Midlands-contractor G F Tomlinson is due to start highway infrastructure works this August as part of the £2.4million re-development of a mixed-use business park site in Skegness for Lincolnshire County Council, via the Scape Regional Construction framework. Works at the Skegness Industrial Estate located to the west of the town,
In the energy sector, there is so much resistance towards the construction of new pipelines. One of the major reasons is the adverse effects of these pipelines. For instance, in the last decade, the stats for oil spillage is alarming. Just so you know how bad it is, not less
The trucking industry is a necessary and vital part of American life. It is responsible for transporting retail items like food all across the country. Without those huge trucks and the people willing to drive them, there would barely be an economy to speak of. However, as necessary as trucks
Work Radar, a new platform connecting individual tradespeople, micro businesses and social enterprises with leading contractors, has launched today. The service will help thousands of construction workers find local work and supports the government’s plan to progress shovel-readyprojects in response to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. Work Radar has
CBRE Global Investors Buys 3 Units At Leeds Logistics Park CBRE Global Investors has acquired 3 units totalling 119,500 sq ft from CDP Marshall at the flagship 62 Leeds logistics hub, demonstrating the continued high level of demand for prime mid-box units in the regional industrial sector. The acquisition includes
Charlie Carlton, Head of Digital at IronmongeryDirect, the UK’s largest supplier of ironmongery, has commented on the UK economy entering a recession and the outlook for the construction industry: “The UK has now officially, and inevitably, entered a recession, with the economy shrinking by 20.4% between April and June, compared
The popularity of holiday lets in the UK has boomed in recent years, particularly since the crackdown on financial breaks for buy-to-let landlords. The coronavirus pandemic is pushing even more landlords to consider switching to holiday lets, as an increasing number of Brits decide to holiday closer to home and
HelloFresh signs lease for 230,384 sq ft distribution warehouse New production facility to enable UK growth for the world-leading meal kit company Prime location to provide access to 55.9 million consumers in four-hour drivetime1 The leading global provider of fresh food at home, HelloFresh, has leased 230,384 sq ft of
Leading national engineering specialist, SES Engineering Services (SES), has announced it is to commence work on its latest state-of-the-art custody suite project with lead contractor, Willmott Dixon. Working closely with both the contractor’s team and Nottinghamshire Police, SES has been appointed to deliver a full range of MEP services on
Caddick Construction has completed on a flagship showroom on behalf of Stokers Ltd, owners of Lucas Furniture, on the outskirts of Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire. Work began in October, 2019, on the 7,150 ²m site and included external landscaping and parking facilities. The two-storey showroom will become the company’s largest, purpose-built,
Midlands-contractor G F Tomlinson is due to start highway infrastructure works this August as part of the £2.4million re-development of a mixed-use business park site in Skegness for Lincolnshire County Council, via the Scape Regional Construction framework. Works at the Skegness Industrial Estate located to the west of the town, close to main routes such as the A52 include the construction of a new highway link to join up two parts of the existing industrial estate, which will allow for the expansion of the park site onto the surrounding agricultural land. The preparation works will enable the current site to be more easily accessible for multiple business functions in future, to accommodate speculative builds or purpose-built units for a range of private clients, including local seasonal companies in Skegness for storage needs. As well as a new 4,000m2 access road, there will also be a foul water pump station that will service the land, as well as water and electric service ducts to allow services to be easily brought onto the site in future and LED street lighting to current standards. Expected to be complete in spring 2021, the redeveloped business park site will span six hectares, which includes the current existing main industrial site and surrounding road infrastructure that is being opened up for future development. G F Tomlinson has worked on numerous projects for Lincolnshire County Council in the past, including heritage works for Lincoln Castle and in the education sector – the refurbishment of school buildings at Lincoln Castle Academy and Monks Abbey Primary School, the construction of a new two storey