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Kenneth Booth

PLACES FOR PEOPLE LAUNCHES WOMEN INTO TRADES PROGRAMME – HELPING INCREASE FEMALE REPRESENTATION IN THE CONSTRUCTION SECTOR OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS

Kenneth Booth September 23, 2021

Places for People Group has today launched a new initiative which will help young women establish careers in construction.  The Group is actively encouraging applications onto its Women into Trades programme – an initiative born out of a commitment to diversity and inclusion. It will offer currently unemployed women aged 18-24 in

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Winvic Wins Place on Major National Highways Framework

Kenneth Booth September 23, 2021

Following Highways England’s rebrand to National Highways and its recent announcement to change its current contract mechanisms, Winvic Construction Ltd has been awarded two Lot contracts across four regions within the new Scheme Delivery Framework (SDF). Winvic is one of 50 contractors to deliver £3.6 billion of road renewal works

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10 Reasons To Build A House

Kenneth Booth September 23, 2021

There is never a better time to build your own house than right now. It doesn’t matter whether the market is better for sellers or buyers, the timing will always be right to plan a house build. It takes time to work on a design with the right building company,

Read More »

Speculative Development of 190,000 sq ft kicks off at MA6NITUDE

Kenneth Booth September 22, 2021

Tritax Symmetry has marked the start of work on site to develop 190,000 sq ft logistics / warehouse accommodation with an official ground-breaking ceremony at MA6NITUDE in Middlewich, Cheshire. Main contractor GMI Construction has commenced the construction of units 11 and 12, which will offer 149,000 sq ft and 41,000

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UPRN’s could be in PRS future

Kenneth Booth September 22, 2021

More than 50 organisations operating within the property sector have penned an open letter to the Government to use Unique Property Reference Numbers (UPRNs) to create a database for the public and private sectors. The idea is to allow UPRN data available at a large scale so that organisations can

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Latest Issue
Issue 345 : Oct 2026

Kenneth Booth

PLACES FOR PEOPLE LAUNCHES WOMEN INTO TRADES PROGRAMME – HELPING INCREASE FEMALE REPRESENTATION IN THE CONSTRUCTION SECTOR OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS

Kenneth Booth September 23, 2021

Places for People Group has today launched a new initiative which will help young women establish careers in construction.  The Group is actively encouraging applications onto its Women into Trades programme – an initiative born out of a commitment to diversity and inclusion. It will offer currently unemployed women aged 18-24 in six geographical locations, career opportunities within the Group’s affordable housing businesses. The initiative is being delivered by Places for People in partnership with not-for-profit training company Ixion, the Positive Transformation Group – which connects ethical businesses together – and Women into Construction (WiC).  Cohorts will undertake an initial seven-week course, during which they will join Q&A sessions with female industry leaders, secure work experience, undertake online training, and be given a free toolkit to help them in their career pursuits.  Debi Marriott-Lavery is Group Executive Director – Affordable Housing for Places for People and said: “The UK construction sector is still incredibly male-dominated, with females making up less than 16% of the workforce. I believe that through positive action we can redress the balance, giving young women the skills and training they need to start their career in construction.  “This is an incredible sector to be a part of; within our Group we are creating and maintaining affordable homes in exciting new communities across the country. This is a great opportunity for young women to come and be a part of our journey, while also laying solid foundations for their future.” Upon their completion of the initial training programme, 12 graduates will be offered a two-year Level 2 Apprenticeship, working with Places for People Group’s construction repairs and maintenance departments. Following a performance-based review at the end of their apprenticeship, each candidate will then be offered a permanent position with Places for People. Trainees not moving onto the apprenticeship programme will also be supported long-term by Positive Transformation Group, which will help them find alternative training programmes. Kath Moore MBE, Managing Director of WiC said: “We are delighted to work alongside Places for People, a Group which shares our values and commitment to increase female representation in the construction sector. WiC is dedicated to changing the face of construction and is committed to developing new ways to support construction contractors to create lasting change in their businesses – this initiative is a great example of our work in action.”  Dan Brown, Founder of Positive Transformation Group added: “Positive Transformation Group is committed to systemic positive change in society with a meritocratic, inclusive and diverse workforce being at the forefront of our vision for the future. Having the opportunity to create powerful collaborations for change with forward thinking industry leaders such as Places for People, HACT and Ixion, really brings this vision of the future to life.” The news comes as Places for People also announced it has signed the Plentific Women’s Trade Network Pledge to further demonstrate its commitment to women in the industry, by removing barriers and providing access to job opportunities, support and training. Debi concluded: “Our Group is committed to establishing a more inclusive organisation, and these are just some of the initiatives we are undertaking right now to help underrepresented groups establish careers. I am proud to announce the programme and look forward to welcoming our trainees in the coming weeks.” The Women into Trades programme will be offered to applicants in Leeds, Derby, Edinburgh, Preston, Huntingdon and Milton Keynes. Applications can be made now by visiting https://www.ixionholdings.com/current-opportunities/women-into-trades-traineeship-for-18-24-year-olds/

