AN ESTABLISHED eight-acre city-centre industrial park has been snapped up following a multi-million-pound deal completed by commercial property agent Innes England. Bar Lane Industrial Park, located in Basford, Nottingham, features 10,497 sq. metres of industrial accommodation with over 20 tenants in situ. Due to its popularity, the unique freehold
The UK suspended ceilings and partitioning systems market was worth an estimated £283m in 2020, having declined by an estimated 16% due to the impact of the pandemic. The overall market for suspended ceiling and partitioning products is relatively mature and primarily dependent on construction and refurbishment activity in the
Construction software platform, Zutec, has been tasked with helping global commercial real estate company, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, to build the largest shopping mall in Europe In 2008, the world faced one of the greatest economic crises in modern history. Many businesses suffered, and the high street appeared to become a thing of
A social landlord has created its first ever safe house in the Midlands. Platform Property Care – a subsidiary of Platform Housing Group, one of the UK’s largest social landlords – has reinforced a customer’s home after she ended an abusive relationship. The decision was taken to undertake the work so that the customer could remain in her home with her children, allowing
Insulated panels are high-quality building systems for commercial and residential construction. They’re sometimes referred to as structural insulated panels and they have an insulating structure that’s located beneath two structured facings. Insulated panels are made from durable materials, and an excellent feature of these panels is one can fabricate them
Sadly, summer days are not always sunny and bright. As with any season, rain can come and go at the worst times and in the summer especially this can scupper your plans for the day. But when the rain does fall at home, why not consider making the most of
The construction industry is one of the prominent commerce that needs a lot of work. The quality of the materials utilized, particularly in this kind of business, may often make the best of a bad situation. The statement is especially true in the construction industry, where failure may have severe
Good asphalt driveways do not come cheap, so looking after yours is a must. With a well-maintained driveway, you can keep up your curb appeal, maximize functionality, and stave off the need for in-depth repairs within 10 years or less of installation. You see, it’s all too easy for driveways
News reached us at the weekend that British retail institution John Lewis is expanding its range of wares from haberdashery, electrical goods and Waitrose goodies to houses. Yes, you will soon be able to pick out a place to live from their stores and not just with regard to the
Victoria Square Woking Limited, a joint venture between Moyallen Group and Woking Borough Council, has announced the significant advancement of Victoria Place, the £700m regeneration scheme in Woking town centre, with a range of new milestones reached across the development. Marks and Spencer has taken access of its 50,000 sq ft
AN ESTABLISHED eight-acre city-centre industrial park has been snapped up following a multi-million-pound deal completed by commercial property agent Innes England. Bar Lane Industrial Park, located in Basford, Nottingham, features 10,497 sq. metres of industrial accommodation with over 20 tenants in situ. Due to its popularity, the unique freehold opportunity eventually went to best bids and was secured by Meadow Lane Services Ltd, a well-established investor in the region. The industrial park, which will continue to be run as an industrial estate, proved to be highly attractive due to its underlying development potential for a mixed-use scheme. It is in a prime location within a 15-minute drive to the centre of Nottingham and is home to a number of existing local businesses, including shed, metal, fencing and insulation providers as well as other industrial suppliers. Scott Osborne, director at Innes England who secured the sale said: “We are really pleased to have got this substantial deal over the line. It is a sizeable deal with well-established industrial accommodation and is in the perfect location close to the city centre. We received a lot of interest early on, due to the size and scale of the estate but I am now pleased it has been secured for a large amount and we wish Meadow Lane Services the best with the site moving forwards.” Dritan Skenderaj, director at Meadow Lane Services, said: “We are really pleased to have secured the site at Bar Lane Industrial Park. As well offering large industrial space, it is in close proximity to the city centre, and will certainly appeal to a number of businesses looking for somewhere new or to expand. We are excited to provide local businesses with an excellent central hub to grow from and offer the space they need to help their business be a success.” Matt Hannah, managing director at Innes England, said: “We have been advising on the site for some time with our development services reviewing the opportunity, the management team taking over the day-to-day operations and our agency team selecting active buyers with direct approaches leading to a successful sale.” Brett Artus, asset manager for the private vendor, said, “We are delighted with this result. With our professional team at Innes England and Waymark we have worked hard to try and maximise the potential of this site and we are confident that Meadow Lane Services will make the most of that potential. “Innes England and Waymark have provided considerable expertise in preparing the site for sale and managing a very well targeted marketing campaign. Their unrivalled local knowledge generated considerable interest and ultimately secured the sale. My client is very pleased and I would like to thank all involved at Innes England and Waymark for their professionalism and commitment throughout.” Innes England and Heb Surveyors have now been retained by the purchaser to act as agents on the site and continue to let vacant units. Find out more at http://www.innes-england.com or join the conversation at @InnesEngland.
