Leading brickwork, scaffolding and drywall contractor, Phoenix Brickwork is expanding its UK reach with the appointment of several new team members. Well respected industry professionals Pav Bains, Jim Chandler, Wayne Addison, Neil Weston, Raj Bains and Steve Gates are joining Phoenix, with more appointments pending. Previously all had worked for
Contractors face “intense scrutiny” if they submit unrealistically low bids for public sector contracts, according to a senior official at the Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). Fergus Harradence, deputy director for infrastructure and construction, told a webinar hosted by the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) that any
Industrial asset management specialist NSM has signed another two tenants for Vector 31 Networkcentre, with only one unit remaining on the popular SME site near Sheffield. Dalton Designs UK which specialises in printing and producing promotional merchandise, is relocating its team from Worksop into Unit 7, a 1,715 space on
Estate planning is a matter that many people would feel a little bit squeamish about. However, it’s something that should be done, especially if you have several properties and children that would be left behind in the event of your demise. It’s also a good way of protecting your properties
While some of you are finding that you are spending more and more time at home, you might be looking around your home and seeing things that need a little fixing up. “Do it yourself” projects are a great way to pass time, and also make you feel accomplished taking
You’re a new residential construction business. You have the manpower, the expertise and some prospective clients, but you need to win contracts. What you’re looking for are the tools and services that could give you an edge in the market, and help your business succeed. Luckily for you, there is
The concept of insurance has been around for millennia, and yet the industry continues to evolve and grow as it responds to changes in society as well as the technological revolutions that shape our modern world. Here is a look at what significant shifts are occurring at the moment, and
SO Resi, the shared ownership brand of leading housing association Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing (MTVH), has joined forces with Cambridge University to release the first annual report into the status of shared ownership in England. The findings of the report, by Dr Gemma Burgess, Acting Director of the Cambridge Centre
UK Power Networks has announced a major programme to kick start the ‘Green Recovery,’ by cutting the cost of green energy projects. The energy network, which keeps the lights on for more than 18 million people across London, the East and South East of England, is investing up to £80m
CONSTRUCTION at a brand-new purpose-built residential care home for children has now started on site in Warwickshire, with principal contractor Stepnell putting the first spade in the ground. The award-winning construction firm has been appointed to help bring the £5.1 million high-quality development to life, which will include four stand-alone residential care
Leading brickwork, scaffolding and drywall contractor, Phoenix Brickwork is expanding its UK reach with the appointment of several new team members. Well respected industry professionals Pav Bains, Jim Chandler, Wayne Addison, Neil Weston, Raj Bains and Steve Gates are joining Phoenix, with more appointments pending. Previously all had worked for Bedford based Irvine-Whitlock. Christian Watson, managing director at Phoenix, welcomed the new appointments as the business looks to boost its £15 million turnover with expansion into London and the Home Counties. “Our reputation for high quality work, exemplary H&S compliance and solid client relationships has already established Phoenix as a strong player north of the Watford Gap. “We are delighted to welcome such experience into the business with the addition of these key industry players and now have the perfect platform to handle projects in the Capital and beyond.” Operating from its Derbyshire and Northamptonshire offices, Phoenix is well established in large parts of the North and Midlands, providing services to key leaders in the construction industry. The new appointments will work alongside the existing team and bring their experience gained across works such as St. Pancras International and Arsenal FC’s Emirates Stadium, to new projects for Phoenix across Greater London and the South East. “As a business we have always focused on delivering a quality service to our clients and I know that this ethos is shared by our new appointments,” said Christian. “This targeted expansion plan is just the first element of our wider plan to develop Phoenix as a national player and our expanded team will bring our co-ordinated service in brickwork, scaffolding and drywalling to projects further south.”