Science and ICT building at Walton High School in Grantham, as part of its expansion and transition from an all-girls school to a coeducational secondary school, and the refurbishment of the disused former Mablethorpe Tennyson High School, to create the Springwell Alternative Academy in Mablethorpe. Managing director of G F Tomlinson, Andy Sewards, said: “We’re delighted to announce the commencement of infrastructure works this August for the redevelopment of the existing business park site in Skegness. The works will ensure accessibility to the site and existing industrial estate and will facilitate potential for economic development for the town, providing quality space with access to agricultural land for a number of businesses in the vicinity, or for those looking to relocate to the Skegness area. “We have a solid, longstanding relationship with our client, Lincolnshire County Council, and have worked with them for numerous projects and developments since 2012 when we did the first of the waste transfer stations. We look forward to seeing this project through from its summer start to finish, which is expected at the beginning of next year.” Cllr Colin Davie, executive councillor for economy at Lincolnshire County Council, said: “The expansion of the business park is a big confidence boost for our coast. Diversifying the economy in the area will provide more year-round employment as well as allowing local businesses to expand or re-locate. “The site will be suitable for a wide range of business needs and usage, including purpose-built units for many different companies, and will encourage future investment. By boosting investment and creating jobs, there will be benefits throughout the wider area.” Mark Robinson, Scape Group chief executive, said: “G F Tomlinson has a long-standing relationship with Lincolnshire County Council and it is great to see that they are utilising the speed and efficiency of the Regional Construction framework for the infrastructure works at the Skegness Industrial Estate, ensuring it is fit for expansion will bring investment to the local area, helping with the town’s economic recovery and future development.”
In the energy sector, there is so much resistance towards the construction of new pipelines. One of the major reasons is the adverse effects of these pipelines. For instance, in the last decade, the stats for oil spillage is alarming. Just so you know how bad it is, not less than 34 million gallons have been lost to terrible pipe maintenance. Regardless of how it happens, when there is a spillage, there is a lot of strain on the environment. Aquatic life is affected, and so is every other thing within that location. This is not to mention the bad effects on the balance sheet. This is against the ideals of an eco-friendly environment and best business practices. In a bid therefore to prevent these environmental pollutions, there is so much resistance put up by some conservationists against the construction of these pipelines. Should Pipelines be Eradicated? Truth be told, most times, the problem is not the constructed pipes. These pipes are important for ensuring that the average household gets the needed gas, among other benefits. It is even the safest way to transport products in the energy industry. It is way better than rail or moving these highly flammable items through densely populated areas with large trucks. Based on this, the answer the question of whether or not they should be eradicated is a definite no! To know more about pipelines in the energy industry, you can click here. What Causes Oil Spillages? The problem of oil spillage is usually down to the attitude toward maintenance. These usually occur when key players in the energy sector fail to hire sufficient or qualified hands to handle potential problems on time. Actually, most spillages from these running pipes are proof of lapses in maintenance. With the right approach to maintaining these transport systems, we will all have the eco-friendly environment we desire. Pipeline Repair Services – The Way Forward for Pipe Maintenance As far as the energy sector is concerned, there is a need for pipe maintenance of the highest order. This is an area that cannot be left to chance. To ensure this, bringing on board a reputable pipeline repair company is particularly important. Industries That Need Pipeline Repair Companies While there is so much talk about offshore oil pipes, there are other industries that use a lot of pipelines. Here, we are talking about power plants, water plants, refineries, chemical plants, paper mills, steel mills, sewages, and a few others. These pipes act as a transport system for moving important items from one point to the other. As seen with offshore oil pipes, the distance covered can sometimes be very extensive. To ensure the smooth running of all the sectors listed above, the pipes must always be