A seismic shift in the way homes are bought and sold has placed technology at the core of the property industry. And that’s where it is set to stay, according to a tech entrepreneur who is celebrating the first anniversary of his software launching today. Yourkeys launched its sales progression
Dexter Moren Associates (DMA) has announced the completion of its latest two residential projects for Grainger plc at Millet Place, Pontoon Dock in East London, and Solstice Apartments in Milton Keynes. World-leading hospitality design practice DMA were commissioned by the UK’s largest listed residential landlord to help design the amenity
Plans to transform the city’s iconic college tower, dubbed the Met, into a hotel with leisure and grade A office space are set to become a reality. Glasgow city council has granted developers Osborne & Co detailed planning permission to convert the 11-storey tower into a 260-bed hotel with grade
Construction managers overseeing domestic and commercial projects incorporating green roofs are being reminded to plan especially carefully over the coming months to best manage supply chain issues created by Brexit. Many of the roll-out green roof systems popular in the UK are European imports of sedum and wildflower blankets and rely
Lakeside living is the dream of most of us, with a dock part of the attraction of moving to a waterside home. Choosing docks for a property should be done with care and with decisions made that suit your region. Whether you have an aging entry to your body of
For some, the life of a trucker is one they could never reconcile with; it’s demanding, tiring, you’re away from home for days, perhaps weeks at a time, and some would say it’s not great for your health either. Others look at truckers with envy, loving the idea that they
2020 in a Nutshell December is always a slow month for construction contract awards; and in 2020, the prospects were made worse by a resurgence of COVID-19 that resulted in further restrictions; and by the final completion of Brexit negotiations. What happened next from research carried out by Builders’ Conference
CBRE Secures Sale to Major Housebuilder for 400 Unit Residential Development Acting on behalf of Willsgrove Developments Ltd, the UK Development and Residential team at CBRE in Manchester has secured the sale of a strategic 40 acre site at Glebe Farm in Middlewich in Cheshire, with joint agent Harris Lamb,
Bywater Properties and its joint venture partner Ashmour have started construction work on their comprehensive refurbishment programme of a well-known building on Belfast’s Donegall Place. The prominent city centre site has been home to Boots Chemists for decades and the redevelopment of its upper floors will now breathe new life
Colin Abrey of Nextivity explains why the NHS Digital transformation will be neither feasible nor achievable in the long-term without a mobile connectivity overhaul The universal problem of unreliable cellular coverage has far reaching implications for business and individuals. Nowhere is this more apparent than in healthcare. Ubiquitous mobile connectivity
A seismic shift in the way homes are bought and sold has placed technology at the core of the property industry. And that’s where it is set to stay, according to a tech entrepreneur who is celebrating the first anniversary of his software launching today. Yourkeys launched its sales progression platform for new homes in January 2020 and soon added a feature to facilitate remote sales. CEO Riccardo Iannucci-Dawson believes remote viewings, reservations and sales progression, born of necessity, will remain a vital part of the sales process. He said: “Yourkeys came about in a bid to fix slow and broken processes in the property market. As we sought to automate transactions, we identified a need to process remote reservations from overseas buyers. Then lockdown hit and the whole industry was working remotely. “We launched our online reservation feature and immediately saw 60 to 70 per cent of transactions becoming fully remote. “Since then, while face-to-face viewings have resumed, more than 60 per cent of reservations are still taken remotely. “Buyers’ expectations have changed. They want to complete the administrative tasks associated with buying a home at a time that suits them. They don’t see the need to travel to the development to reserve once they have seen the home they want to buy.” Yourkeys connects mortgage providers, conveyancers, search providers and even CRM systems. The company’s technology will be available to estate agents by the middle of 2021 and there is scope for further diversification. Riccardo said: “The past year has demonstrated that a whole host of tasks associated with residential property sales can be digitised. While some advances were necessitated by the health crisis, the industry has discovered that technology can solve many problems and transform outdated processes. “Crucially, this is a change that the industry has embraced. Perceptions have shifted and there is a real openness to consider new tech solutions.” Yourkeys currently works with more than 50 new homes developers and agents. It has 9,000 homes listed on its platform, with a total value in excess of £2bn. More than 70 per cent of all sales through Yourkeys progress to exchange in 28 days or fewer. Riccardo said: “While it’s easy to refer to a number of ‘properties’ or ‘units’, these are people’s new homes. We take great satisfaction in helping our clients to provide a better customer experience and to progress the sale as quickly and seamlessly as possible.” For more information on Yourkeys, or to book a demo, see Yourkeys.com.