Contractors face “intense scrutiny” if they submit unrealistically low bids for public sector contracts, according to a senior official at the Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). Fergus Harradence, deputy director for infrastructure and construction, told a webinar hosted by the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) that any bids which appear unrealistically low will be rejected unless the bidder has a plausible explanation. He told BESA chief executive David Frise that the new procurement rules contained in the government’s ‘Construction Playbook’ were designed to “reset the government’s relationship with the industry because at the moment it is not working for either party”. Unrealistic bidding means the government does not get the quality projects it wants, and the industry suffers from low margins and lack of investment. It also leads to poor payment practices and unfair contract conditions that pass on too much risk to suppliers, added Harradence. “We need to get away from a situation where people are only able to make a profit by putting pressure on their supply chains…that is what led to Carillion,” he said. “We need the industry to behave responsibly and embed the rigorous comprehensive approach to quality that has been so successful in manufacturing.” Honest He said the playbook depended on everyone being more “open and honest with each other” and that government would prefer that projects appeared to cost more from the outset to avoid problems further down the line. The Playbook was developed by the Cabinet Office in partnership with the construction industry and sets out how the government aims to achieve project delivery that is “faster, better and greener”. It includes advice to make wider use of digital and offsite methods and engage with suppliers earlier in the procurement process. Social value also makes up 10% of awarding criteria according to the Playbook, which became mandatory for all projects procured by central government in England last December. The Cabinet Office is working with the industry to develop a clear definition of whole-life value, which is due to be published later this year. “The fundamental principle is that contracts should be profitable,” said Harradence. He also warned clients against issuing incomplete tender documents with poorly defined specifications, which increase the risk for bidders. “We are starting from the basis that we want to do things differently. This persistent under-bidding for projects leads to ministers having to stand up in parliament and apologise for projects running over time and budget,” he told the BESA webinar. He said too many clients were being given totally unrealistic expectations about how much a project would cost, which led to disputes and project over-runs. “There has to be a greater level of trust between the industry and its clients – this is absolutely pivotal. Without that trust, the process will run into the mud.” /mf Harradence confirmed that anyone who underbid would face a detailed interrogation. “If they have a good explanation that’s fine, but it is better for projects to appear to cost more – than us having to go cap in hand to the Treasury for more money further down the line. “We need to spend more time and money at the start of the process to get the design right. That will give clients greater reassurance that they will get the quality asset they need – and BIM can support that by giving a realistic production schedule and more transparency.” Frise said all BESA members would welcome the intention behind the Playbook and the move towards fully designed projects but would be watching carefully to make sure the rules were properly enforced and payment practices improved. The government believes that greater use of digital systems and BIM models can improve transparency, according to Harradence. “We want suppliers competing on the right basis – not on lowest price, but whole life cost, efficiency and social value.” Productivity He added that as much as £35bn of the £50bn worth of projects currently in the central government pipeline could be delivered through offsite fabrication, improving productivity and quality. Harradence said the process of putting the Playbook together was the most open and productive exercise he had experienced in 20 years in government because the pandemic had made sure officials engaged online with representatives from the entire construction supply chain. He also explained that the government was keen to see more people directly employed in the construction sector and that was behind recent policy changes like the revised IR35 scheme. “We would prefer the industry directly employed a smaller number of highly skilled individuals rather than pulling in large numbers of unskilled people from overseas. That model is not viable,” he told the BESA webinar. This should also help to raise the profile of vocational training, he added. “The vocational side has been the poor relation in our Higher Education system. It is often seen as something you fall into rather than aspire to. There’s more of a commitment now to change that…and it will be crucial if we are going to be able to do things like the effective retrofitting of buildings.”www.theBESA.com
Industrial asset management specialist NSM has signed another two tenants for Vector 31 Networkcentre, with only one unit remaining on the popular SME site near Sheffield. Dalton Designs UK which specialises in printing and producing promotional merchandise, is relocating its team from Worksop into Unit 7, a 1,715 space on a three-year lease with a separate unit of 3,580 sq. ft being taken by Pay Smart Carpets Limited. Vector 31 Networkcentre consists of 9 workspace units totalling 22,613 sq. ft with fully fitted offices ranging from 1,715 to 3,580 sq. ft. The site benefits from CCTV & 24hr access. All the units have 5m eaves height and heating & lighting to the warehouse spaces. The estate is secure and gated, and is a fully modern specification and build. Helen Gordon, Associate Director for Doncaster-based NSM said: “The Vector 31 Networkcentre has always been as a popular SME hub due to its modern setting and accessible location within easy reach of the M1 and M18. The two new tenants are a welcome addition to the Centre and signals the strong interest of SMEs looking to relocate to this region.” The Vector 31 Networkcentre, built on a former colliery site, was sold in 2018 in a £91million deal to InfraRed Capital Partners Limited as part of a 1 million sq. ft portfolio of 25 industrial sites and two development sites. As an industrial asset management specialist NSM manages more than 4 million sq. ft of industrial property across the north. It currently looks after 460 units nationally with a rent roll in excess of £15.4m. The Vector 31 site is located off the A618 Mansfield Road, less than 2 miles from Junction 31 of the M1.