in good working condition. Hiring the right hands for the job is particularly important. It saves a lot of time, money, and prevents the possibility of accidents occurring. Frequently, a good pipeline repair company will carry out tests on all the pipes as well as equipment related to it. This will help them to effectively detect when repairs or an entire replacement of parts is necessary. Tips for Hiring the Right Pipeline Repair Company As seen above, the subject of pipe maintenance is important. As a result, every effort must be made to ensure that only sufficiently qualified companies are given this task. Below are some tips that can help make the right decision: A Tested and Trusted Company When searching for a pipeline repair company, you should take history seriously. What you need are people who have experience in this line of work with a remarkable success rate. Frankly, it does not have to be a fortune 500 company. An impressive startup with success stories can serve as well. To be certain that the company is not pulling a publicity stunt, you need to do your research. This is because anyone can make up a story about successful jobs that never took place. A Company with Capable Hands What you need is a company with a highly qualified team. People who have the experience, skill, and character to keep the pipes in good working conditions. You cannot just trust a company because they have a bunch of licenses and paperwork. How they employ their staff and the quality of people they recruit is of utmost importance as these are the people that will handle your job. It is better to spend quality time assessing than trying to pull the plug after a deal has been sealed. Good Response Time In the world of maintaining pipes, everything can happen so fast. There can be emergencies that call for prompt attention. To ensure you’ve got this covered, you need a company that is always on standby. Once they are alerted, they swing right into action. This is a non-negotiable attribute of a good pipeline repair company. You should therefore go for a company with effective hot-lines and platforms that give quick feedback. In this line of work, every minute counts. A Company with Diverse Specialty While this tip is not as important as the others, it can help improve the overall value that a company will be bringing to the table. It is strongly advised that you deal with a company with professional expertise in various pipeline fields. For example, a company like the RJ Stacey pipeline repair company that understands pipeline freeze craftshave, line stopping, hot tapping as well as other methods for fixing emergencies in this field will be your ideal choice. You will have rest of mind, knowing that they can deal with anything the situation throws at them. Many times, the knowledge and experience gained working on different job types can help a lot. You should therefore make this a yardstick for recruitment. A Company that Can Handle Difficult Moments So, the real intent is to avoid leaks and damages to the pipe. However, sometimes, things get out of hand even in the best hands. In such a situation,
The trucking industry is a necessary and vital part of American life. It is responsible for transporting retail items like food all across the country. Without those huge trucks and the people willing to drive them, there would barely be an economy to speak of. However, as necessary as trucks may be, they can also be extremely dangerous if they get into an accident. That is because the sheer mass of a truck dwarfs that of any other vehicle on the road. One of the more common kinds of truck accident is the jackknife accident and there are a lot of reasons why that kind of accident can happen. But if you are involved in that, or any other kind of truck accident, then you don’t care about the cause, you care more about how you will pay for the various expenses caused by the accident. An experienced injury attorney can help you to get the compensation you need from the trucking company that is responsible for the truck involved in the accident. So contact a truck accident lawyer as soon as you can after you have been in an accident. What is a Jackknife Accident? This kind of accident occurs when the trailer being towed by a semi-truck swings around so that it is to the side of the truck rather than behind it. The truck and the trailer end up creating a sort of V-shape, like a partially opened jackknife. This usually happens when either the truck or the trailer loses control. A jackknife incident can be very dangerous because the trailer swinging around could hit multiple cars and since the truck is practically impossible to control when the trailer goes out of control, the truck could end up colliding with other vehicles as well. Basically, a single jackknifing truck could end up being responsible for a multi-vehicle pileup. The Common Causes of