The British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI) has awarded its ultimate accolade to Registered Contractor PWP Landscape Design for its stunning BALI National Landscape Awards 2020 entry, a Private Residence in Yorkshire. The formal garden won the Grand Award after being entered into the Domestic Garden Construction – Costs Between
According to the UK Government, the solar industry is big business, with over 1 million solar PV systems installed by the end of 2020 – an increase of 1.6% on the previous year. Currently, only around 3.5% percent of total generated UK electricity is provided via solar energy systems, but with solar
If you have always been interested in arranging home furniture and you think that you have an eye for picking out classic décor pieces, an interior designer degree might be ideal for you. However, before you go down that road, here is an analysis of all the pros and cons
Are you sick and tired of the same old interior design of your home? We have got you covered. The world is moving forward. It is essential to upgrade your home by using different decorating styles to keep up with the time. This article will shine light upon six popular
Real estate business is a dynamic one. You will often find yourself in a changing situation. It can be with customers, property prices, or areas. But once you learn to market the property you want to sell off well, you’ll be very successful. While earning profits for yourself, you will
Civil engineering specialist Chasetown Civil Engineering Ltd is now using innovative fingerprint-based drug testing to support health and safety initiatives on its construction sites. The company – responsible for many major earthworks & excavation, roads and sewers and infrastructure construction projects across the UK – has an active health and
LOVELL HOMES has reported high demand for new properties in the North West despite the universal challenges faced by businesses in 2020, with an increase in sales from 2019 which was itself a record year for the region. Despite the restrictions imposed by covid-19, the availability of unused holiday funds
Following extensive public consultation with Epping Forest residents, businesses, local Councillors and interested organisations, Qualis Commercial has submitted planning applications for its Bakers Lane Car Park and Cottis Lane sites. Feedback and comments have been taken into consideration throughout the consultation, with the evolution of the two schemes clearly demonstrating
REVISED plans to create four new retail units on the former Ram Jam Inn site in Greetham, Rutland, were given the green light yesterday (22 December) by Rutland County Council’s planning committee. Godwin Developments, the UK residential and commercial property developer, submitted alternative proposals for the prominent roadside location earlier this year
HS2 today shortlisted bidders for its Track Systems and for Tunnel and Lineside Mechanical and Electrical (M&E) systems. The winning organisations will go on to deliver around 280km of state-of-the-art high-speed track and infrastructure that will enable the UK to run some of the world’s most frequent and reliable long-distance
The British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI) has awarded its ultimate accolade to Registered Contractor PWP Landscape Design for its stunning BALI National Landscape Awards 2020 entry, a Private Residence in Yorkshire. The formal garden won the Grand Award after being entered into the Domestic Garden Construction – Costs Between £100k-£250k category, sponsored by Registered Affiliate Van den Berk Nurseries. PWP Landscape Design’s Grand Award project saw the installation team tackle an extensive formal garden with a strong axis and layout, providing an enviable outlook from the house with colour and year-round interest. Aggregates, soil, turf, porcelain paving, steels and plant stock had to be craned over the house whilst it was still under construction. The garden includes an extensive lawn, hedges and borders, steel pergola, formal beds and a central sunken walled patio. BALI Chief Executive Wayne Grills commented on their achievement, “PWP Landscape Design has entered our prestigious hall of fame, which includes 44 highly regarded Grand Award winning schemes from the last four decades. Our members, led by PWP Landscape Design, have once again demonstrated they are some of the most talented professionals in the UK, and we rightly celebrate them at the largest landscaping ceremony of its kind in Europe. I am delighted for Adrian, Ian and their team on such a magnificent scheme and I extend my personal congratulations to you, and to all our winners this year. COVID-19 may have placed restrictions on us in 2020, but it has done nothing to stop the quality, dedication and spirit of our members.” On the Grand Award, Chair of the Adjudication Panel John Melmoe said, “Despite unbelievably challenging logistics and having to build this garden whilst the new-build house was under construction, PWP Landscape Design demonstrated superb workmanship across every aspect of the scheme. Precision cutting of the hard elements and expert selection and planting of quality stock has resulted in faultless landscaping perfection and an ecstatic client.” Based in Leeds, PWP Landscape Design specialise in creating distinctive, functional and sustainable outdoor spaces, with a reputation for immaculate attention to detail and innovative design resolution. The team comprises of landscape architects, garden designers and horticulturalists. Due to COVID-19 this year’s ceremony was held virtually, with hundreds of members, guests and VIPs tuning in to watch the special stream as it aired on Friday 4 December. Supported by Headline Sponsor and Registered Affiliate Green-tech, the annual event is a highlight for many in the landscaping calendar and provided the perfect end of year celebration which recognised the skills, hard work, quality, commitment and successes of Registered members. In total 124 entries were judged by BALI adjudicators over the summer with 70. National Landscape Awards bestowed on 49 members in September. Of these 18 Principal and 4 Special Awards were