Estate planning is a matter that many people would feel a little bit squeamish about. However, it’s something that should be done, especially if you have several properties and children that would be left behind in the event of your demise. It’s also a good way of protecting your properties and the interests of your heirs or beneficiaries—especially after your death. When you prepare your property before the end of life, you can secure any remaining responsibilities and even make sure that your last wishes would be followed down to the last detail. Here’s how you can prepare for it: Make An Inventory Of Your Properties This is the very first thing you have to do. After all, how can you protect and fully prepare your properties if you don’t know what and how much you really own? You can start by making a list of your assets. This should include personal and real properties, bank accounts, digital assets (if any), and even a life insurance policy. You might also want to include listing your liabilities so that you can have a rough estimate of the current net worth of your estate. If you have multiple properties across different states, it might be difficult to make an inventory on your own. For that, you may seek the help of an accountant and an asset protection firm like Mile High Estate Planning to make the process easier. Once you know exactly what you own and their respective values, consider which to keep and which to dispose of before you go. For instance, real properties that have eventually become poor investments must be recovered by selling them. Your heirs will thank you for it, having been saved from inheriting a property of decreasing or stagnant value. You can get agents to help you strategize on the disposal of the property. Hence, don’t just get any real estate agent. Find someone who is familiar with the area where your property is located. That will make it easier for him to use his knowledge on the property and the locality to find the right buyer. Write A Last Will And Testament Once you know the worth and extent of your remaining properties, it’s time to think about how to distribute them. Succession takes place at the moment of death. In other words, your existing properties will pass to your children and surviving spouse once you die. If you want to control how your estate is going to be divided among your heirs, creating a last will and testament is the only way. Through a will, you can allocate specific properties and portions of your estate to specific heirs. You can also appoint an executor who’ll make sure that your will is truly followed after your death. The executor can also be tasked to keep your properties in good condition as your heirs await the inheritance process. States, however, have varying rules and requisites in the making of a valid will, so make sure to consult a lawyer about this. Have Your Will Probated Yes, you can have your will probated while you’re still alive. Along with a probate attorney, you can file a petition in your local court and submit your last will and testament to be probated. In a probate proceeding, a judge will determine the validity of your will. The court will consider these two main things: Whether or not the will was executed with the formal requisites prescribed by law. Whether or not you, the testator, is of sound mind and was free from undue influence when you made the will. A will is easier to validate through a living probate as you’ll be there to prove the validity yourself. In fact, it’s harder for anyone to contest the will as you’re still around to disprove unlawful claims. However, not a lot of states allow living probate procedures. Therefore, you still need to check the laws of your state regarding this one. Conclusion Preparing your properties before life ends may not be as exciting as getting your dream car or buying your first house. However, it’s how you can ensure that your heirs and beneficiaries can get their rightful share of your estate. It’s also a good way to prevent unwarranted claims against your property. After all, you have worked hard to earn your assets. The least you could do is to make sure that the properties you leave behind will be enjoyed by the people you love.
