SO Resi, the shared ownership brand of leading housing association Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing (MTVH), will release its first annual report to unveil new research into shared ownership. The research has been undertaken together with Cambridge University and the findings will be discussed during a virtual roundtable on Wednesday 3rd
The Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF) has issued revised guidance for Home Improvement companies and sub-contractors operating in England during the current National Lockdown, following confirmation from Government officials of a new interpretation of the guidance for in-house selling during the pandemic. The general Guidance on the subject of sales,
Brickfab, a leading manufacturer of prefabricated products for the UK House Building industry, is building itself a greener future. The innovative business, based in Pontypool, which employs sixty people designs, manufactures and supplies prefabricated arches, brick specials, chimneys, GRP canopies and panels to the major house builders throughout the UK. Brickfab Managing Director, Nigel
Maynards Europe will oversee the initial stages in one of the most important regeneration projects in the UK from 2021 onwards. Work is set to begin in January following the acquisition of the 100-acre Avlon Works pharmaceutical processing site in the heart of Avonmouth Severnside by the Vancouver-based Epta Development
Collaborative projects being undertaken at the Manufacturing Technology Centre have been shortlisted for the prestigious Collaborate to Innovate awards. The awards, organised by The Engineer, celebrate UK-led engineering projects with genuine innovation at their core. MTC projects have been shortlisted in several categories including Aerospace and Defence, Manufacturing Technology and
Tom Bowtell, CEO of the British Coatings Federation, has taken over as Chair of the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Surface Coatings Interest Group. The group now has over 300 members, with a very active committee organising events and outreach to help bring together the industrial and academic communities with an
Buying business equipment is something the majority of business owners will need to do at some point – unless this business is one that can run with nothing but an internet connection, although that is rare. Since you are thinking about buying business equipment now (or you wouldn’t be reading
National housebuilder Keepmoat Homes has been granted planning permission from Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council for the delivery of 125 brand new homes in Exhall. The £26m development, Exhall Gardens, will transform the previously vacant site on School Lane and provide much needed housing to the area. Comprising a mixed
Initiative Set To Maximise Value and Kick Start Development Of Unused Land Keyland Developments Ltd, the property trading arm of Kelda Group and sister-company to Yorkshire Water, has been appointed as the sole Land Broker on a new land brokerage and advisory framework designed to maximise the value and support
THE TRANSFORMATION of Bury St Edmunds’ former post office has now begun as part of a council’s investment in the future of its high street. The £8.4 million redevelopment project at 17-18 Cornhill will completely demolish the rear of the building to make way for 12 flats and two commercial units, while the Victorian frontage will be retained. Property, construction and infrastructure
SO Resi, the shared ownership brand of leading housing association Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing (MTVH), will release its first annual report to unveil new research into shared ownership. The research has been undertaken together with Cambridge University and the findings will be discussed during a virtual roundtable on Wednesday 3rd February at 10am. The virtual roundtable will be chaired by property writer and editor Stacey Meadwell, and the panel will consist of Kush Rawal, Director of Residential Investment at MTVH; Dr Gemma Burgess, Professor at Cambridge University; Jon Lord, Managing Director at Metro Finance; and Ben Fry, Head of Housing Investment at Gresham House. The discussion will focus on the key findings from the report, offering an overview of the shared ownership sector in 2020 and covering topics such as a more in depth look at the supply side of the market; management issues such as arrears; responses to the pandemic; and upcoming changes to shared ownership. Attendees will be invited to submit their questions to the panel on the day, and encouraged to give feedback throughout the roundtable in a series of polls. Kush Rawal, Director of Residential Investment at Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing, comments: “Despite the challenges of the pandemic last year, we saw our highest level of interest from customers hoping to use shared ownership in 2020, demonstrating a clear demand from consumers for an affordable route onto the property ladder. Yet there is an obvious gap in the market in terms of accurate, recent data surrounding shared ownership and the issues faced in the sector. “Our inaugural report looks at the shared ownership sector over the past year, allowing both us and external organisations to draw conclusions that will help to improve