Research from the national estate agent, Keller Williams UK, has found that Brighton is home to the nation’s most valuable property postcode so far in 2021, outside of London, of course. Keller Williams UK analysed sold prices across the market in England and Wales since the start of the year
July traditionally marks the start of the holiday season for the UK construction sector. But while some of those working within the industry have managed to get away, contract awards activity shows no signs of taking a break. Builders’ Conference CEO Neil Edwards reports on yet another upbeat month. The
The Milton Keynes Studio of national architects, GSSArchitecture, are delighted to share that Parkway Construction have recently started on site on site for the construction of a new industrial unit at Olney Park, as part of a wider mixed-use masterplan developed for Angle Property. GSS were appointed by Angle Property,
Innovative construction and infrastructure-focused partnership hub South West has appointed Robertson Construction Central West as the preferred Tier 1 Contractor for a new £12.5 million primary school in Irvine, Ayrshire. The new school, for North Ayrshire Council (NAC), will support the continued expansion of new housing within this area of the coastal town. Taking in the
Leading construction, property and management consultancy, Rider Levett Bucknall (RLB UK Ltd) has been awarded a place on The Guinness Partnership’s new Employer’s Agent Services Framework. RLB will offer Employer’s Agent services and Clerk of Works across the framework’s three regional lots: North; South, London and South East; South West.
The latest research from HouseScan has revealed that just 6.9% of all homes sold in Britain over the last year came via the new build sector, however, new build sales have driven the market to a greater extent across a number of locations. Since March of last year, 54,176 new
Ready to test your luck? Then you can enter an online casino using your 22Bet login and password. But visiting a real casino is more exciting. And these are the casinos with the most wonderful designs. Tusk Rio Casino Resort The institution operates in South Africa and is considered the
Facing pipe leak problem? But don’t know how to use pipe leak tapes? Then read on to find all the answers on how to use pipe leak tapes. All homeowners around the world face one common problem that is plumbing or pipes leak. It is one such problem that can
Preparatory work for a £10.9m Oxford City Council housing development has unearthed fascinating glimpses into Oxford’s past. Council housing company Oxford City Housing Ltd (OCHL) and preferred principal contractor Willmott Dixon expect to start work next month on building 36 flats in the city centre. The development site is probably
Research by the next-generation, virtual property viewings platform, U-See Homes, has revealed how a bad first impression could be very costly for UK homebuyers While the market is booming, it’s very much become a seller’s market as huge numbers of homebuyers battle it out for the limited amount of homes
Research from the national estate agent, Keller Williams UK, has found that Brighton is home to the nation’s most valuable property postcode so far in 2021, outside of London, of course. Keller Williams UK analysed sold prices across the market in England and Wales since the start of the year and found that so far, a stamp duty holiday fuelled market has seen residential property sales hit £68.8bn in value. The top 10 is predictably dominated by London, with the NW3 postcode, covering parts of Camden and Barnet, topping the table where total value of homes sold is concerned. £262.5m worth of property has been sold in this one postcode alone since the start of the year. The SW19 (£248.8m), SW11 (£235m) and SW18 (£228m) postcodes also make the top 10, as do the W8 (£226m), W11 (£212.4m), SW6 (£212m), E17 (£202m) and NW11 (£198m) postcodes. However, there is one postcode that makes the top 10 that isn’t located within the M25. The BN3 postcode of Brighton and Hove has seen £206m worth of homes sold since the start of the year, making it the eighth-most valuable property postcode across England and Wales and the most valuable outside of London. Taking London out of the picture, Brighton also accounts for the second most valuable postcode, BN3, with a total value of £179.1m in homes sold. Brighton’s BN2 postcode also makes the list (£157m), along with the SL6 postcode in Maidenhead (£169.7m), the Dorset postcode of BN2 (£157m), SO41 in the New Forest (£125.9m), the Manchester postcode of WA15 (£120.7m), Southend’s SS9 postcode (£118.5m), BA2 in Bath (£117.1m) and Horsham’s RH12 postcode (£112.3m). CEO of Keller Williams UK, Ben Taylor, commented: “Despite London seeing a somewhat lethargic performance in terms of property price growth over the last year, it remains home to the majority of the top postcodes in terms of the highest value of homes sold so far this year. However, while the capital continues to dominate the headlines, the UK property market is far from a one-trick pony. When looking outside of the M25 there is a range of areas performing very strongly spanning the length