Unbranded Finance, the UK non-bank lender set up in 2020, with offices in Edinburgh and London, today announced that it has completed on its largest, and most complex, loan to date. In partnership with Westbrook Partners, the fully integrated global real estate investment management company, the two-year £36 million facility
Managing Director of Barrows and Forrester, James Forrester, commented: “The availability of stock on the market is the lifeblood of the property market and if it’s significantly short in volume. As a result, we can expect to see prices soar ever skyward as demand continues to outstrip supply, regardless of
Appliances are used extensively by people at home to perform everyday tasks for easy-going life. This ease is sometimes disturbed when any such appliances got out of order. There can be technical issues that we are unable to figure out somehow but this problem can be readily solved with the
Sorting waste remains one of the most effective ways to become more eco-friendly and decrease pollution in your local area. If you would like to take part in this initiative and encourage your family members to start sorting waste, this article might be right for you. Discover some tips on
Two engineering services bodies have stepped up their health & safety advice in time for a return to more regular working conditions after ‘Freedom Day’ on July 19. The Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) and ECA, the engineering and electrotechnical services body, have joined forces to produce free guidance notes
Allscott Meads developer, SJ Roberts Homes, releases more family homes due to huge demand. After the success of the first two phases, Shropshire developer, SJ Roberts Homes Ltd, will be offering new houses to families at, Allscott Meads, Allscott, Shropshire. As part of Phase Three, more spacious family homes are
The latest research from Warwick Estates has revealed that just one of Britain’s biggest housebuilders has seen an increase in both revenue and homes delivered to the market during a tough year overshadowed by COVID-19. Warwick Estates analysed eight of Britain’s biggest housebuilders based on the latest data available on
Designer Contracts, the UK’s largest flooring contractor, has developed a digital solution to speedier customer service. The company has designed its own app, named Athena, to enable faster response times to customers and to help deliver key performance indicators. For use by staff internally, Athena was trialled at one of
National contractor Wates Construction has reached its latest significant milestone in the construction of the £73m Sandwell Aquatics Centre, in Smethwick, procured through SCAPE, one of the UK’s leading procurement authorities, with the laying of the first of 190,000 pool tiles. The occasion was marked with a ceremony held at
Building firms are being urged to carry on asking their workforce to wear masks while working in enclosed spaces or on busy sites by the Construction Leadership Council, CLC. The CLC is calling for a consistent approach in line with government guidance as rules on social distancing and face masks
Unbranded Finance, the UK non-bank lender set up in 2020, with offices in Edinburgh and London, today announced that it has completed on its largest, and most complex, loan to date. In partnership with Westbrook Partners, the fully integrated global real estate investment management company, the two-year £36 million facility was provided to an affiliate of London-based private real estate investment and development company, Boultbee LDN, to refinance The Maltings Shopping Centre in St Albans. The loan was advanced within six weeks from agreement of terms and commencement of due diligence. Andrew Smith, Co-founder of Unbranded Finance, commented: “It was a pleasure to work with the team at Boultbee LDN on this transaction, which was completed within the timescales set by the borrower. A large amount of due diligence was undertaken within a relatively short period of time, and so all credit to the teams on both sides. “The Maltings is a key retail asset which has been extremely resilient during the pandemic and has significant potential for value-add over the coming months. We are excited to have partnered with Westbrook on this transaction, a relationship we look forward to building upon.” Steve Boultbee-Brooks, Chairman of Boultbee LDN, added: “Extraordinary events call for the most extraordinary professionals. Despite being in the middle of a pandemic and a harsh trading environment, The Maltings continues to buck the trend with a steady recovery trading at 98% occupancy. “Unbranded Finance & Westbrook demonstrated an experienced, professional and pragmatic attitude to getting things done. I am most pleased to have worked with both companies to achieve this result in a short period of time.” The Maltings comprises 300,000 sq ft of retail, office and other commercial accommodation let to around 100 occupiers, including TK Maxx, Wilko and H&M, plus 31 long leasehold residential units and an 800-space car parking operation, all on a six-acre site in the heart of the city.