shared ownership not only for customers, but for lenders and investors. This is the first report in recent history that evaluates data from all perspectives in the industry, which we feel will not only be hugely beneficial to us, but to all affordable housing providers. I am looking forward to discussing the findings of the report with the panel, which will offer a varied insight into shared ownership and contribute to our understanding of the affordable homes sector.” Dr Gemma Burgess, Acting Director Cambridge Centre for Housing and Planning Research at Cambridge University, comments: “This research underpins many existing beliefs within the affordable homes sector, with respondents agreeing that shared ownership is a positive offering for homebuyers and an attractive prospect for investors and lenders. However, there are some concerns highlighted by those who took part in the research surrounding the upcoming changes that the government will introduce this year. The virtual roundtable discussion will bring together different perspectives, reflecting the range of respondents surveyed, and will allow the audience to offer their opinions on the research results.” SO Resi’s virtual roundtable discussion will take place via Zoom on Wednesday 3rd February from 10am-11am. Those interested in attending the roundtable or receiving a copy of the report can register here www.shorturl.at/hknuV or email matt@building-relations.co.uk. To find out more about SO Resi call 0208 607 0550 or visit www.soresi.co.uk.
The Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF) has issued revised guidance for Home Improvement companies and sub-contractors operating in England during the current National Lockdown, following confirmation from Government officials of a new interpretation of the guidance for in-house selling during the pandemic. The general Guidance on the subject of sales, published on the Government’s website, as detailed below remains the same and is unlikely to change for the next few weeks. “Door-to-door sales should not take place, and sales activities should be conducted remotely (such as by phone, online, or mail).” The slightly more relaxed interpretation of the rules around the restrictions may allow for sales people to enter the home, if necessary but it is vital for all individuals who are entering a property to ensure they are following the Safe Guidance and social distancing guidelines. John Agnew, GGF Managing Director commented on the change, “Government officials have recently confirmed directly to the GGF that if selling and surveying in England cannot be done remotely, then companies and their sub-contractors can conduct pre-booked in-house sales and surveys, if carried out within the Safe Guidance.” The GGF recommends that consumers are offered a remote appointment in the first instance and that advises companies, who cannot sell or survey remotely to ensure they do so, in a controlled and measured manner. John Agnew added, “The GGF recommends that any in-house selling activity should start in February to ensure a responsible and gradual industry approach.” The GGF also advises that all individuals entering a home to carry out work should use the NHS Test and Trace App which can be downloaded from the NHIS website https://covid19.nhs.uk/. On the subject of door to door canvassing, the Government is clear that this activity should not be undertaken at present and this has been underlined by the GGF. In a statement issued to its Membership, the GGF highlights that local authorities in England can issue a prohibition notice on businesses. The GGF’s Primary Authority Partnership confirmed “the (current) level of risk to public health met the requirements for local authorities to be able to issue prohibition notices to businesses as allowed by the regulations”. Companies should be mindful of this possible sanction if they ignore the advice and continue to canvass. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is responsible for enforcing COVID secure guidance in terms of how you are working. The HSE has the power to issue an enforcement notice on any business that is not operating in accordance with COVID secure guidance creating a potential risk to public health and safety. With the restriction on in-house selling slightly relaxed, and if the pandemic health statistics show the situation is improving, the GGF expects the Government to ease the restrictions gradually over the coming weeks and months. In the meantime, the GGF has urged companies who can continue to operate, to do so responsibly and within the spirit of the guidance. John Agnew summarised, “The published GGF and Government Safe Guidance has not changed, all companies who can continue to operate should ensure they follow the safe guidance to safeguard their employees and customers, and to protect the NHS and save lives.” To access the very latest GGF and Government guidance please click on the links below: GGF COVID Latest News Page GGF COVID Guidance Table GGF COVID Guide for Manufacturers and the Supply Chain GGF COVID Guide for Installers GGF COVID Guide for Homeowners