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Plans submitted for new riverside community of 780 homes at Titanic Quarter, Belfast

Kenneth Booth September 23, 2021

TODD Architects has submitted a planning application for 780 new homes at Queen’s Island in the heart of Belfast’s Titanic Quarter. On approval, the multi-million-pound scheme known as The Loft Lines would become one of the largest new residential construction projects in the UK and forms part of Belfast’s wider ambition to deliver over 31,500 new homes in the city by 2035. The Loft Lines is being delivered by Lacuna Developments and Watkin Jones Group in partnership with Titanic Quarter Limited and Belfast Harbour and will comprise an integrated mix of private rented, social and affordable apartment homes. A generous 20 percent will be housing association homes. The accommodation aims to deliver a level of residential amenities unseen in Belfast to date, with proposals including resident lounges, sports and recreational spaces, gyms, flexible working space, private dining spaces, games rooms, cinema rooms and children’s play areas. The development will be fully managed with wi-fi, amenities, gym and other extras included in residents’ rent. The 3.8-acre site has been configured into three blocks of apartments enclosing a one-acre public park and has been designed by TODD Architects to create a new community; a place for residents and visitors to enjoy, with green space, the water’s edge promenade and urban walkways prioritised over cars and roads. The buildings draw reference from Belfast’s industrial past and distinctive docklands rooflines to reflect the history of ship building and fabrication that once resonated on the site. Andrew Murray, Director, TODD Architects said: “Whilst our design for The Loft Lines respects the important industrial heritage of the site, it also looks to the future of urban living, creating a vibrant lifestyle-first community that encourages sustainable and healthy living. This new riverside community says everything about Belfast’s confidence and ambition and we are proud to play a continuing role in the development of this evolving city. Thanks to our clients Lacuna Developments and Watkin Jones Group for their vision and the exciting brief, as well as the constructive support from Belfast City Council during pre-application discussions for this important regeneration project.” Alex Pease, Chief Investment Officer of Watkin Jones Group, said: “The Loft Lines will be a fantastic place to live and a major draw for people to the Titanic Quarter, as well as help to cement Belfast’s fast-growing reputation as one of the world’s most dynamic cities. “The places we build are designed to generate long-term value for the community over many decades and I’m thrilled at the prospect of seeing people make their home here.” The starting point for the design proposals was an ambition to create buildings that engage with the heritage of the Titanic Quarter as it transitions to a vibrant mixed-use community. A palette of clay-based materials has been specified with tones of reds, pinks and browns creating three distinct urban blocks that will be named after the technical skills of those who planned out the life-sized plate patterns of ships on floor of the shipyard’s mould loft, which once stood on the site of the proposed scheme. The three residential buildings have been designed to maximise views to the waterfront and increase natural light levels. Each block has a distinctive communal courtyard, designated as private residential amenity space, with room for informal seating and planted gardens, high-quality paving and materials and spill-out areas for gym classes. The ground and first floors have been planned to create ample space for community-based shops, a creche, local cafes and restaurants, a gym, startups, young companies and local community innovation. The entirety of the waterfront promenade will benefit from active frontages, not only providing useful services and businesses, but also helping to ensure that public areas are welcoming and safe for people of all ages. At the heart of The Loft Lines site is South Yard Square, a one-acre public area and urban woodland with a vibrant blend of smaller active spaces. The Square will be set at a lower level to provide additional shelter and a safe setting for all ages, with different seat areas for play or to take a break, surrounded by formal and informal planting, grass lawns and paths. Perfect for exercise classes and outdoor events, the aim is for the space to become a night-and-day location for everyone to share and enjoy. The proposals include a new 12m-wide 1km long waterfront promenade and a safe, shared pedestrian and cycleway running along the quayside. The promenade has been designed to link the site and the wider area around the Titanic Quarter, helping to create a more accessible location. The developers are working with Maritime Belfast to ensure The Loft Lines section of the Maritime Mile is enriched by art, nature and history, celebrating the area’s industrial heritage and connecting to other features across Queen’s Island and into the city. Connecting South Yard Square and the waterfront promenade, is a central boulevard. This pedestrian-prioritised walkway celebrates The Loft Line’s distinctive historic layout lines. This unique pattern is embedded in the fabric of the boulevard, and repeated in the walkways and spaces between buildings across the site. The developers have also committed to delivering a sustainable, low-carbon development with each building installed with the latest heat pump technology to reduce the site’s reliance on fossil fuels and helping to future proof the development. In line with the Belfast Agenda, which has set a target of a 15% increase in the use of sustainable transport by 2035, The Loft Lines will offer several sustainable travel measures, including ground-floor bike stores with wash down and repair facilities and will aim to reduce the reliance on car-parking with the promotion of other active travel measures.

