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 publicly traded Daiwa House Group (Daiwa House Industry Co., Ltd., with a turnover of around € 32 billion) signed a share purchase agreement with the current shareholders of Flexbuild Holding (Flexbuild) on December 18, 2020. Flexbuild is the holding company of Jan Snel Group (Jan Snel), which realises modular building solutions in the
Recent correspondence from British Steel has indicated increases in the cost of steel sections, the step increase in the cost of steel is very high considering the volatile market structural steelwork fabricators are working under. The problem here is that the market rate for structural sections has been for far
RPMI Railpen (Railpen), the investment manager for the £30bn railways pension schemes, and Wrenbridge have achieved planning consent for a 185,000 sq ft warehouse development in Dartford, set to create approximately 500 new jobs. The 9-acre site, which was acquired by Railpen in February 2020, will comprise five Grade A
Housing 21 is delighted to confirm plans have been approved to build an 80 unit Extra Care scheme at Kenmore Drive, in Kirklees, West Yorkshire. The scheme, which will be developed in partnership with Kirklees Council and Brewster Bye Architects, is Housing 21’s first Extra Care scheme in Kirklees and
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.
The publicly traded Daiwa House Group (Daiwa House Industry Co., Ltd., with a turnover of around € 32 billion) signed a share purchase agreement with the current shareholders of Flexbuild Holding (Flexbuild) on December 18, 2020. Flexbuild is the holding company of Jan Snel Group (Jan Snel), which realises modular building solutions in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and the United Kingdom. With this agreement, Flexbuild and Jan Snel will become part of Daiwa House Group and together are taking an important step in the ongoing rollout of industrialised building across Europe. Investing in new markets Jan Snel and Daiwa House are forerunners in industrialised and modular building. Daiwa House is already active in Asia, North America and Australia. Together with Jan Snel, Daiwa House will be capable of further expanding its modular building business within the European market. The growing housing shortage and a lack of professionals in the European market has resulted in increased demand for smarter housing solutions in the market. By combining global knowledge, manpower and solutions, Jan Snel can offer well-suited solutions for the European housing shortage. Strong growth ambitions Jan Snel is the market leader in the Netherlands in the field of industrialised and modular building. By producing housing under controlled conditions in their factory, Jan Snel is able to improve both the quality and speed of the construction process. The reusage of materials, in combination with less waste and fewer emissions, enables the shift towards a more circular economy. Jan Snel specialises in innovative, industrialised solutions for the residential, healthcare, office, educational and industrial sectors. The Dutch company (based in Montfoort) has been making international progress and is already active in Belgium, Germany and the United Kingdom. Harry van Zandwijk, CEO of Jan Snel, explains: “The signing of this agreement is a reflection of our growth ambition. Daiwa House will add further expertise in industrial building to Jan Snel’s existing knowledge. With this, we want to become the clear market leader in Europe. In comparison to traditional construction methods, our modular construction method is smarter, faster and more sustainable. By combining our solutions and expertise with the strength of Daiwa House, we are laying a strong foundation for the future.”
Recent correspondence from British Steel has indicated increases in the cost of steel sections, the step increase in the cost of steel is very high considering the volatile market structural steelwork fabricators are working under. The problem here is that the market rate for structural sections has been for far too long at a level that is unsustainable for steel mills to be viable. Equally, the market rate for fabricated structural steelwork is equally unsustainable in the long term when you consider part of the business is a bespoke design and detailing service, coupled with a semi-production type business, followed by unique sites requiring unique solutions. Recently, due to demand in other parts of the world, the cost of iron ore has almost doubled since March 2020 to a figure of $160 USD/dmt. Metallurgical Coke has also risen in the order of 45% during the same period. These two commodities being vastly important in determining the market rate of BOS produced steelwork. In a similar way, scrap has also recently increased in value by circa 70% from March 2020 to a price of $425 USD/t. With scrap being an important component of EAF produced steel, we would expect Arcelor to increase their prices in a similar way. It was explained to me over twenty years ago that any increase in the price of steel is headline news, whereas any increase in concrete just seems to go under the radar of the news outlets. Historically, an increase in the price of steel is swiftly followed by an increase in the price of concrete by a similar margin, I’m sure an economist would be using the term, “The Law of one Price” at this stage. I think we all know that the price of structural frames, irrespective of the material are set at a very low level due to the large capacity of the Tier 2 framing sub-contractors. These Tier 2 sub-contractors have for years being providing excellent frames at prices with wafer thin margins for decades. The resilience of Tier 2 sub-contract framing providers to events and changes beyond their control is nothing short of staggering. What is required is a very steady increase in the market rate of buildings such that all levels of the supply chain are making a reasonable margin for the risks they are taking in the construction industry, all