Dexter Moren Associates (DMA) has announced the completion of its latest two residential projects for Grainger plc at Millet Place, Pontoon Dock in East London, and Solstice Apartments in Milton Keynes. World-leading hospitality design practice DMA were commissioned by the UK’s largest listed residential landlord to help design the amenity spaces in a number of its rental schemes. As part of this partnership, DMA is now developing a set of brand standards to be rolled out across the Grainger portfolio. “The build-to-rent sector is driven by people wanting to live in quality schemes from established landlords, and provide a real opportunity to offer renters security, well-designed living and amenity space, but most importantly, a home. Our hospitality experience is perfectly suited to the demands of the sector and gives us a deep understanding of how to create flexible communal spaces in which people want to spend time,” explains Lindsey Bean-Pearce, Head of Interior Design at DMA. “There is a trend within many hotels to create a more residential setting for guests. When we design hotels, we always take care to instil a ‘home away from home’ feel, blending hospitality elements with a residential mood. Within these two schemes for Grainger we were able to take these ideas further, using our design experience to create spaces that residents will find easy and comfortable to use.” The amenity spaces at both Millet Place in East London and Solstice Apartments in Milton Keynes reflect DMA’s design philosophy, taking their inspiration in individual neighbourhood stories to ensure each property is authentic, timeless and unique. The concept narrative has been skilfully communicated through finishes, FF&E and accessories selection and ensures each scheme is embedded in the local community, creating a real sense of place for residents. Millet Place | Pontoon Dock, East London This 154-home Build to Rent project is located on the doorstep of Pontoon Dock DLR station, near to the Thames Barrier and Thames Barrier Park. Drawing inspiration from the local area’s colourful past and bustling present, the interior design reflects the transition from old to new, encompassing the natural agricultural history, creative atelier workshops and raw materials such as recycled glass, rope and natural timbers. Industrial elements for partitioning spaces are used throughout the scheme not only to pay homage to the past, but also to create intimate nooks to relax in, with focal points deliberately positioned to encourage interaction between residents. A double-height atrium links the open ground-floor entrance to the first-floor resident amenity space. Feature rope artwork and an industrial staircase encourage residents up to the amenity space that bridges the two apartment blocks. Residents can enter a fully equipped gym and intimate yoga studio on one side of the amenity space through the co-working lounge area, or book out a cosy screening room, lounge or dining room on the other to entertain friends. Solstice Apartments | Silbury Boulevard, Milton Keynes Much like Milton Keynes itself and its deep ties to ancient sun worship, the property design has been inspired by the sun’s paths and energy lines. The colour palette across the public spaces is inspired by the summer solstice, making reference to the changing hues of light that emanate from the sun throughout the day. Residents are welcomed by a highly polished brass reception desk, feature hanging pendants and bold signage. With bold geometric wall panelling connecting the ground floor to the mezzanine & linking into the concept, there is space for coworking or lounging with feature joinery throughout making the mezzanine feel connected, flexible & well-considered. This space encourages accidental meetings between its residents. Bold feature wall coverings, curated artwork, wall lights and cork-clad lifts create a warm atmosphere, and spark curiosity in this modern & progressive area that is trying to push boundaries. The downstairs gym is an active frontage onto the street attracting the eye with stong lines and brave colours. To create residential areas with longevity for Grainger, DMA has designed intimate spaces in both developments; spaces where people want to dwell and that encourage “accidental meetings.” Rachael Reid, Interior Designer, said: “The desire to promote accidental meetings between people is an important driver in our design. Research shows that residents are far more likely to stay for longer if they know who their neighbours are. This sort of interaction can’t be forced. It requires a subtle approach embedded across the public spaces. Having said this, it is also important that people retain their privacy if they don’t want interaction. It is their home after all. The reception/concierge desk is a functional space rather than a social hangout allowing residents to go directly to their apartment if they prefer to avoid socialising. Whilst both Millet Place and Solstice Apartments showcase such interior design flourishes as designer furniture and bespoke joinery, a less fussy selection of FF&E has been specified, more akin to the type that someone might buy for their house. Jennie Walton, Interior Designer, explains: “Our philosophy at Dexter Moren Associates is always to explore the neighbourhood and its history and to reflect both through the mix of materials and furniture, lighting, colour palette and artwork. Given the residential context of these developments, we have adopted a subtler approach than there would be in the vibrant public areas of a hotel scheme. We feel guests in a residential setting prefer a more subdued scheme allowing them to relax more. For example, we have incorporated feature wall coverings in corners where they can be ‘discovered’, rather than revealed at first glance.” The completion of Millet Place and Solstice Apartments for Grainger follows DMA’s successful delivery of the design for the amenity spaces at Grainger’s Brook Place scheme in Sheffield which has been shortlisted in the Mixology Awards 2020 for commercial interior design.
Plans to transform the city’s iconic college tower, dubbed the Met, into a hotel with leisure and grade A office space are set to become a reality. Glasgow city council has granted developers Osborne & Co detailed planning permission to convert the 11-storey tower into a 260-bed hotel with grade A office for up to 1,200 people. The redevelopment of the 1960s B-listed building on North Hanover Street will also offer 25-23,000 sq ft of retail leisure, food and drink space. Osborne & Co development director Will Hean said: “Achieving planning consent comes at a critical time in the real estate market which continues to be challenged because of the coronavirus pandemic. “Despite this, we are committed to investing significantly in Glasgow as we recognise the strength and diversity of the Glasgow economy. Glasgow’s tech sector in particular will be significant as the economy works its way back to strength.” Tower set to be tech magnet The building lies in the city’s innovation district close to the University of Strathclyde’s technology and innovation centre and the Inovo building which have attracted a host of tech firms. Brokers Hank Zarihs Associates said development finance lenders regarded the area as a business hot spot and were keen to offer funding for refurbishment and new building schemes. Osborne & Co plans to demolish an existing ‘podium’ building facing Cathedral Street to make way for the hotel, which would connect to the Met Tower via a landscaped plaza. A flexible double-height auditorium space is to be created below the plaza which could also suit a market hall, co-working space or suite meeting rooms and theatre-style conferencing facilities. This would link to the reception level of the tower and will have its own separate entrance on North Hanover Street. The project team for the refurbishment of the tower and surrounding developments include architects Cooper Cromar and structural engineering firm Woolgar Hunter. Environmental design and mechanical & electrical consultants Atelier Ten, planning and property advisors Savills, construction consultants Gardiner & Theobald and quantity surveying consultants Thomas & Adamson are also involved. Glasgow’s College of Building and Printing was opened in 1964 by Labour prime minister Howard Wilson and was designed by Wylie Shanks Architects. LinkedIn Question: How important will the development of regional cities be for kick-starting the UK economy post the pandemic?