Brickfab, a leading manufacturer of prefabricated products for the UK House Building industry, is building itself a greener future. The innovative business, based in Pontypool, which employs sixty people designs, manufactures and supplies prefabricated arches, brick specials, chimneys, GRP canopies and panels to the major house builders throughout the UK. Brickfab Managing Director, Nigel Watkins, says the firm recognises the role it must play in reducing its carbon footprint by putting the environment at the forefront of its business. It has added to its green credentials by installing 170 solar panels at its factory in Pontypool. Mr Watkins said: “We take a proactive approach to dealing with all matters relating to Brickfab’s environmental impact. To that end and to reduce our carbon footprint even further, we have installed a total of 170, 290v solar modules which will give us an installed capacity of 49kWP. We expect to make savings of 25 tonnes of CO2e per year. It helps everyone at Brickfab to have a greater awareness of the importance of looking after the planet and climate.” The business expects to recover the costs of installing the solar panels over the next few years through the energy produced by the equipment. Brickfab received an interest free loan from The Carbon Trust for the installation which had made the project financially viable. The system was installed by Hereford-based Caplor Energy. The installation comes in the wake of Brickfab’s other green initiatives which include the use of cutting-edge delivery vehicles to help reduce fuel use, streaming and segregation of factory waste with significantly less going to land fill and the recycling of plastic and cardboard. Mr Watkins said: “We have a focus on reducing energy use across the business and working towards ISO 14001 environmental standard. We could well see further solar panels installed on our other factories, in the future.”
Maynards Europe will oversee the initial stages in one of the most important regeneration projects in the UK from 2021 onwards. Work is set to begin in January following the acquisition of the 100-acre Avlon Works pharmaceutical processing site in the heart of Avonmouth Severnside by the Vancouver-based Epta Development Corporation (EDC) in December. Maynards, a global leader in industrial auctions and liquidations, is to manage the asset recovery and demolition of the former pharmaceutical plant. The project is so vast that the asset list runs to 144 pages and Maynards expects to put together a sales catalogue of more than 5,000 lots, to include “everything above ground”. Once the site has been cleared, EDC propose creating a modern, master-planned warehousing and logistics park comprising c.1,850,000 square, a project that is set to be a major contributor to economic development, job creation and regeneration for the region centred on South Gloucestershire. The Avlon Works were operational for 50 years from 1969 to 2019. In 2016 AstraZeneca sold the site to Avara Pharmaceutical in the hope of securing the operation’s future, but Avara fell into administration and the entire site was put up for sale. “With the complete contents of the 100-acre facility for sale, Maynards is offering a unique opportunity to purchase complete pharmaceutical production lines or individual assets,” says UK Managing Director Daniel Gray. “The spares inventory alone is valued at more than £2.5 million, but add to that site support equipment, site infrastructure, offices, labs, warehouse equipment, workshops, data centres, building structures and much more, and it is easy to see just how substantial and significant this offer is.” All the equipment has been professionally cleaned and purged, and Avara staff have been retained to assist in answering technical questions, providing data and assisting with sales and equipment removal from site. Full data sheets of the complete inventory are available to interested parties. Among the equipment and facilities to be disposed of are: five Large-Scale cGMP API Plants, with 6-10m3 reactors, pressure filter, conical and centrifuge drying two Large-Scale Milling Facilities with Hosakawa mills cGMP Kilo Scale facility with 20-100L reactors four quality, two environmental, six chemistry and one analytical laboratories IMS Solvent Recovery Unit (Koch Modular Process) a biological wastewater treatment facility a combined heat and power plant extensive warehousing including cold storage offices, workshops, site services, facilities and internal transport throughout “The Avonmouth site has long been a major national distribution hub for its products, and so is perfectly situated for effective asset disposal, with additional nearby port connections,” said Mr Gray. Maynards Europe is part of the Maynards group of companies, a global enterprise launched in 1902 which pioneered the Industrial and Retail auction industry from the early 1950s. A formidable track record in asset disposal includes numerous blue-chip partnerships in the automotive, pharmaceutical, energy supply and other industries that have enabled the repurposing of highly specialised machinery and equipment. One of the company’s main focuses has been the pharmaceutical industry. Most recently that has included the dispersal of the complete contents of Recipharm’s Ashton-under-Lyne pharmaceutical manufacturing facility. As with that project, Maynards Europe will work with logistics partners offering turnkey solutions to relocate and recommission equipment from the Avlon Works site globally.
