Manor Interiors, the expert in build-to-rent furnishing solutions, has revealed which major UK cities offer the best opportunities for build to rent developers based on the highest levels of apartment living vs the rest of the rental market. Build to rent is designed for people who are looking for a
HS2 was this week celebrating a literal milestone as ‘Florence’ – the first of ten Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs) on Phase One completed her first mile of tunnel for the UK’s new high speed railway The latest photos of work on the Chiltern tunnel are available here: https://mediacentre.hs2.org.uk/resources/f/tbms-and-tunnels-massive-machines-and-their-current-progress/chiltern-tunnel-construction A new
Consistently low temperatures and high humidity remain key challenges for UK and Irish contractors building data centres in the booming Nordics market, according to a new guide from temperature and moisture control specialists Aggreko. With the region regarded a leading location for facility construction, UK and Irish contractors continue to
Ventilation specialists Soler & Palau Ventilation UK (S&P UK) has launched an intelligent wireless carbon dioxide monitor as part of a new range of indoor air quality sensors designed to help businesses, education and healthcare settings manage poor air quality levels and lower Covid infection risks. S&P UK’s new AirSens
The growth of IM Properties’ development pipeline has prompted the appointment of Frank Fitzgerald as project director. Recruited from global construction and property consultancy, RLB, a long-term consultant of IM Properties, Frank joins the project delivery team, swapping his external role for in-house. Having worked on many of IM Properties’
Tens of thousands of much needed new homes for London could be provided through the effective regeneration of the city’s housing estates, according to a new report from planning experts. The ‘Great Estates – Planning for Estate Regeneration in London’ Insight report from national planning and development consultancy Lichfields, reveals
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
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.
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 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
Manor Interiors, the expert in build-to-rent furnishing solutions, has revealed which major UK cities offer the best opportunities for build to rent developers based on the highest levels of apartment living vs the rest of the rental market. Build to rent is designed for people who are looking for a modern way of life; city living with a focus on community and amenities. Therefore, UK cities where city-centre flat-living is already prevalent present the best opportunity for the BTR sector as they are already primed for a build to rent revolution. In the UK and on average, flats account for 64% of all properties currently available to rent, a national average that a good number of UK cities make look very small indeed. The city in which flats have the biggest rental market share is Edinburgh. Of 562 properties currently available for rent, 505, or 90%, are flats. This, therefore, suggests that flat-living is a key focus of demand for Edinburgh residents and presents a prime opportunity for the build to rent industry. Scotland’s second city, Glasgow, also comes second on the list as flats account for 89% of the properties currently available to rent in the city. Using Rentola Glasgow is sure way to find the best place to live. London is third with flats accounting for 88% of the 45,285 currently available rent, while in Newcastle, flats make up 79% of the market. Bournemouth currently has just 508 properties on the rental market and 385 of them, or 76% are flats, while in Manchester, flats account for 73% of the market. The rest of the UK cities in which flats have an above-average market share are Sheffield (68%), Bradford (67%), Nottingham (66%), Cardiff (65%), and Liverpool (64%). There are a number of UK cities in which flats have a below-average market share, most notably Leeds (39%), Swansea (43%), and Portsmouth (48%) – the only three cities where flats account for less than half of the rental market. CEO of Manor Interiors, Farhan Malik, commented: “Flat living is the clear choice for many city-dwellers and a high propensity for renting apartments means many of our major cities are already primed and ready for the build to rent to revolution. In some cases as many as 90% of all properties are flats and apartments, so the desire for urban living is clear and build to rent is helping to accommodate this demand with fit for purpose developments targeted towards the modern tenant. “Build to rent developments offer a step above the standards of your typical private rental flat, a step up in sophistication and quality and, perhaps most of all, a superior tenant experience. We expect the sector to continue to establish a strong foothold as it has already done in London in particular, and developers can be confident that demand will be high.” Table shows what % of the rental market flats account for in major UK cities, listed from highest % to lowest Location Total – rental properties Flats – rental properties Flat rental stock % Edinburgh 562 505 90% Glasgow 752 667 89% London 45,285 39,675 88% Newcastle 1,407 1,116 79% Bournemouth 508 385 76% Manchester 3,720 2,718 73% Sheffield 1,339 905 68% Bradford 340 227 67% Nottingham 1,985 1,304 66% Cardiff 841 549 65% Liverpool 1,805 1,148 64% Bristol 1,094 667 61% Leicester 2,162 1,269 59% Sunderland 527 292 55% Southampton 1,179 635 54% Birmingham 3,665 1,891 52% Portsmouth 1,081 524 48% Swansea 151 65 43% Leeds 3,030 1,172 39% United Kingdom 145,689 92,838 64% Source – Rightmove