announced during the virtual broadcast, including Specials for Best Design & Build for PWP Landscape Design, Best Newcomer to BALI for Registered Contractor Smart Landscape Design, who also won a Principal for a Private Residence in Bristol, and Best First Time Entrant for Registered Designer Jilayne Rickards MBALI. Jilayne was also presented with Best Use of Recycled & Reclaimed Materials alongside Registered Contractor Landscaping Solutions for their joint work on Principal Award winning scheme The Urban Retreat – London. Registered Contractors idverde, Maylim, Frosts Landscape Construction, Bowles & Wyer, Tivoli Group, Landscape Associates, BlueFish Landscaping Contractors, John O’Conner (Grounds Maintenance), Landform Consultants, Green Acorn Landscape Design and Construction and Talbot Farm Landscapes were also awarded Principals in their respective categories. Registered Designer Lynne Marcus MBALI MSGD achieved a Principal for her Private Residence in Pentworth, West Sussex whilst International member DDON Planning & Design Inc. took home a Principal for their spectacular The Taicang Wave Fountain Yard. This year’s Affiliate Exceptional Service Award went to Registered Affiliate CED Stone Group. 2020 was the third year the Awards were successfully delivered by the team at BALI’s Landscape House. Events Project Manager Emily Feeney, who was promoted into the role in August, said, “I am incredibly proud of the achievements of the team in 2020. Once again, the hard work and determination of everyone involved resulted in us hosting a successful virtual ceremony which entertained hundreds of our landscaping colleagues, industry organisations and VIPs. I would like to congratulate PWP Landscape Design and our winners this year, well done to you all. Finally, on behalf of my colleague Diane McCulloch, I would like to extend a special thank you to our sponsors. Without you there would be no ceremony and we truly value your ongoing support.” Although the event was held virtually, members took to social media to share photos of their teams watching the ceremony remotely in a concerted effort not to miss out on the celebrations. BALI’s best dressed competition, which launched several weeks ahead of the ceremony, proved popular with teams sharing snaps of their outfits in the hope of winning a £100 gift voucher. The result will be published on the BALI Awards Twitter and Instagram accounts on Monday 7 December 2020. A full list of award-winners and a description of the winning schemes is available on the BALI Awards website here.
According to the UK Government, the solar industry is big business, with over 1 million solar PV systems installed by the end of 2020 – an increase of 1.6% on the previous year. Currently, only around 3.5% percent of total generated UK electricity is provided via solar energy systems, but with solar PV predicted to be the fastest growing form of renewable energy production, by 2050, it’s likely that those figures will look very different. So why might now be the right time to move over to solar, incorporating it as standard when new construction projects are undertaken? Why incorporate solar into design?Anyone responsible for paying energy bills will know that prices have been steadily on the rise for some time now – in part down to the increasing complexity of the worldwide energy market as fossil fuels are phased out and renewable energy production continues to grow and evolve. Investing in a solar power system as part of a new build will allow for safeguarding against rising costs in the future, alongside increasing the end value of the property. Whilst the initial expenditure may seem large, in terms of overall build costs of solar versus traditional energy infrastructure, the prices are not much different, and the ongoing rewards are even bigger – the average UK resident will see a return on investment in only a few short years, whilst the benefits will keep on going. Pairing energy storage with solar installs is also beginning to gain traction – in fact, it has been demonstrated that if all UK south facing roofs were to have solar panels, the entire business industry could be powered by solar alone. However, it’s also important to remember that without storage, energy generated in this manner is lost, and alternative forms of power must be used to bridge the gap before the sun comes out again. Shifting bulk amounts of energy around still involves high prices for energy storage, and is not yet feasible on a mass scale. However, with individual storage solutions now available for installation in tandem with PV panels, on an individual or organisational level, it is possible to ensure that the power of solar stays possible, even during the hours of darkness, by incorporating storage into the design and construction of modern property. Design and flexibilityWhen you’re looking at options for a new build, it’s likely there will be solar technology available that will work with your design. Many solar PV panels are installed on rooftops (flat or pitched) and made of various materials, including metal, tile and shingle, meaning you can merge style and aesthetics when assimilating solar into your plans. No available south facing roof space doesn’t mean no potential for solar, and ground mounted solar energy systems and solar carports are also available, meaning it is possible to generate electricity from a variety of locations, in a range of situations – options are available for even the most unique property compositions. With emerging innovation such as that from the University of Sheffield, who have created a new type of solar cell which is more efficient and costs less to manufacture, it is likely that the appetite for solar will increase in line with the rise in supportive regulations and funding, research and development. This, in turn, will lead to a decrease in price for panels and infrastructure. Installing solar now will offer an advantage for anyone who wants to ensure that their new property is fit for the future, reducing running costs and benefiting the environment, and ultimately boosting value… whichever way you look at it, incorporating solar into building design is a strong move.