Collaborative projects being undertaken at the Manufacturing Technology Centre have been shortlisted for the prestigious Collaborate to Innovate awards. The awards, organised by The Engineer, celebrate UK-led engineering projects with genuine innovation at their core. MTC projects have been shortlisted in several categories including Aerospace and Defence, Manufacturing Technology and a wild card entry. Projects shortlisted include the £15 million DRAMA project (Digital Reconfigurable Additive Manufacturing facilities for Aerospace). DRAMA is a supply chain programme to accelerate the uptake of additive manufacturing in the UK aerospace sector, giving supply chain companies access to facilities and know-how that can support the development or their own products, processes and facilities. The programme has supported 22 supply chain companies so far and has expanded the footprint of the National Centre for Additive Manufacturing by building a new open access facility with state-of-the-art digital infrastructure developed with project partners. DRAMA was shortlisted in both the Aerospace and Defence and Manufacturing Technology categories of the Collaborate to Innovate Awards. Also shortlisted in the Manufacturing Technology category, the Concrete Reinforcement of the Future project, undertaken as part of the Construction Innovation Hub, identified opportunities to innovate standard rebar by laser cutting each piece, substantially reducing injury, labour time and costs. This collaborative project, in conjunction with MetLase, shows how even the most traditional process has potential for innovation. Based on current rebar use in the UK, this innovative project has identified potential savings of £1.35bn in labour time and 54,000,000 hours. Also shortlisted is the National Centre for Additive Manufacturing’s PowderCleanse project which demonstrates the benefits of a newly developed sieving and recycling process for metal powder used in additive manufacturing production, particularly with safety critical, high value components. The PowderCleanse process was created in collaboration with Carpenter Technology Corporation, Farleygreene, Malvern Panalytical and Aegleteq and can be integrated into the AM production process. The shortlisted Platform Construction System, also part of the Construction Innovation Hub, is developing a standardised kit of parts that can be deployed in multiple building types and sectors, offering significant benefits in quality, cost, delivery time and whole-life value. Shortlisted in the Wild Card category, the Platform Construction System blurs the boundaries between the once distinct manufacturing and construction sectors and is working collaboratively with more than 40 industry partners to develop solutions which can deployed at scale in the construction sector. Winning projects will be announced in Collaborate to Innovate Week which runs from February 1 to February 5. The MTC aims to provide a competitive environment to bridge the gap between university-based research and the development of innovative manufacturing solutions, in line with the Government’s manufacturing strategy. The MTC is part of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult, supported by Innovate UK. The MTC was founded by the University of Birmingham, Loughborough University, the University of Nottingham and TWI Ltd. The MTC’s industrial members include some of the UK’s major global manufacturers.
Tom Bowtell, CEO of the British Coatings Federation, has taken over as Chair of the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Surface Coatings Interest Group. The group now has over 300 members, with a very active committee organising events and outreach to help bring together the industrial and academic communities with an interest in surface coatings. The first meeting in 2021 was held remotely earlier in January, and has led to two events planned for the Spring – Raising the Standard of Standards for the Coatings Community in March, and a ChemCareers webinar in April on Careers in Coatings. On his new role, Tom Bowtell commented, “I am pleased to have taken over the role of Chair at the RSC Surface Coatings Interest Group. Inspiring the future generation of chemists and highlighting the benefits of working in the coatings industry are imperative to the sustainability of our industry, which will be one of the drivers during my period in the Chair. I’m looking forward to helping develop and expand many of the excellent initiatives the group has worked on in the last couple of years under the guidance of outgoing chair Jonathan Bourne, secretary Andrew Milton Thomson and treasurer Jeff Kelsey.” The new team includes Laura Merritt, who has taken over as secretary and Ian Hay from PRA as treasurer, with Stuart Clark from Cambridge University continuing to chair the technical committee.