While some of you are finding that you are spending more and more time at home, you might be looking around your home and seeing things that need a little fixing up. “Do it yourself” projects are a great way to pass time, and also make you feel accomplished taking care of business yourself. If you are new to DIY projects, then check out this list of products that can be useful to help get a variety of tasks done around the house. There is no need to run out and buy a whole hardware store. With an AliExpress discount code you can save money on everything you need. As you spend more time at home, you are bound to come across a leaking faucet, squeaky door hinges, and other small things around the house that need a little extra attention. There are certain tools you must have in your toolbox to complete general tasks at home. A set of screwdrivers can be used for so many different projects around the house. As a beginner to DIY projects, you may be asking yourself why you need more than one. Screwdrivers can tighten screws on hardware, light switches, open your kids’ favorite toys to replace the batteries, and many more everyday chores. You don’t need to have any prior knowledge, just make sure you use the screwdriver size that fits best with the screw. A tape measure is another tool that you should always have on hand. Are you looking to add some wall art to your living room? Make sure you measure the distance between frames, and keep everything nicely centered so that you don’t end up with distracting, off-centered pieces. Are you looking to upgrade your TV and wanting to make sure it fits with your entertainment center? Don’t let the eye fool you. Always measure first before you buy to save you a trip to the electronics store. A tool that can be used hand and hand with a tape measure is a stud finder. If you are hanging decorations or redoing some electrical work, you are going to need to know what’s behind the walls before you start doing any drilling. With such advanced technology these days, stud finders are even equipped with lasers so you can make sure the items you are hanging are level. A utility knife speaks for itself: useful, beneficial, and practical. From sharpening pencils when you can’t find the pencil sharpener, to cutting down electrical wires, and even simple tasks like opening boxes, you shouldn’t be without one. This next tool may seem basic, but can be handy when you least expect it. Having a flashlight at hand or in your tool box is convenient when unpredictable weather conditions cause your electricity to go out. A flashlight can help you find your way to the fuse box, or the stash of candles you have collected for emergencies. You can even purchase headlamps to help you in small places and keep you hands free such as when you are fixing the pipes under the kitchen sink or checking wires under your car. A repair tool kit such as wax chips is an excellent tool to have in your toolbox. From wooden floors, antique or vintage furniture, and even ceramic countertops, you can fill in those scratches, chips, and signs of wear. Bring your furniture back to life with this professional repair kit. When you find yourself completing more and more tasks at home, it may be useful to invest in a simple tool belt so that you can carry all the tools you need to get the job done.
You’re a new residential construction business. You have the manpower, the expertise and some prospective clients, but you need to win contracts. What you’re looking for are the tools and services that could give you an edge in the market, and help your business succeed. Luckily for you, there is a wealth of options available to new construction companies, many of which will be alien to your more entrenched competitors. By being open to new ideas and ways of working, you can adopt these tools successfully, and benefit from the efficiencies they provide. 1. Sustainability forecasting One area in which your business can overtake others is the adoption of sustainable practices. While sustainability has been a tenet of new builds for some time, the focus is often on the building itself, and not on the process of building it. With action against climate change, pollution and other environmental damage accelerating, many clients are likely to seek assurances about the impact of your projects, and the carbon footprints they accrue. With so many different aspects of a project to assess – including tools, labour, materials and transport – this can be an intensive and time-consuming endeavour. Yet without doing it, you will increasingly be missing out on business, and increase your own costs. The increasing urgency of climate change is likely to see a rise in audits for things like waste transfer, which could lead to expensive penalties. Thankfully, tech companies are beginning to step into the breach, and provide all-in-one solutions for sustainability forecasting. Apps such as Qflow allow you to automate the environmental data collection process, and predict how your actions on site may affect your environmental impact. As well as telling you what’s wrong, it also advises you on how to fix it, helping engineers to implement improvements. Using both an app and browser interface, Qflow gives you a holistic view of the sustainability