The UK suspended ceilings and partitioning systems market was worth an estimated £283m in 2020, having declined by an estimated 16% due to the impact of the pandemic. The overall market for suspended ceiling and partitioning products is relatively mature and primarily dependent on construction and refurbishment activity in the non-domestic sector, particularly offices, education, retail, entertainment & leisure, and health. Suspended ceilings are typically installed towards the end of a construction project and partitions are generally fitted upon tenant occupation, so there is a delayed impact compared to changes in construction levels. The market experienced growth to 2018 and was relatively static in 2019, before declining significantly in 2020, primarily due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. Following the initial lockdown, construction levels recovered throughout 2020 and have continued into 2021 as government guidance indicated that the manufacturing and construction sectors could continue to work. This led to an improvement in market performance improve with growth forecast for the year to 31 December 2021. During 2020, the pandemic significantly impacted market growth levels, particularly during the first national lockdown from mid-March. At the peak impact of the Covid-19 lockdown measures in the Q2 2020 many working sites were closed although some activity resumed relatively with the easing of lockdown. Despite the implementation of social distancing measures, overall construction and RMI output grew during H2 2020. For the year, however, it is estimated that the suspended ceilings and partitions market fell by around 16% in 2020. Perhaps one of the most significant developments due to the 2020 lockdowns was the change in working patterns, with people working from home where possible. Any permanent shift in where and how people work is likely to have a lasting impact on the market. The office sector was changing prior to the pandemic but faster adoption of more flexible patterns may accelerate this movement further. Construction in the office sector has fluctuated since 2016, being on a downward trajectory overall. Many companies are reviewing their need and use for office space. Recently ministers have said they want to consider proposals for giving office staff a ‘default’ right to work from home. However, there are concerns by some that this would allow companies to employ workers from abroad, which may impact employment levels in the UK. Alex Blagden, Senior Research Analyst at AMA Research, comments “One of the key factors expected to impact on future demand for suspended ceilings and partitioning is the current change in working practices in offices, largely brought about by the pandemic. While some employers have been encouraging staff to return to the office in 2021, others have – including some major employers – have permanently closed many of their offices and/or changed working practices to full-time or part-time remote working.” Due to the current high number of offices that are vacant or with lower density occupation office blocks, combined with uncertainty among investors, speculative office construction activity has fallen. However, Since Q3 2020 in London there has been a marked increase in starts, with more than half being major refurbishments and the remainder mostly pre-let newbuilds. Refurbishment has centred on reformatting offices to make them both more ’eco friendly’ and more Covid-19 secure. Across the UK, it is likely this is being replicated, so generating requirements for partitioning in open plan spaces and hygienic suspended ceiling tiles. Prospects for the suspended ceilings and partitions market into the medium-term are relatively optimistic with forecast growth to around £335m by 2025. Prospects for the short term remain challenging as construction output growth rates fell in 2020, feeding through to reduced demand for suspended ceilings and partitions.