Buying business equipment is something the majority of business owners will need to do at some point – unless this business is one that can run with nothing but an internet connection, although that is rare. Since you are thinking about buying business equipment now (or you wouldn’t be reading this post), we have a few things you can do to ensure that you get it right. You’ll end up with the equipment you need and you won’t burn through your budget – read on to find out what to do. Consider Whether You Should Rent (or Borrow) The Equipment Instead Before you buy any piece of equipment outright, consider whether you should rent or borrow the equipment first. Doing this will give you a better idea of how much you’re truly going to use and need the equipment, and whether you could do without it. Renting for a short period could be cheaper than buying outright if you discover that you don’t actually need this piece of equipment fulltime. If you’re lucky enough to know somebody who could lend you the equipment, you’ll save a fortune to begin with. 2. Set Your Budget For Equipment Knowing your business equipment budget will help you to ensure your cash flow does not suffer and that you’re not going to run into financial trouble shortly after purchasing your equipment. A budget is essential in business, and knowing what percentage of that budget you’re going to spend on certain things is key. It’ll stop you from overspending and you can come up with a plan to buy what you need to buy. Make sure you come up with your budget carefully and even go over your numbers with a pro if you can. 3. Identify What Needs To Be Outsourced Identifying what needs to be outsourced will have many benefits. You won’t end up hiring too many people and have too many permanent mouths to feed, and you can cut back on equipment costs. 4. Ensure You Have Accurate Measurements Assuming you have a business premises, you need to know your measurements before purchasing equipment to ensure everything fits. Carefully measure each area where equipment will be placed and note the ideal dimensions you’ll need. You can use space planning tools to get a better idea of what this will look like and stop you from making expensive mistakes. Don’t cut corners when it comes to finding these numbers or you might regret it. 5. Decide Whether You Need New Or Used Equipment If you have a limited budget, you’re likely going to benefit from buying used equipment rather than new equipment. This will not only end up better for your budget, but better for the planet. You don’t always need to buy new equipment, and refurbished equipment can be just as good. 6. Prepare To Spend More On Your Essential Items If an item is truly essential, then you should be willing to fork out for it. Don’t scrimp on items that you know you will use a lot, such as an air cooled chiller for your food and beverage business. If you know something is a must, then buy it without guilt. There’s a big difference between equipment you’re going to use to grow your business each day, and equipment that makes very little difference. Spending a fortune on computer chairs, for example, is not a good idea, but a half decent computer could be a worthwhile purchase! 7. Consider The Tax Implications of Buying Equipment You are able to claim ‘Annual Investment Allowances’ on capital expenditure on new items of plant or machinery. A capital allowance is a sum of money that can be taken aware from the amount of tax that a business needs to pay. If you purchase an asset through hire purchase, you can claim back the VAT, and there are further capital allowances available. Make sure you research the tax implications of certain purchases in depth. 8. What About Your Growth Plans & Usage? How well is this machinery going to fit in with your growth plans? Do you have enough work to make sure that the machinery will be used regularly? External economic factors might impact on the demand for your services, so make sure you think about this aspect of things, too. However, outside of that, it is very important that you ensure the purchase will improve the performance of the company and generate increased output to cover the additional financial output the purchase will cause. 9. What Are The Running Costs of The Equipment? Considering the running costs of equipment is just as important as anything else. There are many aspects to consider, and of course, this will depend on the type of equipment you are buying. Aspects include fuel costs, maintenance costs, repair costs, manpower, and anything else you can think of. Will the benefits of the piece of equipment justify the amount it is going to cost you to buy it and run it? 10. Can You Outline What The Transition Period Looks Like? Buying equipment should increase your productivity, lower your costs, and increase your profitability. Initially, however, you should expect a slowdown while people get used to the equipment and how it fits in with their everyday work life. You should also have a budget for the training required, so take this into consideration. Many businesses expect an instant increase in productivity, but this is often not the case. If you can plan for what this might look like and what needs to happen in advance, then you won’t come up against any nasty surprises. Buying business equipment can make or break your business, so use the advice above to make sure you get it right the first time around. Don’t rush into it and make sure you compare and consider your options carefully before you part with your cash. Do you have any advice that helped you to purchase the best possible business equipment? Leave it in