the way from Tier 1 Principal Contractors, to Tier 2 sub-contractors and down the line to Tier 3 sub-contracts and suppliers. Historically, going back in the order of twenty years the steel mills used to try to maintain steady increases to their product by accepting the risk of buying iron-ore, coke, scrap and energy prices within their price structure. When demand for steelwork increased dramatically in China, circa 2004, the steel mills changed direction and decided their business model was not working and began pricing steel with rapid fluctuations in commodity items being passed down to their customers, namely Tier 2 sub-contractors. Perhaps, this was necessary to keep steel mills operational, as we all know the UK steel producer has been a serial loss maker for far too many years. The problem with this approach was now the fluctuation in the market rate of a commodity passed up the chain rapidly, which upsets the market rhythm by blowing budgets every time commodity prices increase, leading to further delays, further depressed prices as fabricators become nervous about not having enough work to meet contribution in their factories. So, it is not great when the commodity increases in price, but it must be great when the commodity reduces in price due to a lack of demand. Well the problem here is that there are simply too many steelwork contractors chasing too little structural steelwork, a hint of a dip in the price of steel is passed to the Tier 1 contractors probably at a faster pace than an increase as steelwork contractors push for an edge in an over saturated market. What is for certain when everybody in the construction industry has suffered the consequences of the uncertainties of BREXIT and the continued uncertainties of COVID, the last thing the industry wanted was what is seen by many has a large increase in the market rate of steel. Budgets for many future contracts will be based on artificially low framing prices and the result is going to be delays in contract awards, further value-engineering exercises and someone in the supply chain is going to ultimately “catch a cold”. Ideally this will be equally shared out throughout the supply chain from the clients right down to the suppliers, but I’m not confident that this will happen. I suspect there will be further delays to contracts commencing, which will make 2021 a much tougher year than already expected. What is for certain a “race to the bottom” in pricing will do nothing to maintain the quality of fabricated steelwork in the market.
RPMI Railpen (Railpen), the investment manager for the £30bn railways pension schemes, and Wrenbridge have achieved planning consent for a 185,000 sq ft warehouse development in Dartford, set to create approximately 500 new jobs. The 9-acre site, which was acquired by Railpen in February 2020, will comprise five Grade A warehouse units ranging in size from 13,000 sq ft to 73,000 sq ft. Work on the new development is scheduled to start in October, and due for completion in June 2021. The new development will form part of The Bridge, a 1.8m sq ft mixed-use development which currently provides commercial accommodation for occupiers such as Mercedes, DHL, Sainsbury’s and Network Rail. The site is easily accessible from Central London and other areas of Kent via major motorway and railway links, and benefits from close proximity to Junction 1A of the M25 corridor and City Airport. The new buildings will also have excellent sustainability credentials, with Railpen and Wrenbridge targeting a BREEAM Excellent rating and Planet Mark Certification. Alastair Dawson, Senior Asset Manager at Railpen, commented: “Despite the challenges presented by the current Covid-19 crisis, we are pleased to be able to efficiently move forward with this major project. Achieving consent for Dartford is a great step in expanding Railpen’s industrial portfolio, and the subsequent creation of jobs reflects the keen focus on social aspects of our investment strategy.” Jeff Wilson, Director at Wrenbridge, added: “Securing planning consent in such a short period of time is testament to our innovative and highly sustainable development plans. The scheme, and those working within it, will benefit from a range of high quality environmentally advanced technologies all within a landscaped setting with amenity on the doorstep.” The newly approved Dartford development joins a wide range of real estate assets owned and managed by RPMI Railpen, including a new scheme of six high specification warehouse units in Waltham Cross, also in partnership with Wrenbridge, which is due to complete in March 2021. CBRE, Cushmam & Wakefield and Glenny have been appointed as the leasing agents for the new development.
Housing 21 is delighted to confirm plans have been approved to build an 80 unit Extra Care scheme at Kenmore Drive, in Kirklees, West Yorkshire. The scheme, which will be developed in partnership with Kirklees Council and Brewster Bye Architects, is Housing 21’s first Extra Care scheme in Kirklees and will provide much needed accommodation for local people over the age of 55, who have a connection to the local area. The scheme will offer 80 one and two bedroom apartments, all of which will be available for rent. Designed to promote independent living in a community setting, a care team will be on-site 24/7 to deliver planned care packages to residents if needed. It will offer people over the age of 55 their own home, with a range of facilities on hand including an activity room, communal lounge and gardens. An on-site hair salon and café/bistro for residents will also open to the public, subject to government guidelines and social distancing rules upon scheme opening. Clare Hemming, Senior Property Development Manager at Housing 21 said: “The scheme will provide much needed affordable homes for older people in the area, with on-site, tailored care and support packages available to help residents live independently for as long as possible.” For more information about Housing 21, visit www.housing21.org.uk.