Construction software platform, Zutec, has been tasked with helping global commercial real estate company, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, to build the largest shopping mall in Europe In 2008, the world faced one of the greatest economic crises in modern history. Many businesses suffered, and the high street appeared to become a thing of the past. However, against all odds, amidst a fast-deteriorating retail landscape, one company was able to complete the construction of a mall visited by over two million shoppers in its first three weeks of opening. Westfield Group’s Westfield Shopping Mall, in White City, West London, became the largest covered shopping development in London in October of that year. It began with a retail floor area of 1,600,000 sq. ft., and with additional investment and expansion, by 2018 it became the largest shopping centre in Europe, with an area of 2,600,000 sq. ft. To ensure the mall was completed on time despite the poor economic climate, commercial real estate company, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, sought the aid of cloud-based software platform, Zutec, for Phases 1 and 2 of the project from 2007 until present. Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield was formed in 2018 when Unibail-Rodamco SE, a European company, acquired Australian shopping centre operator Westfield Corporation, and has the largest development pipeline in the industry. Phase 1 In 2007, Westfield Design & Construction (now part of Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield) procured Zutec to manage the handover and completion process for the first phase of the shopping centre. When the mall opened the following year, the platform became a powerful tool for the management team, who used it to access interactive and digital operations and maintenance manuals, continuously upload retail fit-out information onto the platform, and update both capital and minor works to maintain a Source of Truth for the entire facility. Phase 2 From 2017 onwards, Westfield D&C once again procured Zutec for the handover and BIM data management and integration of Westfield London’s £600 million Phase 2 retail extension, as well as the URW UK Head Office Building and Newall Court. Early engagement with Westfield’s management team, via workshop sessions held with key management personnel, was crucial to success during the implementation of the software for this phase of the project, which included adding 740,000 sq. ft. of retail space. During this time, Zutec evolved from an interactive folder structure for the capturing of handover information, to a 3D Model Management and Visualisation Solution, and repository for all BIM attributes linked to Asset Registers and Manuals/Documents. Benefits The project was a success due to the multitude of benefits Zutec provides its customers. The platform, which is used for all project data to be defined, captured and managed throughout the entire lifecycle of a project, allowed Westfield quicker access to information, enhanced knowledge of built assets, a reduction in existing condition surveys and a faster reaction time in emergencies. Zutec continues to be utilised as a single Source of Truth, where the as-built records, changes and modifications which take place throughout the facility’s life cycle continue to be updated and maintained. Commenting on the partnership, Zutec’s Global Head of Digitalisation, Tom Boland, said: “This project has been one of our greatest achievements, and we are proud to have been involved from the very beginning. It’s thanks to the hard work and dedication on both sides that Westfield was able to open its doors on time and achieve the level of success that it has experienced to this day. We hope to continue this more than 10-year-long partnership with Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield and collaborate on equally groundbreaking projects in the coming years.”
A social landlord has created its first ever safe house in the Midlands. Platform Property Care – a subsidiary of Platform Housing Group, one of the UK’s largest social landlords – has reinforced a customer’s home after she ended an abusive relationship. The decision was taken to undertake the work so that the customer could remain in her home with her children, allowing her to keep living in the local area where her support network is, and, crucially, to feel safe and secure. Glyn Howard, Lead Engineer at Platform Property Care and the initiative’s designer and project manager said : “Keeping our customers safe and ensuring they have the right level of home security to suit their circumstances is a vital part of the service we provide. We are absolutely delighted with the finished product and wish our customer and her family many safe and happy years in their home.” The work included : Iron gates and slatted wooden gates to the side of the property with secure latches; A dusk to dawn light above the front door; An outward opening 44mm solid core fire rated door on the main bedroom. The organisation currently supports customers who are victims of domestic abuse by listening, providing advice, signposting to other specialist agencies, operating safety checks in homes to ensure survivors feel safe as well as dealing directly with perpetrators. This latest project will be included in the company’s application to DAHA – or the Domestic Abuse Housing Alliance; this year, will see the social landlord become accredited within best practice guidelines as set out by the government backed DAHA initiative. Having established the first accreditation for housing providers, as a member of DAHA, Platform Housing Group will aim to always deal with victims of domestic abuse in a fair, patient and consistent manner. It will also show its commitment to the issue as well as providing ongoing employee training. The housing association is part of The Drive Partnership which is made up of Respect, SafeLives and Social Finance. It challenges perpetrators of domestic abuse aiming to fundamentally change perpetrator behaviour to make victims and families safe. Duncan Palmer, Head of Responsive Repairs at Platform Property Care concluded : “We firmly believe that all of our customers and employees should not live in fear of violence or abuse from a partner, former partner or any other member of their household. As a large provider of affordable housing we have a significant role to play in tackling and preventing domestic abuse. “Domestic abuse impacts upon all communities, creating a sense of fear and the potential for reprisals and criminal activity. It is a serious and widespread crime affecting all members of our society, including children.” Statistics surrounding domestic abuse in the UK make for sobering reading : 1 in 4 women will experience some form of domestic abuse within their lives; A staggering 2 women a week are killed by their partner or former partner; 1in 4 LGBT relationships is abusive; The average victim will suffer more than 50 incidents before reporting; Worryingly, the number one barrier preventing women from leaving abusive situations is housing. Platform Housing Group – which owns 46,000 homes in total – completed 1448 homes in 2019/20 (1,598 in 2018/19) at an investment of £258m (£228m in 2018/19). The Group also built more social rented homes – at a figure of 981 – during the past 2 years in England than any other provider, 523 in 2019/20, almost 33% of the total homes built. Platform Housing Group’s operating area is from Herefordshire in the West to the Lincolnshire coast in the East, and from the Derbyshire Dales in the North to the Cotswolds in the South. If you are a Platform Housing Group customer and is experiencing domestic abuse, please call 0333 200 7304. For further information please contact Duncan Palmer, Head of Responsive Repairs at Platform Property Care on Duncan.Palmer@Platformhg.com.