and breadth of the UK and it will be interesting to see which postcodes remain the most valuable come the end of the year.” Table shows the top postcodes for the highest value of property sold so far in 2021 across England and Wales (Inc London) Postcode district Location Total value NW3 Camden / Barnet £262,487,046 SW19 Merton / Wandsworth £248,800,270 SW11 Wandsworth / Lambeth £234,858,700 SW18 Wandsworth £227,625,878 W8 Kensington and Chelsea £225,963,338 W11 Kensington and Chelsea / Westminster / Hammersmith and Fulham £212,426,624 SW6 Hammersmith and Fulham £212,004,240 BN3 Brighton and Hove £206,087,089 E17 Waltham Forest £201,193,176 NW11 Barnet £197,670,500 England and Wales £68,848,011,189 Data sourced from the Land Registry Price Paid records – Jan 2021 to May 2021 (latest available) Table shows the top postcodes for the highest value of property sold so far in 2021 across England and Wales (Exc London) Postcode district Location Total value BN3 Brighton and Hove £206,087,089 BN1 Brighton and Hove / Lewes £179,128,540 SL6 Windsor and Maidenhead / Buckinghamshire £169,665,888 BN2 Brighton and Hove / Lewes £156,968,190 BH23 Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole / New Forest £145,957,708 SO41 New Forest £125,872,492 WA15 Trafford / Manchester / Cheshire East £120,660,020 SS9 Southend-on-Sea £118,503,085 BA2 Bath and North East Somerset / Mendip / Wiltshire £117,124,277 RH12 Horsham £112,316,147 England and Wales £68,848,011,189 Data sourced from the Land Registry Price Paid records – Jan 2021 to May 2021 (latest available)
July traditionally marks the start of the holiday season for the UK construction sector. But while some of those working within the industry have managed to get away, contract awards activity shows no signs of taking a break. Builders’ Conference CEO Neil Edwards reports on yet another upbeat month. The industry is short of materials and short of skilled labour. New equipment is increasingly hard to come by, and the spectre of inflation lurks just out of sight as wages for bricklayers and HGV drivers continue to rise. And yet the UK construction has greeted all these challenges in the same way that it greeted Brexit and a global pandemic – with a shrug of its collective shoulders and its foot pressed hard on the accelerator pedal. As the month drew to a close, the BCLive league table of new construction contract awards stood at £5.78 billion with 344 individual companies winning work during the period. This compares favourably with July 2020 when 268 individual companies pushed the monthly total to £5.52 billion. In a month in which 14 companies reported contract wins of £100 million or more, TSL Projects part of the Tonroe Group scaled to the top of the BCLive league table for the first time, buoyed by a £350 million contract awarded. That contract – one of two won by Tonroe Group, which reported a monthly total of £402 million – is for a new manufacturing facility on the former Celanese site in Derby. The new facility will comprise manufacturing facilities, start-up units, and a Food Manufacturing Technology Centre of Excellence. Making a welcome return to the upper echelons of the BCLive league table after a brief absence is Laing O’Rourke, which also bagged a brace of new contract awards during July 2021. The largest of these is a new build mixed-use development at Timber Square on London’s Bankside. Valued at £195 million, the new development comprises almost 35,000 m2 of space with the lion’s share of it to be occupied by offices. Client Landsec requires around 90 percent of the existing building to be retained while using a hybrid steel frame and timber structure to minimise demolition waste and embodied carbon. Also making a welcome return to the top of the table is Multiplex. The company was awarded the £300 million contract to build a new office block at 1 Leadenhall Street in London for client Brookfield Properties. In a month with a distinct Far Eastern favour, Hitachi Zosen Inova UK got the green light for a £250 million energy from waste incinerator at the site of the former Skelton Grange power station just off junction 45 of the M1 motorway. Sticking with the Far Eastern theme, the £202 million contract to build a new embassy for the People’s Republic of China was awarded to Chinese-based contractor BCEGI Construction (UK) Ltd. Located at Royal Mint Court in London, that project will involve the refurbishment and repair of the Grade II-listed Johnson Smirke building, partial demolition and remodelling of the Grade II-listed Seaman’s Registry, and alterations to both Murray House and Dexter House. Although it fell short of its now customary one project per day haul, Kier Group yet again topped the list of largest number of contract awards, picking up 10 new projects valued at a combined £187 million to take the number seven spot on the BCLive league table. Regionally, London retained its crown, delivering 111 new contract awards valued at a combined £1.69 billion. The Midlands once again enjoyed an upbeat month with the East and West Midlands picking up £592 and £401 million respectively. Elsewhere, the North West region reported 34 new contract awards worth a