National housebuilder Keepmoat Homes has been granted planning permission from Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council for the delivery of 125 brand new homes in Exhall. The £26m development, Exhall Gardens, will transform the previously vacant site on School Lane and provide much needed housing to the area. Comprising a mixed tenure of two-, three- and four- bedroom houses and maisonette apartments, 25% will be made affordable and available for Shared Ownership and Affordable Rent in partnership with Flint Housing. Homebuyers will also benefit from great transport links, green open spaces along with enhanced planting to preserve ecology on site. Charlotte Goode, Regional Managing Director at Keepmoat Homes, said: ‘’We’re delighted our planning application has been approved by Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council, to deliver 125 stylish and spacious brand-new homes to Exhall. “The much-needed homes will be designed for both first time buyers and those looking to up-size, and we’re driven to make a big impact to the local area and aim to create a new community with great travel links, recreational paths, along with retaining the green spaces and existing pond at the development. ‘’The acquisition is a fantastic opportunity to strengthen our presence in the town and is another positive step for our ambitious growth plans in the West Midlands.’’ Eugene Schreider, CEO of Flint Housing, said: “Building more high-quality affordable housing is an imperative to help those who are unable to rent or buy in their local communities and to create positive broader social outcomes. We are therefore delighted to partner with Keepmoat on this scheme to bring 32 much-needed new build affordable homes to Exhall.’’ Construction is due to commence in May, with the first homes being available to purchase from Spring 2021. The development will take around two years to complete.
Initiative Set To Maximise Value and Kick Start Development Of Unused Land Keyland Developments Ltd, the property trading arm of Kelda Group and sister-company to Yorkshire Water, has been appointed as the sole Land Broker on a new land brokerage and advisory framework designed to maximise the value and support development of surplus land across the country. The Landsolve 2.0 Framework has been launched by EN:Procure, the specialist procurement arm of social housing consortium Efficiency North Holdings, to provide high-quality Land Brokerage and Advisory services to assist in generating capital and maximising the value of land for the benefit of the public and charitable sector and/or supporting the development of surplus land assets with the aim of delivering social infrastructure or other public policy objectives on a UK wide basis. Keyland has secured the coveted Land Brokerage position on the framework and was appointed alongside Land Advisors; Arcadis Consulting (UK) Limited, Aspinall Verdi Limited, BNP Paribas Real Estate Advisory & Property Management UK Limited, Edward Architectural Services Limited and GenR8 Developments LLP. Keyland proved to be a natural fit for the framework, clearly able to demonstrate the required socially responsible approach to land brokerage, having recently launched its own blueprint for sustainable development. Keyland is the first company in the UK to use a valuation tool to calculate direct, indirect and enabled value delivered from its developments. The tool is based on the ‘Six Capitals’ model and covers natural, social, human, intellectual, manufactured and financial value. Utilising this pioneering tool – created by leading sustainability consultants 3ADAPT, with support from Yorkshire Water and other world leading institutions – Keyland can measure its ‘Total Value’ as a company, addressing its ambitions to deliver exceptional places and enable sustainable living. This aligns well with Landsolve’s aspirations to shape and deliver exceptional places that provide a measurable long-term impact in a range of ways beyond the maximisation of the financial metrics of a scheme. The framework has an initial duration of four years with the option to extend for a further four years. Peter Garrett, Managing Director at Keyland Developments, said; “We are delighted to be appointed on this unique framework and look forward to utilising our extensive land brokerage expertise to add value to developments across the country. The framework’s approach to development is well matched with our Six Capitals method and the many synergies we have identified will prove advantageous as we progress our shared goal of creating exceptional places.” Lee Parkinson, Chief Executive, Efficiency North Holdings Limited, commented, “The Landsolve 2.0 framework is the first of a number of innovative procurement solutions in development that will expand the service offer and operating footprint of the company and we are excited by its potential. We very much look forward to working closely with the appointed Framework Members and implementing the framework across our Membership to deliver value adding developments.”