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Futureal Group’s HelloParks has reached a new milestone by placing the first column of one of its largest developments in Fót, Hungary

Kenneth Booth September 23, 2021

The development worth close to EUR 50 million is the first phase of one of the largest megaparks in the country and can be handed over in Q1 2022 The first column has been placed of the first 45,000 sq m warehouse in Fót, which is an important milestone in launching one of Hungary’s largest industrial and logistic developments by HelloParks, member of Futureal Group, after the first tenants started to move into another megapark of the company in Maglód. For this energy efficient, BREEAM sustainability standard compliant facility that is developed as a part of a greenfield investment close to the Hungarian capital, the composition of the tenants is already outlined: negotiations are at an advanced stage, mainly with e-commerce, parcel logistics and courier businesses, as well as logistics companies serving a single manufacturing company. Located in the vicinity of Budapest, next to the junction of M0 ringroad and M3 motorway, the work has begun on the 76-ha site in Fót to build one of the largest industrial and logistics centers in the country. In the first phase, HelloParks, member of Europe’s leading real estate development and investment group Futureal, will build a 45,000 sq m warehouse with an investment value of close to EUR 50 million. The first phase is expected to be handed over in Q1 2022 by constructor company Goldbeck Hungaria. With the 76-ha plot, where a total of 330,000 sq m of warehouse and industrial space can be developed, HelloParks Fót is targeting logistics service providers, light industry manufacturers, assembly companies as well as tenants with special requirements. Due to the immediacy of Budapest, the park is also ideal for service providers performing urban distribution, but the industrial and logistics property developer also offers commercial industrial lands for sale with utilities and road connections, available from 1 ha. HelloParks is already conducting advanced negotiations with several companies, mainly with e-commerce, parcel logistics and courier companies, as well as logistics companies serving a single manufacturing company for the first phase of HelloParks Fót, while a webshop company has already signed the rental contract. HelloParks has recently announced another two large developments close to the capital of Hungary, a 100-ha industrial and logistics centre in Páty and a similar development on a 46-ha plot in Maglód where the first big tenant has already moved in. All of the three highly competitive, efficient and sustainable megapark developments that have been launched in just over a year by HelloParks have been driven by the company’s aim to become a key player of the industry, as a first step in Hungary, later on in the whole CEE market, and contribute to the improvement of Hungary’s position in the international logistics market. „In order to improve Hungary’s competitiveness, the construction industry must also change. Logistics companies typically like to move into facilities within a year, which is cannot be properly implemented in such a short time unless the area has already been set. This trend is again something that HelloParks developments can respond to. Keeping the deadline, we recently handed over a 46,000 sq m warehouse building as the first phase of the Maglod industrial and logistics megapark, where the first tenant has already moved in just five months after construction started. We are experiencing strong interest from prospective tenants, we are in advanced negotiations for all our free space, and in Maglód, our next tenant will move in soon. Parallel with the lease, we have already started planning and permitting the next phases so that we can serve existing and future needs as quickly as possible,” said Rudolf Nemes, CEO of HelloParks. “The primary need of logistics operators to meet a sufficiently fast and secure execution lead time can only be met by a well thought-out and clear concept. We would like to support HelloParks in realising this business model, using our entire Central European human and equipment infrastructure,” – said Pavol Čarný, Managing Director of Goldbeck Hungaria. HelloParks can build on Futureal Group’s decade-long property development and investment experience. Futureal is one of the leading real estate developers and investors in Central and Eastern Europe and is among the top 10 largest real estate developers in Europe. Since its foundation Futureal Group’s portfolio has included more than 180 real estate projects with a total value of over EUR 5 billion and an area of 3 million square meters. Goldbeck Hungaria in its role as general contractor, has been implementing industrial real estate projects on the Hungarian market for almost a decade, relying on the five decades of experience of its parent company, Goldbeck GmbH, and its design, production and financial infrastructure. The Goldbeck Group, under the umbrella of the Bratislava-based organisation, has completed more than 2 million m2 of gross floor area of industrial real estate in the region over the past decade and a half.

