Work has completed on a £5.5 million transport infrastructure project that will pave the way for a major new business park development near Redditch. Stoford Developments has delivered infrastructure works and a signalised traffic junction at the 78-acre Redditch Gateway site off Gorcott Hill and the A4023 Coventry Highway. The
Leading wireless fire detection and alarms manufacturer Hyfire has supplied over 550 cutting-edge detectors and other devices to ABCA Systems for installation in social housing developments across London, protecting the residents of five landmark tower blocks. Notting Hill Genesis, one of the UK’s largest independent housing associations, with more
Leading national scaffolding and access firm Lyndon SGB is proud to be supplying complex access solutions on one of the most prestigious and largest scaffolding projects in the country – the £330 million ‘Our Town Hall’ renovation of the iconic Manchester Town Hall. The vast refurbishment of the Grade 1-listed
Colchester Borough Council’s ambition to provide more high-quality, council-owned, affordable homes has taken another major step forward as construction starts on the building of new family houses and apartments in Military Road, Colchester. The council’s project is one of several housing developments that are delivering a promised 350 additional homes across
As one of Europe’s largest business hubs, London is a great place to do business. With the right strategy, you can be sure to grow your brand name from oblivion to an internationally acclaimed brand. One of the challenges that most businesses face as they enter the expansion phase is
When you’re working on the construction of a new property, it’s always important to think about durability. Some environments will make the creation of a durable property more difficult. For instance, you might be constructing new buildings on farmland. If that’s the case then you should definitely think about the
Leading London property services group Kinleigh Folkard & Hayward (KFH) has been appointed by an EQT Real Estate and Sigma Capital Group joint venture to let and manage assets across the joint venture’s expanding Greater London portfolio. KFH will be working closely with Sigma, the joint venture company’s asset manager.
Following a competitive tender process, Barbour ABI have been awarded the contract to supply the Government Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy with the Renewable Energy Planning Database (REPD). Over the next two years, Barbour ABI and the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) will deliver regular
Cranbourne Stone, specialists in providing bespoke and high-quality natural stone and porcelain products for swimming pools and landscape designs, is pleased to announce the release of its new 2021 product brochure, entitled The Collection. 21. The latest edition includes their bestselling natural stone and porcelain as well as new additions
THE VIRTUAL launch of Lovell Homes‘ latest North West development has revealed what a dream home looks like for house hunters in Lancashire. The national house builder held its first ever interactive Instagram event over the weekend (5-7 Feb) to celebrate the opening of Woodlark Chase’s new show homes in
Work has completed on a £5.5 million transport infrastructure project that will pave the way for a major new business park development near Redditch. Stoford Developments has delivered infrastructure works and a signalised traffic junction at the 78-acre Redditch Gateway site off Gorcott Hill and the A4023 Coventry Highway. The project will open up approximately 35 acres of development land on the northern side of the site within the Bromsgrove district, in Worcestershire, and a further 27 acres to the south, which sits in the Stratford-on-Avon district, in Warwickshire. The works were completed by appointed contractor, Fitzgerald Contractors. Redditch Gateway is a £200 million build-to-suit logistics and manufacturing scheme that will deliver up to one million sq ft of brand new office, logistics and manufacturing accommodation. Steelwork has been erected and cladding has been installed on Unit A, a 366,000 sq ft warehouse building to the north of the site. Construction of the building, which has been pre-let to a multinational retailer, is set to be completed in Q3 2021. Redditch Gateway has capacity for two additional build-to-suit units of between 150,000 sq ft – 250,000 sq ft, with integral office space, secure yard space and parking. Dan Gallagher, Joint Managing Director, Stoford Developments, said: “Redditch Gateway is an exciting development in a strategically important West Midlands location, just a few miles from the M42. There is huge pent up demand for industrial/logistics accommodation of this size and quality in the region and our significant investment in the development of the infrastructure and junction works is the first step in realising our vision for this landmark scheme. We are very pleased to have completed this phase of the project and look forward to delivering the first unit this year.” Councillor Ken Pollock, Cabinet Member for Economy and Infrastructure, said: “This is a very exciting scheme because it is one of the key employment sites in our County. Now more than ever, the future development of Redditch Gateway will help make a substantial contribution to Worcestershire’s future economic prosperity. It marks the culmination of many years of hard work to promote this well located site.” Gary Woodman, Chief Executive of Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “As one of the four game changer employment sites in Worcestershire we are pleased to be partners in the investment to unlock this key project in north Worcestershire. With work complete on the improved local traffic infrastructure, we look forward to this developing into a successful