If you have always been interested in arranging home furniture and you think that you have an eye for picking out classic décor pieces, an interior designer degree might be ideal for you. However, before you go down that road, here is an analysis of all the pros and cons you should go through. Element of creativity If you are working in a job which does not align with your creativity level and feels monotonous, it is high time you should switch your career path. You will always work well when the job description is right up your alley and serves your passion. If you are driven by creativity and freedom to perform, jobs in interior design are your best bet. You thrive in this industry using your style as your unique selling point. Isabel Goodwin, an interior designer who cooperates with EduJungles states that this field is a great opportunity to showcase your originality and uniqueness. There is nothing wrong to need a little breathing space and incorporate your sense of style in your profession. It can help you stand out of the crowd. Booming Industry With the ever-increasing use of the internet and globalization, people are more aware of trends than ever. The retail interior designing has also skyrocketed with the rapid industry growth rate, making it an ideal degree to get. Applications like Tumblr and Instagram have become an endless source of inspiration for users and have been a catalyst for the demand of home décor items. All of this has given birth to modernization and taken this industry to an exciting height. However, everybody does not have the art and skills to design their interiors professionally and aesthetically. You can be that outside help to bring others’ ideas and expectations to life. This profession is very lucrative and rewarding in the sense that you get to interact with your clients personally. High rate of return When you study interior design and look forward to starting your own business, understand that this field is most likely to give you quick returns for your investments. For most entrepreneurial projects, you have to wait for even years to breakeven, let alone earn profits. For instance, if you are opening up a bakery, you will need a piece of land, baking equipment, raw materials, power source, salaries for employees and a distribution network. An interior designing degree is relatively cheap since you will not require a lot of capital, and assets like equipment and machinery. You work with the budget provided by your clients and receive profit as soon as one project ends. Creativity will be your biggest asset here, and you should capitalize on it to gain monetary benefits. Diverse clientele Careers in interior design are known for enjoying a variety of clients and projects. One day you might be decorating a bedroom in a private house. The next day you will get to do your magic in a restaurant. With every client, you get to work with different styles, colour schemes, spaces and budgets. That is what breaks the monotony and helps you experiment more. You might have a limited vision, but by working with clients from different backgrounds, you will be encouraged to leave your comfort zone and learn more about new techniques and gain experience in foreign aspects. Some people lean more towards contemporary styles, while minimalistic might be your next client’s cup of tea. Thomas Armstrong, an estates manager who cooperates with CustomEssayOrder, claimed that there could never be two similar days with this degree. You will always be learning and moving forward. Drawbacks of Pursuing an interior designing Degree With this freedom, you also face various challenges in this career. The major ones are highlighted below. Uncooperative clients As discussed previously, you get the chance to work with a diverse range of clients. Nonetheless, that might not always be a favourable position to be in. With every client, comes a different set of expectations. Some clients can give you the space to change things up using your own skills and experience; others can be quite controlling and uptight. It is challenging to work in a condition where the client dictates the entire process. Interruption and interference can easily mess with your designing process, which can be a major source of discontentment in your job. You need to incorporate the ideas of others into your work plan in order to deliver the customers what they need and expect. Limited resources Where you do not have to invest out of your pocket, sticking to a client’s budget can be troublesome. You might have a clear vision regarding a project but what good will it be when you cannot afford the resources required to achieve the goal? Often, clients do not get satisfied as they expect a lot even though the allocated budget does not allow so. Operating and handling expenses is never easy. You should be prepared for that before entering this market. Tight deadlines Accommodating strict deadlines is just another challenging aspect of the job. You might be excellent at what you do but performing well under pressure is not everybody’s strong suit. There will be times when you will be expected to deliver in very rushed time. Feeling stressed and anxious will not remain anything uncommon to you. However, you can always master this art with time and experience. You will learn how to perform efficiently with every passing project. All that is required is consistency, patience and hard work. If you think you are capable of doing so, go ahead. Time management Adjusting with your clients’ schedule can often lead to disturbing your own. You need to be customer-centric and keep their needs before yours. If you do not have a family and commitment issues, this job is ideal for you. Otherwise, think this through before opting for it. If you are studying alongside your job, juggling everything will seem next to impossible. You will already be buried under the weight of
