The Property Hero Awards 2020 – recognising the special individuals in the property industry These awards are not about companies but about individuals who have done something really special. We are looking to identify the extraordinary people within our industry who have gone that extra mile and achieved things that
The Viessmann Group (“Viessmann”), a leading international provider of climate solutions for residential and commercial environments, and Priva Group (“Priva”), a climate and process control technology company in the Netherlands, join forces in a strategic family partnership. Both companies see great potential and opportunities for global synergies in serving
Ibstock plc has confirmed its intention to make a major investment in one of its brick factories in the West Midlands. The factory will be a pathfinder project to test and pilot operational efficiencies which, the company believes, will lead to Atlas becoming the world’s only Scope 1 & 21
The pandemic has impacted almost every industry in one way or another, and while construction firms were allowed to continue in times when others weren’t, the period has still proven challenging. But with a recent uptick in activity and a wider return to normality on the horizon in the UK,
Most house selling experts estimate that selling a house should only take three months. But does this take into account the time taken to get your dream home? Others unexpected delays include hurdles of the mortgage application, survey complications, among others. Also, the revenue authority has given a temporary reduction
A construction site has a lot going on all at the same time. Some of the workers are busy mixing cement, some are working on the structure, some are operating the heavy machinery, and so on. Given how many tasks are simultaneously going on at a construction site, there are
As part of the Element Materials Technology Group (Element), Warringtonfire has accelerated the roll out of its digital remote witnessing offering to improve customer experience. This remote witnessing service comes as part of Element’s large-scale digital transformation, offering customers the opportunity to monitor both sample preparation and installation, as well as
A WORLD-leading urban scientist has thrown his support behind The Island Quarter in Nottingham during a recent webisode. Professor Carlos Moreno, who created the concept of a 15-minute city where inhabitants have access to all the services they need within their immediate vicinity, told the audience at the latest CC
UK RESIDENTIAL and commercial property developer Godwin Developments has submitted proposals for a 692-unit purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) scheme in Nottingham city centre, on the site of the former Royal Mail sorting office. The plans, lodged with Nottingham City Council at the end of last week, propose the demolition of
Shared spaces have the power to transform homes and workplaces in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic. With property prices rising and chronic loneliness affecting people of all ages, the demand for collective living was already growing. Throw social distancing and remote working into the mix, and it’s no surprise
The Property Hero Awards 2020 – recognising the special individuals in the property industry These awards are not about companies but about individuals who have done something really special. We are looking to identify the extraordinary people within our industry who have gone that extra mile and achieved things that often go unnoticed. The award was set up to highlight those who deserved to be recognised for outstanding performance and going that bit further to support leaseholders and the teams that support them in the year that was extraordinary – 2020. We’re thrilled to announce the Winner of the Award – Libby Williams and Highly Commended – Elizabeth Stokes. WINNER – Libby Williams Libby is Head of Insurance. She is an amazing hard-working member of the Legal & Risk team, dealing with insurance claims for our customers. Libby is renowned for her incredible knowledge of the industry, with 20 years behind her, and she has a fantastic recall of past insurance history on multiple properties. Libby is well known for her attention to detail, and the enthusiasm she shows in her work is at times outstanding, often working well beyond the normal hours and above expectations. Her diligent approach to work has not gone unnoticed, and she is a well-deserved winner. HIGHLY COMMENDED – Elizabeth Stokes Elizabeth Stokes is Health & Safety Co-ordinator for the group. As Head of H&S – Jonathan Gough says; “Liz is a great asset to the H&S department”. She expertly manages over 400 projects to ensure that leaseholders are safe in their homes. Liz supports the property team through every stage of the project, and always with a smile. She is well-deserved of this award given the hard year that 2020 became, dealing with the many issues that the industry still faces, and with the leaseholders’ welfare always at the forefront of her mind.