combined £498 million while Yorkshire (£482 million) and East Anglia (£405 million) also experienced a welcome uptick. However, both Scotland (£269 million) and Wales (£57 million) continue to lag behind. Predictably, house building continues to carry the sector, delivering 171 new contract awards valued at a combined £1.59 billion. Offices enjoyed a good month (56 new contract awards worth a combined £973 million) while the education sector contributed a further £519 million. Although ongoing concerns over international travel mean that fewer people will be heading for sunnier climes in August, construction industry workers can take a well-deserved summer break, safe in the knowledge that the industry remains in rude health. Quick review of BCLive table for July 2021 344 no companies were detailed as winning new contracts during July 2021 524 no new construction orders were researched by Builders’ Conference all detailed on the UK’s only Live league table of construction contract awards BCLive TSL Projects part of the Tonroe Group secured overall top spot with a two contracts worth £402 billion Kier Group was the company with the most number of new construction orders in the month with 10no totaling £187 million The importance of real-time verified independent, construction information, sales leads and bespoke construction sector analysis has never been more important and the Builders’ Conference delivers this LIVE service, via one of the most digitally advanced platforms on the UK market. Ensure your business has access to evidenced based premier construction project information from across the UK by becoming a member of the Builders’ Conference. Discover what is really happening in UK construction as well as critically analysing ALL our data via our built in report writing service. Go to BuildersConference.co.uk/how-it-works for more information. We are a not for profit organisation who are dedicated to maintain our high level of services for as long as possible with the financial support of our membership. We firmly believe because it is the UK construction industries own information which we analyse no one should be paying vast sums to read it! Proud to have been bringing validated UK construction information since 1935.
The Milton Keynes Studio of national architects, GSSArchitecture, are delighted to share that Parkway Construction have recently started on site on site for the construction of a new industrial unit at Olney Park, as part of a wider mixed-use masterplan developed for Angle Property. GSS were appointed by Angle Property, a leading property developer and investor, to design the wider mixed-use masterplan, which incorporates industrial units, retail and fast food, a nursery and later living accommodation. The proposed landscaping will provide a high-quality amenity for visitors, employees and residents of the later living accommodation to enjoy, with areas of grassland and wildlife friendly habitats created, alongside ornamental tree specimens which will act as focal points where site users can enjoy the seasonal displays. These plans have benefitted from the guidance of GSSArchitecture’s specialist Health and Wellbeing Working Group, whose focus is to research and apply the latest Health and Wellbeing practices into their designs, significantly improving these developments for those who will be visiting them for work and leisure. Speaking of the mixed-used masterplan at the Olney Park site, Tony Williamson, Executive Director at Angle Property, said “Angle Property is delighted to now have commenced work on site to deliver this mixed-use development. The development will create a range of buildings for various uses which will provide services and employment to the local community as well as a state-of-the-art care home to care for elderly residents. We have recently announced plans and details for further phases and these will be consulted upon and progressed over the remainder of the year. Many thanks to Parkway, GSSArchitecture, WS Project Consulting and many others for getting this project to commencement on site.” This current stage of the delivery of the overall masterplan consists of the design and construction of a new 1100m2 light industrial unit, with the project consisting of integral office accommodation, associated service yard and site-wide infrastructure. The unit will be two-storeys in height and is designed to be contemporary in appearance, with an industrial aesthetic, and sits back from the main access road to facilitate a landscape buffer between the building and the road. The construction of this first industrial unit marks the beginning of the entire 11-acre mixed-use masterplan development, which GSSArchitecture are helping to deliver over several phases. Chris Chapman, Partner at GSSArchitecture said, “I’m delighted that Parkway Construction have now started on site for the first unit at Olney Park. Having recently delivered the new Sainsbury’s store alongside Parkway, we’re looking forward to strengthening our relationship with the project team whilst delivering a new and exciting development in the local area. Our specialist in-house teams have considerable experience in the design and delivery of similar mixed-use schemes, so we are all excited that work has been able to start site on this latest development.” If you would like further information on the range of projects that GSSArchitecture are working on in the commercial and industrial sector, as well as details on their vast experience in the development of masterplans, please visit www.gssarchitecture.com