Construction managers overseeing domestic and commercial projects incorporating green roofs are being reminded to plan especially carefully over the coming months to best manage supply chain issues created by Brexit. Many of the roll-out green roof systems popular in the UK are European imports of sedum and wildflower blankets and rely upon delivery within a set timeframe to ensure the sedum arrives in a suitable condition for the roof to establish successfully. However high levels of freight traffic in ports, compliance with new import regulations and border disruption could delay deliveries, creating issues in the supply chain and potential delays on-site. “Maintaining close contact with your green roof supplier or manufacturer will be critical over the coming months for two reasons,” said Julian Thurbin, Director of UK grower and system supplier Wallbarn. “Firstly, the sedum element of roll-out green roofs is usually delivered to site on a ‘just in time’ basis because the plants are delicate and should not, we believe, be left rolled up for longer than 72 hours. If the blankets are held up at borders it could impact their long-term performance and create delays on-site. Clients therefore need to know how their supplier is managing the situation and the plans in place to ensure on-time deliveries. “Secondly, many British producers such as ourselves are already seeing higher than normal levels of enquiries from specifiers and purchasing departments looking to secure a home-grown green roof supply through the first quarter of 2021 and onwards. We don’t foresee demand outstripping supply but we are advising customers to plan well ahead. They should also keep dialogue open and frequent with their chosen supplier especially for larger projects or where timescales are particularly critical,” added Julian. Green roofs are a buoyant sector of the construction industry and bring huge benefits to environments they are installed into, encouraging and supporting pollinators and wildlife, controlling stormwater run-off, regulating city centre temperatures, improving air quality and being great to look at. Research has confirmed they also prolong the life of flat roofs, making them an environmentally friendly, long-lasting roofing solution. Wallbarn pioneered the M-Tray modular green roof system which contains all elements of a roll-out green roof within a portable tray that can be hand lifted into position on-site. M-Tray sedum and wildflower plants are grown in Hampshire and Wallbarn endeavours to source all elements of the system as locally as possible to maintain a low environmental footprint.
Lakeside living is the dream of most of us, with a dock part of the attraction of moving to a waterside home. Choosing docks for a property should be done with care and with decisions made that suit your region. Whether you have an aging entry to your body of water that needs to be replaced or is shopping for docks for the first time, you will need to follow some simple rules. The options to consider include your plans of use and the type of weather you face. Consider your Plans Before you start shopping for docks, you should take some time to decide what you plan on using your entrance to the water for. There are several reasons why this is a good option for you and your family, including the chance to enter the water safely. Mooring boats is not the only reason why you will want to install docks at your lakeside property. Swimming in a lake is safer when you have a properly installed entrance point to the water. Cabin Life reports the inclusion of a sundeck and ladders to allows easy access to the water are popular additions to docks around the U.S. Other reasons why you could want to install docks at your property include having a secure location for fishing. Enjoying the ease of access to the water for fishing, photography, and access to the water provided by docks can add value to your lakeside home. Homeowners looking for a place to moor and store a boat need to make sure the chosen addition is long enough to house your chosen boat. Consider Rules and Regulations There are many rules and regulations at lakes around the nation regarding the installation of different docks. If you have chosen to live at a lakeside home in a private community your choices are limited by HOA rules. The rules and regulations at private lakes cover many areas, from size to construction materials, with floating designs the most popular. State and local regulations can change the way you approach the construction process. In some areas, you can ask a neighbor or your realtor about the rules of living on the lake. A call to the local government will improve your chances of avoiding problems when you apply for a permit to start construction. What Type of Dock to Choose? Once you have decided why you are looking at docks and what type you can install, your attention should turn to the options you can choose. The first option is the floating dock, which is popular in areas of the country where the water levels of a lake fluctuate by a large amount. Floating docks are used in lakes where the bottom is mud and unstable. Deepwater lakes are the site of floating docks because of the difficulty of installing other types, according to Cottage Life. The most expensive option for you to install at your lakeside home are permanent docks. These are expensive because of the difficulty of installation that must be carried out by a qualified professional. Permanent docks are a good option for parts of the nation where there is little risk of ice. Damage can be caused by the buildup of ice around permanent docks that shifts the metal frame drilled into the bottom of the lake. Other options to consider include pipe options built from aluminum materials. These docks are popular because they are constructed in straight lengths. Pipe docks can be constructed with sundecks and entertaining areas that suit your needs. In parts of the nation where ice and snow are a problem, you need to consider the use of lift-up docks. Docks are installed in areas where ice and snow are a problem requiring the ability to be winched out of the water each winter and their deck removed. Think about the Shoreline The shoreline around your lakeside property plays a role in any decision you make regarding the installation of docks and other additions. Some construction specialists use their skills to create a permanent base on the shoreline to ease the installation process. The installation of a stone wall on the shoreline of your lakehouse will make it easier to install docks of any form held firmly in place with a metal plate. The use of a metal plate is a good option for those areas where a lift-up structure is desired. A qualified construction expert will examine your property to make sure the correct choice is made for the type of docks you are considering. A long, sandy beach allows experts to install several kinds of docks that are placed permanently. The choice between different docks is one that needs to be explored in detail before a final decision is made about your property. Choosing between different docks is made simple when you are sure about the options working best for your needs.