Managing Director of Barrows and Forrester, James Forrester, commented: “The availability of stock on the market is the lifeblood of the property market and if it’s significantly short in volume. As a result, we can expect to see prices soar ever skyward as demand continues to outstrip supply, regardless of the fact that the stamp duty bonanza may have finished.” Founder & Managing Director of Yes Homebuyers, Matthew Cooper, commented: “History tells us that such a meteoric rate of house price growth simply isn’t sustainable. The past 12 months or so may well have been good for the property industry and for sentiment overall however caution now prevails as we enter a second year of wildly increasing property values – a bubble if ever there was. The spectre of higher inflation and the Bank of England potentially responding with the blunt instrument of an increase in interest rate rather adds to the peril.” Founder and CEO of GetAgent.co.uk, Colby Short, commented: “The time it’s taking to sell a home has plummeted to just 38 days in June, an all time low. However, it’s important to note that this is the time it’s taking to agree a sale, not complete it, and sizable delays remain at the final stage of the transaction timeline. Now that the support from the temporary stamp duty relief has all but ended, we will inevitably see the market return to normality with demand diluting somewhat, price growth softening and time-to-sell increasing back to 45 to 50 days.”
Appliances are used extensively by people at home to perform everyday tasks for easy-going life. This ease is sometimes disturbed when any such appliances got out of order. There can be technical issues that we are unable to figure out somehow but this problem can be readily solved with the help of technical staff who are rendering their services exclusively in this regard. One of the most favorite and essential among all appliances is your fridge that you cannot afford to go down at any cost. Many other appliances are on the panelist of these service companies such as washing machines, dishwashers, ovens, stoves, dryers, and cooktops. People are using it to store their food items particularly meat, milk, butter, vegetables, and fruits which are stored for many days due to its cooling system. We have many companies whose services may be rendered 24/7 in this regard because electrical appliances are an integral part of everyday life and their maintenance cannot be compromised at any cost. The delay in hiring services could result in damage that is curable. For instance, Fridge repairs Sutherland shire and its suburbs is not a big deal because lots of companies are giving technical services at your doorstep to resolve the matter on the spot. Whether there is a leakage or any strange sounds coming out of your appliances, you need not worry about that anymore. You do not need to worry about one less thing because the team of professionals is always ready to do the job required for this purpose. They have got all the things including the latest equipment, spare parts of all kinds of appliances handy to get the job done with 100% guarantee. At times we have seen that people get worried and create a panic situation if anything is not working all of a sudden. Few easy checks are recommended before calling any services staff that will help you save your cost. There might be minor issues involved in this scenario like you have not turned on the switch somehow and you can easily find out if you do not get panicky in this situation. You need to see the taps are properly opened for the washing machine before calling for any kind of assistance. You need to check the filter of the front appliances and sometimes your front door isn’t closed properly which is the cause of the dysfunction of the appliances. Besides that, here are a handful of tips that will surely help you prevent any kind of breakdown of fridge especially: By doing proper cleaning of door seals of the fridge will help in extending their lifetime 10 times. If you wipe them down on daily basis with the help of warm water mixed with soap to eradicate the food remainder to avoid any kind of dryness and cracks in the fridge. These cracks can be a reason for cold air to escape out from the fridge which will affect the performance of the fridge. By cleaning the back tray and coils twice a year can be a source of space to fill the gap of air in between the coils and to increase its performance. You should let the fridge be filled up with few things like a jug of water and bottles which will absorb its warm air and leave the fridge temperature cold. The main mechanism adopted by these service companies is more or less the same as all you need to do is to pick up the phone and call the company helpline to acquire services. It is so quick method that is very much easy and reachable in terms of ease of doing business. The companies have their websites where all necessary and important relevant information is readily available including service details, service areas, locations. You need to provide them with the model and serial number for ordering any kind of spare part for your appliances. Even if they do not have the requested spare part available with them, they are willing to order it for you on your behalf to avoid the burden on your part. All big companies’ spare parts are available with them including LG, Simpson, Bosch, Ariston, Omega, Samsung, Whirlpool, Haier, Hoover, and Panasonic.