The Viessmann Group (“Viessmann”), a leading international provider of climate solutions for residential and commercial environments, and Priva Group (“Priva”), a climate and process control technology company in the Netherlands, join forces in a strategic family partnership. Both companies see great potential and opportunities for global synergies in serving customers together through an unprecedented combined tech-driven solution offering – from commercial building owners and operators to smart district and city solutions, adapting the climate and energy predictively to users’ needs. To underline the long-term nature of this partnership, Viessmann has acquired a minority interest in Priva. This allows Priva to accelerate its innovative technology agenda and international growth, yet remain an independent family business. Viessmann can rapidly develop its climate solutions for commercial buildings and explore horticultural environment business opportunities. In addition to their similar family business culture, Viessmann and Priva share a vision of how their solutions can make a profound and pragmatic impact on the current climate crisis and change the world for the better. Both companies believe that partnerships, networks and smart ecosystems are crucial in providing the range and breadth of solutions needed to address the important issues of global warming, energy transition and food security in the world. Meiny Prins, CEO of Priva: “We are a purpose-driven company. We are proud to offer innovative and sustainable solutions, which benefit our customers and society. We feel strengthened by Viessmann’s recognition of our vision and technology. Joining forces with Viessmann is an important next step towards fulfilling our ambition. It makes us both stronger while it maintains our independence and company values. This is an unprecedented opportunity for creating a climate for growth together.” Maximilian Viessmann, Co-CEO of Viessmann: “Our purpose is to create living spaces for generations to come: sustainable, CO2-free and clean environments for living, working and recreation. Our partnership with Priva will enable both companies to substantially expand the breadth and variety of solutions we can offer and the customers that we serve. It is a big privilege to drive digital and climate-centric solutions forward as two like-minded, strong and tech-driven family businesses.” About Viessmann Viessmann is the leading provider of climate solutions for all living spaces. The ‘Integrated Viessmann Solutions Offering’ enables users to connect products and systems seamlessly via digital platforms and services for climate (heating, cooling, air quality) and refrigeration solutions. All solutions are based on renewable energy and maximum efficiency. All activities of the family company, founded in 1917, are based on its purpose. “We create living spaces for generations to come” – that is the responsibility of the global Viessmann family with 12,750 members. About Priva Priva is a technology company that develops hardware, software and data-services in the field of climate control, energy saving and optimal reuse of water. With more than 500 colleagues, 16 local offices and over 450 international installation partners Priva delivers sustainable solutions and services in more than 100 countries. With its activities in Horticulture, Building Automation and Indoor Growing, Priva wants to contribute to the cities of the future: where people can enjoy a healthy working and living environment and have access to safe and nutritious food.
Ibstock plc has confirmed its intention to make a major investment in one of its brick factories in the West Midlands. The factory will be a pathfinder project to test and pilot operational efficiencies which, the company believes, will lead to Atlas becoming the world’s only Scope 1 & 21 Net Zero brick factory. A combination of reduced process emissions and greater thermal efficiency will cut the carbon intensity of bricks produced at the Atlas site by 50% compared to the existing factory. The remaining emissions will be offset using high quality emission reduction projects. Once completed, Atlas will be an exemplar of British manufacturing and global environmental best practice in the construction products sector. The investment, which was announced at the Group’s AGM Trading Update on Earth Day (April 22 2021), marks the next stage of the company’s well-documented sustainability journey. The Group’s Sustainability Roadmap to 2025 sets out ambitious decarbonisation plans. This Net Zero pathfinder project, along with a host of other initiatives at other sites across the UK, marks the latest important step in pushing the business beyond its Roadmap. The new Atlas investment will be Net Zero for Scopes 1 & 21 emissions; Scope 31 will be addressed at a later date as part of the Group’s longer-term sustainability strategy.1 To achieve its ambitions, the Group is utilising a standard methodology that aligns with the UK Government’s Industrial Decarbonisation Strategy. The Group calculates that its Net Zero aims for Atlas will primarily be achieved through a rapid reduction in carbon emissions from the production process through significantly improved thermal efficiency, on-site renewable electricity generation and renewable energy procurement. For production from Atlas to reach Net Zero, the remaining emitted greenhouse gases will be offset through carbon credits or sequestration through rewilding or carbon capture and storage. Over time, Ibstock will reduce the offset proportion further by the adoption of additional emissions reduction measures. Once it has completed the first stage in its journey (Scope 1 & 21), Atlas will be one of the most operationally efficient brick factories in the world and an exemplar for the industry in terms of environmental performance. National & regional impact The investment in Atlas will bring significant benefits to the local economy in terms of employment, local suppliers, opportunities and skills. This redevelopment will secure the future of the brick factory and provide local employment opportunities for the long-term. It is expected that the renovated factory will support 50 highly skilled manufacturing and engineering jobs. Next stage in the Net Zero Journey Commenting on the investment plans for the Atlas Factory, Chief Executive Officer of Ibstock plc Joe Hudson said: “The Net Zero journey is one we share with our customers. We have seen a transformational shift in attitudes from all of our key stakeholders; and there is a ‘sea-change’ in how our customers, and, in turn, their customers, view environmental issues. As the UK’s leading brick manufacturer we recognise that we have to adapt and respond – and this is reflected in our Sustainability Roadmap to 2025. “We have been leading the way for some time within our sector, with our investments in new production capacity at our Throckley, Chesteron, Eclipse and Lodge Lane plants all reducing the carbon intensity of the manufacturing process, and as the recipients of multiple sustainability awards. However, we can do more, and we can go further. Our plan to invest in Atlas is at the heart of this.”