For some, the life of a trucker is one they could never reconcile with; it’s demanding, tiring, you’re away from home for days, perhaps weeks at a time, and some would say it’s not great for your health either. Others look at truckers with envy, loving the idea that they can have complete solitude as they work, enjoy a great deal of flexibility, and get paid well for the privilege. If you’re thinking of becoming a truck driver, it’s wise to work out which of these two camps you fall into – or rather, which of these two camps is correct. In truth, there is a little bit of accuracy on both sides, which is why trucking isn’t for everyone. Read on to find out if it might be for you. Early Starts And Long Days If you like driving, and you’re able to do it for long stretches at a time, you may be well suited to the trucking lifestyle. Truck drivers often work 70-hour weeks (over eight days, that is). You can’t, of course, drive for more than 11 hours each day, and you have to have a 10-hour break each night. This means some early starts to get in enough driving hours, especially if you need to get to a destination before it closes for the night. Although this might seem like a hardship, the fact that, to some extent (and certainly if you’re freelance), you are free to run your own schedule as long as you stick to the rules is always a benefit, and having to take 34 off between working weeks also means that you can have plenty of downtime. Beautiful Views Even if you’re going to be in the cab of your truck for a number of hours each day, the fact that you can enjoy some of the most stunning views from an elevated position means that you really can enjoy every second. For some, driving is a bore and something that they will only do when they absolutely have to, but for a truck driver, it’s a pleasure. Driving a truck is much more enjoyable today than it has ever been. With so much automation and driving tools included in each vehicle, and so much attention to detail given to the design (the designers know that those using these trucks will be sitting in them and driving for long periods of time, and often sleeping in them too, not to mention cooking and eating), driving a truck can be a highly comfortable experience. In High Esteem Truck drivers are often held in high esteem. There is something exciting about them, especially as they can see so much of the country and experience so many things as they go about their daily work. There are even specialist truck accident lawyer companies that will help truckers if they are involved in an accident, as well as a national appreciation week. If you like the idea of always having a story to tell and of being appreciated wherever you go, maybe the life of a trucker will suit you perfectly.
2020 in a Nutshell December is always a slow month for construction contract awards; and in 2020, the prospects were made worse by a resurgence of COVID-19 that resulted in further restrictions; and by the final completion of Brexit negotiations. What happened next from research carried out by Builders’ Conference confounded all good sense and leaves Builders’ Conference CEO Neil Edwards in equal parts bemused and delighted. 2020 was the year in which forecasts became futile; when predictions became pointless; when the runes were rendered redundant. So, in a year in which the unprecedented became the norm, the fact that the UK construction industry recorded more than £12.2 billion in new contract awards really was the most 2020 way in which to see out an erratic and unpredictable year. History will show that figure was boosted by more than £8.0 billion in work related to HS2. But even without that, the final month of 2020 would have been unusually busy for a December. As it is, the UK construction industry strides into the New Year with well over 12 billion reasons for renewed positivity and some much-needed and non-house building work to which to look forward. The largest of the month’s mega contracts was awarded to a Balfour Beatty/Vinci joint venture. Valued at approximately £6.0 billion, the contract requires the construction of the West Midlands section of HS2’s Phase One route between Long Itchington in Warwickshire, to the centre of Birmingham then on to Handsacre in Staffordshire. The 80 kilometre long contract includes more than 11 kilometres of viaducts (42 in total), 66 overbridges, and 30 kilometres of cuttings. That single contract propelled the Balfour Beatty/Vinci joint venture to the top of the UK’s only live league table of contract awards BCLive for the rolling year. Although conservationists and environmentalists might have a different perspective, HS2 is the gift that keeps on giving for the UK construction sector. And it delivered another £2.5 billion worth of new work for EKFB, a joint venture comprising Eiffage, Genie Civil, Kier, BAM Nuttall and Ferrovial. This joint venture organisation will tackle the North Portal Chiltern Tunnels to Brackley and Brackley to South Portal of Long Itchington Wood Green Tunnel. Costain stormed into the number three position on the BCLive league table in December, courtesy of a single £482 million refurbishment and repair contract with Highways England as part of the Regional Delivery Partnership North project in and around Newcastle upon Tyne. ISG picked up three new contract awards valued at a combined £403 million to claim the