Are you sick and tired of the same old interior design of your home? We have got you covered. The world is moving forward. It is essential to upgrade your home by using different decorating styles to keep up with the time. This article will shine light upon six popular interior design styles that will completely change your house’s ambience. Obviously, there are hundreds of design styles adopted by many people, but the six we are about to discuss are the most in-demand. Modern A modern interior design style gives a flashy look to your room. It has elements of the latest market trends that give your home a neat and streamlined look. A modern home interior will use glass and steel rather than wood. This is because the outlook must give off a clean and tidy look rather than a traditional haphazard of colours. A modern décor focuses on maintaining a metallic tone to the home and incorporating sleek design in the used materials. The interior decorators avoid using wood and stones because they are curvier rather than straight. The late 20th century trends inspire this type of interior, and it has been used in many homes and offices. Simplicity is key. This type of decoration’s focal point is to achieve a simple yet elegant design for your casa. It costs a little more, but the outlook of the home is priceless. The colour scheme used also favours the present world. Most people use a combination of grey and white to complement the colour of the metal. This gives the house a robotic and futuristic finish. Decorating your home might be a tiring task. College students might miss assignment deadlines if they focus on decorating their rooms. If you are someone in a similar situation, you can always find cheap essays for sale at EssayZoo.org. Industrial Among the many types of design for your interior decorations, an industrial ambience tops the list. As the name suggests, an industrial design exhibits a robust and olden outlook to a home. The exquisite woodwork pops the brown colour and gives your home a neat and premium look. There are many variants when it comes to an industrial design: Modern Variant: This design uses a copper-tone to amplify a grey colour scheme that looks amazing in a home. The modern variant is common among homes located in a city’s heart, or conference rooms of huge office buildings. Modern Rustic Variant: This is another example of a popular style of industrial design. This variant is for people who love rustic colours. It gives a more vintage look to your home and complements with red and maroon colour schemes. To make a design purely industrial, avoid using plush fabrics. Scout local wooden antique shops to get an idea of how the colours mix with the materials. Always learn from different patterns on wood and floors that you see in your daily routine. Use a combination of wood and metal to avoid using highlighted colours. All industrial style homes follow dark and contrasting tones. One of the most important industrial design elements is that it highlights stuff that is normally concealed by other designs. For example, pipes are normally hidden in your homes, and an industrial design specialist will focus on exposing the pipes and painting them in contrast with the wall. The sole reason behind exposing the pipes is to eliminate a clean look and include a different texture that aligns with the brick walls. Traditional No matter how much you like a modern design, a traditional one will always be in trend. People look at everyday things during their daily lives. They get bored of gazing at the same old style and want something new and different when they come home. This is a major reason why people prefer a traditional interior design. There is a wide variety of interior design concepts when it comes to traditional work. A traditional style of interior design has deep colours and an overall rich tone. The colour scheme inclines towards black and red and in some cases, beige. Contemporary People often mix up contemporary interior design styles with postmodern. But it is important to know that both of them are different from each other. A modern design includes elements of all the latest textures and patterns, but a contemporary one includes designs from many other interior designs. Such designs have plain spaces that show a neat and tidy look with a pinch of classical taste. Another difference between both the designs is that a modern one follows a strictly 20th-century look, but the contemporary is more fluid and open to changes and extension. Always be careful while choosing an interior design for your home. Designing your home is almost an irreversible process. Dave Leonard, an architectural designer who cooperates with WriteMyEssay, advises you to take your time while choosing the best interior design; otherwise, you might regret later on. Scandinavian A Scandinavian style focuses on different aspects of nature and uses organic finish. This helps a person relive nature by the comfort of home. Modern classic interiors are no match to Scandinavian designs because it reignites the aspects of a beautiful era in the time. This design features a light but thick colour scheme that complement the overall outlook of a room. Most popular Scandinavian designs use grey and white colour stones as the foundation colours. Like a contemporary interior design, Scandinavian also has a variety of variants for you to pick from. Minimalist A minimalist style is too simple. It uses fine lines and straightforward designs. Notting is too fancy or glowy, and this style involves single tone colors. It is hard to find something that is too much in this design type as the main focus is on undergoing the style. Calm people normally go for a minimalist design, and they prefer straight and bland things. It is shocking, but a minimalist style is the most popular interior design widely used in the United