of your project. While the data is being analysed on desktops, operatives on site can use the app to log information, and ensure that they comply with building and safety regulations. Other apps such as Fieldwire show promise in offering simple digitisation of worksites, and address the more fundamental issues of management and communication. Online estimating One of the biggest timesinks for new residential construction businesses – and one of the easiest ways to slip up – is planning your costs and build times. These aspects of construction are critical in order for you to deliver results on time for your clients, and not lose money in the process, or be caught short through a lack of resources. This planning isn’t for everyone, though, and can easily become muddled as a project develops. The other aspect of estimating and planning a build is communication with the client. You want to deliver on time for them, but you also want them to be involved in the process, and to maintain full transparency about what you’re planning and what you build. This can be difficult to manage in the middle of a project, and presents a logistical and administrative burden, as you try to marry what happens on site with what happens in your offices. For residential construction businesses looking to outsource this process, online estimating may be the best option. Services such as ProQuant Estimating combine expertise with in-house software to deliver precise estimates, costing everything from materials to plant and labour. Each quote is timed and priced using regional rates, which are constantly updated to give you the best value for money. Such online estimating tools are extremely valuable for reducing your costs, allowing you to invest in other areas and grow more quickly. They will also increase the trust between you and your clients, and drive repeat business. The ability to accurately cost a project, provide a more competitive price and give an accurate completion date are all aspects that will improve your product, and help your business get a leg up on others. Safety training As much as you may want to get out there and get stuck in, modern construction gives you a lot of hoops to jump through. One of these is health & safety, and making sure that all operatives on site are kept safe, along with anyone else in proximity to the site. This means not only meeting the minimum standards for training (e.g. through the CSCS Green Card), but also instilling a positive safety culture in your organisation. Operatives on your site will likely have completed some site safety training as a basic prerequisite, but this is something you need to be mindful of when hiring. Taking safety seriously will also start your business off on the right foot, and ensure you have a safety culture at the heart of your business, which grows and adapts along with you. This is something you can then evidence to clients, and turn into a key part of your tenders. Safety training may not be at the top of many construction companies’ priorities, particularly given the lingering fears about the coronavirus. However, the training industry has gone to great strides to increase accessibility, and make training available remotely. In many cases, this has lowered the cost of delivering courses – making this a great time to improve your safety practices, and protect your business and your employees. Course providers including NEBOSH, IOSH, the CITB and Qualsafe have all made courses available for remote learning, which often takes place over Zoom calls. These are delivered live by qualified trainers, with materials emailed or physically sent out to accompany them, depending on the complexity of the course. In some cases, you can also then take the test or tests online, allowing your employees to qualify entirely from home. Bolstering your employees’ safety credentials has several benefits. By helping them spot risks and deal appropriately with hazards, you’ll improve your reporting and avoid any costly fines or injuries. You’ll also provide peace of mind to operatives, and a sense that you care
The concept of insurance has been around for millennia, and yet the industry continues to evolve and grow as it responds to changes in society as well as the technological revolutions that shape our modern world. Here is a look at what significant shifts are occurring at the moment, and why consumers and business owners alike should take note. Choice is fuelling competition The rise of online comparison tools has made it easier than ever for customers to weigh up the myriad insurance products that are available to them. In turn this has made the market far more competitive, allowing smaller brands and start-ups to flourish and take on the incumbent, established operators on more of a level playing field. Of course it is also possible for consumers to be overwhelmed by the amount of choice on offer, but according to Policy Scout it is possible to manage your expectations and identify the ideal insurance policy based on your needs and budget. Social media is improving customer service Insurance firms have had a slightly bad reputation when it comes to customer service quality, in part because traditional methods of communication hampered their ability to