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Winvic Wins Place on Major National Highways Framework

Kenneth Booth September 23, 2021

Following Highways England’s rebrand to National Highways and its recent announcement to change its current contract mechanisms, Winvic Construction Ltd has been awarded two Lot contracts across four regions within the new Scheme Delivery Framework (SDF). Winvic is one of 50 contractors to deliver £3.6 billion of road renewal works on England’s motorways and trunk roads over the next six years.  The leading main contractor that specialises in the design and delivery of multi-sector construction and civil engineering projects,has worked closely alongside and for National Highways on a number of occasions. This includes extensive liaison relating to the construction of a new railway bridge over the A5 at Prologis’ DIRFT III, delivering S278 agreement works that facilitated IM Properties’ Hinckley Park and working collaboratively on two Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) for SEGRO, where delivery of the Strategic Rail Freight Interchanges (SRFIs) and highways improvements works ran concurrently and adjacently to the M1 Smart Motorway Project (SMP). However, this six-year appointment which started on 21 September marks the start of an even stronger working relationship where Winvic will be helping to keep England’s major A roads and motorways running safely and smoothly. The two lots awarded to Winvic within Band C are Lot 8 Structures, Waterproofing and Expansion Joints and Lot 10 Structures, Structural Services & Concrete Repairs. Winvic will be undertaking works in these programme areas across the south east, east, north west and north east. Social value was inherent throughout the procurement process, ensuring that suppliers are measured on their contribution and impact socially within each region. Plus, the SDF supports the delivery of National Highways’ decarbonisation, sustainability and environmental ambitions across its renewals programme. Winvic – with its robust environmental credentials and commitment to making positive and long-lasting changes to communities in which it works – was therefore in a strong position during tender process and now the main contractor has been selected, it is not only looking forward to delivering works, but also supporting local people and being a part of a greener highways strategy. Critically, Winvic will be promoting its one team working approach in the SDF and aligning with National Highways Key imperatives, Safety, Customer and Delivery. Rob Cook, Winvic’s Civils and Infrastructure Director, said: “Winvic has built a strong relationship with National Highways over a number of years, not least through the complex collaborations at SEGRO Logistics Park East Midlands Gateway and then SEGRO Logistics Park Northampton, where we remain on site and undertake weekly, if not daily interfaces. Therefore, working on more significant National Highways renewal projects is a natural progression for us due to our expertise in highways works involving structures, through both S278 agreement works and on vast industrial and infrastructure schemes. We couldn’t be more pleased that National Highways has the utmost confidence in Winvic to deliver over the six-year period, aligning with its key imperatives and focusing on building a one-team collaborative working relationship in the SDF. Whether it’s going above and beyond to reduce disruption to road users, getting involved in local initiatives that make a difference to local people’s lives or simply ‘Doing It Right’, our visions are aligned, and we look forward to delivering the first programme of works safely and swiftly.”    For more information on Winvic, the company’s latest project news and job vacancies please visit www.winvic.co.uk. Join Winvic on social media – visit Twitter @WinvicLtd – and LinkedIn.  