The pandemic has impacted almost every industry in one way or another, and while construction firms were allowed to continue in times when others weren’t, the period has still proven challenging. But with a recent uptick in activity and a wider return to normality on the horizon in the UK, optimism is building for the sector’s recovery. This cautious confidence comes on the back of a significant contraction in output in the first half of 2020. Even after the government stated construction work should resume with new safety measures in place, commercial activity has been slower to bounce back due to retail store closures and uncertainty around the future of offices. At the same time, areas such as private housing have been more buoyant due to pent-up demand and government incentives such as the stamp duty holiday. So what does the road ahead look like for the construction industry overall? Forecasts of recovery Private housing work is expected to remain strong throughout 2021 and into 2022 thanks to factors such as the rise in homeworking and homeowners reinvesting pandemic savings. Public housing output is also due a boost thanks to a backlog in cladding safety work. But these aren’t the only reasons behind the industry’s hopeful outlook. Commercial projects and infrastructure work have also displayed growth as the UK prepares to fully reopen for business on the back of a so-far successful vaccination campaign. Examples include HS2, one of the largest construction projects currently underway in Europe, and various offshore wind and nuclear works. In fact, the surge in construction activity between February and March of this year was the largest in any month since September 2014. Potential bumps in the road Despite the positives mentioned above, construction output is still only projected to reach pre-pandemic levels in 2022. The industry’s recovery is also somewhat reliant on a wider economic resurgence – which could still be dampened by new Covid variants and a rise in unemployment when the furlough scheme finally ends. There is then the worry that construction firms will have to deal with a potential global shortage of goods and materials as other industries and nations lag behind. Increased import costs and timeframes linked to Brexit are also looming large for many companies. Those in commercial sectors will also be waiting nervously to observe to what extent there is a return to office work. Onno Adriaansens, co-chair of the European Real Estate Group at global consultancy firm RSM, asks: “If office demands get scaled back, what happens to the thousands of half-built high rises all over the world? Do we convert them to residential? Whatever the case, real estate cannot simply ‘get through’ the COVID-19 crisis without a significant evolution.” Ultimately several questions like this remain. But for the time being at least, the future looks reassuringly bright for the UK’s construction industry.