employment location in the region.” Councillor Matt Dormer, Leader of Redditch Borough Council, said: “It is great to see the work progressing on the Redditch Gateway site. These infrastructure works are critical to enabling the delivery of the brand new logistics and manufacturing premises on the site. Redditch Borough Council has worked closely with the Greater Birmingham and Solihull LEP and Worcestershire LEP to support this project, which will bring new investment and jobs to the borough. We look forward to working with Stoford Developments on bringing investment and development to the rest of the site.” Councillor Tony Jefferson, Leader of Stratford-on-Avon District Council, said: “I am very pleased that this development is now complete. It represents a major investment in the area. At a time when the local economy needs a boost it is extremely welcome.” Chris Loughran, Deputy Chair of the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “The completion of a high quality industrial development such as Redditch Gateway is key to securing jobs for local people and inviting new investments to the region. It is fantastic to see work progressing so well, and GBSLEP is committed to supporting schemes which can have hugely positive impacts for our businesses, residents and visitors. This is a brilliant example of how we can work with our partners to deliver such projects and transform previously unused sites for the development of our regional economy.” Tim Davies, Senior Development Manager, Homes England, said: “Having committed land and provided finance to the scheme through the last six years, it is fantastic to see this scheme coming to fruition. Stoford continues to be an effective partner engaging with occupiers and stakeholders to deliver schemes of this nature. With the Homes England land now serviced we are looking forward to further phases coming forward facilitating employment and training opportunities in the local community.” Redditch Gateway is located on the eastern fringes of Redditch, just 2.5 miles from junction 3 of the M42 and 18 miles from Birmingham Airport. The site falls into two local authority areas, Stratford-on-Avon in Warwickshire to the north and Bromsgrove district to the south. Based in a key distribution area of the Midlands, the site is adjacent to local occupiers including iForce John Lewis, Lear Corporation, UK NSI, Thorlux Lighting and Huegli UK. Stoford has been appointed as development partner for Redditch Gateway, working alongside the two landowners, The Gorcott Trust and Homes England. The development is being supported by £1.8 million investment from the Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership’s Growing Places Fund and grant support from Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership. Redditch Gateway is being marketed by Burbage Realty, Colliers International and Savills.
Leading wireless fire detection and alarms manufacturer Hyfire has supplied over 550 cutting-edge detectors and other devices to ABCA Systems for installation in social housing developments across London, protecting the residents of five landmark tower blocks. Notting Hill Genesis, one of the UK’s largest independent housing associations, with more than 65,000 properties in and around London, was looking for a fast and sustainable solution to upgrade the fire systems in its properties, with as little disruption to residents as possible. After careful consultation and extensive research, ABCA specified Hyfire wireless devices, which can be programmed and installed in minutes to offer maximum protection, with no need for wiring or redecoration. Anthony McKinnon, Contracts Manager at ABCA, said: “With rapidly evolving fire safety regulations and best practice, social landlords are taking a no-compromise approach to fire safety, recognising the need to offer protection and reassurance to occupants of all properties. Wireless is the fastest and most flexible way to deliver this and, as Hyfire is the most experienced player in the wireless market, we knew that their wireless detectors and other devices could offer the reliability and quality demanded by Notting Hill Genesis.” Hyfire offers the widest range of commercial standard wireless fire devices on the market, ranging from optical, multi-criteria and heat detectors to notification, alarm, interface and control units, all fully certified to EN54. All products offer the highest performance and quality in the industry, and are also fully compliant with BS5839 Part 1. Fire panels are wired via a loop to translators, from which wireless devices can be used on their own to build fully wireless systems of virtually any size, or mixed with Hyfire wired products to provide seamless hybrid solutions, offering total flexibility to specifiers and installers. Robert Bruce, Regional Sales Manager at Hyfire, said: “Social landlords like Notting Hill Genesis are under intense pressure to deliver rapid enhancements to the fire systems in residential properties, so they need the very best professional commercial fire protection. By working with innovative installers such as ABCA, they are coming to realise the benefits that wireless can offer. In fact, professionals working with Hyfire wireless products no longer consider wired devices unless they have to. “Whereas many people think of wireless devices as being best suited to large industrial sites or historic buildings, they can also offer logistical advantages in the social housing sector. Simple and hassle-free installation can offer cost savings on redecoration, cabling and labour. It’s possible to be in and out of the property in minutes, minimising the upheaval for residents and offering long-term reassurance, while also limiting contact during the current pandemic.” All Hyfire products are developed by fire industry pioneers in Trieste