Sorting waste remains one of the most effective ways to become more eco-friendly and decrease pollution in your local area. If you would like to take part in this initiative and encourage your family members to start sorting waste, this article might be right for you. Discover some tips on how to train yourself and your family to sort trash. Before You Start Many students get academic assignments related to sorting waste and other eco programs at schools and universities. If you are one of them, you might need more advanced information about recycling activities. Moreover, you can get your essays done even easier if you use an online academic writing solution. Don’t forget to read the reviews of other students when choosing the best site for your needs. For example, there are many essay one day reviews available online. You can also explore a fresh domyessay review or look for more facts about justdomyessay. This way, your learning process will be much easier. If you still would like to write your paper by yourself or just want to know more about sorting trash, continue reading this article to get the freshest facts. Top Tips to Reduce Amount of Trash and Start Sorting It Sorting trash might seem difficult at first glance. However, it is much easier than you might think. If you follow the simple prompts below, you will have an opportunity to become more eco-friendly much easier. Avoid Using Material You Don’t Need The first step to reducing your amount of trash is to avoid using material and packaging you don’t really need. This rule is especially important during shopping. There is nothing new that most shops and retail points offer advanced packaging options to all their customers. However, if you refuse to get an extra bag for carrying your purchases, you will decrease the overall amount of waste you produce. In other words, to have less trash at home, don’t take it to your dwelling. Get Rid Of Things You Don’t Use To reduce the amount of trash, it might be a great idea to arrange a garage sale. For example, you can easily sell or give old chairs, equipment, clothes, and gadgets for free to those who really need them. First, you will become more environmentally friendly. Second, you will help people in need. Third, you can get more free space in your house. For example, before throwing your outdated tablet with a broken screen into the trash bin, think about whether someone might need it. Avoid Plastic There is nothing new that plastic is one of the main sources of pollution. Fortunately, you can decrease its amount. Avoid buying plastic toys and other products that you are likely to throw away soon. If you still need to buy something made from this material, consider choosing recyclable alternatives. For example, there are some recyclable plant pots you can buy for your garden. Buy In A Bulk Reducing packaging waste is also an excellent idea for families who take care of a healthy environment. But how to limit it? You can purchase pasta, cereal, and other products in bulk! This way, you will get the same amount of product but significantly decrease the packaging waste. Moreover, this simple trick might help you save money for something more important. Ban The Bottles How many times do you buy a bottle of water? Just imagine how many plastic bottles you use per year! Therefore, it is better to purchase a reusable water bottle you will take every time you leave home. This easy solution will allow you not to purchase plastic bottles with water and other drinks. Stop Using Straws You will be amazed to discover that Americans throw away about 550 million plastic straws each day. What about using disposable straws? They are the same convenient and easy to use as traditional ones. However, you get a chance to become more environmentally friendly using disposable straws. Use Separate Trash Containers The most effective solution to sort trash is to use several separate containers for different types of waste. You can also use containers of different colors for your convenience. For example, it might be very handy to have separate bins for plastic, glass, and organic waste. You can take out the trash bins when they become full to the local containers for further recycling. All in all, sorting trash initiatives might take your time. If you are not ready to follow all the tips above, it is still good to start small. For example, you can stop using straws and plastic bottles and then move to more advanced initiatives for sorting trash. Even the smallest measures done by each family could help us save our planet from drowning in tons of trash. Just try to be more eco-oriented and see how the environment around you will start changing!
Two engineering services bodies have stepped up their health & safety advice in time for a return to more regular working conditions after ‘Freedom Day’ on July 19. The Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) and ECA, the engineering and electrotechnical services body, have joined forces to produce free guidance notes for members and the wider industry alongside a warning that the pandemic has still not relaxed its grip on the industry. This updated advice draws on the expertise of more than 30 health and safety practitioners from the construction and related sectors combined with the latest government guidelines to help employers keep their operatives and members of the public safe. Although the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) has announced that its Site Operating Procedures (SOPs) will no longer be mandatory from July 19, BESA and the ECA are still urging caution. “Removing legal requirements does not mean it makes sense to immediately drop all the measures that have kept people safe over the past year,” said BESA’s head of health and safety Becky Crosland. “Common sense should prevail, and we expect most sites will choose to retain a number of voluntary measures including risk assessment, the wearing of face coverings and social distancing wherever possible.” Paul Reeve, ECA’s Director or CSR and Public Affairs added: “Many in construction and wider services sectors are increasingly looking beyond 19 July to 16 August. The government announced that, from that date, double vaccination will begin to provide exemption from having to self-isolate. Implications “Many in the industry would like the 16 August date brought forward, even in the face of the practical difficulties. These range from how to encourage workers to achieve double vaccination, to the implications of government advice that workers should take a PCR test following a ‘COVID positive ping,” he added. The new publication ‘BESA/ECA Health and Safety Guidance Notes and Support for COVID 19’ will