diversify the city.” “The thousands of new jobs that will be created is a fantastic prospect and we look forward to seeing the partnership between SmartParc and SEGRO develop to achieve this.” Chris Radlett, Vice President of Manufacturing for Celanese also said: “Celanese is pleased to have worked closely with local and regional authorities and the developers, to provide our site to help create jobs and enable more sustainable food production. This is a fitting next step for the site and we look forward to welcoming our new neighbours.” With further comment from D2N2 LEP Chair, Elizabeth Fagan CBE: “Food and drink manufacturing is a key investment priority for our region. The LEP’s £12 million investment will support the creation of a world-leading sustainable food-manufacturing facility that will deliver pioneering innovation, create thousands of jobs and transform the local economy.”

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The iMist system becomes the only water mist fire suppression system to hold LABSS Registered Details certification in Scotland

Kenneth Booth September 29, 2021

The high-pressure water mist fire suppression system designed and manufactured by Yorkshire-based iMist has been awarded LABSS Registered Details certification, making it the only water mist system for domestic and residential projects to hold this prestigious certification. The LABSS Registered Details certification covers all of the components in iMist’s STX12 proprietary high pressure water mist system which includes its STN12 nozzle type. This means that individual projects in Scotland that use the iMist system will not require a project specific in-depth review by Building Standards as the LABSS certificate attests that it has already been assessed and approved for suitability. The certification followed a near year-long comprehensive review of the iMist system with thorough examination of its system design, installation, operation and maintenance manual, including assessing safety in case of fire; safety in use and durability serviceability and identification. Going forward, an annual review process will be carried out before the LABSS certificate is renewed. “With the tightening of regulations post-Grenfell, every fire suppression system should, rightly, undergo a robust review.  As water mist systems are a relatively new alternative to traditional sprinkler systems, the authorities in Scotland wanted to understand exactly how the iMist system works and undertook a detailed assessment covering all aspects of the system,” explains Timothy Andrews, iMist business development director. “We have been able to evidence the efficacy of our system which is designed to suppress a fire by automatically discharging very small droplets into the air at high pressure. This fine mist remains in the air, displaces oxygen from the seat of the fire, has a cooling effect and provides surface wetting to limit the fire spread. “LABSS Registered Detail certification means that anyone choosing an iMist system for domestic or most residential projects should be able to fast-track their scheme as the Scottish Government’s Building Standards Divisions (BSD) now has the confidence that the iMist system has passed a thorough assessment.” Use of the LABSS registration negates the need to consult with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) under Section 11 of The Building (Procedure) (Scotland) Regulations 2004 (as amended).  A verifier may still wish to consult with SFRS under Section 10 of the legislation. Alex Pollard, operations director of the fast-growing Hull headquartered business, adds: “Having had an office near Sterling for a number of years, we already have a presence in Scotland and expect the award of the LABSS certificate to turbocharge our business here, creating new jobs for engineers as we expand our operation. “As a business at the forefront of developing new fire suppressant solutions, we are proud to be awarded the LABSS accreditation, alongside our existing LABC certification in England, both of which give people the peace of mind of knowing that the iMist system has been thoroughly tried, tested and approved by the relevant regulatory bodies.”

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EMCOR UK: What to do now to create the workplaces of the future