Italy, the global centre for wireless fire device design. The Hyfire range includes all devices required to build a fully wireless commercial fire system, including manual call points, remote indicators, visual indicators, sounders, sounder bases and output/input modules. A range of addressable translators and expanders are available, processing up to 32 devices each, with the scale of the system limited only by the number of devices that the fire panel can handle. Hyfire has also recently introduced EvacWireless, a rapid and scalable solution to meeting the BS8629 evacuation alert standards in residential buildings over 18 metres. Sarah Leahy, Contracts Manager for Notting Hill Genesis, said: “In high-rise social housing blocks, with many residents shielding from COVID-19, the benefits of the wireless installation are clear. Our tenants want peace of mind, but many are elderly and they don’t like upheaval. Instead of creating cable channels in walls and ceilings, wireless installers need just a few minutes in each apartment to fix and test the Hyfire devices. The tenants are then reassured that they have long-term, sustainable fire protection, with none of the inconvenience that a wired system would have caused.” Hyfire was launched as Sterling Safety Systems in 2002, bringing to market some of the first commercial wireless detection and alarm devices fully certified to EN54. Since then, the Hyfire brand has become synonymous with quality, reliability and innovation in the commercial fire sector. Hyfire devices are available for Advanced or Kentec panels and come with a five-year warranty, backed up by a dedicated partner programme to ensure the best survey, installation, commissioning, after sales service and exceptional technical support.
Leading national scaffolding and access firm Lyndon SGB is proud to be supplying complex access solutions on one of the most prestigious and largest scaffolding projects in the country – the £330 million ‘Our Town Hall’ renovation of the iconic Manchester Town Hall. The vast refurbishment of the Grade 1-listed Victorian gothic revival landmark built in 1877 aims to restore the building to its former glory and involves extensive repair work internally and externally, by main contractor Lend Lease. Lyndon SGB is the chosen scaffolding and access contractor, providing millions of pounds of in-house designed scaffolding and access solutions across the project, including large independent scaffolds, crash decks, a bespoke 90m clock tower scaffold, 34 chimney stacks/saddles and 8,000m2 of temporary roofing weather protection across the site. More than 50 Lyndon SGB scaffolding operatives will be working on the UK’s largest commercial scaffolding project – currently under strict COVID-19 secure protocols during lockdown. In addition, as part of the KPI (Key Performance Indicators) for the scaffolding program, a dozen apprenticeships will be launched on the project over the four-year contract. There are already seven apprentices in the Construction Industry Scaffolders Record Scheme and in-house training schemes, with three already operational on site and a further four working in the new Lyndon SGB single scaffolding depot in Manchester. All are employed full-time and working hard in their training, while preparing for college sessions run by learning provider The Growth Company. Lucas Findlay, 17, from Blackley, said: “Being an apprentice provides the skills and support in order to provide myself with a stable career in scaffolding. I have started at the bottom and the progression I can see ahead of me seems limitless. The opportunity to learn on the job on such a high-profile project shows the quality of training and trust we are given. I didn’t realise the extent of the challenges of building the scaffolding around such a building, until I saw it for myself and I am pleased to be a part of it.” Mark Davies, 24, from Collyhurst, said: “Working on the Our Town Hall project is an amazing learning experience, with the opportunity to get up close and personal to one of the oldest buildings in the city. I have walked past this building so many times over my lifetime without appreciating the details, including what it is like inside. From working in the Great Hall, checking out the views over the city and admiring all the statues, the whole project leaves you in awe.” Councillor Nigel Murphy, deputy leader of Manchester City Council, said: “Creating opportunities for local young people to build firm foundations for future professional careers across a range of trades is a key goal of the Our Town Hall project and will be an important part of its legacy for the city. “This is a building which has served Manchester for more than 140 years and through this once-in-a-lifetime scheme, it will continue to play an integral role at the heart of our civic life for generations to come.” Lyndon SGB Managing Director, Stuart Robinson said: “We are incredibly proud to have secured the scaffolding and access provision on this incredibly important national building renovation. Few firms in the UK could have been selected for such an enormous, complex and highly skilled project.” Kevin Fitzpatrick, Lyndon SGB Operations Director, said “The newly-operational single scaffolding depot at Manchester is perfectly placed to provide a slick, safe and efficient service on this enormous and iconic project.” Lyndon SGB North West Regional Manager, Jon Cooke, added: “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to demonstrate our unique and unrivalled skills, we deliver projects like Our Town Hall because we have the ability to deliver on programme and on budget.” Lendlease Group’s David Cadiot said: “Our Town Hall is in the top 2% of important historical structures in the UK, we need and must have a supply chain that can deliver, that is why we chose Lyndon SGB.”