a Jackknife Accident A jackknife accident usually occurs when a truck loses control and there can be many different reasons why that could happen. Speeding When a truck is going too fast and needs to stop suddenly, the driver will naturally jam on the brakes. The sudden deceleration can cause the trailer to lose control and swing around. This can lead to a jackknife accident on straight roads but it is far more likely to happen on a curved road since the trailer is already out at a slight angle. That is one of the many reasons why speeding is far more dangerous in a truck than it is in a car. Poor Vehicle Maintenance Every part of a truck and its trailer needs to be properly inspected and maintained on a regular basis. The brakes are especially important because they need to be correctly adjusted so that the vehicle comes to a smooth stop. If the brakes have not been properly adjusted, then the axles on the trailer could lock up before the axles on the rest of the truck. When that happens, the truck will end up dragging the trailer since the latter’s brakes are locked up, which could cause the trailer to swing around and cause a jackknife accident. Underinflated tires, balding tires, and fading brakes can also lead to the truck losing control and causing an accident. Bad Weather If the weather conditions have made the road slick and slippery, then that could increase the chances of a jackknife accident occurring. The truck and trailer could lose traction and that could cause the trailer to swing around towards the truck. All drivers should exhibit extra caution in slippery conditions and that is especially true for truck drivers. Overweight Cargo When a truck is pulling too much weight, it becomes much harder to control and takes a longer time to come to a stop when the brakes are applied. That is bad enough but the weight of the overloaded cargo can also shift around; if the truck is traveling too quickly when that happens, then a jackknife accident could happen when the truck loses control. Contact a Truck Accident Attorney If You Were Involved in a Jackknife Accident A jackknife accident can cause a lot of damage and as you can see, the causes are nearly always related to the driver or the trucking company. That is why you need the help of a truck accident attorney to take on the trucking company and hold them accountable for the accident. Your attorney will help you to get the compensation you need to take care of the expenses caused by the accident, such as repair bills and medical bills. Those expenses are likely to be high because of the potential damage a truck accident can cause. So contact a truck accident lawyer as soon as possible.
Work Radar, a new platform connecting individual tradespeople, micro businesses and social enterprises with leading contractors, has launched today. The service will help thousands of construction workers find local work and supports the government’s plan to progress shovel-readyprojects in response to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. Work Radar has been developed by Local Supply Chain, acloud-based supply chain platform, which is already used by thousands of organisations, including Work Radar founding partner Morgan Sindall Construction. The accessible and easy to use platform allows small businesses and individual operators to access work opportunities on specific projects in their region, while simultaneously enabling large construction firms to develop their local supply chains and improve their social value outputs. Contractors will instantly be able to review the health and safety certifications of potential supply chain members and regularly monitor KPIs. Work Radar’s aim is to contain the details of projects around the country being undertaken by large contractors, which will specify what services and trades are required on their schemes. Tradespeople, social enterprises and micro businesses (firms with less than ten employees and a turnover of less than £1.5 million annually) will receive alerts to opportunities in their area. When an opportunity matches they can then express an interest in delivering the work. The platform helps address some of the most pressing issues in construction such as the skills shortage and will support the reduction of unemployment through healthy supply chains. The platform’s ability to connect workers with local projects in an efficient and timely manner will enable the reduction of carbon emissions and will also improve the diversity of supply chains by creating a level playing field for all those seeking work Morgan Sindall Construction has launched the scheme with projects currently listed on Work Radar including the £18 million Eden Girls Leadership Academy and the £6 million Kings Heath Boys Secondary School, both in Birmingham. Work Radar is funded by subscriptions from contractors, and is free-to-use for all organisations