efficiently handle the sheer volume of correspondence from existing and prospective policy holders. Social media has changed this for the better, not only giving customers a place to find and engage with insurers, but also letting them get a response to queries and complaints in a jiffy. This is not only a short term advantage, but also leads to the building of trust between customer and brand that is especially important in the insurance industry. Data is taking the guesswork out of calculating risk Insurance is all about calculating risk, and the more accurately an insurer can do this, the better its products will be, as well as its profits. Manually crunching the numbers necessary to come up with appropriate cover costs is resource-intensive and time consuming, yet thanks to the rise of big data and machine learning, much of this can be automated as well as massively catalyzed. Furthermore as data becomes the driver for the entire market, fresh and previously overlooked insights will be gleaned, meaning that insurers will be able to spot correlations between different behaviors across varied customer groups, and use this to precisely predict risk without going too far in either direction. Smart devices are increasingly common A lot of the aforementioned data is being generated not just by more general studies and anonymized customer interactions over time, but also through the provision of information relating to a specific policy holder from moment to moment. This has manifested itself in a number of ways, from insurers being able to offer in-car monitoring that helps keep premiums low for young drivers, to companies offering to monitor weather conditions and provide buildings insurance customers with advice about how to prepare for changes to the climate. More than ever, the insurance industry is becoming tech-led, and the rewards stand to benefit everyone involved.
SO Resi, the shared ownership brand of leading housing association Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing (MTVH), has joined forces with Cambridge University to release the first annual report into the status of shared ownership in England. The findings of the report, by Dr Gemma Burgess, Acting Director of the Cambridge Centre for Housing & Planning Research and a professor at the prestigious university, were released at an industry roundtable on Wednesday 3rd February. The event, chaired by property writer and editor Stacey Meadwell, brought together a panel of experts from the property world – Kush Rawal, Director of Residential Investment at MTVH; Jon Lord, Managing Director at Metro Finance; and Ben Fry, Head of Housing Investment at Gresham House – to discuss the findings with Dr Burgess. The panel heard from Dr Burgess’ report: “Shared ownership providers, lenders and wider industry stakeholders interviewed for this research were all very positive about what shared ownership offers to customers. In many parts of the country, interviewees felt that shared ownership is the only realistic route into home ownership for households with relatively low deposits. The product offers flexibility as it opens home ownership at a range of possible price points to households with modest deposits.” The research, which surveyed 24 housing providers and interviewed industry and user groups, revealed important details about the average shared ownership transaction: Most shared ownership purchasers are aged between 20 and 40 (72%), with the late 20s being the most common time to purchase. Only 5% are over 65. The largest group of shared ownership purchasers are single adults without children (50%) followed by childless couples (35%) 94% are in employment The average value of shared ownership properties purchased in 2018/19 was £265,000, with the average initial share being 42% and a deposit of £24,600 Interest in shared ownership is booming. According to the report: “All interviewees were asked about the impact of the pandemic on the shared ownership sector. The most immediate impact had been an increase in demand for shared ownership lending and in enquiries about buying a shared ownership home. Since 2015/16, the number of shared ownership completions per year has increased from 4,084 to 17,021.” -MORE- 2/…In fact, demand for shared ownership properties is now considerably greater than supply – with up to 10 people enquiring about every home in some areas. The report found that nearly half of the shared ownership homes completed in the last five years were built in London (27%) and the South East (22%), with two-bedroom homes being the most popular size of home sold (58%). The report did voice some concerns, mainly around the Government’s plans to amend the standard shared ownership scheme. At present, the minimum share that can be purchased is 25%, and shared ownership purchasers are responsible for repairs and maintenance. Under the new scheme, the minimum share will be 10%, and housing providers will be responsible for repairs for 10 years, which could affect viability. “Most survey respondents thought that the option of purchasing a 10% share and lack of responsibility for repairs and maintenance for the first ten years in particular will make the new model more attractive to buyers and will increase demand. However, most