number four spot. The largest and most intriguing of these is the £300 million construction of a lithium-ion battery production facility on a 95 hectare site that was formerly Blyth Power Station. Underlining its green credentials, the new plant will exclusively use renewable energy, and includes the potential to use hydro-electric power generated in Norway and transported beneath the North Sea via the world’s longest inter-connector from the North Sea Link project. Battery production is expected to commence in 2023. Six new contract awards valued at a combined £249 million saw Bowmer & Kirkland claim the number five position. This includes a £100 million dwelling refurbishment and repair framework agreement with Leeds City Council. With 10 new contract awards worth a total of £193.5 million, Vistry Group took the number six slot. Kier Group, meanwhile, maintained its astonishing run of winning roughly one contract per working day in 202, collecting 25 worth a combined total of £191.5 million. Those two HS2 projects ensured that the rail sector trumped the housing sector to claim top spot on the monthly breakdown by project category. With 109 new contract awards, housing still accounted for a respectable £2.139 billion. The larger of the two HS2 contract awards saw the West Midlands claim the number one position on the monthly regional countdown; while the smaller of the two projects pushed Buckinghamshire into second place. London fell slightly short of the £1.0 billion that has become the norm (£829 million) but still took third position ahead of the North with £827 million. Amidst a second wave of Coronavirus infections and stricter lockdown rules, Scotland slipped back to just £77 million with Wales accounting for £76 million. Although it would take a lunatic to make predictions at this point, it seems unlikely that the UK construction sector will repeat such an incredible haul of new contract awards in January 2021. However, thanks to an astonishing end of year rally, the sector enters the New Year with huge confidence and the promise of a veritable glut or work to be undertaken. Against the background of Brexit, new variant COVID and the accompanying government restrictions, which is more than any of us could have hoped for. Quick review of BCLive table for December 2020 210 no companies were detailed as winning new contracts during December 2020 360 no new construction orders were researched by Builders’ Conference all detailed on the UK’s only Live league table of construction contract awards BCLive A Balfour Beatty/Vinci Joint venture secured overall top spot with over £6.0 billion Kier Group secured most number of new construction orders in the month with 25no totaling £191.5 million Builders’ Conference real-time verified, independent, construction information, sales leads and research has neverbeen more important in allowing all types of businesses to receive LIVE construction information. Ensure your business has access to evidenced based premier construction project information from across the UK by becoming a member of the Builders’ Conference. Discover what is really happening in UK construction as well as critically analysing ALL our data via our built in report writing service. Go to www.buildersconference.co.uk/how-it-works for more information. We are a not for profit organisation who are dedicated to maintain our high level of services for as long as possible with the financial support of our membership. We firmly believe because it is the UK construction industries own information which we analyse no one should be paying vast sums to read it! Proud
CBRE Secures Sale to Major Housebuilder for 400 Unit Residential Development Acting on behalf of Willsgrove Developments Ltd, the UK Development and Residential team at CBRE in Manchester has secured the sale of a strategic 40 acre site at Glebe Farm in Middlewich in Cheshire, with joint agent Harris Lamb, to a major housebuilder for an undisclosed sum. Taylor Wimpey plans to build circa 400 homes with outline planning consent already in place for the residential development. The site is located less than two miles to the south east of Middlewich town centre and is well connected via the A533, A54 and M6 and is in an established residential area. With good transport links, the site nears railway stations in Winsford to the west and train connections into Manchester, as well as several bus services running along the A533 connecting Sandbach to the south east and Crewe and Nantwich to the south and south west. The site has good access to schools, including Cledford Primary School, Middleton Primary School and Middleton High School located nearby. Outline planning consent has been agreed on the site for circa 400 residential units. However, Taylor Wimpey are looking to revise the consent. Contributions towards playing fields, affordable housing and a large commuted sum towards the planned Middlewich Eastern Bypass which is anticipated to open in 2023 will be made by the developer. Jessica Coombes, who leads the North West Land Team at CBRE said: “We are delighted to secure the sale of this strategic site in Cheshire to Taylor Wimpey especially in this challenging climate. The site is perfectly placed for good quality housing which will complement the surrounding land uses and existing residential developments to the north east of the site.”