Most house selling experts estimate that selling a house should only take three months. But does this take into account the time taken to get your dream home? Others unexpected delays include hurdles of the mortgage application, survey complications, among others. Also, the revenue authority has given a temporary reduction on stamp duty, making eager buyers try to move before the deadline. This is expected to course further delays before you get keys to your dream home. Here you will learn the process of buying a house and what you can do to speed up the process. Please continue reading to learn more. 1. Start By Finding your Dream Home This is one of the complicated stages of owning a new home. Generally, most people take 8-12 weeks to locate their new homes, depending on the type of property that you need. The timescale also depends on your search area and the local property market. To avoid this delay, you can seek the services of chartered surveyors, conveyancers, or local estate agents. They have details of different home categories and where to find them, and therefore they will be able to fix you with your dream home quickly. 2. Make The Offer Some people experience difficulties before agreeing on the best price of the house with the house vendor. In most cases, other buyers are also interested in the same house, and therefore, the buyer takes long before deciding the preferred buyer. Always ask the vendor to offer the best price to avoid hurdles. This way, you can quickly move to the house that you can afford. 3. Get A Mortgage Very few people complete the process of owning a home without getting a mortgage. What can I do to speed up the process of getting a mortgage? Simple! Get the paperwork done before starting the house searching process. Yes, it is possible since you already know the price of the house you need. You can browse online to see different mortgage lenders and their calculators. You can consult the services of a mortgage broker if you are dealing with a complex purchase. However, it is better to wait until you settle for a certain house before applying for a mortgage principle since it will be valid for only six months. If you miss the six-month timeframe, you will get a credit check which will significantly affect your credit score. You will be surprised that your mortgage application will not go past 40 days if you have a good credit rating. 4. Exchange Contracts You need to get information about your vendor and the property you want to purchase before exchanging any contracts. Your conveyancer, together with your vendor’s conveyancer, should initiate the process by conducting local searches and seeking information from relevant authorities such as local councils, Land Registry, and other external parties. If you do not get any complications, the process will not take more than four weeks. To speed up the process, answer all the queries asked promptly and provide as much information as possible. 5. Complete the Sale It is the final stage of buying a property. By now, you have already paid the property deposit, exchange of contracts cost, and any other necessary cost. Thus, this stage involves paying the remaining property fee and any other outstanding fees. However, the process can be affected by the vendor’s timescale and if they are able to move out quickly. You will have to wait longer if there are chin of vendors. In normal cases, this process takes between one to four weeks. You can do everything correctly, but you won’t have an easy transition if you fail in planning. Thus, get the best removal company to assist you in moving before completing the buying process. Thus, you will save time and money. Also, the removal company will assist in moving delicate stuff that you might end up destroying if you move on your own. Don’t wait until the last minute since the best removal companies usually get booked in advance. If you wait until the last minute, you may end up with a company that might end up doing a shoddy job. If you follow the above steps, you will end up getting your dream home quickly. However, if it takes longer to sell a house in your location, you will get delays in owning one. This is particularly if you want to sell your house to get your dream house. You have to wait to get a buyer in order to buy another property. It is therefore important to contact an agent to help in the selling and buying of property. You will save both money and time. But never plan to move without allowing yourself plenty of time.
A construction site has a lot going on all at the same time. Some of the workers are busy mixing cement, some are working on the structure, some are operating the heavy machinery, and so on. Given how many tasks are simultaneously going on at a construction site, there are a lot of things that can go wrong in an instant. Hence arises the need for proper logistical planning at these sites. In construction, the term ‘logistical planning’ refers to the utilization of all the resources (materials, equipment, and manpower) in a planned way. This sort of planning is very essential to any type of construction work. To understand its importance, here’s a short discussion on how logistical planning can help things run a lot smoother at a construction site. Staying on schedule Construction work is very time-consuming. Even a small-scale project, like building a stretch of road, can take months. Larger projects, like the construction of buildings or bridges, can take years. Hence, time is very valuable in such construction projects. Even the slightest of delays can set you back by days or weeks. To make sure that your project is on schedule, you need a proper logistical plan and stick to it. Otherwise, you’re bound to run into delays and have to keep extending the project deadline. Your construction equipment needs to be at the site before the arrival of your workers. The arrangement should be such that the construction workers need not sit idle and wait for their equipment to arrive. Workers must also maintain a work schedule of their own that aligns with that of the project. They need to complete their daily workload before the end of the workday. The only exception for which delays should be considered is bad weather. Since nature’s force is out of your control, you can’t do much about it other than pushing back the project deadline. Selection and maintenance of construction equipment Different projects require different types of construction equipment. And while some of this equipment is common in almost every construction site, most of the equipment varies from project to project. Diesel generators, for instance, are used in almost every construction site. A diesel generator benefits the project in a lot of ways. They have a low maintenance cost, great fuel efficiency, and service, and can continuously supply the construction site with the necessary power for hours. Apart from the main diesel-powered generators, the site should also have a backup generator for emergencies. On the other hand, heavy machinery, like cranes, diggers, etc. is chosen based on the type of project. For example, you won’t usually need a steamroller for the construction of a building and a crane for fixing a road. Maintaining the equipment also falls under logistical planning. Since most projects are bound to take weeks or even months, you have to find a way to keep the equipment at the site. You also need to provide overnight security for the equipment and make sure that they’re operational when work resumes the following day. Cutting down on unnecessary expenses A study by McKinsey suggests that the construction industry can save almost $1.7 trillion annually by boosting productivity. That there’s a lack of planning in construction sites which eventually leads to unnecessary expenses. A lot of these expenses can be saved by ensuring proper logistical planning. This includes maintaining a strict work schedule, bringing in the right type of equipment, proper maintenance of the equipment, and so on. Sometimes, the expenses increase after the project is over, and that’s also due to poor logistical planning. This happens mostly because of using poor construction material and low-end tools. As a result, once the project is completed or nears completion, certain problems start popping up here and there. Besides, due to poor planning, workers might even make costly mistakes that need to be fixed before you can hand over the project. For instance, they might have mistakenly fitted an 8-inch pipe instead of a 12 inch one. Thus, when the problem is discovered, not only do they need to replace the pipe, but to do so they need to break the plaster and redo it. If the plans were properly followed and the workers were working efficiently, this scenario wouldn’t have existed.