Innovative construction and infrastructure-focused partnership hub South West has appointed Robertson Construction Central West as the preferred Tier 1 Contractor for a new £12.5 million primary school in Irvine, Ayrshire. The new school, for North Ayrshire Council (NAC), will support the continued expansion of new housing within this area of the coastal town. Taking in the catchment areas of Montgomerie Park and Knadgerhill to the east of the bustling community, the new facility will be non-denominational and will run to 12 classes. It will also have early learning and childcare classes, with 32 spaces for three- to five-year-olds and 15 spaces for two-year-olds. It is funded as part of the £2 billion Learning Estate Investment Programme, which focuses on delivering high quality, sustainable, low carbon and digitally-enabled learning environments that support sustainable and inclusive economic growth. Shaun Sands, Project Director for hub South West, said: “We are pleased to be working once again with Robertson Construction, whose experience and expertise will create a truly first-class facility for North Ayrshire Council. “The school is due to open in August 2023 and, in line with the Scottish Government’s targets of achieving net zero carbon by 2030, will aim to achieve a yearly figure of 67 kwh per square metre.” Andrew McClelland, Head of Service (Education) North Ayrshire Council commented: “Importantly, the new school will ensure that there is sufficient primary and early years capacity to meet future demand in this growing area of Irvine. The new facility will be at the heart of the community which it serves and will be well placed to be at the forefront of promoting health and wellbeing with fantastic outdoor learning space on site and access to the local Country Park, which is on their doorstep. “This offers exciting opportunities for the children to experience outdoor adventures beyond those possible within the school grounds. The space and sheltered learning and teaching facilities required to maximise the outdoor experience for children, will be a key priority for this exciting project. This will provide positive outcomes not only for the children and young people who will attend the school, but also for the wider community in the area.” The building will be designed by JM Architects, one of the UK’s foremost architectural practices, with PassivHaus design contributed by Glasgow-based ECD Architects. Mechanical, electrical and plumbing and sustainability work is being delivered by environmental design consultants Atelier Ten and civil and structural work by consulting engineers Blyth & Blyth. Stewart Preston, interim Managing Director, Robertson Construction Central West, said: “Our continuing relationship with hub South West will see the delivery of a sustainable new school for Irvine, which will enhance the learning experience of pupils and conserve and save energy during its operations. “Over the coming months we will be working closely with our appointed design team to ensure that the building meets the needs of Scotland’s Learning Estate Investment Programme funding. This high-quality learning environment will introduce exciting outdoor learning spaces; integrate with the local community; create an environment to enhance wellbeing and promote inclusivity which will benefit both attainment and the environment while supporting sustainable and inclusive economic growth.”
Leading construction, property and management consultancy, Rider Levett Bucknall (RLB UK Ltd) has been awarded a place on The Guinness Partnership’s new Employer’s Agent Services Framework. RLB will offer Employer’s Agent services and Clerk of Works across the framework’s three regional lots: North; South, London and South East; South West. A strategic partner of both Homes England and the Greater London Authority, The Guinness Partnership provides social housing within 125 local authorities across England. The new Employer’s Agent Services Framework, is set to run for four years and will support the delivery of a significant programme of new build schemes. Commenting on RLB’s appointment, Kat Hurworth for The Guinness Partnership said: “We look forward to working with RLB, alongside our other newly appointed consultants.” Richard Quarry, Framework Lead and Partner – Head of Affordable Housing – at RLB UK said: “Supporting The Guinness Partnership and its progressive build programme through this new framework is a brilliant appointment for the RLB team. Being awarded a place on each regional lot demonstrates our expertise in affordable housing across our UK network of offices. We are delighted to be continuing our relationship with this fantastic housing association which has its customers at the heart of building safe, high quality and well-designed homes.”