registering interest in finding work. Richard Ratcliffe, CEO of Local Supply Chain, said: “We’re very proud to launch Work Radar, a high quality, innovative tool that will allow contractors to develop increased efficiencies in their procurement processes in a manner which will enhance their ability to support social value outputs within their wider operations. For microbusinesses, social enterprises and SMEs, it offers a streamlined way to register interest in work opportunities on their doorstep. “Through increased access to social enterprises through Work Radar, construction firms can ensure that their procurement processes are benefitting the communities in which they work – both through engaging with social enterprises that support the needs of local people, and by developing ties with local workers that will help create sustainable procurement practices in the long term.” Gavin Jamieson, Head of Supply Chain for Morgan Sindall Construction said: “At Morgan Sindall Construction, we are committed to increasing the diversity of our supply chain and helping communities improve their resilience in these challenging times. “As a founding partner of the Work Radar scheme, we see it as a refreshing and engaging way of helping tradespeople gain work on projects local to them. Many of these tradespeople have been disadvantaged by recent events, and we are now deploying Work Radar across our projects to help them to gain employment. “I’d like to encourage my colleagues across the built environment to join us on Work Radar. These are uncertain times for us all, and its incumbent upon us to work together to ensure not just a sustainable future for construction industry itself, but to improve outcomes across the economy and society – we believe Work Radar is an effective tool to help do just that.” Minister for Employment Mims Davies MP said: “Ensuring our workforce is agile and importantly can meet the needs of employers is vital to our pandemic recovery, so it’s great to see Morgan Sindall Construction and Local Supply Chain come together to provide an effective route into construction. “By providing integrated support in local communities, much like we’re doing across our nationwide network of jobcentres, we’re helping people get into key sectors and find new employment allowing us to build back better and stronger.” In addition to Morgan Sindall Construction, other registered firms already posting their projects on Work Radar include Chesterfield-based Melfort Construction Services Ltd and Derby’s M J Robinson Structures Ltd. Paul Goodwin, director at Melfort Construction Services Ltd said: “Melfort is looking forward to supporting this initiative. As a company we always strive to support local businesses and recruit local labour as we find this is always beneficial to the project, especially in helping to reduce carbon footprint and travel times for both labour and materials. Work Radar will help us to identify opportunities which will be mutually beneficial for all.” Richard Fry, commercial and sales director, MJ Robinson Structures Ltd said: “We’re are excited with the opportunity to work and support local projects, communities and micro businesses through Work Radar. Our use of Work Radar will allow us to integrate fully with local supply chains, social enterprises, reduce our carbon foot print and further strengthen our commitment to invest in local apprenticeship schemes and create work experience opportunities for local students.” In order to register or book a demonstration, please visit: https://www.localsupplychain.co.uk/work-radar.
CBRE Global Investors Buys 3 Units At Leeds Logistics Park CBRE Global Investors has acquired 3 units totalling 119,500 sq ft from CDP Marshall at the flagship 62 Leeds logistics hub, demonstrating the continued high level of demand for prime mid-box units in the regional industrial sector. The acquisition includes the investment of the 42,000 sq ft Unit 5 which is let to Johnsons Apparelmaster Ltd for 15 years, along with the 57,500 sq ft Unit 6 and the 20,000 sq ft Unit 7 which are both currently under construction and scheduled for completion in September 2020. 62 Leeds is an established industrial/warehouse development on Geldard Road by J27 of the M62 and is home to high-profile occupiers including Lidl, Unitrunk, Johnsons Dry Cleaners and Turners Accident Repair Centres. CBRE Global Investors was advised by Carrick Real Estate and the joint agency team of CBRE and Carter Towler represented CDP Marshall in the transaction. Sophie Angus, Associate Director at CBRE Leeds, said; “CBRE GI’s acquisition at 62 Leeds reflects the strength and confidence in the regional industrial and logistics market and prime detached warehouse units such as these are in very short supply. As such, the new units becoming available in September will be extremely well received by the occupier market.”