As part of the Element Materials Technology Group (Element), Warringtonfire has accelerated the roll out of its digital remote witnessing offering to improve customer experience. This remote witnessing service comes as part of Element’s large-scale digital transformation, offering customers the opportunity to monitor both sample preparation and installation, as well as the live test and subsequent data, and to share live feedback with the technical officer in situ. While strict measures remain in place at all of Warringtonfire’s laboratories to ensure the safety of colleagues and customers and in compliance with national and local requirements, this provides safe virtual access to both the site and the experts. Remote witnessing offers a number of additional benefits, including enabling those project team members who have never previously seen a fire test to witness one; allowing sales team members who are responsible for selling the products or systems to view the test; and helping members of technical teams to view the tests and continually build their competence. As with standard testing protocol, all remotely witnessed testing is performed in accordance with the relevant certification and security conformance standards. The delivery of the service is supported by rigorous operating procedures and usage guides, designed to give the customer the same high quality, efficient experience as they would in person. Rob Veitch, EVP of Fire and Building Products at Element, said: “Through the use of easily accessible digital platforms, customers can watch live testing of their materials and products remotely, keep their testing programs on track, avoid unnecessary travel and hotel costs, and focus on more productive, value-creating activities for their own organizations. “All of our laboratories remain open, so we are able to support our customers as they continue to face challenges that have arisen out of the COVID-19 crisis. We have been successfully delivering remote witnessing services to many of our customers for several years, but 2020 and 2021 have presented us with an opportunity to optimize our capabilities to better serve them through the restrictions that the pandemic caused, and we’re pleased that we can continue to offer our high-quality services while keeping people safe.” The Element Group is made up of a network of experts from around the world and its businesses work in collaboration to share expertise, best practice and capacity. With fire resistance testing, reaction to fire testing, cold smoke leakage testing, acoustic testing, security, performance and weathering testing, and third party certification and fire engineering capabilities spread across laboratories in the UK, mainland Europe and Australia, Warringtonfire offers a truly full-service solution to the construction industry.