Colchester Borough Council’s ambition to provide more high-quality, council-owned, affordable homes has taken another major step forward as construction starts on the building of new family houses and apartments in Military Road, Colchester. The council’s project is one of several housing developments that are delivering a promised 350 additional homes across the borough by 2024. Colchester Amphora Homes Ltd (CAHL), the council’s commercial housing company, is project managing the development, working in partnership with Colchester Borough Homes On 8th February Tiptree-based building contractors, TJ Evers, began work on the development which is located south of Colchester within easy walking distance of the Town Centre. In total, eight new homes are under construction, comprising a mix of six apartments and two houses. Designed by award-winning architects, Barefoot & Gilles, the properties feature high-quality and attractive finishes including zinc cladding and rusticated brick. In addition, as part of the Council’s response to the climate emergency declaration made in 2019, all the homes are being built to the Government’s Future Homes 2025 principles. Each property uses triple glazing, heat pumps and high-efficiency LED lighting to provide a distinctive example of sustainable and affordable housing design. Cllr Theresa Higgins, Portfolio Holder for Commercial Services, said: “It’s very encouraging to see construction work begin on the delivery of these high-quality and energy efficient homes. Action to deliver more quality homes in the borough is always welcome as is the boost this gives to local employment to help support the growth of our regional economy.” Along with providing safe and secure accommodation to local residents, tenants will also have access to the services and support provided by Colchester Borough Homes and its partners within the community. Cllr Adam Fox, Colchester Borough Council’s Portfolio Holder for Housing, added: “We continue to work closely with Colchester Amphora Homes, to explore and develop more opportunities to expand our stock of affordable homes. Once completed this new development will provide vital new homes to local people and demonstrate our commitment to tackling the housing crisis in Colchester.” The new properties at Military Road are expected to be available to tenants from early 2022. Find out more about plans for new council homes, here: https://www.colchester.gov.uk/info/category/?id=/new-council-homes
As one of Europe’s largest business hubs, London is a great place to do business. With the right strategy, you can be sure to grow your brand name from oblivion to an internationally acclaimed brand. One of the challenges that most businesses face as they enter the expansion phase is storage space for manufactured goods and scale up your day to day operations. Ordinarily, you’ll require a warehouse. But what if you don’t own a warehouse just yet? Well, this should not be a stumbling broke to the rapid growth of your business. You can take advantage of a warehouse for rent as a perfect temporary storage location without blowing up your budget. Warehouse rental is a strategic move that will enable you to expand gradually while maintaining a healthy bottom line as you don’t have to handle extra costs. Whether you need warehouse space for a day, week, month or an entire year, there are many benefits you can enjoy renting warehouse space. Warehouse rental allows you to not only connect with your customers better but also monitor important trends while allowing them to reach you directly. This means better relationships with your customers as they have a front line opportunity to see your brand in action. Renting warehouse space also allows you to test new markets that you hope to expand into without risking resources. You can tell if the market is receptive as these rentals let you monitor specific areas as well as a range of products without having long term commitment. Should you realize that expanding into a specific market is not a good move then you can consider a different location. Warehouse also helps to confront the financial risk involved in establishing a presence in a new location. You can lease warehouse space on a budget for a month so you set up operations without hurting your budget. How to Find Warehouse for Rent Here are some tips to help you if are looking for warehouse space for rent: · Define your needs Before you begin your search for warehouse space for rent, you must have a concise and clear idea of how you will use the space. This is important because it will help you to get just enough space. When you don’t have your needs defined, you might either end up with too little or too much space. · Think about the warehouse Layout Warehouses have different facilities for different kinds of needs. Therefore, as you look for warehouse space have your preferred layout that will fulfil your business needs. You can request a floor plan or a virtual tour of the warehouse interior so that you have an idea of how best you can use the space. For example, you may have large and heavy equipment that you need to