Kenneth Booth September 28, 2021

Insight Partner EMCOR explores the third of our megatrends, the future of work… They were live at the IWFM Conference 2021 held on Monday 13 September, As Abraham Lincoln once famously said, ‘The best way to predict your future is to create it’ and that is exactly what is happening now as employers seek to modernise workplaces to better suit those who use them. Workplace of the future is about creating destinations of choice where people can collaborate, connect and succeed; delivering personalised experiences and customer choice; are centred around health and wellbeing, are sustainability focussed and digitally SMART.    Clearly the mood has changed. Rather than the workplace simply being thought about as a building, now we are putting the needs of the building occupants front and centre. That means looking at everything from the space and how people use it, maximising technology and digital tools to boost both building and people performance, accommodating new hybrid ways of working, even making workplaces desirable places which not only support but also attract the best employees. At the same time, the wellbeing and sustainability agendas are also colliding with the rise of workplace technology and AI. Ultimately, for people to be at the heart of this new ultra-connected, data-driven world, organisations must now completely realign their culture and their purpose. It’s a heady mix.  Interestingly this change in focus is not simply a ‘nice to have’ – it’s a fundamental paradigm shift. If wellbeing is not at the heart of a wider people engagement and business strategy, organisations are unlikely to succeed or survive into the next decade. Similarly, if sustainability is not a core purpose of business, customers and employees will become disenfranchised. We must achieve our carbon neutral goals. Are employers doing enough? According to our recent poll on the IWFM LinkedIn page, 38% of employees think wellbeing is a top priority in their business; a similar number, 37%, believe it definitely is not. Food for thought? Perhaps. So how can business leaders and facilities managers balance cost pressure and stakeholder demand with reimagining, redesigning and creating sustainable workplaces for the future? It’s a complex challenge which requires critical thinking. But creating environments in which people enjoy enhanced levels of experience, wellbeing and engagement enables networking, collaboration and socialising, and is a clear indication of an organisation’s future intent. ‘We are seeing an unprecedented demand for new workplaces that support the challenge to deliver great work, which promote wellbeing and contribute to more productive outcomes in the context of a flexible work life balance.’ Ian Baker, Head of Workplace Solutions, EMCOR UK Time to find a better way Take a fresh look at workspace, how it should be used and how much you actually need Identify what users think and feel about their workplaces and the services they receive Capture data through employee experience surveys, sensors and monitoring tools, which can be converted into insight and positive action Use evidence-based analytics to change, inspire, adapt and sustain a transformative workplace Optimise building performance using environmental monitoring sensors to measure temperature, light, humidity, CO2 and noise levels Build a next generation culture with SMART workplace technology that connects systems and subsystems into one core data platform Create intuitive, sensitive and adaptable workplace ecosystems. Workplaces need to become a destination of choice; providing people with flexible options of when, where and how they work. But they can also be so much more. Consider the important social elements of the workplace for example. And what about how workplaces can actively encourage and embed shared values and a positive company culture? One thing that has become clear is that creating a sustainable workplace of the future is so much more than the facilities.

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St Francis and iSec announce latest deal at thriving Horizon 38 mixed-use development in Bristol

Kenneth Booth September 28, 2021

The building of a new 16,986 sq. ft flagship car dealership on a 1.63-acre plot has completed, been leased to Volvo Cars UK with the investment sold to CBRE Global Investors. St Francis Group and its development partner iSec have confirmed the completion and sale of a16,986 sq ft new build to suit flagship car dealership leased to Volvo Cars UK and sold to CBRE Global Investors at its Horizon 38 mixed-use development in Bristol. The development on a plot of 1.63 acres has been let on basis of a 20-year lease and was sold with a forward commitment to purchase from the new owners. The showroom was delivered early by contractors MCS Construction. Speaking about the sale and development – St Francis Group Director Gareth Williams said: “We are delighted to have completed another exciting project at Horizon 38 and a sale to CBRE Global Investors. This is the second car dealership on site, and everyone involved with its delivery deserves a huge pat on the back when you consider the extremely difficult conditions that we have faced over the last 18 months. Horizon 38 serves as the premier mixed-use destination in Bristol and the South West and has been a tremendous success – now home to a thriving community of occupiers” Also commenting, Richard Howell Principal Investment at Avison Young “We are seeing unprecedented demand for secure long income investments especially in prime established locations such as Horizon 38. We were delighted to have signed Volvo on a 20-year lease and then secure the forward commitment to purchase from CBRE Global Investors on behalf of St Francis and iSec” Simon Bennett, Director at JLL also said “We are really pleased to have secured this opportunity for CBRE Global Investors. Horizon 38 is a well-located development that has been successful in attracting a wide range of tenants such as GKN, Car Shop and Selco. This investment offers the fund a secure long term income stream with rental uplifts at an attractive yield to other sectors”. Avison Young acted for iSec / St Francis, and JLL acted for the buyer, CBREGI. Horizon 38 is Bristol and the South-West premier mixed-use development spanning 65 acres, featuring Logistics, Industrial, Trade, Hotel, and Car Showroom opportunities totalling over 1M sq ft.  It is home to leading occupiers including Ceva, The Delivery Group and Sytner together with GKN in a 115,000 sq ft R&D facility and Village Resorts in a new 153 bedroom hotel. For further information visit: https://www.horizon38.com/

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Proposed City Plan 2030 sets out sustainable future direction of development in Edinburgh