HS2 was this week celebrating a literal milestone as ‘Florence’ – the first of ten Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs) on Phase One completed her first mile of tunnel for the UK’s new high speed railway The latest photos of work on the Chiltern tunnel are available here: https://mediacentre.hs2.org.uk/resources/f/tbms-and-tunnels-massive-machines-and-their-current-progress/chiltern-tunnel-construction A new video flythrough of the first mile can be seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZqmuTGVGZA The first enormous 2,000 tonne tunnelling machine passed the one mile mark this week during the construction of the first tunnels for HS2 – Britain’s new high speed rail link between London, Birmingham and the north. Launched in May, the 170m long Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) covered the first mile cutting through a mix of chalk and flint beneath the Chiltern hills just outside London. Named ‘Florence’ by local school children, the TBM is one of two identical machines excavating the twin ten-mile-long tunnels. A second machine, named ‘Cecilia’ is a short way behind, with both TBMs expected to break out in around three years’ time. Designed specifically for the geology of the Chilterns, each machine is a self-contained underground factory, digging the tunnel, lining it with concrete wall segments and grouting them into place as it moves forward. Welcoming the progress, HS2 Ltd Project Client Rohan Perin said: “The 10 mile Chiltern tunnel will take HS2 underneath the hills and safeguard the woodlands and wildlife habits above ground as well as significantly reducing disruption to communities during construction and operation of the new railway. “Once complete, HS2 will offer low carbon journey options linking London with the major cities of the north and releasing capacity for more freight and local trains on our existing mainlines. It’s great to see how much progress has been made over the summer and I’d like to thank the crew of Florence and all the tunnelling team for their hard work.” The first two TBMs are operated by HS2’s main works contractor, Align – a joint venture formed of Bouygues Travaux Publics, Sir Robert McAlpine, and VolkerFitzpatrick. A crew of 17 people keep the machines running, working in shifts and supported by over 100 people on the surface, managing the logistics and maintaining the smooth progress of the tunnelling operation. Align Project Director Daniel Altier added: “I am delighted with the progress that Florence has made since its launch in May, with Cecilia not far behind. All the spoil from the TBMs is converted into slurry before being pumped back to our South Portal site, just inside the M25, where it is processed and used for landscaping on site. This is, and will continue to be, a huge logistical challenge, as Florence and Cecilia continue their journey through the Chilterns. “Florence reaching the 1 mile point is a great achievement, however we still have a long way to go.” Each of the separate northbound and southbound tunnels will require 56,000 precision engineered, fibre-reinforced concrete wall segments – which are all being made at the south portal of the tunnel, next to the M25. During her first mile, Florence and her crew have installed more than 5,500 separate segments, each weighing around 8.5 tonnes. Approximately 2.7 million cubic metres of material will be excavated during the construction of the tunnels and used for landscaping around the south portal site. Once construction is complete, this will help create around 90 hectares of wildlife-rich chalk grassland habitats. Chalk grassland used to be widespread across the hills of south east England and are considered habitat of international conservation significance with just 700ha left across the Chilterns. In total there will be ten TBMs on the HS2 project – working to create 64 miles of tunnel between London and the West Midlands including major tunnels on the approach to London and Birmingham. More than 20,000 jobs and over 650 apprenticeships are already being supported by HS2, which is set to transform transport links between Britain’s major cities, free up space on the rail network for more freight and local services and support the UK’s transition to net zero carbon emissions. The TBM is named after Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing, who spent many years in