maneuver to lift heavy items. There are automation tools like industrial manipulators that will make your life easier and ensure smooth operations in your warehouse. You need to make sure there is enough room to get these machines through your doors and do their jobs. They are versatile machines that offer many benefits and are a must-have for any warehouse. · Location, Location, Location When you are looking for warehouse space keep location in mind. Do you prefer to rent warehouse space closer to your other business locations or closer to your home? What about proximity to the transport network? How easy will it be to move goods to and from the warehouse? Is the area easily accessible? You also need to establish if there are specific warehouses for specific industries. You don’t want to find your food warehouse is in the middle of industrial products as this can be a turn off for your customers. Being in the right zone helps to build the confidence of your customers that you are indeed committed to the industry standards. · Property Features Equally important are the features that can be found in the warehouse for rent. Think about the number of customers and employees that will be coming to the warehouse. Does the warehouse have adequate parking space for vans, social amenities, security and other important features? · Know the terms of the lease When looking for warehouse space to rent, you need to determine the terms. This includes the duration of the lease. If you foresee a situation when your business may undergo rapid expansion then you need a short term lease. On the contrary, if you see your business remaining the same for a foreseeable future then you could opt for a longer-term lease. Additionally, you also must pay attention to other terms of the agreement before signing. Make sure you ask questions if you need to clarify anything Warehouse for rent presents a perfect opportunity to experiment with different markets before you launch. The rental experience will help you to tell the most receptive markets before expansion. These short term rentals help you to access crucial information without having to opt for a long-term commitment. Moreover, it makes it possible for you to make a huge impact for a short period on a budget.
When you’re working on the construction of a new property, it’s always important to think about durability. Some environments will make the creation of a durable property more difficult. For instance, you might be constructing new buildings on farmland. If that’s the case then you should definitely think about the issues such as hazardous materials and exposure to the worst of the weather. There are a few ways to ensure that your new building is as durable as possible so let’s take a look at some of the best options that you could keep in mind here. Building Location First, you should think about the location where you’re building your new property. You must consider things like the winter direction and even exposure to the sun. The latter could be important if you’re planning on using solar panels for the new building. The ground quality can also have an impact here. If the ground doesn’t provide the right foundations then it can lead to issues with the building. As such, you should always complete a survey on any area that you’re thinking about building. Materials And Design You should also make sure that you are considering the design and the materials that you are using for the construction of the new property. Certain materials are more durable than others and there’s a reason why farm buildings are often metal. Farm barn sheds made from this material are more likely to withstand the test of time and you don’t have to worry about issues that complicate matters such as weatherproofing. Speak To A Contractor You should consider speaking to your contractor about how to ensure that your building is as durable as possible and can withstand certain challenges. They probably have quite a few ideas about how to guarantee that this is the case. Be aware that an increased level of durability can mean a higher price. But in the long term, this could be a price worth paying as you will pay less in costs overall towards the upkeep of your property. You just need to speak to a few different contractors to find the right service. Consider Usage Finally, do make sure that you are thinking carefully about what the building is going to be used for. Thinking about the farm again, you could be using it to provide shelter for livestock. If that’s the case it needs to be strong enough that a hit won’t cause it to get damaged. You might also want to consider your local climate. Are there issues with freezing temperatures? If so then this is another aspect that your contractor needs to be aware of and help you with as you set up the building. We hope this helps you understand the best ways to approach durability with your new business, particularly if you are struggling with a difficult environment. In doing so, you can make sure that your building remains standing for years and you don’t have to worry about issues like heavy maintenance costs.