Bywater Properties and its joint venture partner Ashmour have started construction work on their comprehensive refurbishment programme of a well-known building on Belfast’s Donegall Place. The prominent city centre site has been home to Boots Chemists for decades and the redevelopment of its upper floors will now breathe new life into the significant mixed-use development. Revised plans to transform the building, which has frontages on both Donegall Place and Fountain Street, into Grade A office space were approved in November 2020. The completed project, which will be branded as “35DP” will deliver 28,777 sq.ft. of modern office accommodation with shower facilities, cycle storage and drying rooms. The development will also create a coffee kiosk adjacent to the main office entrance on Donegall Place and a 1,300 sq.ft. retail unit facing on to Fountain Street. Ashley Stewart, director of Ashmour, said the scheme represented a great solution for the current market as it puts occupiers at the heart of the city centre with access to all of its amenities. “Bywater and Ashmour have invested in a number of different projects in Belfast since 2014 as we strongly believe in its potential as a city. The commencement of on-site works at 35DP demonstrates our belief in the future potential of Belfast city centre to bring people together to live, work and relax. “The city centre will need to be re-energised post-Covid 19 and bringing the best out of under-used buildings like DP35 will play a big role in that. The pandemic has shown us that workspace needs to be flexible, sustainable and geared towards helping people collaborate. People now want to be excited by their place of work. Our design keeps this front of mind and we are confident there will be strong demand.” Images of the proposed design provide an insight into the high specification, light-filled scheme, which incorporates some impressive floor to ceiling heights, a roof terrace and a glass-roofed meeting space. The industrial edge of the shell of the building is to be maintained but the re-design will provide a modern dedicated entrance foyer, new services throughout and will play to the character of the space. Bywater/Ashmour also confirmed that leading local construction firm GRAHAM has been awarded the contract to deliver 35DP. Commenting on the contract award, Mark Gibson, GRAHAM Managing Director – Interior Fit-Out, said: “GRAHAM is at the forefront of the development and delivery of Grade A office space in Belfast, and our selection to complete the 35DP project in the city underlines our reputation as a trusted contractor, with a proven track record of enhancing outcomes for our clients and partners. Despite the obvious challenges facing the office sector, the commencement of 35DP is a clear indication of the continued demand for innovative, vibrant and modern working environments. We are proud to be working collaboratively with Bywater/Ashmour to create a forward-thinking development that will infuse fresh dynamism into a landmark city centre location.” Savills have been appointed as letting agents to market the scheme which is anticipated to be ready for occupation from June 2021. “35DP offers fantastic Grade A office accommodation with a unique character and feel. With floors ranging in size from 3,300 sq.ft. to approximately 9,000 sq.ft., this flexible office space offers a range of multi-let opportunities or a prominent single-let office,” said Gareth Howell, Divisional Director at Savills.