Charlie Carlton, Head of Digital at IronmongeryDirect, the UK’s largest supplier of ironmongery, has commented on the UK economy entering a recession and the outlook for the construction industry: “The UK has now officially, and inevitably, entered a recession, with the economy shrinking by 20.4% between April and June, compared to the first three months of 2020. “The construction industry has been hit hard by the pandemic, with the lockdown causing output to plummet since March. In April, it fell by a staggering 40.2% – the highest monthly fall since such records began in 2010. “However, while construction output remains around a quarter (24.8%) lower than it was pre-lockdown, there are certainly signs of recovery. The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics show that output increased by 23.5% between May and June, which was also a record. “The sectors which grew the most were repairs and maintenance of private housing (44%) and the building of private new houses (42.3%). “In other more positive news, the number of unemployed construction workers dropped by 3,000 in the months between April to June (compared with March to May), and this was joined by a rise in average weekly earnings, from £578 up to £590. While this is 9% lower than the equivalent period last year, it is the first increase in 2020, so hopefully it will continue to rise. “The slow, but visible signs of recovery are also evident in our sales figures, as IronmongeryDirect saw record numbers for both orders and revenue in June. We experienced an 80% year-on-year increase in web traffic and a 75% rise in transactions. “While there is undoubtedly still a long way to go before the construction industry fully recovers, it’s great to see that there are a few signs of progress after an incredibly challenging few months. While we are about to hit a hard time as a nation, there can be hope that we’ll recover in full force.” For more information about IronmongeryDirect, visit: www.ironmongerydirect.co.uk/.
The popularity of holiday lets in the UK has boomed in recent years, particularly since the crackdown on financial breaks for buy-to-let landlords. The coronavirus pandemic is pushing even more landlords to consider switching to holiday lets, as an increasing number of Brits decide to holiday closer to home and stay in the UK. Holiday lets can be a great investment for landlords who understand the market, but it’s important to know what you’re taking on before investing in a holiday let. Holiday lets require a different management style than traditional residential properties, as well as different financing options and tax regulations. Do people still vacation in the UK? Absolutely. According to research conducted by Sykes Cottages, two thirds (66%) of Brits enjoyed holidays in the UK in 2018 compared to 56% in 2017. In 2019, respondents said they planned to take an average of three UK trips in 2019. With most UK breaks being shorter but more frequent than overseas trips, this means there’s still a healthy market for domestic tourism. And, of course, this doesn’t even take into consideration the millions of tourists travelling to Britain every year from outside the UK. Tourism is, in fact, the fastest growing industry in the UK, with experts predicting the industry will expand by 3.8% a year between now and 2025. Visitors to the UK from overseas reached a record-breaking 7 million in 2018, a 4.4% increase on 2017. The UK tourism industry is not just strong, but it’s also growing every year. Are holiday lets a good investment? Holiday lets can be a great investment. Rental income from short-term holiday lets is usually significantly higher than rental income from long-term residential lets, although the difference between the two isn’t as high as it first seems. Mortgage rates for holiday lets are usually charged at a higher rate, meaning more interest is paid every month, and running costs are higher because holidays lets need to be cleaned and tidied between guests. Lovemoney have crunched the numbers, comparing profits between holiday lets and residential lets in both Whitby and Liverpool. These figures show that holiday lets in both the tourist hotspot and the city centre location fare better than residential lets despite higher maintenance costs and fees. How to finance a holiday let One complicating factor for investors considering holiday lets is that financing a holiday let can be a little harder than financing a residential property. Holiday lets aren’t covered by standard buy-to-let mortgages, which usually stipulate that a property is to be let on an assured shorthold tenancy agreement with a minimum fixed term of six months. Instead, some lenders now offer holiday let mortgages designed specifically for these properties, although there are not as many products available as there are in the buy-to-let market and holiday lets are seen as a riskier venture due to their seasonal nature, which means interest rates tend to be higher, too. There are various types of holiday let mortgages available depending on the lender, including fixed-rate mortgages, discounted rate mortgages, and flexible rate mortgages. Holiday let mortgages are usually offered on an interest-only basis. Because holiday let