THE TRANSFORMATION of Bury St Edmunds’ former post office has now begun as part of a council’s investment in the future of its high street. The £8.4 million redevelopment project at 17-18 Cornhill will completely demolish the rear of the building to make way for 12 flats and two commercial units, while the Victorian frontage will be retained. Property, construction and infrastructure consultancy Perfect Circle was appointed by West Suffolk Council to provide quantity surveying, project management, and structural, civil, mechanical and electrical engineering and architectural advisory services for the scheme. The project was procured through SCAPE Consultancy, a direct award framework that drives collaboration, efficiency, time and cost savings on construction projects. Victoria Brambini, managing director of Perfect Circle, said: “We are delighted to be involved in the regeneration of this site and can truly appreciate the importance of the historic front of this building and its preservation for the local community. “The frontage is iconic in Bury St Edmunds as it has been home to the town’s post office for more than 100 years, so we’re glad we can help to bring it back to economic use. “Not only will we be working to preserve the post office’s historic front, but we will also be helping to improve the masterplanning of the town centre by joining together two of its most popular shopping destinations.” The build will better links between the historic town centre – around Cornhill and Buttermarket – and the contemporary arc shopping centre by widening the adjoining walkway by more than 50% to encourage an increase in footfall between the two sites and improving visitor experience. Victoria continued: “The new, mixed-use development will bring many benefits to the town centre, including residential and commercial units that will act as a catalyst for community regeneration. It will also help to rejuvenate the local economy and aesthetically improve the overall environment of the shopping district in Bury St Edmunds, so we’re glad this is something Perfect Circle can be a part of, providing a lasting legacy for the area.” West Suffolk Council secured £2.75 million in government investment, which provides cost certainty for the redevelopment. Managing a strict budget has been a key part of Perfect Circle’s role. Paul Darlow, regional lead for the East of England at Perfect Circle, said: “One of the main challenges we have experienced with this project so far was creating a design that met the client’s brief, was visually cohesive with the rest of the town centre, and kept within the budget of the scheme. “However, we have worked closely with the client’s architectural consultants to create a design that not only meets these requirements, but also perpetuates a new legacy that will stay with Bury St Edmunds for years to come.” Councillor John Griffiths, leader of West Suffolk Council, said: “It is a challenging time for our residents, businesses and indeed the council, but we are continuing to invest in the long-term future of West Suffolk and Bury St Edmunds town centre as a place of economic, social and cultural activity. “Furthermore, we are delivering on what people asked for when they helped to shape the vision for the town centre in the masterplan in 2017. “Once completed this will deliver so much, including a better and wider walkway between the arc and the historic town centre, as well as a new commercial frontage onto St Andrews St South and improved access to the historic Cornhill front.” The building, which has remained vacant since the post office relocated in November 2016, will also benefit from a new commercial frontage on St Andrews Street South to help improve the town centre. Mark Robinson, group chief executive of SCAPE, said: “The long-term impact of Covid-19 on the high street is a key consideration for local authorities as they look to evolve their masterplans for town centres and help the nation to build back better. “This project is a great example of a historic site being redesigned to better support the community, not only through high-quality living but also by stimulating commercial activity through improved town planning. “West Suffolk Council, supported by Perfect Circle, should be commended for their bold vision, which will have a significant positive impact on the local economy while maintaining the historic features of the high street in Bury St Edmunds.” For more information on Perfect Circle, please visit www.perfectcircle.co.uk.