Real estate business is a dynamic one. You will often find yourself in a changing situation. It can be with customers, property prices, or areas. But once you learn to market the property you want to sell off well, you’ll be very successful. While earning profits for yourself, you will also be helping people find places to live. Let’s take a look at ways to help you get a job in the real estate industry. What is your end goal? When you step into any business, you should have an end goal in mind. A target you want to achieve is your motivation. Without it, you won’t be able to embark upon the journey of success in real estate. To get to the end, you need to start with the basics. Make sure you clear your test and get your license. Without it, you won’t be able to step into the industry. Careers in the real estate industry can be a blessing, but the first few years are crucial. It is the breaking point of your career. Plan everything for it like building a network, know which areas people want to buy houses in, and so on. You need to try to enhance your advertising skills a lot. Start advertising on search engines and through your customers also. Make pages on social media and add updates about your business now and then. Plan out your marketing strategy in an effective way to reach your ultimate goal. You will need a good resume Real estate is not a part-time job industry. You need a well written and formatted resume to get yourself good jobs in the real estate industries. Without a good job, you will have to find alternate sources of income which can be challenging. It becomes a hassle to shuttle between different jobs during the day, so try to bag the best real estate job. If you don’t know how to write a good resume or have never done it before, don’t stress out. You can approach a cv writing service to get the best possible CV for yourself. Services like ResumeThatWorks.com prepare well-drafted resumes with all the details that you provide. You only have to pay them an affordable amount and get your job done. Why bother so much when you can buy something and get a job too! You can also find samples online if you want to give it a shot yourself. Get creative If you want to be successful, then be creative. Come up with catchy slogans that put the spotlight on you! Come up with good deals to attract people to your office. Have a well-designed office to attract people. They might feel that if you have constructed your office so well, you’d know what kind of houses people want. Working in the real estate industry takes much creativity to attract people. Your marketing strategies should be creative and set you apart from your competitors. Remember that most real estate agents neglect creativity. They only focus on mainstream areas and houses. Try to find modern properties located in modern areas and collaborate with them. Create attractive personal note cards to give to people. Ask your friends and customers for referrals if they like your work. Come up with ideas to support your online presence. Only because your online website is professional, doesn’t mean it has to be boring. Volunteer work Volunteering goes a long way when it comes to building a good public reputation. It is a great way to give back to the community. One way is to train a few newbies in the industry. You can help them by delivering your knowledge about the business. Tell them about what you have gathered throughout the years. That way, you will be doing something for society’s betterment. You can, later on, hire them as you can trust them to know your work style. Many students are now interested in this business as it is a profitable one. If you are also trying to make it big in the real estate market, you need to focus a lot on it. Getting into the real estate industry might take away all your time. You won’t have any time on your hand for college submissions. Assignments might also pile up, and there is a risk of missing out on deadlines. It’s time you pay for essay writing online. They can handle your assignments while you focus on your career. Network You can’t survive in this industry without building a strong network. You must focus on your networking skills to make sure to do justice to your job. Interact with people regularly and always keep your card ready. Try to make sure your customers are happy with your services so that they recommend you to others. To face the market’s cut-throat competitive environment, you must always be on your toes to survive. Work with other agents who are working for a longer time. They have much knowledge on how to market. You can use their brand name to build yours. Don’t wonder how to get into the real estate industry without having a mentor. You need a mentor to teach you ways to handle networking: the larger your network, the more your outreach. So never compromise on this, have someone who can guide you in the initial stages of your career. Be competitive As we said, you have to face cut-throat competition as a newbie in the business. So remain firm and come up with new ideas. Never have a laid back attitude; otherwise, your competitors will take away all your customers. Keep an eye on everything they’re doing and on the dynamics of the market. Keep an update on what’s going on around you. With that, keep your accounts private. Edmund Malone, a business developer who works with Essaykitchen believes that you must do whatever it takes to achieve success and be competitive. Try to have a cordial relationship with everyone in the market to keep