Insulated panels are high-quality building systems for commercial and residential construction. They’re sometimes referred to as structural insulated panels and they have an insulating structure that’s located beneath two structured facings. Insulated panels are made from durable materials, and an excellent feature of these panels is one can fabricate them to suit almost all building designs. The panels aren’t only affordable but they’re also energy-friendly and they usually yield a very strong building. Precisely, building your structures using insulated panels saves you labor, money, and time. Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) are employed in several businesses such as construction, aerospace, and automotive. When the panels are brought to you right from the factory, they’re ready for use instantly. The good news is one can use them for roof, ceiling, or wall. One can fit them as a supportive structure and use them as a covering at the same time. When this is done, be sure that the insulation properties are being maximized. Due to the aforementioned properties, insulated panels are popular today for their use as roofs in residential houses, construction of lightweight halls, and soundproof materials in drywall buildings. Read on to know more about choosing and installing insulated panels. Factors To Consider When Choosing Insulated Panels Insulated panels aren’t hard to be found. Initially, these panels were limited to be used in the industrial sector. However, their use today is diverse as they’re now employed in gyms, schools, churches, homes, transport terminals, and sports centers. Still, deciding which insulated panel to use can be a technical task. The most affordable panel like polystyrene may not be your best choice at times. Worse, it can compromise productivity, interfering with the efficiency of the building or even risking the life of the users. With this, several factors should be considered before choosing an insulating panel. Here are the following: 1. Purpose Of The Building Considering the use of the structure, a panel for both wall and ceiling will differ. For instance, office buildings require smoother panels in comparison to product warehouses. Thus, it’s important to identify the purpose of the building before choosing an insulated panel as this will help determine the best material to choose. No one wants to risk their lives or have a structure that won’t last because of using poor materials. 2. Technical Considerations This refers to the factors affecting the safety of the construction. One of these is the features of the panel regarding load resistance on the roof. This is a crucial parameter for those living in areas with harsh winters. Another factor is wind resistance. For all buildings with a huge height or those on the coast, this too should be considered. For locations with hurricanes or other related phenomena, the panel to be used should be wind-resistant as well. Again, water tightness and major and secondary structures of the construction should be taken into account too. 3. Climate The climate is a key determinant in choosing the panel to install in your building. For example, the coast has considerably salty air, so this aspect is vital to determine the type of paint to be used. If your residence is in a hot area, an insulating panel that’s reflective is the best option. In addition, rain, snow, humidity, and wind need to be assessed to choose the best panel. 4. Insulation Features The thermal feature is important and determined by the form core used, the material, and the thickness. For example, one can’t use a similar panel for a cold warehouse and a furniture store. With this said, before picking a panel for one’s building, it’s crucial to consider the R-value. R-value refers to a rating that’s used in defining the thermal resistance of a material per square inch. There are usually minimum fixed R-values for all new residences, and they vary among different jurisdictions. To lower energy bills, one is advised to set the R-value above the lowest specified value. To determine one’s R-value, get a professional to provide it, which is usually after considering one’s specification in mind. 5. Aesthetics Aesthetics is a principal factor in architecture. The appealing effect of a building covers the combined aspects of a building’s size, texture, shape, unity, color, balance, contrast, emphasis, space, symmetry, proportion, decoration, pattern, alignment, context, and culture. A building shouldn’t only satisfy durability, safety, serviceability, but also aesthetics. Though peoples’ needs vary, it’s important to pick insulated panels that’ll give your building a stylish and modern appearance. 6. Ecological Aspects The insulating panel to be used should have recycling properties, reduced energy use, and a low effect on the environment. Consumers and businesses are opting for green choices. Thus, pick a panel with reduced carbon footprints. Rest assured that this doesn’t mean the panel will be low in efficiency and productivity. 