A WORLD-leading urban scientist has thrown his support behind The Island Quarter in Nottingham during a recent webisode. Professor Carlos Moreno, who created the concept of a 15-minute city where inhabitants have access to all the services they need within their immediate vicinity, told the audience at the latest CC Live webisode that the Nottingham development has all the characteristics to transform the way people in the city live, work and spend time. Speaking during a live Q&A with audience members, Professor Moreno said: “I’m very happy that The Island Quarter and Nottingham is exploring the 15-minute city concept. The main attribute for cities looking to change in this way is a desire to transform their current model of urban life. “By having that, the city of Nottingham has the chance to develop a polycentric model, with The Island Quarter being one of the sectors. There is the potential for totality of services and urban social functions within a happy proximity, which is the 15-minute city in a nutshell.” Appearing alongside Professor Moreno was Christopher Ware, property director at The Island Quarter’s developer Conygar, who told the audience about the company’s reasons for investing in the city. Ware said: “Our intentions for The Island Quarter site have always been for it to be truly mixed-use – we wanted to avoid the creation of an office district that shuts down at 6pm on a Friday and becomes somewhere you don’t want to walk through. “This is where our plans pair quite nicely with the 15-minute city concept, as we want the site to reflect the full lifecycle, from student accommodation, to offices where those students may then have their first job, to areas for family homes. “The whole opportunity is very exciting. Nottingham has a young population – the proportion of young people is comparable to Berlin and Amsterdam – and is seen as a bit of a fintech hub. There’s a strong underlying entrepreneurial spirit, but we feel that maybe there’s been a lack of a voice to shout about it. “We see The Island Quarter working along with other projects in the city to harness the energy that’s naturally there, because we see the demand for what the site can offer. Ware also gave an overview of the next steps for the site, which had lain derelict for many years before Conygar’s purchase of the former Boots Island in 2016. “The opening phase of the site is well underway and it’s going to really open up the canalside area, which has been such an underused part of the city for a number of years. It’s creating some really exciting public realm, which is going to bring the people of the city back to The Island Quarter site. “We’ve submitted the planning application for the next phase – which is the cohesive-use building adjacent to the opening phase – and we’ll be submitting a further application for some student accommodation in the coming months as well. “We’re also working hard in the background on a number of other elements of the site including the heritage warehouses, which we know are of great interest and a lot of people will be interested to hear our proposals when they come forward.” As well as the live Q&A, attendees heard the thoughts of BioCity’s CEO Toby Reid, The Nottingham Project’s director Lee Walker and Dr Lucelia Rodrigues from the University of Nottingham, who talked about The Island Quarter’s potential for creating a new community. To view the full webisode, visit The Island Quarter’s YouTube page. For more information on The Island Quarter, visit theislandquarter.com.
UK RESIDENTIAL and commercial property developer Godwin Developments has submitted proposals for a 692-unit purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) scheme in Nottingham city centre, on the site of the former Royal Mail sorting office. The plans, lodged with Nottingham City Council at the end of last week, propose the demolition of the current disused and significantly degraded building, which has been vacant for nearly 20 years, and the construction of a new contemporary scheme, varying from 12 to 15 storeys in height Situated on the corner of Bath Street and Cowan Street, the development – named the Bendigo Building – is adjacent to St. Mary’s Rest Gardens and will consist of a mix of modern studio apartments, four, five and six-bedroom clusters and disabled studio rooms. The scheme will also incorporate a range of indoor amenities such as a spacious residents lounge and reception area, gym, study and games rooms, as well as fully landscaped courtyard garden with outdoor seating, recreational and outdoor exercise equipment, basement parking for 55 vehicles and 312 cycle storage spaces. Two commercial units, located on the ground floor have also been proposed as an additional amenity for residents and the neighbouring community. The development is conveniently positioned within easy walking distance of Nottingham city centre, Nottingham Trent University, Sneinton Market and the main food and entertainment quarter, with the University of Nottingham and Nottingham train station also readily accessible via public transport. Matt Chandler, development director at Godwin Developments, said: “We are delighted to have reached this important milestone in our proposals for the re-development of this significant site in Nottingham. The city is a key UK hub for higher education, with an ever-growing student population. As a business with a local presence, we recognise the substantial contribution that young people make to its potential. They bring energy and vibrancy to the area, draw in private investment, boost local businesses through discretional spend, support the day and night-time economy, and add to the ongoing city-wide regeneration initiatives. “With the number of full-time students expected to increase by approximately 28% in the next few years, there is a clear requirement for more dedicated student spaces where young people can live, study, and play together. The Bendigo Building will cater to these needs while also freeing up traditional housing stock, allowing homes to return to their intended family use – responding to the aspirations of many local residents. “We would like to thank Nottingham City Council’s planning team for their support and feedback with the scheme to