survey respondents believed that the proposed changes will reduce the supply of shared ownership properties that they are able to build.” With the difficulties around maintenance meaning that providers might be able to provide fewer homes as a result, the report urges the Government: “The unintended consequences of these changes to the product should be carefully considered before changes are implemented.” Another area of concern was public lack of understanding of the scheme, which has existed for more than 50 years, especially with regards to leasehold. Submissions from The Law Commission noted: “Members of the public do not always understand exactly how shared ownership schemes operate, or the precise nature of the legal arrangement which the purchaser of a shared ownership property is entering into.” Kush Rawal, Director of Residential Investment at Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing, comments: “We are pleased that this report – the first of many that we plan to commission – proves the valuable role that shared ownership has in helping people take their first steps on the property ladder. It’s also confirmed what we at SO Resi already knew; that people are often confused and uncertain about what it all involves. For this reason, we are determined to guide people every step of the way, with simple, clear and transparent language that ensures that there are no surprises down the line.” Dr Gemma Burgess, Acting Director Cambridge Centre for Housing and Planning Research at Cambridge University, concludes: “There is consensus that the UK has a housing crisis and that greater effort needs to be made to increase housing supply. Shared ownership has an important role to play in delivering new build housing supply and in meeting the need for affordable homes. The Government should do all it can to make it as easy and simple for providers to increase their pipeline of shared ownership homes, to reduce cost and complexity from the system, and to ensure that grant levels are sufficient to ensure a strong supply of shared ownership going forward.” To find out more about SO Resi call 0208 607 0550 or visit www.soresi.co.uk.
UK Power Networks has announced a major programme to kick start the ‘Green Recovery,’ by cutting the cost of green energy projects. The energy network, which keeps the lights on for more than 18 million people across London, the East and South East of England, is investing up to £80m to supercharge projects that contribute towards the UK’s commitment to reach Net Zero by 2050. The programme follows the Government’s announcement in November 2020 of a Ten Point Plan to kickstart the ‘Green Recovery’ and enable the country to reach its target of Net Zero carbon emissions by 2050. Now the network company is inviting bids from shovel-ready low carbon energy projects that require a high or low voltage electricity connection to its networks in the next two years. The programme will support successful bidders who can demonstrate their project helps enable the low carbon transition. This could include installing rapid electric vehicle charging stations in local communities, energy generators looking to connect more renewable energy to the electricity network, local heat networks or community energy projects. To be successful, projects will need to demonstrate how they meet both the Government’s Net Zero objective and the Ten Point Plan. They will also be assessed to understand their contribution towards improving air quality, creating jobs and alleviating fuel poverty. The programme will focus on funded projects that can be delivered in 2021 or 2022 to make sure it has immediate impact. The programme will enable UK Power Networks to increase power capacity in areas identified, to significantly reduce the cost of connection. Successful applicants will still need to apply for an electricity connection in order to use this increased capacity. To support this work, UK Power Networks is also exploring a range of innovative solutions, including a new compact substation design, to enable new connections to be delivered more quickly and at a lower cost. It hopes this new solution can be delivered by any authorised body. Sul Alli, director of Strategy and Customer Service at UK Power Networks said: “Electricity networks are the front line of enabling Net Zero. That’s why we’ve taken this decision to make a significant investment to kickstart the Green Recovery and help get projects that are going to make a real, tangible difference to people’s lives off the drawing board and into development. “The clock is ticking – in less than a decade there will be 36 times as many electric vehicles connected to our network as there is now, and that’s why we have to take action now. Electricity networks have a vital public role to play in enabling the Net Zero revolution, and it’s a role we are 100% committed to.” To find out more email Green.Recovery@UKPowerNetworks.co.uk or see https://www.ukpowernetworks.co.uk/green-recovery