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10 Reasons To Build A House

Kenneth Booth September 23, 2021

There is never a better time to build your own house than right now. It doesn’t matter whether the market is better for sellers or buyers, the timing will always be right to plan a house build. It takes time to work on a design with the right building company, and if you have a dream house in mind you can make it come true with the right amount of planning.  Some people choose to buy a house that’s already been built, but others choose the fun of building their own home. When you build, you can choose it all from the 100mm Insulation Board materials to the fascia that you put on the house on the outside. Below, we’ve got ten reasons you should go ahead and build a house of your own! You have more cash than you need. There are some lucky enough to have a surplus of cash that gives them a good reason to build a house of their dreams. If you have a surplus and you want to get rid of it, get some quotes together for a house build that matches the one you’ve been dreaming of. You want to stay loyal to your community. If you love the community in which you currently live, what better way to support it than with a new house? Building a new house can help to stimulate the economy and help you to get into a neighbourhood that will support you and be there for your family. You love the idea of being “first”. When you enter into a contract to build a house, you have teams of contractors, plumbers, electricians and more working with you to bring your vision to life. All of those people will be creating a home for you in which you are the first ever one to live there. You get to be the very first ones in and the first to use all of the appliances and the first to use the plot to build a home. You have no idea what a 100mm Insulation Board is. You aren’t a builder or a tradie and so you have no idea what it takes to build a house. You know it’s more than bricks, but you are way more interested in furnishing the house rather than building it. You don’t have to be knowledgeable about what it takes to build a house, either, not when you can hire an expert to help and do it for you.  You want to leave your mark. Having a house that has been built especially for you is a way for you to leave your mark on the local community. As the build progresses on, you can watch your home grow up on the plot. You can leave your mark and then pass that to the children (if you have them) and they can pass it to their kids, too. You want to have responsibility. Owning your own home gives you responsibility for a mortgage of your own. You are the one in charge and if things go wrong, you don’t have to call anyone to fix it for you. You are the person that the buck stops with and you can ensure that you are confident in the new house you’ve built because it’s brand new! You find it hard to make a choice. Trawling around houses is exhausting and boring and you will always find something to pick on! The best thing that you can do here is to build a house that is exact to your specifications. You get to be in charge of the whole thing, and that means that you don’t have to be picky about what someone else once chose. Some choices will be expensive and others won’t be, but the point is that you are in charge of all of those choices and you can feel satisfied about them all. You’ve done it before. If you have built a house before, you already know what it is to build and what the processes are. It’s only then that you will know what you’re doing for your next build. The first time you build it’s exciting but doing it again becomes a project. If you have built before, you know the way to build again and you could build on the same or almost the same land. This way, you can end up with a neighbourhood that you’ve built! You want to show off a little. There is nothing wrong with showcasing a home that you have designed and built for yourself. It’s absolutely the thing to brag over from time to time.  You want to live in a big house. Who doesn’t? Building your own home allows you complete control over the size, shape, layout and more and if you want to own the dreamhouse you’ve always had in mind, here it is. You can build it to be bigger and if you buy a plot of land that’s big enough, you can build more on that land, too. Before you go ahead and build that new house you’ve been dreaming of, make sure that you know the commitment it’s going to take. Building a home takes time and sometimes, you’re going to have to cut down on things in your life to make room for the build to take place. It will take up your spare time and that means from the planning to the dreaming stage, you need to be in charge of it. Next, you should make sure that you employ an architect and a designer. The right designers will help you to plan your home from the ground up, inside and out. The best architect will draw the designs and the features for you and you get to watch your new build home come to life. Taking the time to interview the right architects and designers will ensure that this house build is the best decisions that you could have made. 

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Speculative Development of 190,000 sq ft kicks off at MA6NITUDE

Kenneth Booth September 22, 2021

Tritax Symmetry has marked the start of work on site to develop 190,000 sq ft logistics / warehouse accommodation with an official ground-breaking ceremony at MA6NITUDE in Middlewich, Cheshire. Main contractor GMI Construction has commenced the construction of units 11 and 12, which will offer 149,000 sq ft and 41,000 sq ft respectively. The units will be built to net zero carbon in construction; will include 15% PV roof coverage as standard and the capacity to accommodate 100% PV roof coverage. Speaking about the start on site at MA6NITUDE, Development Director David Nuttall, commented: “We are excited to see spades go in the ground here at MA6NITUDE and bring forward high quality facilities at a time when demand for space is at record levels. There is a huge amount of activity happening across the site, with Swizzels’ facility also due to complete next year and detailed planning submitted for 238,000 sq ft of space at unit 41 which could also be delivered before the end of 2022.” Jonathan Atherton, Director at Savills, joint letting agents for the scheme with B8RE and Legat Owen, continued: “The development at Ma6nitude will provide much needed floor space to a market when supply is falling at its fastest ever rate. The location and quality of the units are expected to attract strong occupier interest.” Marc Banks, Divisional Managing Director at GMI Construction said: “We are delighted to be working with Tritax Symmetry to deliver the new facilities in Middlewich. Our team has made an excellent start and the site is already taking shape to what will eventually be a first-class sustainable building that will be a huge business asset to the area.”