7. Materials Used To Build Your Home The materials used in constructing your residence pose a big impact on the thermal mass you’ll be tackling. Materials like concrete and brick have the potential to store heat and release it slowly. Thus, the building material is a key factor to consider before picking an insulated panel. Again, one should also examine windows and doors. This is because double-glazed windows will result in saving huge amounts of heat in one’s home. Insulating panels aren’t similar. They come in different materials, among other differences. The most expensive panel may not always be the best one for your building, so it’s advisable to go through the characteristics of the insulated panels to choose one that fully fits your project. The above-discussed factors will greatly help one in picking ideal panels. Installing Insulated Panels A crew of 3-4 people is needed in the installation process of these panels. A few types of equipment are required other than construction tools, including sealant guns, circular saws, band saws, and other materials. One can install the panels from a lift or the ground. Materials may be staged on the ground level or interior floors. Typically, panel installation results
Sadly, summer days are not always sunny and bright. As with any season, rain can come and go at the worst times and in the summer especially this can scupper your plans for the day. But when the rain does fall at home, why not consider making the most of a rainy day by doing a few DIYs? Whether before or during a rainy day, these DIYs will help you spruce up the home and bring it back to life. Repaint the house Repainting your house now and again is an important piece of maintenance to make your house shine. You can take all of those random half paint tins you have around the house and use them to top up the paint colours in every room. Even if you think your walls are white, once you apply a fresh coat you’ll see how much it has faded! Clean your grout Grout between the tiles of your bathroom or kitchen can be a pain to keep clean, and over time the brig white grout will turn to a greyish colour that looks mucky and dull. To prevent this happening, why not consider cleaning your grout this week while it’s raining outside? A mixture of baking soda and water can be used as a thick paste and applied with a toothbrush to your grout. Scrub well and rinse off to reveal bright white colour once more. This will make a big difference to your tiles and it will make the whole room look cleaner. Fix the roof This is not a tip for the rainy day itself – but rather in preparation for it. Getting round to fixing a leaking roof can be an arduous task, but it is important to do this as soon as you spot an issue to keep the structural integrity of your property. The next time you see that rain is around the corner, make sure to fix the roof and ensure that it is sealed and dry ready for the downpour. Deep clean the carpets One great task for you to do now and again at home is deep cleaning the carpets. This is a job you can do once or twice a year – but a rainy day is the ideal time to do this. Use a vax machine to steam clean your carpets and get rid of any dirt that is deep within the fibres. Make sure to turn the heating on afterwards to help the house dry and keep you cosy. Rearrange the space On a rainy day you might want to play around with the arrangement of your home and consider different ways to place furniture in your rooms. This is a great idea now and again because it will instantly refresh the home and ensure that it looks clean, tidy, and spacious once more. Plus, it can be fun changing things up once in a while. Use some of these ideas to perform DIY on your home for a rainy day.
The construction industry is one of the prominent commerce that needs a lot of work. The quality of the materials utilized, particularly in this kind of business, may often make the best of a bad situation. The statement is especially true in the construction industry, where failure may have severe ramifications. Materials testing applications are usually included in the research and development process to verify that the final product satisfies quality and safety requirements. Balances and scales play a crucial function in the testing of building materials. What is the purpose of testing construction materials? There is a wide range of circumstances to evaluate the properties and behaviour of substances such as metals, masonry, concrete, and asphalt during a material testing procedure. The most apparent purpose of testing is to ensure that the finished product will perform as planned and will be able to withstand the pressures associated with that purpose. In addition to safety and economic considerations, professionals should perform material testing to verify that material is appropriate for the design and structure made on a particular place or site. How to Set Up a Field Laboratory for the Testing of Construction Materials Establishing a field laboratory to test building materials is often required in the contract agreements for large-scale construction projects. Launching a remote place may help to alleviate specific logistical difficulties. The Advantages of Using a Field Laboratory Transporting large quantities of samples or test elements to the main lab is quite expensive, time-consuming, and fraught with the possibility of materials lost or specimens bound to be damaged. Time restrictions may apply to the execution of specified tests and the reporting of findings. When the sheer number of tests needed on a single project needs to be a part of the everyday workload of a central lab, it may be difficult for them to handle. Planning the Place and Procedures Most central building materials labs begin with a few essential things and