help employers navigate the next few months, according to the two bodies. It contains nine separate pieces of guidance designed to reduce the spread of the coronavirus in workplaces. It covers travel arrangements, working on-site and continues to reflect the latest version of the SOPs. “Although we are seeing a gradual return to something like normal life, this actually increases the risk of another surge in infections in many workplaces,” said Crosland. “That is why it is more important than ever to have robust safety regimes in place and to be aware of the latest guidance on reducing exposure and the possibility of transmission. “The industry has done an amazing job over the past 16 months to keep operating under the most difficult of conditions and still managing health and safety, but we absolutely must not relax now, or we risk another lockdown,” she added. “That is why we are urging everyone across the sector to take advantage of this free guidance and of the expertise both associations can provide on a daily basis.” The notes, which are downloadable for free from the BESA and ECA websites, provide advice on social distancing, hand washing/ sanitising, cleaning of all contactable surfaces and equipment etc. There is also guidance on how employers should plan activities to avoid unnecessary proximity (less than 2m) and carry out risk assessments. Communication is a key part of this planning with employers urged to consult their workforces and remind them of their responsibilities to themselves, colleagues, and the public. BESA was also the first training provider to fully integrate Site Operating Procedures (SOPs) into its health and safety courses. The online BESA Academy embedded a series of mandatory SOP questions into the SKILLcard application process making it a requirement for anyone wanting to work on site. The Academy also developed an online SOP training module which leads to a certificate proving the individual worker understands the requirements and has been trained to work safely on site. This standalone module is freely available to all and can be completed online in 15 minutes. “There has been and continues to be a fantastic collaborative effort to ensure members of both associations and the wider industry are kept updated on the latest safe operating procedures,” said Reeve. “We are extremely grateful to everyone who has given up their time to help with this effort, in particular, members of the BESA Covid-19 Panel, ECA’s Covid Business Recovery team, and the sector’s Construction Industry Coronavirus (CICV) Forum, which has done a fantastic job of co-ordinating all of our effort,” added Crosland. To access the new free guidance visit here and for a wide range of other Covid-19 resources go to: www.theBESA.com/covid19 and www.eca.co.uk/business-industry-support/coronavirus-back-to-work
Allscott Meads developer, SJ Roberts Homes, releases more family homes due to huge demand. After the success of the first two phases, Shropshire developer, SJ Roberts Homes Ltd, will be offering new houses to families at, Allscott Meads, Allscott, Shropshire. As part of Phase Three, more spacious family homes are available to reserve. These homes are part of an ongoing project through which Allscott’s old sugar beet factory is being transformed into a thriving community space giving the 64-acre site a renewed purpose. The team at SJ Roberts Homes, have built up extensive knowledge on how to maximise energy efficiency using cutting edge technology whilst ensuring green credentials are maintained. Their designs promote functional family living, which can be seen in their use of power sockets integrated with USB and C-type charging points and dataplates provided in fourth and fifth bedrooms to accommodate modern families working from home! Phase Three of Allscott Meads is an example of beautifully designed homes across Shropshire catering for all demographics. SJ Roberts Homes’ vision continues to be creating a community that offers people everything they need for their daily life, with the added benefit of a close connection to nature. With 470 new homes, Phase Three includes an array of new house types, including, two, three, four and five-bed, terraced, semi and detached homes – there really is something for every new home buyer. Phase Three showcases a new way of living, ecological benefits, schooling, parks and more! Despite the pandemic, Allscott Meads has seen a huge demand. The team reacted quickly to increased interest in Shropshire’s housing market by ensuring potential buyers can view homes safely and are supported along every step of the buying process. SJ Roberts Homes has built their reputation upon solid foundations – providing quality homes with a quality service to match, at affordable prices. With more than 30 years’ experience and expertise in new home construction, SJ Roberts Homes sees it as their highest priority to ensure customers‘ long-term happiness with their new home. The team behind the business consists of a group of passionate professionals working in construction, interior design, quality control and sales. When it comes to creating modern communities, environmental protection forms a strong part of SJ Roberts Homes’ values. By liaising with renowned landscape architects and understanding the immediate needs of the community, they are able to ensure Allscott Meads offers the perfect backdrop for the local flora and fauna to coexist with its residents. SJ Roberts Homes has spent years partnering with local, independent suppliers to beautifully – and where possible, sustainably – furnish their show homes. Prospective and future residents appreciate the attention to detail and cost-effectiveness of the decor on offer. SJ Roberts Homes continue to encourage the community to live a modern and responsible lifestyle where residents look after each other and create a family-friendly space for everyone. It’s more than just a house. It’s a thriving community everyone is eager to call home. Mr Mike Sambrook, Managing Director of SJ Roberts Homes, said: “The satisfaction of a job well done is best exemplified by our customers’ happiness when they first see their new home. The pride we feel knowing that these homes surpass their expectations motivates the whole team to work even harder so that everyone has the opportunity for beautiful living spaces tailored specifically to them.” To be the first to know more and take a leap with purchasing a new home, with a name you can trust, people can register their interest at: www.sjrobertshomes.com/development/allscott-meads SJ Roberts Homes is currently taking viewings by appointment only to ensure guidelines are adhered to and everyone remains safe.