Civil engineering specialist Chasetown Civil Engineering Ltd is now using innovative fingerprint-based drug testing to support health and safety initiatives on its construction sites. The company – responsible for many major earthworks & excavation, roads and sewers and infrastructure construction projects across the UK – has an active health and safety policy to ensure the safety of both the public and its employees. The fingerprint drug test will be used for post-incident, for cause and random drug testing to promote drug policy adherence – replacing a saliva-based testing approach. Intelligent Fingerprinting’s 10-minute drug test works by collecting an employee’s fingerprint sweat samples onto a small drug screening cartridge. Quick and easy-to-use, the hygienic system also meets the Government’s key guidelines for supporting social distancing while at work. Karl Griffin, HSE Director, Chasetown Civil Engineering Ltd: “Due to the nature of our projects, our employees often drive heavy machinery such as earth mover, excavators and dumpers. That’s why we operate a no tolerance drug and alcohol policy, to ensure our employees are always fit to handle or be around such potentially dangerous machinery. For years we have used an in-house saliva test for limited random testing or after a rare incident or report of a concern, for example. However, we were really attracted to the Intelligent Fingerprinting method. Not only can I carry out the drug test myself and get rapid results as required, but I’m also able to collect samples while maintaining social distancing from the employee – a major benefit when we’re trying to keep our workforce moving during the pandemic. Both parties can also wear masks throughout the test if needed. “We have a first-class health and safety record, demonstrating our commitment to the safe operating environment that we provide to our employees and clients. The health and safety of our site operatives is paramount. Adopting the Intelligent Fingerprinting method is a major step forward in our drug testing and drug policy development,” Karl Griffin continued. Dr Paul Yates of Intelligent Fingerprinting added: “Chasetown Civil Engineering Ltd is using our fingerprint drug test system to help ensure that its construction staff are all working safely – and protecting themselves, their colleagues and the public. The Intelligent Fingerprinting method tests for evidence of very recent drug use – enabling organisations like Chasetown Civil Engineering Ltd to determine more accurately whether an employee is fit to work while on site. “We’re already working with several construction firms that appreciate the benefit of our easy-to-use screening test to reinforce their health and safety policies. Intelligent Fingerprinting testing can be carried out without expensive external testing support and because no specialist testing areas or biohazardous disposal services are required, the process is simple to use in-house as often as required,” continued Dr Paul Yates. Fingerprint-based drug testing – how it works Intelligent Fingerprinting’s drug testing system features a small, tamper-evident drug screening cartridge onto which ten fingerprint sweat samples are collected, in a process which takes less than a minute. The Intelligent Fingerprinting portable analysis unit then reads the cartridge and provides a positive or negative result on-screen for all drugs in the test in ten minutes. An introductory video demonstrating fingerprint-based drug testing in action is available below…
LOVELL HOMES has reported high demand for new properties in the North West despite the universal challenges faced by businesses in 2020, with an increase in sales from 2019 which was itself a record year for the region. Despite the restrictions imposed by covid-19, the availability of unused holiday funds to top up deposits and increased time at home to consider making a move, is behind a surge in demand for new properties. Zoopla is also predicting that December 2020 will be the busiest December in over a decade. During a particularly difficult year, Lovell Homes’ North West region has successfully launched three new developments – Weston Woods; a picturesque village three miles from Crewe, Woodlark Chase in Thornton Cleveleys, and Roman Heights – with sales confirmed at each site. The picturesque Roman Heights launched virtually; a first for the housebuilder. The live event included a site tour, interviews with those building the properties, and a Q&A with mortgage experts and solicitors. The year also saw popular locations remain strong despite the pandemic, with Manchester staying a purchasing hot spot. The final property at Lovell Homes’ Weaver Park development was sold out in 2020, seeing the community of 129 homes on the edge of Manchester city centre constructed and occupied in just two years with more phases to be launched in 2021. Its Joseph Williams Place scheme, developed in partnership with Compendium Living, also sold out in 2020, marking Liverpool as another major UK city seeing great interest from home buyers. Anne-Marie O’Doherty, regional sales director at Lovell Homes North West, said: “We are now in the strong position of having 40% of our forecast sales for 2021 already sold. This is not only testament to the dedication of our sales and marketing team and the quality of our properties and their locations, but an increased appetite from house hunters. “We’ve had to quickly adapt to provide Covid-19 secure show homes, viewable by appointment only, as well as changing how we communicate with our customers. For instance, deciding to do a virtual development launch for the first time, accepting online reservations, creating a website chat function, and developing a digital appointment system which is due to go live imminently. “The whole housebuilding industry, which includes solicitors, lenders, and of course those wanting to purchase a new property, have been impacted. We’ve focussed on overcoming delays during the conveyancing process and that has stood us in good stead. However, we are continuing to encourage anyone thinking about moving house to act now to take advantage of the stamp duty holiday with the process taking longer.” For more information about Lovell Homes please visit www.lovell.co.uk or follow @Lovell_UK on Twitter.