gradually add additional equipment as the demand for it arises over many years. When you have to set up a testing lab from the ground up in a short period, you must think differently. In some instances, reassigning existing equipment from the main facility may be possible if the needs are simple and will only be in place for a brief period. However, the little provision will go a long way toward securing the launch of a well-equipped remote lab and assurance of the safety of the people and the raw materials. What Methods Do We Use to Examine the Extent of Construction Materials? Materials examination and testing encompass a wide range of applications investigating the composition, biological properties, and chemical characteristics of several different materials. Even though the specific tests used vary from industry to industry, popular methods include specific gravity, unit mass tests, and density measurement. It also provides compression strength, flexural strength, permeability, tensile strength, and elasticity. Other tests might include heat capacity, thermal expansion, and drying shrinkage for some minimal materials. When determining the specific gravity of cured materials, such as concrete or asphalt, precision balances from Nimbus may be utilized. Specific gravity’s definition is a relationship between the density of a material and the density of a liquid, such as water for liquid or air, including gasses. When used with a weigh-below hook in the field, the CKT and Highland are equally effective. Still, the Highland has the additional advantage of having an internal rechargeable battery for mobility and usage on the job site. For specific gravity testing with the Nimbus precision balance, a sample needs to weigh the balance’s pan, and you need to record the resulting value. The model is then put in a basket connected to the balance’s weigh-below hook and dropped into a water container below, with Nimbus set on a tabletop with a cutout. After recording the weight of the submerged sample, comparing it to the first result, and calculating the specific gravity of the model, you need to turn off the equipment. In addition, the same procedure goes to estimate the density of a liquid. Material testing is critical in concrete production, a composite material that comes from many distinct components. Concrete is an excellent example of a product whose quality is highly reliant on materials testing results. Water, cement, and air are all used in concrete production, while good bits such as sand and coarse aggregates like gravel account for most of the total volume. To determine the hardness of the concrete, you need to consider the mix and kinds of aggregates used in its production. Examining the particular gravity of concrete is a reliable method to verify that it will withstand the weight of a structure without breaking or crumbling. What Is the Purpose of a Weighing Scale in Construction? When working on design and construction projects, it is beneficial to have an accurate weighing scale. When managing your supply of construction and design materials, keeping track of stock levels is critical. An insufficient supply of materials may prevent the project from moving further. Because of an overabundance of inventory, building goods may lie unused for extended periods, resulting in a waste of money and space. It is possible to plan and buy the appropriate supplies to accomplish your project if you weigh the items before using them. Establishing a Space for Research and Development Before purchasing equipment, consider the available space, the anticipated workload, and production, as well as the number of personnel who will be required to operate it. The ability to anticipate equipment footprints, ergonomics and test technique needs enables for more effective planning moving ahead. Their manufacturers may specify individual devices in terms of their size and operating space needs. Because it is essential to the viability and safety of a building project, it deserves special attention. Construction materials testing may show a wide range of problems relating to the overall building quality. Engineers and stakeholders may use it to identify potential hazards in the future, categorize a construction site,
Good asphalt driveways do not come cheap, so looking after yours is a must. With a well-maintained driveway, you can keep up your curb appeal, maximize functionality, and stave off the need for in-depth repairs within 10 years or less of installation. You see, it’s all too easy for driveways to become damaged. In fact, it’s inevitable. With the natural elements constantly working away at the asphalt surface, cracks and potholes are sure to show sooner or later. But, with the best asphalt driveway maintenance tips, you can keep your driveway in tip-top shape and extend its life by several decades. So, without further ado, here are the key dos and don’ts that you need to know for general driveway maintenance jobs as well as small and large asphalt cracks. General Driveway Maintenance Dos and Don’ts Asphalt driveway upkeep requires a certain amount of dedication. It’s important that you stay on top of your driveway’s maintenance to ensure it looks and functions at its best for many years to come. These general dos and don’ts will help you do just that. Clean Dokeep your driveway clear of debris and litter by sweeping regularly. This will help to improve drainage, avoid