Claydon, Buckinghamshire where she wrote books on nursing, with the name suggested by students at Meadow High School in Hillingdon. A new video flythrough of the first mile can be seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZqmuTGVGZA An animation explaining the Chiltern tunnels can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTsLL9BPHpc TBM names: Florence – named after Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing, who spent many years in Claydon, Buckinghamshire where she wrote numerous books on nursing. Suggested by students at Meadow High School in Hillingdon. Cecilia – named after Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin, the Astronomer and Astrophysicist born in Buckinghamshire who attended Cambridge University before becoming Chair of Astronomy at Harvard University in the United States. She was the first person to properly ‘read’ a temperature on stars. She also discovered that stars are made mainly from hydrogen and helium. Suggested by students at The Chalfonts Community College in Buckinghamshire. Around 4,500 people from across the UK then took part in the poll to select the final names, with Florence taking 40% of the vote and Cecilia a close second with 32%. Facts and figures – The Chiltern tunnel TBMs The TBMs are 170m in length – nearly 1.5 times the length of a football pitch Each one weighs roughly 2000 tonnes – the equivalent of 340 African bush elephants They were transported to the UK in 330 separate shipments containing a total of more than a thousand separate parts. They will run almost non-stop 24 hours a day for 3.5 years Once complete, trains will pass through the tunnel in around 3 minutes at speeds of up to 320km/h The tunnels will go as deep as 80m below the ground – ensuring communities and countryside above are not impacted by the railway The size of the TBM cutterhead which will bore the tunnels is 10.26m, roughly the height of two giraffes standing on top of one another Taking into account the thickness of the tunnel walls, the internal diameter of the tunnels in which the trains will pass through will be 9.1m, slightly larger than two London buses stacked on top of one another The tunnels will
Consistently low temperatures and high humidity remain key challenges for UK and Irish contractors building data centres in the booming Nordics market, according to a new guide from temperature and moisture control specialists Aggreko. With the region regarded a leading location for facility construction, UK and Irish contractors continue to be called upon to support the build of the new data centres. However, according to Aggreko’s new report – Prepare For The Chill – many contractors are unprepared for issues arising from the region’s colder and humid climate, and many do not adopt an equipment strategy fitting the conditions. According to Aggreko, there are three key challenges regularly facing contractors working in the Nordics – insufficient heating both inside and outside, humidity levels and effective risk management. All three are detailed in the guide, as well as advice on how contractors can ensure they are prepared for the foreign climate. “The data centre boom in the Nordics is here to stay, so UK and Ireland-based contractors need to be prepared to be continually called upon for their expertise in this highly in-demand region,” says Greger Ruud, Sector Development Manager – Nordics Datacenters. “The region’s harsh climate underlines the need for contractors to maintain a controlled environment in the construction phase, and the challenge of maintaining these conditions throughout. Doing so will allow data centre owners and operators to avoid issues during the build and keep to schedule – a vital priority in a sector where ready infrastructure is needed to meet growing market demand.” In addition to exploring common on-site concerns raised by the Nordics’ colder climate, the guide also sets out logistical considerations, including the need for contingency planning, loadbank testing and sustainable practices. Commentary is also provided from the chairman of the Swedish Datacenter Industry Association (SDIA), Pär Åberg. Greger concludes: “Data centre projects rest on the contractors’ ability to carry out work safely, to budget, and preserving key IT equipment they may be responsible for during the build phase. The Nordics’ logistical and climate considerations, as identified in this report, make it abundantly clear that a reactive strategy around equipment and expertise is ill-suited to this unique region. “As such, we would advise stakeholders working on these facilities to take steps to ensure concerns around power, moisture and temperature control are addressed well in advance of breaking ground on new facilities. By doing so, contractors can reap the benefits of increased demand while knowing small on-site issues encountered during projects will not snowball into full-blown concerns.” For more information about how to control moisture on your data centre site, please visit https://www.aggreko.com/en-gb/data-centre-construction-in-the-nordics.