date as well as the local community for engaging with us constructively during the public consultation stages. We’ve also worked closely with our partners – architects RG&P, engineers HSP Consulting and planning experts PD&G – who helped us to shape the proposals submitted last week.” The well-considered scheme also contains sustainability features, such as air source heat pumps, photovoltaic (PV) roof panels and electric vehicle charging points. It endorses green methods of travel in and around the city by encouraging cycling, walking and use of nearby public transport – all of which promote the health and well-being of students and cleaner air in central Nottingham. James Mulcare, head of residential capital markets at Godwin Developments, said: “Nottingham is one of the UK’s higher education hotspots with its leading universities attracting a growing number of students year-on-year. In the last few years, the full-time student population in the city has surpassed 63,000 and is growing faster than any other UK university destination. At the same time, independent evidence indicates that there are at least 25,000 young people who are unable to access PBSA – highlighting the robust demand for student living in the city and the clear requirement for dedicated schemes like the Bendigo Building.” Stephen Pratt, co-founder and board director at Godwin Developments, added: “More and more domestic and international students come to the city of Nottingham, seeking outstanding education and good quality accessible student living. We are confident that the Bendigo Building with its prominent location and high amenities provision will be popular with young people and will deliver attractive long-term returns to investors seeking to capitalise on the strong local PBSA market.” Once underway the Bendigo Building will create around 300 jobs during the construction phase – and 40 full-time positions when fully operational. Godwin Developments is currently progressing a number of other residential schemes across the country, including the recently announced 23-storey development in Sheffield city centre, ‘The Meridian’, which will see the creation of a 336-apartment BTR scheme, and the recently submitted planning application for a 116-unit BTR urban village scheme in Ely. The developer is also working on projects such as a suburban BTR scheme in Doncaster which will create 60 BTR homes, as well as two residential schemes in Nottingham which will provide 102 family homes. For further information on Godwin Developments, visit https://www.godwingroup.co.uk/developments/.
Shared spaces have the power to transform homes and workplaces in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic. With property prices rising and chronic loneliness affecting people of all ages, the demand for collective living was already growing. Throw social distancing and remote working into the mix, and it’s no surprise that the need for physical togetherness has become more urgent than ever. As the definitions of ‘home’ and ‘workplace’ become increasingly blurred, there is unprecedented demand for spaces where people can come together to share experiences and resources. All Together Now is the first book to address the challenges and opportunities of designing co-living and co-working spaces for modern living. Written by experts in the field of shared live and work space, interior designer Naomi Cleaver and design journalist Amy Frearson, this wide-ranging book showcases a multitude of ways in which architects, designers and developers can create stylish, healthy and efficient ‘co-spaces’. Amy Frearson said: “Co-living and co-working offer very real solutions to many of the problems we face today, both as individuals and as a society. Sharing doesn’t have to mean compromise; it can help us live more efficiently, healthily and sustainably, without limiting our choices and comforts.” Naomi Cleaver said: “The pandemic has intensified questions about how we live and work together, and how we use resources. It has given us the chance to think hard about the society and environments we need if we are to thrive as individuals throughout our lives.” Working as a practical and inspirational guide, this extremely timely book offers a diverse range of architecture and interior design solutions for collaborative spaces. It draws from Naomi Cleaver’s own experience in the industry, as well as an array of richly illustrated case studies from around the world. Including both new-builds and conversions, examples range from a Dutch nursing home that doubles as a student residence, to a retreat for digital nomads in Bali. The book also features a foreword by award-winning architect Sadie Morgan OBE, founding director of architectural practice dRMM and chair of the Quality of Life Foundation, who herself grew up on a commune and still considers it her home. Sadie Morgan said: “Through their exhaustive research, Naomi and Amy have been able to interrogate some of the most pertinent aspects of communal design. Ideas of different degrees and different models of sharing; the question of independence and its complex relationship with solidarity; the longevity and power of intergenerational living. These are just some of the themes expertly illustrated throughout the book.” Author, Consultant and Presenter Michelle Ogundehin, said: “All Together Now explores our relationship with ownership and place. Certainly, a more flexible housing model than mortgage-based purchase or deposit-based rental is way overdue. Imagine instead a living and working community built around like-minded people, regardless of age, who value freedom, diversity and sustainability, alongside the ability to easily upgrade or downsize as need and means dictate. A model for the future built around IRL connections. A model for the future that recognises that sharing and community are at the heart of all good societies. This is the very timely message of this important book.” All Together Now is not just a book for architects and designers, but for anyone interested in exploring new models of living and working and learning how to make the most of them. This highly engaging read includes a best practice toolkit, offering practical advice to any designer working at any scale.