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UPRN’s could be in PRS future

Kenneth Booth September 22, 2021

More than 50 organisations operating within the property sector have penned an open letter to the Government to use Unique Property Reference Numbers (UPRNs) to create a database for the public and private sectors. The idea is to allow UPRN data available at a large scale so that organisations can adopt them without cost, and allows an accurate record of any changes to the property. Housing secretary The letter, addressed to at the time, housing secretary Robert Jenrick, comes addressed from the The Lettings Industry Council (TLIC) and the Institute of Residential Property Management (IRMP). The letter is also backed by many estate agents and industry organisations including the NRLA, Propertymark and TDS. The idea of a UPRN involves a digital database with all the information and a full history of the property, including repairs and remodelling. This would speed up the process of property sales, with completions not beholden to lengthy searches and possible inaccuracies. Andrew Bulmer, CEO of the IRPM, commented: “The UPRN is like attaching a number plate to a car, instead we [will] attach a unique number to all things related to properties so that each property can be uniquely identified with unparalleled accuracy.”He added: “If all the conditions outlined in the letter were to be met, we could proactively work towards the wholesale adoption of the UPRN.” Benefits of UPRN’s The letter outlines the benefits from the wider adoption of a single number for properties including: Improve building, consumer and market safety More targeted and cost-effective enforcement of legislation Increase protection for tenants and a reduction of rogue landlords Speed up and make more certain the home buying and selling process Reduce waste, save time and empower the consumer Increase income for the Treasury If this was to be a success in the residential market, the collective organisations are hopeful the system would work across the whole market. One of the biggest conditions the letter outlines is: “The UPRN must be in a clear and useable format that allows the UPRN to be widely identified, used and shared at no cost on an individual or market level basis. As far as is possible, this must include the tools, the support materials and the explanation needed by the whole sector for adoption, not just the solution providers” This last point, identifying that it would be more widely accepted if it was without cost, may be a stumbling block for this proposal. Not necessarily a radical idea to identify properties, it is hard to replicate on a country-wide scale without someone incurring a cost along the way. Landlords would not want further costs adding to their property purchases, and tenants would be keen to avoid further premiums being passed onto rental prices. Transparent and compliant One landlord praised the idea of UPRN’s, highlighting that it would make for a completely transparent and compliant market, as it would allow for more focus on rogue landlords. It may also provide the tools necessary for local councils to enforce some of the property regulations they have been armed with in the last 5 years. Beverley Kennard, associate and operations manager at Knight Frank, commented: “A Unique Property Reference Number (UPRN) is allocated to a property by local authorities and means that a full history of the property is available, regardless of if the address changes. The use of UPRNs will bring real benefits to the residential property sector and landlords and tenants.” Not only would the centralisation of this data hopefully speed up conveyancing times and therefore completion windows, it could also offer tenants access to more information about properties they are enquiring about.

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SUCCESS IN SOUTH WEST IS LAUNCHPAD TO NATIONAL GROWTH FOR BURRINGTON