The latest research from HouseScan has revealed that just 6.9% of all homes sold in Britain over the last year came via the new build sector, however, new build sales have driven the market to a greater extent across a number of locations. Since March of last year, 54,176 new build homes have been sold across Britain, accounting for 6.9% of all transactions during this period. Scotland has seen the greatest level of new builds sold as a proportion of total transactions, with 9.3% of all homes sold in the last 12 months coming via the sector. London has also seen some of the largest levels of transactions come via new build homes (8.8%), with the East Midlands (7.2%), West Midlands (7%), North East (6.9%) and South East (6.5%) also sitting above the national average. At local authority level, Scotland and London continue to rank with some of the highest levels of new build sales. Tower Hamlets has seen the most new build homes sold as a percentage of all transactions across Britain over the last year. The 991 new homes sold since March 2020 equate to 39.9% of all properties sold in the borough, closely followed by Newham where 33.4% of all transactions have been new builds. Scotland’s East Lothian (25.2%) and Midlothian (21.4%) also rank within the top five, along with Harborough in Leicestershire (20.9%). Greenwich (20.8%), Rugby (19.1%), South Derbyshire (18.5%), Hackney (17.6%) and Bracknell Forest (16.8%) also rank as some of the hottest spots for new build sales in the last year. Founder and Managing Director of HouseScan, Harry Yates, commented: “It seems as though Scotland is fast becoming Britain’s new build hotspot, with more transactions coming via the sector than anywhere else in the nation – including London. This demand has caused new build house price growth north of the border to climb considerably and although a buoyant new build market is unlikely to ease the pain of an early Euros exit, it’s certainly helping to lay some strong foundations for future generations of homebuyers.” Table shows new build transactions over the last 12 months as what percentage of total transactions they account for Location New build sales volume NB sales vol as % of all Scotland 8,432 9.3% London 6,337 8.8% East Midlands 4,383 7.2% East of England 5,621 7.0% West Midlands Region 4,457 7.0% North East 2,188 6.9% South East 7,913 6.5% North West 5,323 6.0% Yorkshire and The Humber 3,910 5.8% South West 4,545 5.7% Wales 1,067 3.2% England 44,677 6.7% Great Britain 54,176 6.9% New build sales volumes sourced from the Gov.uk UK House Price Index – New build vs Existing (March 2020 to Feb 2021 – latest available data) Table shows the areas to have seen the largest number of new build transactions as a percentage of all transactions in the last 12 months Location New build sales volume NB sales vol as % of all Tower Hamlets 991 39.9% Newham 584 33.4% East Lothian 526 25.2% Midlothian 365 21.4% Harborough 331 20.9% Greenwich 512 20.8% Rugby 309 19.1% South Derbyshire 297 18.5% Hackney 291 17.6% Bracknell Forest 293 16.8% Wokingham 392 16.8% West Lothian 479 15.9% City of Peterborough 354 15.3% Central Bedfordshire 665 15.2% Stratford-on-Avon 286 14.8% New build sales volumes sourced from the Gov.uk UK House Price Index – New build vs Existing (March 2020 to Feb 2021 – latest available data)
Ready to test your luck? Then you can enter an online casino using your 22Bet login and password. But visiting a real casino is more exciting. And these are the casinos with the most wonderful designs. Tusk Rio Casino Resort The institution operates in South Africa and is considered the largest among the gambling houses in the southern hemisphere. It is stylized as a Brazilian carnival. Once here, visitors are immersed in a world of luxury, bright colors, noisy fun, and big money. Klerksdorp, where the famous casino is located, is of great interest to tourists. It is a comfortable resort for families. This makes the Tusk Rio Casino Resort the most visited gambling house worldwide. By the way, it has not only an area with slots and tables for adults, but also separate rooms for children with interesting attractions and paintball. The thrill seekers are offered extreme entertainment – sports car racing and diving. The range of gambling offers here is impressive. It includes three hundred modern slots, a large number of different tables for poker, blackjack, and other card games. Baden Baden Casino This German casino has a rich history. It was founded in 1821. During its existence, the gambling house has not lost its popularity among gambling lovers. And this is not surprising because it is located in the comfortable resort of Baden-Baden. It is known in many countries due to the presence of healing hot springs. Casino is visited not only by tourists and locals but also by many celebrities. Dostoevsky once tested his luck here. He left his opinion about the institution in his own work – a novel with the symbolic name “The Gambler”. Apparently, the gambling house was to the literary figure’s liking, because later he rested here with his wife as a part of his honeymoon. But after losing a large sum in roulette, Dostoevsky vowed not to be tempted by gambling anymore. The writer kept his promise, not sitting down at the card table and not approaching the roulette table until his death. Marina Bay Sands This gambling house in Singapore has acquired the status of the most expensive. The history of the casino is only a few years old. The cost of the project was about eight billion dollars. It consists of three floors. There are over five hundred tables and more than two thousand machines in its