Following extensive public consultation with Epping Forest residents, businesses, local Councillors and interested organisations, Qualis Commercial has submitted planning applications for its Bakers Lane Car Park and Cottis Lane sites. Feedback and comments have been taken into consideration throughout the consultation, with the evolution of the two schemes clearly demonstrating that the local community has influenced the final submitted designs. Proposals for the Bakers Lane Car Park site show a new leisure facility incorporating a six lane pool, gymnasium, studios, a new sports hall and squash courts and a first floor public viewing gallery. The scheme has been designed to ensure no residential neighbours have loss of amenity and a comprehensive landscaping strategy is included to create high quality public and private spaces. This will be a true community facility, not just a leisure centre but an asset to serve numerous uses in the town, a place for people to exercise and also meet and socialise. A new car park to service the high street with no net loss of spaces is proposed at the Cottis Lane site, providing priority spaces placed at ‘street level’ and all spaces will have the potential for electric vehicle charging. Cinema, retail and offices are also included in the final configuration but Qualis Commercial is committed to a phased approach to development to ensure that any new commercial activity is appropriate and complements the High Street as well as promoting and encouraging travel by environmentally friendly methods. The vision is that Cottis Lane will form the ‘Yard’, a flexible hub for new and creative business that can connect into the town and use the new courtyard spaces to showcase their work and engage with the community. There will be space for events which will enliven the town, along with a new south facing public square and amenity space, new public toilets, cycle storage and public realm connecting to Bakers Lane and the High Street. The company’s vision is to develop schemes of high quality in design and material which are sustainable, flexible and serve the best interests of the community. Both proposals have been designed to reflect and consider the architecture and space of existing buildings, local character and the history of the town, breathing new life into the roads and streets beyond the High Street.
REVISED plans to create four new retail units on the former Ram Jam Inn site in Greetham, Rutland, were given the green light yesterday (22 December) by Rutland County Council’s planning committee. Godwin Developments, the UK residential and commercial property developer, submitted alternative proposals for the prominent roadside location earlier this year after designs were revised to incorporate feedback from local stakeholders and be more in keeping with the character of the area. Following on from last month’s deferral, the development secured go-ahead after two-way vehicle access plan for the site – from the A1 and B668 – was voted in by councillors during yesterday’s meeting. The scheme, which consists of two new drive-thru units, two drive-to units and 72 car parking spaces – including five disabled spaces – will see the currently disused land regenerated for roadside retail use, benefitting both commuters and local residents. The 1.67-acre site is located off the A1, the main arterial route between Peterborough and Grantham, and when complete would be accessed by both north- and southbound traffic as well as the local community. Matt Chandler, development director at Godwin Developments, said: ‘We are delighted to have secured planning permission for the site of the former Ram Jam Inn – our new plans will breathe life back into this historically significant roadside location, which has been vacant for seven years. “The development will benefit both commuters and local residents and will enhance the retail offer within the region, delivering choice and convenience. With limited roadside offerings within the area, it is also ideally positioned for retail brands to capture the 25,000 commuters travelling past this busy location.” Matt added: “We would like to thank residents who actively engaged with us to offer both positive and constructive feedback. By working closely with them, Nicol Thomas architects, Rutland County Council and key stakeholders from the community, we have put forward a scheme that is in keeping with the local vernacular. “Our thanks also go to Rutland County Council’s planning committee and all statutory consultees who worked closely with us to create a scheme that enabled the planning approval gained today.” The available units on site, which range from 754 sq. ft. to 4,500 sq. ft. in size, will be marketed by commercial property agents Rapleys in conjunction with property consultants FHP. The Greetham site is the latest project in the Godwin Developments portfolio which already contains a diverse range of commercial, residential, and mixed-use property assets in key regional locations. These include Godwin’s recent completion of a Lidl supermarket in Birmingham, and an investment sale deal in Rushden, Northamptonshire. The development will support the creation of up to a number of temporary jobs within the construction phase and permanent roles also once the development is complete and fully occupied. For further information on Godwin Developments visit https://www.godwingroup.co.uk/.