Ventilation specialists Soler & Palau Ventilation UK (S&P UK) has launched an intelligent wireless carbon dioxide monitor as part of a new range of indoor air quality sensors designed to help businesses, education and healthcare settings manage poor air quality levels and lower Covid infection risks. S&P UK’s new AirSens range monitors ambient indoor air quality and sends a signal to ventilation systems to increase airflow rates if a spike is detected in one of three parameters: carbon dioxide (CO2), volatile organic compound (VOC) or relative humidity (RH). AirSens comes in three versions: AirSens CO2, AirSens VOC and AirSens RH. A traffic light LED system indicates the air quality level: green (good), orange (medium) and red (poor). The Government said in new Covid guidance this month that CO2 monitors should be used in a range of sectors and settings to help identify poorly ventilated indoor areas, take action to maximise fresh air, and reduce the risk of airborne transmission of diseases. Lee Page, Sales Director at S&P UK, said: “We have released our AirSens range of indoor air quality (IAQ) sensors to help businesses, schools and colleges, as well as homeowners, to easily identify and take action over inadequate levels of IAQ – which is no longer just a buzzword. This will also lower the risk of spreading airborne diseases like Covid.” The AirSens CO2 monitor can be adapted to fit any space due to its wireless technology and is designed for indoor areas where occupancy rates can change frequently. The Health and Safety Executive has stated CO2 values in indoor areas should be at least 800ppm (parts per million) and not exceed 1500ppm. The AirSens CO2 monitor has a range of 450-2000ppm and has an in-built demand-controlled ventilation. Lee added: “Usually CO2 monitors need to be wired back to the main air handling unit or fan – requiring additional wiring, time and effort, and costs. “However, the AirSens CO2 monitor has the rare intelligent ability to connect to a main sensor in the hub and wirelessly access the display within the desired space. This provides a simple, reassuring and cost-effective solution for many businesses and people. “The entire AirSens range reduces components, simplifies installation and increases savings while providing a minimalist design which can be easily integrated in different ambientes. “They all have a wireless version, meaning they can be retrofitted very easily and quickly. They also come with a low speed and high speed as standard as well as a Building Management System (BMS) capability, making it easy to control ventilation.” The AirSens VOC is designed for places with sporadic changes to the accumulation of substances derived from odours such as alcohols, ketones and organic acids. The AirSens RH is most efficient in highly humid areas such as bathrooms. S&P UK Ventilation Systems is the UK subsidiary of leading global manufacturer Soler and Palau, and is the sole UK distributor of commercial, industrial and residential fans and ventilation systems. Operating nationally, S&P UK is a leading fan, air movement and ventilation systems provider offering over 10,000 products along with technical sales support and consultancy. It is a subsidiary of Spanish owned S&P Group, whose global operations span over 90 countries and includes major R&D centres in Europe, Singapore, USA and Brazil. For more information, visit S&P UK’s new website: www.solerpalau.co.uk
The growth of IM Properties’ development pipeline has prompted the appointment of Frank Fitzgerald as project director. Recruited from global construction and property consultancy, RLB, a long-term consultant of IM Properties, Frank joins the project delivery team, swapping his external role for in-house. Having worked on many of IM Properties’ large-scale strategic sites including Birch Coppice, Blythe Valley, Mercia Park and Peddimore, Frank’s in-depth understanding of the company and its projects makes him a perfect fit for the position. Jason Jasper, UK project director for IM Properties said: “We currently have a development pipeline of 15 million sq ft and are delivering some of the region’s most significant new manufacturing and logistic schemes. “To add capacity and the most impact to the team, we needed an individual who could hit the ground running and instantly understood us as a company, and Frank just ticked every box.” Jasper continued: “We’ve got some exciting plans coming forward and a range of sustainability targets we want to achieve over the next ten years, which adds significantly to both the planning and delivery of our schemes. “They’ll certainly be no shortage of challenges for Frank to get stuck into over the coming months and years.” Frank, who worked with Arcadis for seven years, now known as AYD, before his 10 years at RLB, added: “It’s a fantastic opportunity and natural transition for me from consultant to in-house project director. “IM Properties is such a fast-paced, innovative, industry leader, and that means that life is never dull when working for them, and you are guaranteed to always be pushing the boundaries and working on projects that inevitably turn into real career highlights.” Located in the Midlands, IM Properties is one of the UK’s largest privately-owned property companies owned by the IM Group, focused on a sustainable future in the sectors it invests and develops in including offices, logistics, manufacturing and new homes.