Leading London property services group Kinleigh Folkard & Hayward (KFH) has been appointed by an EQT Real Estate and Sigma Capital Group joint venture to let and manage assets across the joint venture’s expanding Greater London portfolio. KFH will be working closely with Sigma, the joint venture company’s asset manager. Sigma, the UK PRS, residential development and urban regeneration specialist, announced the joint venture with EQT Real Estate, the real estate platform of global investment organisation EQT, at the end of September 2020. The joint venture company was formed to deliver an initial portfolio of around 3,000 new homes for rent in London over the next five years with a value in excess of £1bn. The portfolio will deliver high quality, build-to-rent apartment blocks in more affordable parts of Greater London, predominantly in TfL Zones 3-6. KFH, which currently oversees a £12bn portfolio of 30,000 residential units across London, will be managing assets within the joint venture company’s portfolio under its Simple Life London brand, an extension of Sigma’s existing Simple Life build-to-rent management operation, comprising over 3,000 homes in the UK regions. Commenting on the appointment, Paul Masters, Group Operations Director at KFH, said: “We are delighted to have been appointed to lease up and manage assets within this portfolio under the Simple Life London brand, working with EQT Real Estate and Sigma’s exciting joint venture company to establish their presence in the Capital. During the last six months, we have built a close working relationship with the Sigma team in preparation for the imminent first releases in East London. This appointment reinforces our position as the essential partner to help deliver build-to-rent solutions to best in class owners in the London market.” Rob Sumner, Residential Investment Director at Sigma, said: “We are very pleased to appoint KFH in readiness for the launch of our first new rental homes in London under our joint venture with EQT Real Estate. “KFH has established an excellent reputation in the private rental property market in London and their values of exceptional customer service align with ours. We look forward to the launch of our first completed apartments in East London and to welcoming our first Simple Life London residents before the end of April.”
Following a competitive tender process, Barbour ABI have been awarded the contract to supply the Government Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy with the Renewable Energy Planning Database (REPD). Over the next two years, Barbour ABI and the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) will deliver regular data and interactive mapping tools, a brand new way to analyse the REPD, to support the industry’s businesses and associations with detailed information on renewable energy projects throughout the UK. The Government announced in November 2020 the ‘Build Back Greener’ campaign – an investment of £134 million to keep the UK’s greenest, most innovative businesses thriving during the coronavirus pandemic. Therefore, the new REPD will continue to provide an as accurate and comprehensive as possible snapshot of renewable electricity projects and progress across the technology sectors. Barbour ABI will provide additional information on: • electricity storage projects and renewable energy projects with a capacity of 150KW and over • heat network planning applications (from Q1 2021 onwards) Simon Mahoney Group Director at Barbour ABI said, “Construction and infrastructure in the UK is shaped by social and economic developments, and over recent years we have seen greener initiatives and innovations change ours, and, almost every other industry. We feel privileged to be working in partnership with the Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy Department to empower and inform the UK construction industry on such a prevalent topic together.” Energy Minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan said, “Our new partnership with Barbour ABI and our Renewable Energy Planning Database are great assets to support UK businesses and ensure we build back greener. A snapshot of renewable energy projects and technologies shows us what progress is being made to reach our ambitious goals to eliminate the UK’s contribution to carbon emissions, while understanding how we can best support the construction industry.”
Cranbourne Stone, specialists in providing bespoke and high-quality natural stone and porcelain products for swimming pools and landscape designs, is pleased to announce the release of its new 2021 product brochure, entitled The Collection. 21. The latest edition includes their bestselling natural stone and porcelain as well as new additions which are tipped to be popular design choices this year. As the largest stockist of pool copings and matching paving in the UK, The Collection.21 is packed full of products including natural stone like limestone and marble, as well as Cranbourne Stone’s range of porcelain tiles and deck level grilles. New for 2021 is the stunning Trevose Black Granite. Its dramatic dark colour and flamed finish make it the ideal stone for modern swimming pool surrounds and terraces, and is already garnering attention from those looking for a contemporary finish. A Porcelain Mosaic range has also been introduced for the first time in Cranbourne Stone’s 17-year history. Available in nine stunning colours and two sizes, it is the perfect tile choice for swimming pools. The latest range can be paired with Cranbourne Stone’s large format tiles to create sumptuous style for your pool. “We are thrilled to present The Collection.21 product catalogue to our customers,” said Jo Standfield, Cranbourne Stone’s Sales Director. “It brings together our whole range of products, including the favourites that continue to be popular year on year. We have also replaced some natural stone with brand new updates like Trevose Black Granite. This beautiful rich-coloured stone replaces Chattis