mortgages are deemed more risky by lenders, most lenders will request a 25% deposit minimum, with better interest rates available for those borrowers with bigger deposits. Most lenders will also want to see your projected letting income, and this should be at least 125% of the annual mortgage interest payments you will need to cover. Other options for financing a holiday let are available, including remortgaging your existing home to release equity or even taking out a personal loan. However, it’s important to be very careful before making decisions like this: run through the numbers to make sure your decision is financially profitable, and be conservative when projecting annual profit margins on any rental property or holiday let. Top 5 holiday let locations in the UK If you’re thinking of purchasing a furnished holiday let in the UK, it’s important to do your research and buy a property somewhere which offers great yields. You may want to choose a let nearby, particularly if you’re planning to manage and maintain the property yourself, or you might choose a let in another part of the UK because it offers higher ROI and a place to get away to yourself. Here are five sound bets for holiday lets in the UK. 1. London If you’re considering a city centre holiday let, you can’t go wrong with London – assuming you can afford the high price tag. 53% of overseas tourism spend occurs in London, and the city’s international fame guarantees a stable supply of tourists for years to come. 2. Dundee It might not be the obvious choice, but Dundee has topped the list of the most profitable places in the UK in terms of holiday let rental yields, offering 15.1% average short term rental yields in 2019. This is likely due to the city’s recent rebirth as the cultural capital of Scotland, with the opening of the V&A Dundee. 3. The Lake District For a more traditional location where a holiday let can double as a holiday home for landlords, buying in the Lake District will never be a bad move. The Lake District welcomes over 19 million visitors every year making it a solid choice for canny investors. 4. North Wales Wales is another strong contender. Property prices are still relatively affordable in most of the country, and yet with scenic spots such as Snowdonia and the Brecon Beacons welcoming millions of visitors every year, there’s plenty of demand for holiday lets in North Wales. 10.2 million people visited Wales in 2018, and buying a holiday let in a tourist hot spot such as one of many scenic villages around Snowdonia is a sure-fire way to get great yields on bargain properties. 5. Cornwall Cornwall has long been considered the UK’s very own Costa Del Sol, and the numbers show that this is still the case.
HelloFresh signs lease for 230,384 sq ft distribution warehouse New production facility to enable UK growth for the world-leading meal kit company Prime location to provide access to 55.9 million consumers in four-hour drivetime1 The leading global provider of fresh food at home, HelloFresh, has leased 230,384 sq ft of high-quality logistics space at Goodman’s Nuneaton 230 development. Headquartered in Berlin, the company produces and delivers meal kits that allow consumers to cook home-made, healthy meals with no preparation, shopping or hassle. Its new Nuneaton site will become HelloFresh’s second UK production facility, supporting its continued success in the UK. With strong results in the market pre-COVID-19, the exponential growth of food deliveries during lockdown and a growing demand for fresh meals to enjoy at home has accelerated expansion. The location will receive produce and packaging from local and national suppliers, assembling the fresh ingredients in the meal kits and distributing these to consumers across the country. The site’s excellent connectivity, which places 55.9 million consumers within a four-hour drivetime, makes the location ideally suited to national fulfilment and fresh food delivery. HelloFresh delivered more than 280 million meals in 2019, reaching over four million customers in the last quarter. It is one of the largest players globally in the meal kit market, now operating in thirteen countries across three continents. It joins a number of leading retailers, manufacturers and third-party logistics providers at this established industrial and distribution hub – including supply chain specialists XPO and Unipart, automotive manufacturer Renault Trucks, and food and drink wholesaler Bestway. Nigel Dolan, Development Director at Goodman, said: “We’re proud to welcome HelloFresh to our Nuneaton 230 development. Its innovative business model leads the way in both the healthy home cooking and subscription service revolution and we’re pleased to be able support the growth of its UK production and fulfilment network.” In line with HelloFresh’s commitment to the highest quality fresh produce, the facility will provide frozen, chilled and ambient storage capacity, and highly flexible warehouse space to suit its production and packing methods. Nigel continued: “With the development now complete, we look forward to seeing HelloFresh benefit from the property’s best in class specification, combined with its excellent transport links and local employment opportunities. These