Kenneth Booth September 28, 2021

The proposed City Plan 2030 will address Climate change Affordability Providing more homes Providing more jobs How people move around This proposal is a comprehensive and bold plan to make sure future development in Edinburgh is sustainable, meets the needs of Edinburgh’s growing population and communities and helps the city achieve its Net Zero 2030 ambition. The report on the proposed City Plan 2030 will be considered by the City of Edinburgh Council’s Planning Committee this Wednesday (29 September). This proposed plan for the next ten years sets out how areas of the city will be linked together building on existing transport networks as well as making full use of education and healthcare facilities already embedded in communities across the Capital. Resetting the direction of development to bring about a joined-up city rather than spreading outwards also provides a positive and sustainable step for future decades to come. Edinburgh’s population is rising, and people are making huge changes in the way they live their lives due to the global climate emergency and the current health pandemic. This is how the plan proposes to address these challenges. Future development would be managed through the preferred approach set out in the ‘Choices for City Plan 2030’ document, which went through a major consultation exercise with Edinburgh residents and stakeholders. The proposed plan will support the Scottish Government’s 20-minute walkable neighbourhood plans as well as directing development to and maximising the use of brownfield rather than greenfield land. In the west a new mixed-use neighbourhood is to be created, well served by existing infrastructure, with the tram line running through as well as an adjacent station, in an area previously designated largely for business development in the 2016 plan. New neighbourhoods on brownfield land at the Forth Waterfront will also be taken forward. Land has also been designated for new developments at Seafield, Redford Barracks, Astley Ainslie, Edinburgh BioQuarter, Liberton Hospital, Bonnington, Fettes and other major sites across the city. The draft plan also sets out how the Council will deliver land to meet Edinburgh’s housing needs over the next decade, securing a minimum contribution of 35% affordable housing from any new development as well as policies to help manage the number of short term lets (STLs) operating in the city. In addition to the plan, a consultation is running separately at the moment asking for views on ‘the whole of Edinburgh becoming a ‘STL control area’.  If agreed by the Council and the Scottish Government, it would mean all residential properties in Edinburgh, which are not an owner’s principal home, being let as STLs in their totality would require approval of a ‘change of use’ to operate them. Councillor Neil Gardiner, Planning Convener, said:  This proposed development plan can recalibrate how development happens in this city, positively shaping how our Capital grows and changes over the next 10 years and beyond. Rather than growing forever outwards, the proposed plan focuses on developing new communities on brownfield land which mix living, working and leisure uses. These locations utilise and add to already existing infrastructure. This plan is about us as a city collectively making the right decisions now so that our residents can make reasonable and informed choices about how and where they live and how they get around in the future. City Plan 2030 has been developed taking on board the views of residents, businesses, and other stakeholders from across the city to help us meet our core priorities for Edinburgh: making Edinburgh a sustainable city, which supports everyone’s wellbeing and enables our residents to access homes they can afford. The plan also facilitates travel options and networks so that residents won’t have to own a car to move around, while having every opportunity to share in their city’s success. Our proposal of mixed-use communities in the plan aligns to Scottish Government’s 20-minute neighbourhood vision, which is especially relevant now as the global pandemic continues to make massive changes to the way people live their lives. This includes how we all use and appreciate green spaces with the health and well-being benefits they bring. Community resilience also includes easy access to facilities and neighbourhoods need a mixture of services within easy reach such as shops, health and education, as well as the potential to find a job near where you live. We also need to rethink how we accommodate our growing population and I believe that our emphasis on prioritising brownfield land and making the best use of the limited space we have is the right approach. In the west a new neighbourhood with a mix of uses within easy walking distance is to be created. This is also well served by existing infrastructure, with the tram running through the community as well as a mainline station. This area was previously designated largely for business development in the 2016 plan. Other significant sites across the city will all require masterplans ensuring that in each case the whole is much more than the sum of the parts, better meeting the needs of new and existing communities. Going forward we need to work with developers asking them to rise to the challenges of rapid climate change and finite resources. Developers need to think more carefully about location, using the land we have available effectively, with sustainable design. This proposed plan better connects existing communities through development of underused brownfield land. We need to protect Edinburgh’s beautiful green setting from the Pentlands to the Forth, increase biodiversity, physical and mental wellbeing, reduce flooding and other climate impacts, and improve air quality. Developers will need to make sure that one third of their houses in residential developments are affordable. We will also continue the city’s own programme to build affordable housing. Edinburgh currently has almost a third of all STLs in Scotland, policies included in the plan help us to take further action and manage these. This quantity of commercial use puts pressure on house prices and rents and takes much needed houses out of supply as well as

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