The latest research from Warwick Estates has revealed that just one of Britain’s biggest housebuilders has seen an increase in both revenue and homes delivered to the market during a tough year overshadowed by COVID-19. Warwick Estates analysed eight of Britain’s biggest housebuilders based on the latest data available on revenues and how they performed in 2020 when compared to 2019. Homes built Where the number of homes delivered is concerned, just one managed to go above and beyond their pre-Covid performance in 2020. Vistry Group built 6,131 homes in 2020, 59% more than the previous year. However, it was Persimmon that delivered the most homes in total at 13,575 although this was 14% less than the previous year. Barrat also delivered 12,604 homes to the market despite seeing a 29% drop compared to 2019, with Bellway seeing a 9% year on year decline despite building 11,921 homes. Taylor Wimpey endured the biggest decline in the number of homes built during the pandemic. The 9,799 built in 2020 resulted in a 39% year on year drop when compared to their pre-pandemic performance. Revenues Vistry Group’s positive pandemic performance means the housebuilder enjoyed a 79% uplift in revenues in 2020 – the only housebuilder to see positive movement. Unfortunately for Redrow, the housebuilder saw a 37% drop in revenues, the biggest drop of the lot as a result of the pandemic. COO of Warwick Estates, Bethan Griffiths, commented: “Despite the residential property market rebounding at an alarming rate since the launch of the stamp duty holiday, the pandemic has been problematic for the nation’s housebuilders, to say the least. As a result of ongoing and ever-changing restrictions, the vast majority have seen a decline in the number of homes built and the knock-on effect this has had on revenues. However, now that we are working our way back to some form of total normality, we expect these vital cogs of the property market to dust themselves down, roll up their sleeves and bounce back.” Developer Total homes built (2019) Total homes built (2020) Annual change (%) Annual revenue £m (2019) Annual revenue £m (2020) Annual change (%) Sources Vistry Group 3,867 6,131 59% £1,137 £2,040 79% Link Persimmon 15,855 13,575 -14% £3,650 £3,330 -9% Link Barratt 17,856 12,604 -29% £4,763 £3,419 -28% Link Countryside 5,733 4,053 -29% £1,423 £989 -31% Link Bellway 13,113 11,921 -9% £3,213 £2,225 -31% Link Berkeley 3,698 2,723 -26% £2,957 £1,920 -35% Link Taylor Wimpey 16,042 9,799 -39% £4,341 £2,790 -36% Link Redrow 6,443 4,032 -37% £2,112 £1,339 -37% Link
Designer Contracts, the UK’s largest flooring contractor, has developed a digital solution to speedier customer service. The company has designed its own app, named Athena, to enable faster response times to customers and to help deliver key performance indicators. For use by staff internally, Athena was trialled at one of the company’s regional offices and has now been rolled out across Designer Contract’s remaining 14 regions. Said md, Peter Kelsey: “As we move further into a digital age, we felt the Athena app would be an easy and instant solution for our team to provide an enhanced customer experience. “It was designed in-house so that we could build it to our exact specification and requirements and we’re looking forward to offering our clients quicker query response times.” Designer Contracts, which was recently named as a finalist in the 2020 Lloyds Bank Business Awards, operates across 15 UK regional facilities. As well as flooring, the company provides curtains and blinds, furniture and lighting, and operates a showhome interior design services division.