arsenal. Visitors to this institution can experience a new gambling game – Singapore poker. It was created by the developers directly for Marina Bay Sands. Professionals say that this version has almost no differences with the traditional Caribbean poker. The peculiarity of the former is only a different system of winnings. Crown Casino This casino stretches over two blocks of Melbourne. It is the largest and richest in Australia. Its main feature is an exclusive decoration made of a rare kind of marble. Complementing the picture are handmade carpets, huge chandeliers, incredible decoration of the walls.On the territory of this institution are held numerous significant events – ceremonies of a formal nature. Connoisseurs claim that the interior and exterior of this casino can safely compete with the best palaces in the world. Today, Crown Casino has four rooms. Each of them is thematic. Visitors are offered a variety of entertainment – from classic cards and roulette to rare pai gow and sic bo. The highlight of the equipment is electronic roulette, wheels of fortune and more. Fountains and towers capable of spewing fireballs are considered a key attraction of the casino. Aria Casino This complex is located in Las Vegas. It was built in 2009 on 14,000 square meters. It includes two tall glass buildings, on the 51st and 61st floors of which are gambling clubs. The complex includes a hotel, bars, restaurants, beauty salons, nightclubs, and a large swimming pool. Large parks are located right in the hotel. Famous musicians and Cirque du Soleil perform here. The gambling house is decorated stylishly and festively with natural materials: wood, glass, and stone. Popular slot machines and other traditional games are offered for every visitor. There are many more interesting and unusual places in the world. Each of them is attractive in its own way. One of the examples of such gambling houses is the Casino at Treasure Island. Here are spectacular pirate shows, accompanied by the sinking of the ship. The Casino at Bellagio is amazing. All the ceilings there are made of expensive Murano glass. The decorations are constantly changing, which allows the patrons to plunge into a new world every time. Visitors are entertained with memorable show programs. Another original casino is Wynn Las Vegas Casino. It is famous for its spectacular dancing fountain. It’s not hard to guess that all of the above gaming houses are located in Vegas.
Facing pipe leak problem? But don’t know how to use pipe leak tapes? Then read on to find all the answers on how to use pipe leak tapes. All homeowners around the world face one common problem that is plumbing or pipes leak. It is one such problem that can easily be resolved by using different kinds of tape. Now you might wonder what kind of tapes you should use? Well, there are various types of tapes available to mitigate your plumbing leaks issues. You can use pipe thread tape, which is sometimes known as “Teflon” or “Plumbers” tape that is used to fix leaking pipe joints. Then there are silicone tapes, which are sometimes known as “self-fusing,” “self-amalgamating”, or “leak repair” tape that can be used to fix problems like hairline cracks or pipe leaks that are non-joint. You will be surprised to know that there are a large number of applications of these tapes in plumbing. These tapes are used effectively by professional plumbers all the time. So you just need to know whether teflon tape or silicone tape will be the right type for your job and how to use it. If you don’t know what should be used for common types of pipe leaks or the process of application, don’t worry, scroll down till the end of this article to clear all your confusion regarding pipe leak tapes. What is pipe leak tape? When it comes to repairing leaking pipes, two types of tape are generally used the most. Those are silicone tape and pipe thread tape. Both of them can be found in any hardware store but their applications are different. Pipe thread tape Pipe thread tapes are known in many different names such as “thread seal tape,” “Teflon tape,” “PTFE tape,” or “plumber’s tape.” You may know this tape by any of those names. These tapes are required to establish a water seal between plumbing joints. This helps in lubricating the connections and makes threading smoother, and also disassembly simpler. Silicone tape As mentioned before, Silicone tapes are also known as “self-fusing tape,” or “self-amalgamating tape” because it is the only self-adhesive tape. And unlike other tapes, this one sticks to itself rather than sticking to a pipe. If you want a waterproof and durable temporary seal wrapped around your pipe leak, you should use Silicone tape. When and what type of pipe leak tape to use? As said before, both silicone and pipe thread tapes have very different applications. When you want to fix non-joint pipe leaks then Pipe thread tapes should not be applied because they don’t work effectively on non-joint pipe leaks, another thing to make sure is never applied silicone tapes to your pipe’s threads. So use each type of tape according to its proper application. For example: To Fix Leaking joints: If the joints of your pipes are leaking, then the reason might be either the connection between the pipes has loosened or the tape or putty sealing used on the pipes has worn out. If you`re facing these issues with your pipes then no worries because pipe thread tapes can be the one-stop solution for both of these problems. Then again if the pipe is leaking from a join, then you need to get some pipe thread tape. To Fix Fracture leaks: Generally, Hairline fractures and other kinds of leaks