standing water, and prevent existing damage such as potholes and asphalt cracks from getting any worse. Do use a pressure washer to remove dirt and oil from the surface of your driveway. Dirt and oil can contaminate the asphalt and compromise the bonding agent that was used during installation. Do not regularly use harsh chemicals to clean your asphalt surface. Repeated use of products like bleach can, over time, cause your driveway to erode. Instead, invest in and use a cleaning agent designed specifically for asphalt surfaces. Seal Do seal your asphalt driveway regularly, roughly once every three years or so. This will help to reinforce the strength of the surface, preventing cracking, erosion, and other damage that can cause bigger structural issues. Do use a professional-grade asphalt emulsion sealer or coal tar pavement sealer to ensure great results that last a long time. Do consider investing in a DIY seal coat sprayer or similar piece of driveway sealing equipment if you plan to do seal your driveway yourself. Or, failing that, a squeegee should do the job just fine. Do seal your driveway in warm, dry conditions, ideally when it’s around 50ºF or higher outside. Otherwise, your seal coat is unlikely to cure properly. Do not attempt to seal your driveway during or just before it rains. Do not seal your driveway every single year. Eventually, over-sealing can lead to unsightly peeling and cracking, and this can let in water. Inspect Do regularly check your driveway for damage, particularly around the joints and in areas that typically hold heavy loads. Do not ignore even slight cracks in your asphalt surface. These will let in water and debris which can cause erosion beneath the surface of the driveway. As such, even the smallest signs of damage can lead to big problems if left untreated. Read on for more information on what you need to do to fix them. Small Driveway Cracks: The Dos and Don’ts Small cracks are more than just eyesores. They can become increasingly problematic over time and, as such, require immediate attention. Here’s what you need to do when small cracks appear in your asphalt driveway and, of course, what not to do. Materials Do invest in quality materials that can guarantee long-lasting repairs. Ideally, you should opt for a rubberized asphalt tar tape that can be burnt on and create a strong seal within the crack. However, if you don’t have the means to carry out that sort of repair, cold asphalt driveway repair with a superior sealant should be sufficient. Do follow the instructions on your crack filling material of choice to ensure a smooth and secure finish. Do not use tar tape or cold driveway crack sealer to repair cracks that are more than an inch wide and half an inch deep. The bond simply will not be strong enough to adequately repair the damage. Equipment Do purchase a torch burner if you’re opting to fill asphalt driveway cracks with tar tape. Any other heat source likely won’t be hot enough to melt the rubberized tape or safe enough to use for DIY asphalt repair. Do use heat-proof safety equipment when operating a torch burner, including fire-resistant gloves and, if necessary, boot covers and an apron. Do not use poor quality equipment or any equipment other than that which has been specified on the instructions for your driveway crack repair material. Method Do clean asphalt cracks thoroughly before beginning your repairs. Do apply your materials according to instructions. If using tar tape, this will likely include removing a protective backing, laying the tape down along the length of a crack, and burning it on with a torch burner. However, directions may vary depending on the product you purchase. Do allow your materials to dry for the length of time specified on the instructions before parking cars or walking on your asphalt driveway. With tar tape, drying is near-instant. Do not attempt to fill cracks yourself unless you have all of the necessary application and safety equipment. Large Driveway Crack Dos and Don’ts It probably won’t come as a surprise to learn that large cracks in your asphalt driveway are even more cause for concern than small ones. So, you’ll need to do something about them as soon as possible. If you don’t, they will only continue to expand and contribute to deeper structural damage. This is what you should and should not do to repair large cracks in asphalt driveway. Equipment Do only buy superior asphalt repair equipment. The best option available to you is an asphalt crack sealer machine, which can easily apply hot sealant to gaps that are more than an inch wide and half an inch deep. Do ensure you do your research when shopping around for an asphalt crack