National contractor Wates Construction has reached its latest significant milestone in the construction of the £73m Sandwell Aquatics Centre, in Smethwick, procured through SCAPE, one of the UK’s leading procurement authorities, with the laying of the first of 190,000 pool tiles. The occasion was marked with a ceremony held at the site, attended by the Minister for Sport and Tourism, Nigel Huddleston and the leader of Sandwell Council, Councillor Rajbir Singh and other partners. The first tile was laid by Nigel Huddleston, MP and Councillor Rajbir Singh, leader of Sandwell Council, along with other dignitaries and two work experience students Howard Dunn and Kye Roseblade. With less than a year till handover, Wates is now focused on completing the interior of the state-of-the-art facility and finishing its three pools. This will see up to 190,000 tiles laid carefully to waterproof the 50m Olympic-sized pool, 25m diving pool and community swimming pool ready for use. Some 3,000m3 of concrete were used in the pools’ creation, which had to be carefully poured to an accuracy of mere millimetres to comply with Olympic standards. Initially starting on site in September 2019, the project is being accelerated through SCAPE Construction, a direct award framework designed to drive collaboration, efficiency, time and cost savings. So far Wates has fully completed the external structure and roof of the site, which included installing 14 steel trusses, each spanning 75m and weighing around 30 tonnes. The team has also installed the 10m dive tower earlier in the year and recent work has included the completion of the building facades. Internally, high-level works within the pool hall have been ongoing, including lighting, fire alarm cabling and ventilation and heating duct work. Sandwell Aquatics Centre is a landmark development for the Midlands, featuring the only Olympic-sized pool in the region and has been designed to create a lasting legacy for community health and wellbeing, with its three pools and seats for up to 1,000 spectators. Other facilities at the aquatics centre will include three activity studios, two 4-court sports halls, a 108-station fitness suite with a 25-station ladies-only gym, dry diving facilities, an indoor cycling studio, a new football pitch, a café, and changing facilities including a sauna and steam room. Externally, a new urban park will feature a children’s play area. Throughout construction, Wates has worked closely with Sandwell Council, its supply chain and SCAPE to ensure the project is delivered safely and provides maximum benefit to the community. This includes supporting 34 local students with work experience across the construction of the site to support NVQs, creating 12 new apprenticeships, along with investing nearly £190,000 so far into Social Enterprise initiatives close to the region. The project is on schedule and set to complete in spring 2022, before opening to the public in the spring of 2023. Nigel Huddleston, Minister for Sport and Tourism said: “Fantastic progress has been made on the Sandwell Aquatics Centre since I was last here in February 2020. It will be an outstanding new leisure centre for the community. It is a great example of how we are levelling up across the country, by investing money in new world-class facilities that leave a lasting legacy for local people.” Councillor Rajbir Singh, Leader of Sandwell Council said: “It was amazing seeing the new Sandwell Aquatics Centre and looking at the scale of the work being undertaken. The venue, which is located in Smethwick, is impressive and will be well used by local residents and the wider region for generations to come.” John Carlin, regional managing director for the Midlands at Wates Construction, said: “Now tiles are going in, you can start to see properly how the facility will look once it’s completed, and ensuring all 190,000 are laid perfectly is the latest in a long line of technically complex features which we’ve delivered as part of this ambitious build. “As we get closer to our handover date, we’re focused on not only finalising this landmark site, but ensuring as many local people play a part in its completion as possible. I’d like to sincerely thank all our local apprentices and supply chain partners for contributing to the success of the build so far, and look forward to its next milestone.” Mark Robinson, group chief executive of SCAPE and who recently visited the site, said: “Our world class athletes deserve world class facilities and this is what I saw when I visited Sandwell Aquatic Centre. The collaboration between Wates Group and Sandwell Council was clear to see, and the facility will be a true jewel in our nations crown. The progress made is fantastic and I very much look forward to my next visit. “At SCAPE we are proud to be a part of this landmark project that will not only bring investment and a lasting legacy to the local area but help to train our next generation of sporting heroes.”
Building firms are being urged to carry on asking their workforce to wear masks while working in enclosed spaces or on busy sites by the Construction Leadership Council, CLC. The CLC is calling for a consistent approach in line with government guidance as rules on social distancing and face masks relax from the 19th of July. “It is recommended the good practices the industry had adopted over the last 18 months are retained,” said the CLC in their public statement released today. It advises employers to make face coverings available for staff when they are working in crowded or enclosed spaces but are no longer wearing respiratory protective equipment. The CLC said its site operating procedures were still available as a reference to offer businesses across the supply chain consistency. Brokers Hank Zarihs Associates said SME builders were likely to support mask-wearing to protect staff and keep sick leave levels low – something property development finance lenders would also support. Government toughens face mask guidance The government appears to have backtracked on earlier announcements when it said face masks would no longer be necessary post the 19th of July. Yesterday it advised people to wear masks in shops and at work and that table service would remain at bars. London’s mayor Sadiq Khan has announced that mask-wearing would continue to be mandatory for tube and bus travellers. Greater Manchester’s mayor Andy Burnham has said that passengers using the city’s tram service would have to wear masks. Major retailers such as Sainsbury’s and Waterstones have asked customers visiting their outlets to wear masks. Mask-wearing in enclosed spaces and on public transport will continue to be mandatory in Wales and Scotland.