Tens of thousands of much needed new homes for London could be provided through the effective regeneration of the city’s housing estates, according to a new report from planning experts. The ‘Great Estates – Planning for Estate Regeneration in London’ Insight report from national planning and development consultancy Lichfields, reveals the significant opportunity presented by regeneration of the capital’s housing estates. The study demonstrates that estate regeneration projects in London currently have the combined potential to deliver more than 90,000 new homes. The Insight report demonstrates how estate regeneration across London offers an unparalleled opportunity to help tackle the capital’s housing crisis, while delivering better homes, enhancing neighbourhoods and improving lives. The research by Lichfields analysed data from 200 estate regeneration projects across London to identify key trends. It shows that there are opportunities through investment and renewal for effective estate regeneration to deliver greater inclusivity, economic growth and enhanced well-being for their communities. The London-wide analysis demonstrates that the greatest concentrations of estate regeneration are currently happening in Inner North, East and South London boroughs such as Tower Hamlets, Islington and Lambeth where clusters of small and medium estate regeneration projects are progressing alongside isolated strategic developments. Outer London boroughs such as Barnet, Brent and Ealing include fewer larger-scale projects while other outer London boroughs showed little or no estate regeneration activity. Ben Kelway, Senior Director at the London office of Lichfields, said: “Through this important research, we can see that estate regeneration provides a profound opportunity for significant housing and affordable housing delivery alongside meaningful improvements to many neighbourhoods across the capital – in London we have witnessed progressive growth in this sector in recent years and we expect this to continue. “The opportunity is there to more than double the number of homes on London’s housing estates and provide much needed improvements in housing quality, community well-being and the public realm. Investment in estate regeneration has the potential to unlock high levels of new affordable housing and the capacity to create well-designed, sustainable, mixed tenure communities.” The report outlines Lichfields’ best practice guidance on the components of successful estate regeneration and the lessons that can be learnt from previous projects. Clare Catherall, Associate Director at Lichfields and co-author of the Insight report, said: “There’s a number of common themes associated with successful estate regeneration. These include positive engagement with local residents, encouraging communities to become involved in the process as early as possible, together with good housing design and well thought out urban design and public realm. “Navigating these projects through the residents’ ballot process and developing an effective phasing and decant strategy are also paramount to their success. A positive ballot provides a mandate for good estate regeneration and community consensus, enabling delivery of the vision residents, the GLA and planning authorities all want to see.” This reflects Lichfields’ own experience across London on regeneration projects such as the South Kilburn Estate in Brent. There, a well-managed project is being delivered on the back of strong buy-in from residents, who voted overwhelmingly (84%) in a ballot in favour of regeneration. Clare Catherall added: “A positive ballot like this certainly carries weight among residents and decision-makers, helping to expedite projects quickly and smoothly. Indeed, we find that the Mayor of London’s approach to the ballot process is providing clarity and support for well-conceived regeneration.” The emphasis on collaboration and inclusion, she explained, along with the introduction of ballots all provide a ‘solid’ mandate for regeneration, helping sensitive developments to progress in a way that is both politically and socially acceptable. The needs of existing residents and an estate’s capacity to provide better housing for people has a profound effect on the nature, programme and delivery of regeneration, so it’s essential to understand the needs and aspirations of residents occupying the estate and to engage residents in assessing the options for development from the outset. “Residents have to take centre stage and should be at the forefront of estate regeneration,” added Clare Catherall. “Alongside, sensitive and robust consultation, early analysis of the estate and an upfront phasing and decant programme are all important lessons learnt for these types of projects.” The Insight provides Lichfields’ guidance on how to navigate estate regeneration projects through planning and illustrates the latent opportunity for London’s estates to contribute more to help tackle the capital’s acute housing crisis through imaginative regeneration strategies, considerate planning and far greater community involvement. Ben Kelway said: “The transformation of London’s estates has a central role to play if we are to tackle the housing crisis, but estate regeneration also provides huge opportunities to enhance the fabric of the city and to improve people’s lives. Too many Londoners still live in substandard homes on poorly designed estates. Regeneration offers an unparalleled opportunity to deliver more better homes and the vibrant neighbourhoods where people want to live and build their lives. “This all requires a bold vision, effective planning, strong design, political collaboration and extensive community engagement, but on the evidence contained in this report, it’s definitely possible to look forward to a strong, confident and successful future for the city’s housing estates.” A copy of the ‘Great Estates – Planning for estate regeneration in London’ Insight report is available at https://lichfields.uk/content/insights/great-estates Founded in 1962, Lichfields offers a broad range of planning and development consultancy services including development management, consultation, economics, EIA, heritage, neighbourly matters and urban design. Its clients include developers, landowners and operators in the housing, retail, leisure, commercial, waste and recycling and infrastructure sectors; as well as local authorities and government bodies.
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.
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.
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.”
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.