Black Basalt granite and is a perfect choice for contemporary designs. “What I am really excited to introduce is the new Porcelain Mosaic range. They match our Elegance range of large format porcelain tiles and are the ideal choice for those looking for chic styling. By using the mosaic tiles as a pool lining and the large tiles for the swimming pool surround it creates a beautiful seamless finish. “With over 100 pages bursting with luxurious stone and tile choices, this new brochure is a must-have for those looking to create beautiful swimming pool and landscape designs in 2021.” The Collection.21 includes natural stone and porcelain and wood porcelain tile ranges, which will satisfy all tastes and styles. Also featured are Deck Level Grilles from Stonetech and a range using Lapitec® sintered stone, which Cranbourne Stone is an approved fabricator of. As the UK’s exclusive distributor for Stonetech Pools’ products, Cranbourne Stone imports the unique Grilles from Greece and stocks the product at their Hampshire facility ready to be delivered quickly for pool projects. Concluding The Collection.21 is a section of detailed information including Cranbourne Stone’s extensive service which includes bespoke masonry, site template and survey options to help pool builders, architects and landscapers successfully design their project. To download The Collection.21 visit www.cranbournestone.co.uk
THE VIRTUAL launch of Lovell Homes‘ latest North West development has revealed what a dream home looks like for house hunters in Lancashire. The national house builder held its first ever interactive Instagram event over the weekend (5-7 Feb) to celebrate the opening of Woodlark Chase’s new show homes in Thornton Cleveleys. More than 450 savvy buyers tuned into Instagram over the weekend and almost 300 votes revealed that 73% of people would choose an office over a playroom in their new home, 86% would prefer a back garden facing kitchen and a utility in a non-negotiable for 77%, while also receiving interior inspiration from the development’s interior designer and gaining a sneak peek of its beautiful new show homes. The top trends revealed during the unique interactive launch reflected the chic style of the newly opened show homes at Woodlark Chase with “tone on tones” schemes including layering and strong accent colours. This popular use of natural tones – whites and soft taupe – with earthy accent colours are on display with forest green in the Rochester and ochre in the Woodford. The show home designs also showed potential buyers that inspiration can be drawn from everywhere, from nature to the catwalk. Karen Vincent Ernst, of Open Door, designed and curated the Woodlark Chase homes. She said: “A key part of the brief for Woodlark Chase was to incorporate elements of the local area into our design. We therefore pulled inspiration from the coast, wildlife, and nature and brought these natural elements into the theme of the show home design. “When thinking about interior design, an important aspect is to create interest and impact in the room by paying close attention to detail. A great example of this is the Rochester master bedroom where we incorporated a zinc velvet headboard with an Aztec pattern on it. This seamlessly linked with the Andrew Martin curtains, and then we used lots of natural fabrics to really tie it all together. “Within every room we also wanted to create a warm and cosy feeling with lots of textures and plenty of layering to give depth. This was particularly true of the Woodford kitchen as we utilised a tone-on-tones scheme – which is really on trend this year – by layering lots of ivory and taupe, accented by a strong ochre colour. We also incorporated plenty of gold and metal in the lighting, artwork, and accessories to add further depth. “Another clever interior design trick when you have a great, big, blank wall, is to use weathered oak picture ledges to create impact and focus. In the Woodford we dressed the shelves with a combination of plates, photo frames and cookbooks to add personality and character.” Anne-Marie O’Doherty, regional sales director at Lovell Homes North West, said: “We really loved this launch as we got to hear from potential buyers about what they value in a home even though we couldn’t meet them face to face “It’s no surprise that 73% would choose a home office, given the shift to home working, but 77% voting a utility as a non-negotiable really shows the trend of how modern families live. People want a practical space for storage and to keep dirty wellies and washing out of view, which is why we’ve included it in our family friendly Rochester house. “So much work goes into the design and construction of the houses as well as the interior design and finishing touches, that we usually love opening up our doors and celebrating a brand-new launch. However, that’s just not possible at the moment so we’ve had to adapt to the situation, and I think that getting house hunters involved has been a really fantastic way to mark the occasion. Instagram was the perfect platform for this development as we wanted to reach first time buyers and young families, and the weekend saw our highest level of engagement to date! “This is a really lovely development and our two and three-bedroom homes will help meet the growing demand for high-quality starter homes, while our four-bedroom house types are perfect for growing families in need of more space.” Located in Thornton Cleveleys, near Blackpool, the 86-home development offers a collection of two-, three- and four-bedroom properties that are currently available to purchase. Site visits and show home tours must be booked in advance with visitors adhering to social distancing guidelines. Prices for homes start from £176,950 for a three bed, which falls within the region’s Help to Buy cap for first time buyers, and for those moving up the ladder four beds start from £236,950. For more information about Lovell Homes please visit www.lovell.co.uk or follow @Lovell_UK on Twitter.