HS2 today shortlisted bidders for its Track Systems and for Tunnel and Lineside Mechanical and Electrical (M&E) systems. The winning organisations will go on to deliver around 280km of state-of-the-art high-speed track and infrastructure that will enable the UK to run some of the world’s most frequent and reliable long-distance rail services. Following on from the start of construction, today’s announcement unlocks more opportunities for Britain’s construction and engineering sector, hard-hit by the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. Both sets of contract opportunities cover design and construction between London, Birmingham and Crewe, where HS2 trains will join the existing West Coast Mainline. The winners of the Track systems contracts will also take a lead role in managing and coordinating the complex interfaces between the track and other elements of the rail systems. The following organisations will be invited to tender for Track Systems: Lot 1 – Phase One (Urban – London and Birmingham) – £434m Balfour Beatty Group Ltd, ETF SAS, TSO SAS (BBVT Joint Venture) Ferrovial Construction (UK) Ltd and BAM Nuttall Ltd (Ferrovial-BAM Joint Venture) Colas Rail Ltd STRABAG AG UK and Rhomberg Sersa UK (STRABAG Rhomberg Sersa Joint Venture) Lot 2 – Phase One (Open Route – Central) – £526m Balfour Beatty Group Ltd, ETF SAS, TSO SAS (BBVT Joint Venture) Ferrovial Construction (UK) Ltd and BAM Nuttall Ltd (Ferrovial-BAM Joint Venture) Colas Rail Ltd STRABAG AG UK and Rhomberg Sersa UK (STRABAG Rhomberg Sersa Joint Venture) Lot 3 – Phase One (Open Route – North) – £566m Balfour Beatty Group Ltd, ETF SAS, TSO SAS (BBVT Joint Venture) Ferrovial Construction (UK) Ltd and BAM Nuttall Ltd (Ferrovial-BAM Joint Venture) Colas Rail Ltd Lot 4 – Phase 2a (Track) – £431m Balfour Beatty Group Ltd, ETF SAS, TSO SAS (BBVT Joint Venture) Ferrovial Construction (UK) Ltd and BAM Nuttall Ltd (Ferrovial-BAM Joint Venture) Colas Rail Ltd STRABAG AG UK and Rhomberg Sersa UK (STRABAG Rhomberg Sersa Joint Venture) Rail, switches and crossings and pre-cast slab track will be delivered by separate suppliers – with the Track Systems contractor coordinating the design, logistics and installation. The winning bidders are set to commence work on site once the tunnels, bridges, viaducts and earthworks are complete. The winning Track Systems contractors will oversee the design and construction of plain line track, switches and crossings, an infrastructure maintenance depot, managing construction logistics and supporting the testing and commissioning phase. They will also act as Construction Design and Management (CDM) Principal Contractor for the trace and be responsible for logistics and consents co-ordination. The winner of the estimated £498m Tunnel and Lineside M&E package will be a Principal Contractor, delivering the design, supply, manufacture, installation, testing, commissioning and maintenance (until handover) of the Phase One and Phase 2a Tunnel and Lineside M&E systems. This includes the tunnel services within the shafts, tunnels and cross-passages, low voltage power services and distribution in the open route. The contractor will also design, supply, install, test and commission the tunnel ventilation systems. The following organisations will be invited to tender for Tunnel and Lineside M&E: Alstom Transport UK Ltd Balfour Beatty Bailey Joint Venture (BBB JV) – a joint venture between Balfour Beatty Group Ltd and NG Bailey Ltd Costain Group PLC HS2 Ltd’s Procurement and Commercial Director, David Poole said: “Rail systems are some of the most important parts of the HS2 project – the high-tech equipment and systems that will allow our trains to deliver an unparalleled service in terms of speed, frequency and reliability. “The appointment of the Track Systems and M&E suppliers will be an important milestone for the project, and a significant opportunity for the industry and the wider supply chain. At the peak of construction, HS2 will support around 30,000 jobs and contracts like this will provide a real boost for employers across the supply chain, helping to boost skills and provide opportunities for years to come.” Contracts for Track Systems and Tunnels and Lineside M&E are expected to be awarded in 2022.