Colin Abrey of Nextivity explains why the NHS Digital transformation will be neither feasible nor achievable in the long-term without a mobile connectivity overhaul The universal problem of unreliable cellular coverage has far reaching implications for business and individuals. Nowhere is this more apparent than in healthcare. Ubiquitous mobile connectivity is not only essential for day-to-day logistics and first responder communications, seamless mobile coverage will be the technology underpinning the success of the NHS’ digitized future. When the NHS initially published its long-term digital transformation plan, it outlined how technology could be used to improve performance targets, reduce waiting times, streamline routine processes and deliver higher standards of patient care. In tandem, the NHS has also pledged to adopt a mobile first strategy, so it can truly harness the power of smartphones and tablets to improve health and social care services, particularly as pagers and DECT phones are slowly being phased out. Covid-19 has highlighted gaps in the NHS’ ICT infrastructure While the NHS has truly embraced the power of technology over the last few months and launched an abundance of digitized services such as virtual consultations, virtual ward rounds, digitized prescription processing, as well as a range of health wellbeing Apps in response to Covid-19, what has become increasingly apparent are the huge gaps in the associated ICT infrastructures needed for the smooth running of these new online services. This holds particularly true for mobile communications, which is not only essential for day-to-day communications, it’s fundamental to first responder communications, to the quick mobilization of in the field teams and is continuously used by paramedics and other 999 services. In our digitized society driven by all things IoT, a reliable mobile coverage inside any building, regardless of its size or type, along with highspeed access to the internet should be a given. However, ensuring seamless mobile coverage in sprawling hospital facilities isn’t a straightforward process due to their complex layouts and the sheer number of internal corridors, clinics, wards, stairwells and basement areas, all of which are notorious mobile black spots. This is without taking into account the different building materials; metal, glass, reinforced concrete etc used in the first place, all of which hamper the transmission of mobile phone signals. Ambulance bays and A&E Admissions are notorious mobile black spots Ensuring seamless coverage is particularly challenging in subterranean locations, which are typically home to CCTV control rooms, A&E admissions, operating theatres and ambulance bays. These underground areas, more often than not, have the worst mobile coverage levels. In contrast, the use of smartphones, and indeed other wireless devices in these very same locations, is fundamental to safety critical communications between the different teams involved. Ensuring ubiquitous mobile coverage in a hospital’s emergency and stabilization facilities, regardless of the provider, should by default form part of its critical communications infrastructure. In reality, however, ensuring seamless connectivity in basement areas and other challenging locations is often overlooked. 4G coverage set to become even more prominent Seamless mobile connectivity is not just limited to regular comms and to power digitized service either. It’s set to become the enabling technology to public safety communications as the UK presses on with plans to replace its legacy TETRA network with 4G over the next two years. Referred to as the ESN (Emergency Services Network), this new public safety communications network will allow paramedics, police and fire services to leverage digital applications such live video feeds, location-based services or wearable tech so they can better respond to emergency situations. On the downside however, if a hospital does not have adequate coverage throughout the building, including basement locations, first response teams won’t be able to effectively co-ordinate an emergency situation. Once the new network has gone mainstream, the only way to guarantee the levels of voice and data coverage needed is to take the outside signal indoors using supplementary signal boosting equipment. This hasn’t always been straightforward either because of the high costs involved, lengthy deployment times, and strict rules governing their usage. Fortunately, this is no longer the case, thanks to relaxation to the mobile repeater rules for inbuilding usage. The caveat is that any installed equipment must satisfy the regulator’s mobile repeater licence exemption spec and not many do. Cel-Fi by Nextivity is one option that does meet all requirements and is legal to use on all 3G and 4G networks. A trigger for change Healthcare organisations are long overdue a technological overhaul, but this has been held back by a myriad of factors, including implementation cost, existing infrastructure and legacy systems/technologies. Following years of warnings that the NHS is becoming less and less able to cope with even routine demands, the current health crisis could be the driving force needed to trigger a change. Not only does it provide the perfect opportunity to ensure that all hospital buildings are ESN-ready, uninterrupted mobile connectivity is central to the adoption of next generation technologies that will be the make or break of the NHS’ digitized future.