News reached us at the weekend that British retail institution John Lewis is expanding its range of wares from haberdashery, electrical goods and Waitrose goodies to houses. Yes, you will soon be able to pick out a place to live from their stores and not just with regard to the things you put in it. This is a sensible initiative for a 157-year-old company that realises that times are changing and that department stores may not be the destination of choice for new generations any longer, given the indefatigable rise of Amazon etc. Faced with such challenges firms can either ‘do a Woolworths’ and just die in the face of adversity or they can pivot. John Lewis and their employee partners have chosen the latter with the announcement that they will be building 10,000 homes on company land over the next ten years. Interestingly, these are not planned to be built as resales. John Lewis is not looking to compete with the likes of Bovis, Persimmon nor Redrow. No, these properties are for the long haul as build-to-rent homes that will provide rental income to the company Infinitum. Additional, solid revenue that will contribute quite significantly to their P&L and will be backed by the asset value of the buildings themselves for balance sheet strength. You have to applaud the boldness of this scheme and its product market fit from existing resources yet also its pure simplicity. Which got me to thinking, what if other British based firms were to innovate in this way too? How many dwellings could be created for the country’s growing number of enthusiastic renters and how lucrative would this be for struggling firms that are perhaps now ‘land asset rich’ yet ‘bottom line poor’? Some of the UK’s biggest landowners are, unsurprisingly, housebuilders given that they jointly own or control some 700,000 potential building plots. But other super-sized players inadvertently include such examples as Tesco, who apparently own over 11,000 acres around their existing stores or assets that have been purchased with the intention of building new ones. The fag packet that I have just reached for to work out how many homes that represents shows that over 220,000 homes could be provided from Tesco’s space, based upon an average of 45 dwellings per hectare as is about the average. That’s quite some solution and brings new meaning to the strapline ‘Every Little Helps’. And it’s also quite some income at a typical monthly rent of £900+ per month – equating to perhaps £2billion a year in top-line revenue. I’ll leave you with this inexhaustive list of UK landowners with which to boggle your mind over what I suggest the future of build-to-rent could be. Note that the housebuilder I have included is one of the smallest holders of all, comparatively (Source: ABCFinance.co.uk). Isn’t it amazing how solutions are sometimes just sitting there just waiting to be implemented? Landowner Land Acreage Owned in England Ministry of Defence 397,000 United Utilities 140,100 Duke of Westminster 140,000 Duchy of Cornwall 130,600 Network Rail 100,500 Church of England 73,000 Severn Trent 51,700 Sir James Dyson 33,000 Homes England 19,300 Taylor Wimpey 14,600 Tesco 11,000 Source: ABCFinance.co.uk
Victoria Square Woking Limited, a joint venture between Moyallen Group and Woking Borough Council, has announced the significant advancement of Victoria Place, the £700m regeneration scheme in Woking town centre, with a range of new milestones reached across the development. Marks and Spencer has taken access of its 50,000 sq ft new regional flagship store. Led by contractor ISG, works are underway on the fit-out by the popular British retailer, with the store due to open on the 10th November 2021. The store will offer a comprehensive range of clothing, homewares, and gifts, alongside an 8,000 sq ft food hall stocked housing fresh produce and a café. Also progressing in its preparations to launch is Hilton Woking, with recruitment underway to fill over 160 jobs generated by the new landmark hotel at Victoria Place. The positions created span from sales and marketing roles to culinary and event specialists. Ranked the top company in the ‘super large’ category of Great Places to Work UK in April 2021, and third in the 2021 UK Best Workplaces for Women, Hilton Woking is set to drive a considerable employment boost to the town centre. In addition, Native Group is continuing to drive momentum ahead of the August 2021 launch of its new residential concept The Marches, which comprises 429 furnished rental apartments in two towers of 30 and 34 storeys. The Native team is finalising works and appointing key on-site positions to manage the contemporary living community at Victoria Place, which will also incorporate co-working spaces and residents’ lounges. Councillor Ayesha Azad, Leader of Woking Borough Council, commented: “As we move closer towards the phased completion of this transformative development, we are delighted to see the various cornerstones of Victoria Place coming to life. With Marks & Spencer, Hilton Woking, and Native Group reaching new milestones in their preparations and recruitment plans, we are beginning to see the real and positive impact of this scheme on Woking town centre.” Nicolaas Houwert, General Manager of Hilton Woking, added: “We are proud of the recognition we have received in recent months, which is testament to the focus Hilton has on creating a great place to work for all Team Members. Not only are we excited to work alongside other like-minded organisations to contribute to Woking Borough Council’s regeneration scheme, but we are also looking forward to fostering and growing a new team at Hilton Woking.” Sir Robert McAlpine is delivering the Victoria Place scheme which is anchored by 125,000 sq ft of retail space, and will also house a medical centre, two public plazas, and spacious new parking facilities for the community. Victoria Place serves a catchment of 1.1m people with an available spend of £2.6bn. 41% of Woking’s catchment are from CACI’s ‘Affluent Achievers’ Acorn profile, compared to 31% for the South East. Upon completion of the new development, Woking’s market potential will increase by 11% to £226m.