Kenneth Booth September 22, 2021

With a 450% increase in buyer enquiries for properties in Devon since the start of the pandemic, housing market activity in the South West is strong for Burrington Estates. Thanks to excellent sales, the Exeter based residential and commercial property business had a turnover of £70m in 2020. Building on this success in the South West, the company aims to triple its turnover over the next five years, as it embarks on ambitious plans to expand into other regions. It has twelve new developments launching in the next year and the vision to become a national company. Founded in 2013, Burrington Estates has grown rapidly into a thriving business that has made its mark across the West Country. Its landmark developments include the flagship mixed-use scheme Winslade Park near Exeter, which incorporates the company’s corporate head office. It has completed over 500 new homes to date, with a portfolio worth £300m currently in development. Burrington Estates’ aspirations for growth are supported by the positive outlook for the housing market, with huge demand for properties in Devon and Cornwall. There has been a surge in buyers moving to the South West over the past 18 months seeking a better quality of life, made possible by the rise in remote working. At Harbour Reach in Fowey, Burrington Estates sold 80% of the properties to buyers from outside of Cornwall and all were sold off-plan. In Devon, around half of Burrington Estates’ buyers are from out of county, compared to just 10% pre-pandemic. Using this success in the South West as a springboard, Burrington Estates has already kickstarted its expansion plan by opening a new division, the Central region. It has a pipeline of new developments in Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Warwickshire, launching its first site in Binfield in September. Mark Edworthy, Managing Director at Burrington Estates, said: “We were already in a strong position with good forward sales, but there is no doubt that the pandemic has prompted a step change in peoples’ lives and their aspirations, driving many more buyers to the South West. Technology has enabled people to work from anywhere so there is huge demand for high quality, well-designed homes not just in Devon and Cornwall, but across the regions as people continue to move out of the cities in search of more space and healthier lifestyle. Our success in the South West has given us a solid platform to expand into other counties where there is also a strong potential market for our homes.” Burrington Estates has built its reputation on creating high quality homes and attractive, enduring communities with a strong sense of place. From medium to large scale developments, high-quality mixed-use schemes, luxury individual homes and careful renovations, Burrington Estates developments span a wide range of property types. It carefully tailors its designs to the needs of buyers to suit evolving lifestyles and make properties more functional, for example vegetable patches constructed with railway sleepers are often included as an option in gardens, as well as spaces to accommodate working from home. The Heaths, a new development near Portreath, offers a range of bungalows designed with older people in mind for those with more limited mobility. As a people led business, Burrington Estates prioritises the highest standards of customer service and attributes its success to its growing team. Reflecting the growth of the company, it has made many key hires recently, increasing its staff by 45% in the past year to a total of 85 employees.

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CAMBRIDGE DEVELOPMENT WINS HOUSING DESIGN AWARD FOR BEING THE MOST SUSTAINABLE RESIDENTIAL SCHEME IN UK