include a large labour pool consisting of three million people within 20 miles of Nuneaton town centre, with Bermuda Park railway station directly serving the site and providing a great option for employees to travel to and from work.” Councillor Julie Jackson, Leader of Nuneaton & Bedworth Borough Council, said: “We’re thrilled to see Goodman welcome HelloFresh to this prime logistics development at Bermuda Park, living up to its promise of delivering a quality space for business that takes advantage of our excellent connectivity. “The development supports our Transforming Nuneaton initiative with Warwickshire County Council, geared at driving economic growth, attracting additional investment and realising new business opportunities for the local area. We’re excited to see HelloFresh benefit from the rich employment opportunities and prime position of Bermuda Park.” 1 Source: Esri and Michael Bauer Research, 2019
Leading national engineering specialist, SES Engineering Services (SES), has announced it is to commence work on its latest state-of-the-art custody suite project with lead contractor, Willmott Dixon. Working closely with both the contractor’s team and Nottinghamshire Police, SES has been appointed to deliver a full range of MEP services on a new multi-million pound 50-cell custody suite, currently under construction on a former gas works site in Nottingham. Serving Nottingham and the wider conurbation, the new building’s design is more befitting 21st century custodial needs and will replace an existing facility which was deemed to be too outdated to benefit from a refurbishment. In the past five years, SES has delivered five custody suites for multiple Police forces and as such gained extensive experience and a reputation as a leader in its field in the blue light sector. This experience, coupled with SES’ and Willmott Dixon’s well-established working relationship, will ensure that the project is delivered to exacting requirements as set out by the Home Office, where specific ventilation and comfort conditions within custodial spaces must be met. To meet these needs, SES will be required to install a high volume of complex building services to the two-storey building. In addition to the cells, the building will also provide first floor office accommodation for police investigators and the custodial handling team. Speaking about the imminent start on site, SES’ managing director, Steve Joyce, said: “I am delighted to be collaborating once more with Willmott Dixon on a key project for Nottingham’s Police and Crime Commission and Nottinghamshire Police. Our proven track record of delivering projects requiring highly complex building services, particularly in this type of custodial environment, will ensure that the installation will be completed in a timely manner and to the high standards required by the Home Office. “The facility will also deliver a more efficient building than is currently used for such purposes.” James Elliment, Willmott Dixon’s senior operations manager, added: “I am delighted with the progress that is currently being made on site and pleased to welcome SES and its team as we enter the next phase of construction. I believe the project will undoubtedly benefit from our shared experience of creating state-of-the-art custodial facilities throughout the UK.” SES is expected to conclude the project spring 2021.
Caddick Construction has completed on a flagship showroom on behalf of Stokers Ltd, owners of Lucas Furniture, on the outskirts of Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire. Work began in October, 2019, on the 7,150 ²m site and included external landscaping and parking facilities. The two-storey showroom will become the company’s largest, purpose-built, furniture outlet, whilst its headquarters remain in Southport. Caddick Construction Senior Contracts Manager Chris Allott said: “This has been a very exciting project to work on, with the impressive design and curved frontage creating a real wow factor as you turn into the development. We are delighted to hand over this impressive-looking showroom that has all the quality hallmarks you would expect for a brand such as Lucas Furniture.” Graham Schofield, Joint Managing Director of Stokers, added: “It is a very prominent site on the A41 next to Aylesbury Vale Parkway railway station and we’re confident its location, along with the quality and scale of the showroom, will quickly make it a retail destination in the region. “We are now looking forward to our official opening on Saturday 29th August where we will be showcasing the new facilities with all the very latest Lucas Furniture ranges.” “Working with Caddick has been a pleasure and despite the issues surrounding Covid 19 they have allowed us to keep to our opening date”. A family-owned business with 120 years of history, Stokers Furniture is one of the North West’s oldest furniture retail businesses and includes 10 stores, with three trading under the brand name in Chester, Ormskirk and Southport. Its Aylesbury showroom is part of ambitious expansion plans into the South East. Principal Designers on the build were Wilson Mason Architects, with engineering works provided by Thomas Consulting, and Quantity Surveyor by Identity Consult.