CONSTRUCTION at a brand-new purpose-built residential care home for children has now started on site in Warwickshire, with principal contractor Stepnell putting the first spade in the ground. The award-winning construction firm has been appointed to help bring the £5.1 million high-quality development to life, which will include four stand-alone residential care buildings as well as associated community facilities and external landscaping works, built around the existing community building and large pond on site. The state-of-the-art build, named The Forge, has been designed to provide a safe, secure and encouraging place for up to 20 children who are experiencing emotional and behavioural disorders or recovering from early childhood trauma. Located off Plough Hill Road in Nuneaton, the therapeutic community is being developed by children’s home provider Forge Care and has been designed by architects IDP. The ground-breaking scheme will become a flagship scheme for Forge Care, offering the highest level of care with a strong focus on quality spaces, materials and design principals. Gavin Miller, director at Forge Care, said: “We are excited to have this flagship project underway, The Forge is a trauma-informed service that evolves as a whole system underpinned by the Sanctuary Model. Within our Therapeutic Community environment the social relationships, structure of the day and activities are all deliberately designed to facilitate learning, and develop people’s personal, social health and wellbeing. “It has been a pleasure working with our various suppliers, and keeping those suppliers local was an important factor in selecting our team, from our designers and architects to our building contractors, working with companies based in Warwickshire was important for us and we are proud of what we have achieved as a team.” Stepnell – a family-owned construction firm that has been operating for more than 150 years – has a wealth of experience in residential and educational facilities, and The Forge will be a welcome addition to its large portfolio of both public and private sector clients. Adrian Barnes, regional director at Stepnell, said: “We’re delighted to be starting on site at The Forge and we are incredibly proud to be involved in a project that will have such a big impact on the local community, particularly vulnerable children looking for a safe and secure place to call home. The scheme is ground-breaking in a number of ways and we are confident that it will have the ‘wow factor’ once finished. “We are really excited to be on site and get started on this fantastic scheme, and we will be adhering to strict COVID-19 and Public Health England Guidelines throughout the build to ensure that we are keeping everyone safe.” Each of the four individual buildings at The Forge will incorporate a welcome space, main lounge, kitchen, quiet space, games, and an activity space as well as five en-suite bedrooms on the first floor, to replicate the traditional family home layout. The development has a strong focus on sustainability, using carefully selected materials like timber cladding and zinc, and will provide a variety of green space to promote physical activity and wellbeing. The communal amenity space will include a games area and a stand-alone art room. Outside, children will have access to large play areas that support mental and physical health – such as yoga and meditation amenities – as well as external dining and BBQ’s for the warmer months. The external spaces will also feature sensory and nature spaces, to encourage residents to grow plants or food and encourage wildlife, while utilising the existing pond to provide a tranquil setting for residents. Jenny Bachelor, associate architect at IDP, said: “IDP is incredibly proud to have been involved with The Forge since early concept sketches and development of the brief. As a multi-disciplinary practice experienced in quality healthcare design our involvement has embodied architectural design and services, interior design, landscaping, technical delivery and cost consultancy, and we are very much excited to see the homes built as they were intended to be. “It is such a unique and forward-thinking project in its care model and design and it is a real credit to Forge Care and the wider team that this has been made possible. “The design encompasses a collection of four truly bespoke homes nestled within intimate gardens and individually designed to orientate outlook and maximise connectivity to the beautiful site, all in the interest of aiding recovery. Each en-suite bedroom also has its own window seat towards the main garden and a soft natural and monochrome finish has been used to offer a calming backdrop to the colourful interior design. “The Forge seeks to provide a safe and nurturing environment very much in tune with the high level of care that will be provided there, yet its playfulness encourages a sense of adventure and intrigue.” As well as the four care homes, there will be 21 car parking spaces, including two disabled spaces and cycle parking for staff. The existing community building is to remain on site. The development received planning approval from Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council in 2018 with funding finalised last year from Assetz Capital. The residential development is expected to be completed by Christmas 2021. To find out more about The Forge visit www.forgecare.co.uk. To find out more about Stepnell visit: www.stepnell.co.uk. Join the conversation at @Stepnellltd.