Kenneth Booth September 22, 2021

Developer Hill Group has just scooped a prestigious 2021 Housing Design Award for its unique scheme, Knights Park in Cambridge.  The awards, which took place at Storey’s Field in Eddington, are the longest running award programme in the country [1948] and the only one that sends a multidisciplinary set of judges to the shortlisted developments. Knights Park is the first ever completed Housing Design Award entry to be recognised by Building with Nature for providing an outstanding habitat to support biodiversity alongside a comprehensive strategy for channelling cloud bursts to rain gardens under which there are storage tanks so the water can be used for the planting, when needed.  Housing Design Awards Director David Birkbeck said: “This summer we’ve seen many examples of climate change bringing tropical downpours. This is the first scheme in Britain with a strategy to make sure those cloudbursts don’t soak through under your front door. It’s an exemplar of designing for climate change with a 360 degree vision, such as its clever ventilation strategies so homes won’t overheat, now a real issue for nearly all new-builds. If I were buying a new home and worrying about climate change and how that would affect my comfort in my home, I’d be confident Knights Park wouldn’t leave me sweltering at night.’ Knights Park in Eddington is an exemplar of sustainable architecture and urban design for the 2020’s and beyond.  A zero-carbon neighbourhood which has been thoughtfully planned is set within a network of social, tree-lined streets.  The urban grid is anchored by a car-free landscaped avenue that connects cycle and pedestrian routes to nearby local amenities: schools, health centre, supermarket and shops alongside a community hall and hotel. Dr Gemma Jerome, Director of Building with Nature said: “Our quality standards have been created to award projects at both the design and post-construction stages of development. Given that Knights Park is already built and occupied, meaning their planning application came forward before much of the current environmental and climate legislation was in place, we were super impressed with the high standard and holistic design approach evident across the scheme. Knights Park delivers a new neighbourhood which will act as a benchmark for development for years to come. Without compromising on the design quality of the built environment, Knights Park successfully demonstrates what is possible when a scheme positively responds to the climate and ecological emergency, meeting the needs of both the existing and future local communities.” Andy Hill, Chief Executive of Hill Group, commented: “It’s a great honour and a privilege to receive this award from such a prestigious array of judges. Working in collaboration with Pollard Thomas Edwards and Alison Brooks Architects, we have created a scheme with the highest standards in design and sustainability we are immensely proud of.  Delivering functional homes that have a reduced impact on the environment is something we are known for, and it is terrific that Knights Park has been recognised by this expert panel. “Achieving this award would not have been possible without the dedication and hard work performed by the whole team over almost ten years. I would like to congratulate Pollard Thomas Edwards and Alison Brooks Architects for their hard work and commitment, which has resulted in an exemplar scheme for sustainable design. It takes an extraordinary number of businesses, stakeholders and individuals to deliver a scheme the size of Eddington, and we feel immensely proud to have been recognised for this work.” Teresa Borsuk, Senior Advisor of Pollard Thomas Edwards, commented: “Pollard Thomas Edwards and Alison Brooks Architects are delighted to have received this inaugural Housing Design award and respect this recognition by Design for Homes. The whole project team, (including both architectural practices, the many consultants, the client and developer, Hill) have strived to ensure that the success of Knights Park is consistent and “thrutone”, from its fundamental ambitions of sustainable and zero carbon living, through its specific place making and green qualities, to the special and particular enjoyment of each of the homes. A conscientious and considered development where people will truly feel ‘at home’. “ Located in the newly created district of Eddington, the scheme places residents’ wellbeing, sustainability and ecology at the forefront of the design. It uses innovative, seamlessly integrated construction methods to minimise environmental impact and is based around a neighbourhood system for ‘living lightly’. Alison Brooks, Founder and Creative Director Alison Brooks Architects commented: “This Housing Design Award is a wonderful acknowledgement of what can be achieved when a client group prioritises sustainability at every level and invests in architectural quality. We are delighted for the University of Cambridge, Hill, PTE, AECOM and our wider project design team who have all invested a huge amount of care and effort into the realising Knights Park. Collectively we’ve brought exemplary innovation and quality of life to this beautiful new neighbourhood where our housing designs have integrated home working – long before Covid was governing the headlines. ” The new houses include a wide range of sustainable features from high performing robust insulation and triple glazing to photovoltaic panels and mechanical ventilation in addition to heat recovery systems. The energy centre in Eddington delivers heat and hot water to residents, with major system efficiencies reducing C02 and energy wastage. In addition, the development-wide rainwater harvesting and sustainable urban drainage system is currently the largest in the UK and recycles rainwater through natural drainage features before filtering it and returning it to Hill’s new homes for use in washing machines and flushing toilets. An underground refuse system negates the need for wheelie bins and promotes recycling, and the development was designed to cater for pedestrians and cyclists, with interconnecting foot and cycle paths. Prices at Knights Park start from £689,950 for a two-bedroom penthouse apartment. For further information visit www.knightspark-eddington.co.uk or call 01223 607200.

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Caddick Construction awarded £2m fit out contract for Bolton warehouse and office scheme

Kenneth Booth September 22, 2021

Caddick Construction has been awarded a £2m contract to fit out a warehousing and office unit on the Logistics North industrial park in Bolton. The fit out contract, awarded by Amscreen Group Ltd, follows on from the £3.2m contract won by Caddick in 2020 to design and build the 50,000 sq. ft unit. Logistics North industrial park is one of the largest and most successful developments of its kind to be brought forward in the north of England. Envisaged as a hub for both manufacturing and logistics operations, the scheme will ultimately deliver over 4 million sq. ft of bespoke Grade A industrial buildings in a range of sizes once fully developed, in addition to a 550-acre country park. Built on the former Cutacre surface mine site where deep mining operations have also taken place, the scheme has already delivered over 3m sq. ft of commercial space since receiving initial outline planning consent in December 2013. Once fully developed, the site is expected to deliver over £300m of Gross Value Added to the local economy in addition to over 7,000 jobs. The quality of the development and the site’s location at the heart of the region’s motorway network has been key to attracting some of the World’s leading logistics companies including Amazon, Lidl and Whistl. Some 5,500 people are now employed on site. Said Caddick Construction (North West) Managing Director Ian Threadgold: “Demand for high quality logistics and industrial space in the North West shows no sign of letting up, and with households names such as Aldi, Lidl and Amazon already on site, it is testament to both the location and quality of the units that Logistics North has to offer. He added: “We are delighted to be taking on the fit out contract for this latest unit on behalf of Amscreen as it’s always great to fully complete and deliver on a project from the initial ground-breaking right through to the final lick of paint.” 

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