occur when pipes get damaged. However, if you see that the leak appears from the middle of your plumbing pipe, then it’s probably not a joint leakage, it’s more likely a fracture. In such cases, silicone tapes should be used since they will create a temporary watertight seal around the broken section of the pipe, preventing water from escaping while you work on a permanent repair. It is not advisable to use Pipe thread tape in such conditions as it will not give the desired result. How Should You Use Pipe Leak Tapes? Pipe leak tapes are easy to use. You just need to follow the instructions below: How Will I Use Pipe Thread Tapes to Fix Leaking Joints? If you want to repair a leaking joint using Pipe Thread Tapes, the seal between the joints worn off has to be replaced. To do so, first, the silicone has to be disconnected between the leaking joints then wrap the tape around the pipe thread. Next, turn off the water and unscrew the pipe joint where it is leaking, pay close attention in which direction to rotate the pipe to detach it from the joint, take off the worn-out seal and apply the pipe thread tape. Wrap the thread four to six times from the opposite direction of the screw. Ensure that the tape is properly attached to the thread. After wrapping to the end of the pipe screw it back to the joint and finally test for leaks. How will you Use Silicone Tape to Fix Fracture Leaks? This process is simpler than the previous one. First, you`ll have to locate the leak and then turn off the water. Next, dry the area of the pipe where the leak is found then wrap the tape around the leak. The Tape should be wrapped tightly by overlapping several times. I believe the method discussed here will help you in the future if you face any pipe leakage-related issues at your home. With proper knowledge and understanding of the situation, you can tackle any situation
Preparatory work for a £10.9m Oxford City Council housing development has unearthed fascinating glimpses into Oxford’s past. Council housing company Oxford City Housing Ltd (OCHL) and preferred principal contractor Willmott Dixon expect to start work next month on building 36 flats in the city centre. The development site is probably best known to current Oxford residents as that of former homeless hostel Lucy Faithfull House, built in the 1970s and demolished in 2018. However, an archaeological excavation carried out between April and June by MOLA (Museum of London Archaeology) uncovered evidence of Oxford’s medieval past. Blackfriars The Dominican Order (Blackfriars) first came to Oxford in 1221 and established their first friary near what is now Oxford Town Hall. Lucy Faithfull House sat on the site of the Blackfriars’ second friary, established in 1246 in what is now the St Ebbe’s area of Oxford. This was an unusually large friary which functioned as a college – or Studium Generale – for the order, training students from across Europe in theology. It was also head of one of the four visitations into which the English province of Blackfriars was divided. Like other monastic houses in Oxford, Blackfriars came into rapid and repeated conflict with the university. However, its death knell came with the dissolution of the monasteries by Henry VIII in 1538. Dismantling of the site began not long afterwards. The Dominican influence in Oxford persisted beyond medieval times. While the Friars area did not survive the post-WW2 clearance and redevelopment of St Ebbe’s, evidence of the Blackfriars’ importance in Oxford still lives on in the street names of Friars Wharf, Preachers Lane and Blackfriars Road. The Blackfriars did not return to Oxford until the 1920s, with Blackfriars Hall joining the University of Oxford as a permanent private hall in 1994. The new 36 flat development will reference the Blackfriars’ black and white coat of arms by using light and dark building materials throughout. Excavation and findings The excavations uncovered parts of the west range of the main cloister and the west end of the friary church, revealing sequences of external and internal walls and floors and nearby rubbish pits. Finds included fragments of moulded stone, a 13th or 14th century decorated floor tile from the cloister and painted glass from the west end of the church. A stone coffin was discovered west of the church, along with other burials in the northern part of the site. The dig also yielded evidence of horn cores indicating the likely use of the site as a tannery after dissolution, as well as stone lined waste pits and pottery dumps belonging to the early 19th century housing that later occupied the site. The excavation has now been backfilled. Once construction is underway the impact of the development on the remaining walls and waste pits will be reduced by careful foundation design, with the stone coffin and other burials protected below shallow ground beams. Following analysis by MOLA specialists, artefacts recovered at the site will be donated to the Oxfordshire Museum for storage and potential display. The council hopes it may be possible for them to be put on temporary display at the Museum of Oxford after it reopens in September. Lucy Faithfull House Initial planning permission for a Church Army hostel that became Lucy Faithfull House was granted in 1972, with construction beginning the following year. The building was used as supported accommodation for people experiencing rough sleeping until it was decommissioned by Oxfordshire County Council in 2015 as part of a round of funding cuts. When the hostel closed in February 2016, its 61 beds were replaced by 62 beds provided in shared houses across the city. Oxford City Council acquired Lucy Faithfull House in 2017. As the building was in a bad state of repair and poorly configured for modern use, the council decided it was no longer viable as hostel accommodation and decided to redevelop the site for much-needed housing. Demolition began in April 2018 and was completed that August. The 36 flats on the redeveloped site will be in a single block of four to six storeys, which will include 15 council homes let at social rent, eight shared ownership and three homes at affordable rent. The remaining 10 homes will be for market sale. Lucy Faithfull herself was a social worker, children’s campaigner and founder of the Lucy Faithfull Foundation, a nationwide charity working to protect children from sexual abuse. Joining Oxford City Council as a children’s officer in 1958, she was appointed as director of social services in 1970 and retired in 1974 as local government reorganisation put social care in the hands of a new tier of county councils. She was awarded an OBE in 1972 and became Baroness Faithfull of Wolvercote when she accepted a life peerage in 1976. As Baroness Faithfull, she played a key role in the passage of the Children Act 1989 and later helped to set up the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Children. She also served as a trustee for a number of voluntary organisations, including Barnardo’s and the National Children’s Bureau. She died in 1996. Comment Councillor Alex Hollingsworth, cabinet member for planning and housing delivery, said: “History is literally underfoot in Oxford and excavation on the Lucy Faithfull House site has yielded new insights into our city’s medieval past. The surviving archaeological remains will be protected below the flats for future generations to investigate with new techniques and new questions about Oxford’s rich medieval history.” Oxford City Council archaeologist, David Radford, said: “The former Lucy Faithfull House proved to have been built on extensive modern foundations. Nevertheless, the area in the former courtyard proved to be well preserved and the work by MOLA has produced important new information. I am especially pleased about the details we have learnt about the internal layout of the west range of the friary, which certainly surpassed our initial expectations.” MOLA director of developer services, Sophie Jackson, said: “This year marks the 800th anniversary of
Research by the next-generation, virtual property viewings platform, U-See Homes, has revealed how a bad first impression could be very costly for UK homebuyers While the market is booming, it’s very much become a seller’s market as huge numbers of homebuyers battle it out for the limited amount of homes currently on the market. But slim pickings on the supply side could reduce even more for buyers with the wrong attitude, as the research by U-See Homes reveals that 58% of UK homesellers wouldn’t sell to a buyer that makes a bad first impression. 70% of homesellers also stated that they would decide immediately whether a particular buyer was out of the running for their home, with a further 22% taking just a day or two to decide. But there’s yet more bad news for bad-mannered homebuyers. While money usually talks, UK homesellers are unlikely to be listening. 48% said they would not change their mind regardless of how much a buyer offered above asking price, with a further 21% stating they would have to offer 20% or more to sway them into a sale – that’s nearly £51,000 or more on the current average UK house price. So what sort of home viewing faux pas is most likely to dump you out of the running for a home? General bad manners ranked as the main thing that sellers believe form a bad first impression while making negative comments about their home in front of them also caused offence. Not removing your shoes if asked can also land you in hot water, as well as failing to wear a face mask if requested. Luckily, punctuality didn’t rank as high, with arriving late or even early for a viewing less likely to lead to a bad first impression. Simon Dempsey heads up marketing for U-See Homes and says “As the saying goes ‘manners cost nothing’, but bad manners during the viewing process could cost you your dream home. It’s important to remember that someone’s home will often hold a hefty level of sentimental value regardless of the fact that they are selling up. So you shouldn’t assume that they will sell to you just because you put in a good offer, or in many cases, even the highest offer. We all have our own visions and plans when moving into a new home and discussing these during the viewing process is no bad thing. It’s just important to do it with a bit of sensitivity in mind in front of the current owner.” Survey of 1,822 UK homeowners carried out by U-See Homes via consumer research platform Find Out Now (21st July 2021). When selling your property, would you sell to a buyer who makes a bad impression during the viewing process? Answer Respondents No 58% Yes 42% How long does it take you before you decide that you won’t sell to a particular buyer? Answer Respondents Immediately 70% 1-2 days 22% 1 week+ 5% 3-6 days 3% How much more would they have to offer to change your mind? Answer Respondents Would not change my mind 48% 20% or more 21% 10% – 20% 14% 5% – 10% 13% Up to 5% 4% What are the main things that a buyer would create a bad first impression on you? (Tick all that apply) Answer Respondents General bad manners 27% Making negative comments about your home in front of you 22% Not taking off (muddy) shoes 18% Not wearing a mask if requested 16% Punctuality – arriving too early or too late 12% Appearance 6%